Background

Outbreaks of foodborne illness caused by consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella enterica occur frequently in the United States, largely due to the fact that 1 in 8 chickens are infected with Salmonella. Attempts to develop an avian vaccine against Salmonella have proven inadequate in eliminating the bacteria from the chicken intestinal tract, resulting in creation of a reservoir capable of transmitting disease. While the disease causes considerable discomfort in healthy adults, it can be fatal in children and immunocompromised individuals. Therefore, a vaccine to prevent infection in farm animal populations, or to protect humans directly, is a critical need.