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Research @ Banerjee Lab
Welcome to Banerjee Lab's Food Safety and Food Microbiology Research
Our interdisciplinary research program in microbial food safety runs in collaboration with the US FDA, USDA, US Army, state and local government agencies, industry, and major US and International Universities.
Several undergraduate, MS, and PhD students are involved in these research projects.
Major areas of interest:
- Advance food safety through genomics and bioinformatics by investigating the molecular epidemiology, virulence mechanisms, and antimicrobial resistance of emerging foodborne pathogens.
- Assess environmental pathways of contamination by identifying and attributing sources responsible for the spread of pathogens and emerging contaminants, including microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
- Develop innovative detection technologies through rapid, low-cost, portable biosensor platforms for the detection of microbial pathogens and toxins in food and environmental systems.
- Improve human health outcomes by translating genomic and microbiological discoveries into novel dietary interventions and evidence-based strategies to reduce chronic disease risk.
Check out our current research projects below:
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Emerging Pollutants and Food Safety
Microplastic and PFAS
Microplastics/nanoplastics and PFAS are emerging contaminants increasingly detected in food production systems, where they can interact with microorganisms in agroecosystems and foods. Our research focuses on understanding how microplastics and PFAS contaminate various food sources. We examine the impacts of these pollutants on foodborne pathogens, biofilm formation, and antimicrobial resistance, including a pioneering genomic and transcriptomic study demonstrating nanoplastic-induced changes in the virulence and physiology of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica.
Relevant work from our lab:
- De et al., J Hazard Mater. 2026; 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141264
- Nath et al., J Nanobiotechnology. 2025; 10.1186/s12951-025-03369-z
- Nath et al., Pathogens. 2023; 10.3390/pathogens12070888
Application of Microbial Genomics in Food Safety
Microplastics Detection
Our team specializes in identifying microplastic contaminants in food products. Utilizing cutting-edge technology, we ensure accurate detection to protect consumer health and meet regulatory standards.