Abstract: Systems and methods for washing produce to achieve an approximate 5 log colony-forming unit (CFU) reduction of foodborne pathogens per unit of produce are disclosed. In an example embodiment of the disclosed technology, a method includes rinsing the produce. Further, a method may include cleaning or soaking the produce in a cleaning solution. A method may include draining the cleaning solution to remove organic material. A method may further comprise sanitizing the produce, which may include soaking and/or agitating the produce in a sanitizing solution for a predetermined period of time. Finally, a method may comprise draining any remaining solution and drying the produce to remove solution from the surface of the produce.

Abstract: An isolated nucleic acid encoding a SecA protein of M. tuberculosis is provided. This nucleic acid can be a native coding sequence for the SecA protein of M. tuberculosis. A specific example of the isolated nucleic acid is one that encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2. An isolated fragment of the secA gene that is specific for M. tuberculosis is provided. A purified SecA protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is provided. The purified SecA protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis comprises the polypeptide having the sequence set forth in the Sequence Listing as SEQ ID NO:2. Fragments of the M. tuberculosis SecA protein are provided. A purified mutant SecA protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is provided. The invention provides purified mutant M. tuberculosis expressing the mutant SecA protein of the invention. The invention also provides methods of screening for putative M. tuberculosis virulence factors translocated by the SecA protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nucleic acid that encodes a hemolysin protein and to a nucleic acid that encodes a positive regulator of hemolysis. The nucleic acid can be the basis of a vaccine against tuberculosis. The nucleic acid can be inserted into an avirulent vaccine strain such as M. bovis BCG.