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                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Environmental Microbial & Food Safety Laboratory: Beltsville, MD
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Manan  Sharma    Research Microbiologist Environmental Microbial & Food Safety LabUSDA, ARS, NEA, BARC, EMFSL10300 Baltimore AvenueBuilding 307 BARC-East, Room 132Beltsville, MD 20705-2350 USAPhone: 301.504.9198Fax: 301.504.8438www.ars.usda.gov/nea/emfsl/sharma  **Research Area** Our laboratory investigates the intersection of produce safety and sustainability by examining the persistence and survival of enteric bacterial pathogens in biological soil amendments (manure), irrigation water, and on fruit and vegetable commodities. Our research leads us to examine which factors may influence survival and persistence in pre-harvest produce growing environments, and how pathogens are introduced to fruits and vegetables like leafy greens and melons. Our aim is to provide fruit and vegetable growers data to minimize pathogenic contamination on these commodities and reduce foodborne illness associated with produce commodities in the United States. **Current project, 2021-2026:**Improving Pre-harvest Produce Safety through Reduction of Pathogen Levels in Agricultural Environments and Development and Validation of Farm-Scale Microbial Quality Model for Irrigation Water Sources **Previous project, 2016 - 2021:**Characterization and Mitigation of Bacterial Pathogens in the Fresh Produce Production and Processing Continuum  **Education** *Doctorate of Philosophy*, Food Science and Technology. Center for Food Safety and Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA.
*Master of Science*, Food Science and Technology. Center for Food Safety and Quality Enhancement, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA.
*Bachelor of Science*, Microbiology and Cell Science, Minor: Chemistry. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.  **Awards** 2018. *Maurice Weber Laboratorian Award, International Association for Food Protection.* Given for “dedicated and exceptional contributions in the laboratory. It recognizes a commitment to the development and/or application of innovative and practical analytical approaches in support of food safety.”
2011. *Larry Beuchat Young Investigator Award, International Association for Food Protection.* Given to a food safety researcher in the first seven years of his/her career “who has shown outstanding ability and professional promise.”
2009. *USDA ARS Beltsville Area Early Career Scientist Award.* Recognized for developing innovative methods for detecting internalization of pathogens into leafy greens.  Spotlights header imagePhoto: Microbiologist Manan Sharma sprays a bacteriophage mixture on fresh-cut iceberg lettuce. The bacteriophage mixture kills <em>E. coli</em> O157:H7 on the surface of the lettuce.
**CONSERVE**
**Food Protection Trends Beyond the Bio** in the July/August 2016 issue of *Food Protection Trends*
**ARS Scientists Study the Ins and Outs of *E. coli* Contamination**  in the April 2011 issue of *Agricultural Research Magazine*
**Bacteriophages as Novel Antimicrobials for Food Safety** in the July 2008 issue of *Agricultural Research Magazine*  **Peer-Reviewed Publications** ***Soil Amendments*** **Sharma, M.**, Millner, P.D., Hashem, F., Vinyard, B.T., East, C.L., Handy, E.T., White, K., Stonebraker, R., Cotton, C.P. 2019. Survival of *Escherichia coli* is affected by spatiotemporal, agricultural, and weather factors in the Mid-Atlantic United States. *Appl. Environ. Microbiol.* 85: e02392-18.
Shah, M.K., Bradshaw, R., Nyarko, E., Millner, P.D., Neher, D., Weicht, T, Bergholz, T., **Sharma, M.** 2019. Survival and growth of wild-type and rpoS-deficient *Salmonella Newport* in soil extracts prepared with heat-treated poultry pellets. *J Food Prot.* Accepted for publication.
Gurtler, J.B., Doyle, M.P., Erickson, M.C., Jiang, X., Millner, P.D., and **Sharma, M.**, 2018. Composting to inactivate foodborne pathogens for crop soil application: a review. *J Food Prot.* 81: 1821-1837.
**Sharma, M.** , Millner, P.D., Hashem, F., Camp, M., Whyte, C., Graham, L., and Cotton, C.P. 2016. Survival and persistence of non-pathogenic Escherichia coli and attenuated *Escherichia coli* O157:H7 in soils amended with animal manure in a greenhouse environment. *J Food Prot.* 79: 913 – 921.
Oni, R., **Sharma, M.** , and Buchanan, R. 2015. Survival of *Salmonella spp.* dried turkey manure and persistence on spinach leaves. *J Food Prot.* 78: 1791-1799.
**Sharma, M.** , and Reynnells, R.R. 2016. Importance of soil amendments: survival of bacterial pathogens in manure and compost used as organic fertilizers. *Microbiol. Spectrum.* 4: PFS-0010-2015.
Reynnells, R., Ingram, D.T., Callahan, M.T., Handy, E.T., Roberts, C., Felton, G., Millner, P.D., and **Sharma, M.** 2014. Evaluation of Two Immunomagnetic Separation Techniques for the Detection and Recovery of *Escherichia coli* O157:H7 from Finished Composts. *Food Anal Meth.* 8: 1812-1814.
Reynnells, R., Ingram, D.T., Roberts, C., Stonebraker, R., Handy, E.T., Felton, G., Vinyard, B., Millner, P.D., **Sharma, M.** 2014. Comparison of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Composting Council microbial detection methods in finished compost and regrowth potential of *Salmonella* spp. and *Escherichia coli* O157:H7 in finished compost. Food Path Dis. 11: 555 – 567.
Harris, L.J., Berry, E.D, Blessington, T., Erickson, M., Jay-Russell, M., Jiang, X., Killinger, K., Michel, F.C., Millner, P., Schneider, K., **Sharma, M.** , Suslow, T.V., Wang, L., and Worobo. R.W. 2013. A framework for developing research protocols for evaluation of microbial hazards and controls during production that pertain to the application of untreated soil amendments of animal origin on land used to grow produce that may be consumed raw. *J Food Prot.* 76: 1062-1084. ***Irrigation Water*** Zhu, L., Torres, M., Betancourt, W.Q., **Sharma, M.**, Micallef, S.A., Gerba, C., Sapkota, A.R., Sapkota, A., Parveen, S., Hashem F., May, E., Kniel, K. Pop, M., Ravishankar, S. 2019. Incidence of fecal indicator and pathogenic bacteria in reclaimed and return flow waters in Arizona, USA. *Environ. Res.* 170: 122-127.
Kulkarni, P., Olson, N.D., Paulson, J.N., Pop, M., Maddox, C., Claye, E., Rosenberg Goldstein, R.E., **Sharma, M.**, Gibbs, S.G., Mongodin, E.F., and Sapkota, A.R. 2018. Impact of conventional wastewater treatment and reuse site practices on the bacterial community structure of reclaimed water. *Sci Tot Environ.* 639: 1126-1137.
Markland, S., Ingram, D.T., Kniel. K.E., and **Sharma, M.** 2017. Water for Agriculture. Microbiol. Spectrum. 5(3): PFS-0014-2016.
Ingram, D.T., Callahan, M.T., Ferguson, S.E., Hoover, D., Chiu, P.C., Shelton, D.R., Millner, P.D., Camp., M.J., Patel, J.R., Kniel, K.E., and **Sharma, M.** 2012. Use of zero-valent iron biosand filters to reduce *E. coli* O157 :H12 in irrigation water applied to spinach plants in a field setting. *J. Appl. Microbiol.* 112 : 551-560.
Ingram, D.T., Patel, J.R, and **Sharma, M.** 2011. The effect of repeated irrigation with water containing varying levels of total organic carbon on the persistence of **Escherichia coli** O157:H7 on baby spinach. *J Food Prot.* 74 : 709-717.
Shelton, D., Karns, J.S., Coppock, C.R., Patel, J.R., **Sharma, M.**, and Pachepsky, Y.A. 2011. Comparison of generic *E. coli* vs pathogenic *E. coli* virulence factors in an agricultural watershed : implications for irrigation water standards and leafy green. *J Food Prot.* 74 : 18-23. ***Leafy Greens*** Callahan, M.T., Micallef, S.A., **Sharma, M.**, Millner, P.D., and Buchanan, R.L. 2016. Investigating metrics proposed to prevent the harvest of leafy green crops. *Appl Environ. Microbiol.* 82: 3746-3753.
Patel, J., Singh, M., Macarisin, D., **Sharma, M.**, Shelton, D. 2013. Differences in biofilm formation of produce and poultry *Salmonella enterica* isolates and their persistence on spinach plants. *Food Microbiol.* 36: 388-394.
Hirniesen, K., **Sharma, M.**, and Kniel, K.E. 2012. Human enteric pathogen internalization by root uptake into food crops. *Food Path Dis.* 9: 396-405.
Markland, S., Shortlidge, K., Hoover, D., Yaron, S., Patel, J.R, Singh, A., **Sharma, M.**, Kniel, K. 2012. Survival of pathogenic *Escherichia coli* on basil, lettuce, and spinach. *Zoon and Public Health.* 60: 563-571.
**Sharma, M.**, Lakshman, S., Ferguson, S., Ingram, D.T., Luo, Y., and Patel, J.R. 2011. The effect of modified atmosphere packaging on the persistence and expression of virulence factors of *Escherichia coli* O157:H7 on shredded iceberg lettuce. *J Food Prot.* 74 : 718-726.
Patel, J.R, **Sharma, M.**, and Ravishankar, S. 2010. Effect of curli expression and hydrophobicity of *E. coli* O157 :H7 on attachment to fresh produce surfaces. *J Appl Microbiol.* 110 : 737-745.
Patel, J, and **Sharma, M.** 2010. Differences in attachment of *Salmonella enterica* serovars to cabbage and lettuce leaves. *Intl J Food Micro.* 139: 41-47.
Patel, J., Millner, P, Nou, X. and **Sharma, M.** 2010. Persistence of enterohaemorrhagic and nonpathogenic *E. coli* on spinach leaves and in rhizosphere soil. *J. Appl. Microbiol.* 8: 1789-1796.
**Sharma, M.**, Ingram, D.T., Patel, J.R., Millner, P.D., Wang, X, Hull, A.E., and Donnenberg, M.S. 2009. A novel approach to investigate the uptake and internalization of **Escherichia coli** O157:H7 in spinach cultivated in soil and hydroponic media. *J. Food Prot.* 72: 1513-1520. ***Melons*** Nyarko, E., Kniel, K.E., Zhou, B., Millner, P.D., Luo, Y., Handy, E.T., East, C., and **Sharma, M.** 2017. *Listeria monocytogenes* persistence and transfer to cantaloupes in the packing environment is affected by surface type and cleanliness. *Food Control.* 85: 177-185.
Nyarko, E., Kniel, K.E., Reynells, R., East, C., Handy, E.T., Luo, Y., Millner, P.D., and **Sharma, M.** 2016. Survival and growth of *Listeria monocytogenes* on fresh-cut “Athena” and “Rocky Ford” cantaloupes during storage at 4°C and 10°C. *Food Path Dis.* 13: 587-591.
Nyarko, E., Kniel, K.E., Millner, P.D., Luo, Y., Handy, E.T., Reynnells, R., East, C.R., and **Sharma, M.** 2016. Survival and growth of *Listeria monocytogenes* on whole cantaloupes is dependent on site of contamination and storage temperature. *Intl J Food Microbiol.* 234: 65-70. ***Bacteriophages*** **Sharma, M.**, Dashiell, G., Handy, E.T., East, C.L., Reynnells, R., White, C., Nyarko, E., Micallef, S., Hashem, F. and Millner, P.D. 2017. Survival of *Salmonella Newport* on whole and fresh-cut cucumbers treated with lytic bacteriophages. *J Food Prot.* 80: 668-673.
Boyacioglu, O., Sulakvelidze, A., **Sharma, M.**, and Goktepe, I. 2016. Effect of a bacteriophage cocktail in combination with modified atmosphere packaging in controlling *Listeria monocytogenes* on fresh-cut spinach. *Irish J Agr Food Res.* 55: 74-79.
**Sharma, M.** 2013. Lytic bacteriophages: Potential interventions against enteric bacterial pathogens on produce. *Bacteriophage.* 2013;3:e25518.
Boyacioglu O, Sharma M, Sulakvelidze A, Goktepe I. Biocontrol of *Escherichia coli* O157:H7 on fresh-cut leafy greens: Using a bacteriophage cocktail in combination with modified atmosphere packaging. *Bacteriophage* 2013; 3:e24620.
Ferguson, S.E. Handy, E.T., Roberts, C.L., and **Sharma, M.** 2013. The use of lytic bacteriophages to reduce *E. coli* O157:H7 on fresh cut lettuce introduced through cross-contamination. *Bacteriophage*; 3:e24323.**
Patel, J., **Sharma, M.**, Millner, P., Callaway, T., and Singh, M. 2011. Inactivation of *E. coli* O157:H7 attached to spinach harvester blade using bacteriophage. *Food Path Dis.* 8:541-546.
**Sharma, M.**, Patel, J.R., Conway, W.S., Ferguson, S., and Sulakvelidze, A. 2009. Effectiveness of bacteriophages in reducing *Escherichia coli* O157:H7 on fresh-cut produce. *J. Food Prot.* 72: 1481-1485.
**Sharma, M.**, Ryu, J.-H. and Beuchat, L.R. 2005. Inactivation of *Escherichia coli* O157:H7 in biofilms on stainless steel by treatment with alkaline cleaner and bacteriophage. *J. Appl. Microbiol.* 99: 449-459. ***Pathogens*** LeStrange, K., Markland, S., Hoover, D.G., **Sharma, M.**, and Kniel, K.E. 2017. An evaluation of the virulence and adherence properties of avian pathogenic *Escherichia coli*. *One Health.* 4: 22-26.
Markland, S., Lestrange, K., **Sharma, M.**, and Kniel, K.E. 2015. Old friends in new places: Exploring the role of extraintestinal *E. coli* in intestinal disease and foodborne illness. *Zoon Public Health.* 62: 491-496.
**Sharma, M.**, Eastridge, J., and Mudd, C.L. 2009. Effective household disinfection methods of kitchen sponges. *Food Cont.* 20: 310-313.
**Sharma, M.**, Shearer, A., Hoover, D., Solomon, M.B., and Kniel, K.E. 2008. Comparison of hydrostatic and hydrodynamic pressure to inactivate foodborne viruses. *Innov Food Sci Emerg Technol.* 9: 418-422.
Chao, K., Nou, X., Liu, Y., Kim, M., Chan, D, Chum-Chieh, Y., Patel, J.R., and **Sharma, M.** 2007. Detection of fecal / ingesta contaminants on poultry processing equipment surfaces by visible and near-infrared reflectance microscopy. *Appl. Engineer. Agricul.* 24: 49-55.
Ling, J., **Sharma, M.**, and Bhagwat, A. 2008. Role of RNA polymerase sigma-factor (RpoS) in induction of glutamate-dependent acid-resistance of Escherichia albertii under anaerobic conditions. *FEMS Microbiol Lett.* 283: 75-82.
**Sharma, M.**, Kniel, K., Derevianko, A., Ling, J. and Bhagwat, A. 2007. Sensitivity of Escherichia albertii, a potential foodborne pathogen, to food preservation treatments. *Appl. Environ. Microbiol.* 73: 4351-4353.
Patel, J.R. , Sanglay, G.C., **Sharma, M.**, and Solomon, M.B. 2007. Combining antimicrobials with hydrodynamic pressure processing for control of *Listeria monocytogenes* on frankfurters. *J. Muscle Foods.* 18: 1-18.
Bhagwat, A.A., Tan, J., **Sharma, M.**, Kothary, M., Low, S., Tall, B.D. and Bhagwat, M. 2006. Functional heterogeneity of RpoS in stress tolerance of enterohemorrhagic *E. coli* strains. *Appl. Environ. Microbiol.* 77: 4978-4986.
**Sharma, M.**, Adler, B.B., Harrison, M.D. and L.R. Beuchat, L.R. 2005. Thermal tolerance of acid-adapted and unadapted Salmonella, *Escherichia coli* O157:H7, and *Listeria monocytogenes* in cantaloupe juice and watermelon juice. *Lett. Appl. Microbiol.* 41: 448- 453.
**Sharma, M.**, Richards, G.R. and Beuchat, L.R. 2004. Survival of *Escherichia coli* O157:H7 in roast beef and salami after exposure to an alkaline cleaner. *J. Food Prot.* 67: 2107-2116.
**Sharma, M.**, and Beuchat, L.R. 2004. Sensitivity of *Escherichia coli* O157:H7 to commercial alkaline cleaners and subsequent resistance to heat and sanitizers. *Appl. Envrion. Microbiol.* 70: 1795-1803.
**Sharma, M.**, P.J. Taormina, P.J., and Beuchat, L.R. 2003. Habituation of foodborne pathogens exposed to extreme pH conditions: genetic basis and implications in foods and food processing environments. *Food Sci. Technol. Res.* 9: 115-127.
**Sharma, M.**, Beuchat, L.R., Doyle, M.P., and Chen, J. 2001. Survival of salmonellae in pasteurized, refrigerated calcium-fortified orange juice. *J. Food Prot.* 64: 1299-1304.
**Sharma, M.**, Beuchat, L.R., Doyle, M.P. and Chen, J. 2001. Fate of salmonellae in calcium-supplemented orange juice at refrigeration temperature. *J. Food Prot.* 64: 2053-2057.  **Book Chapters** **Sharma, M.**, Ingram, D.T., and Graham, L. 2016. Foodborne outbreaks and potential routes of contamination in fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. in *Foodborne Diseases: Case Studies of Outbreaks in the Agri-food Industries.* ed. L. Manning, C.A. Wallance, and J.M. Soon. CRC Press. Boca Raton, FL. 19-36
**Sharma, M.**, and G.C. Sharma. 2012. Bacteriophages. in *Decontamination of Fresh and Minimally Processed Produce.* ed. V.M. Gomez-Lopez. Wiley Blackwell. Hoboken, NJ. 285-295.
**Sharma, M.**, Y. Luo, and R. Buchanan. 2011. Food Safety and Security Issues. in *Postharvest Biology & Technology of Tropical and Sub-tropical Fruits.* ed. J. Brecht and E.M. Yahia. Woodhead, Cambridge, United Kingdom. 288-309.
Solomon, M.B., **Sharma, M.**, and Patel, J.R. 2011. Hydrodynamic Pressure Processing of Meat Products in *Non-thermal Processing Technologies for Food.* ed. H. Q. Zhang, G. V, Barbosa-Canovas, V. M. Balasubramaniam, C. P. Dunne, D. F. Farkas, and J. T. C. Yuan, Wiley-Blackwell, p. 98-108.
Solomon, E.B., and **Sharma, M.** 2009. Microbial attachment and limitations of decontamination methodology. inThe Produce Contamination Problem: Causes and Solutions. ed. G. Sapers, E.B. Solomon, and K.R. Matthews. Elsevier, Boston, MA. 21-45.
Solomon, M.B., Liu, M.N., Patel, J.R., Bowker, B.C. and **Sharma, M.** 2006. Hydrodynamic Pressure Processing to Improve Meat Quality and Safety. in Advanced Technologies for Meat Processing. ed. L.M.L. Nollet and F. Toldra. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 219-244.  **Links to information from the ARS database** Click here to see a list of *projects* for Manan Sharma Click here to see a list of *publications* for Manan Sharma, with access to an abstract/summary for each publication. Click here to see a list of *ARS News articles* for Manan Sharma


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