NONTYPHOIDAL SALMONELLA IS THE LEADING BACTERIAL FOODBORNE PATHOGEN IN THE U.S., WITH MANY OUTBREAKS TRACING BACK TO SHELL EGGS, POULTRY MEAT, AND OTHER POULTRY PRODUCTS. AS A RESULT, IMPLEMENTATION OF EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING SALMONELLA CONTAMINATION OF POULTRY AND THEIR PRODUCTS HAS BECOME A CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECONOMIC OBJECTIVE. DESPITE THE REGULATORY PROGRAMS AND VACCINATION PRACTICES IN PLACE FOR DECADES AGAINST SALMONELLA, FOODBORNE OUTBREAKS DUE TO SALMONELLA CONTINUE TO INCREASE, INDICATING THAT MORE EFFECTIVE VACCINES AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTS ARE URGENTLY NEEDED. ALSO, ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT SALMONELLA ARE FREQUENTLY IMPLICATED IN THESE OUTBREAKS, NECESSITATING THE EXPLORATION OF NOVEL NON-ANTIBIOTIC INTERVENTIONS TO COUNTERACT THE PATHOGEN IN RESERVOIRS, INCLUDING POULTRY. IN THIS CONTEXT, THE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS PROPOSAL IS TO PROVIDE NEW AVENUES FOR REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF FOODBORNE SALMONELLA THROUGH DEVELOPING BOTH A NOVEL VACCINE EFFECTIVE AGAINST MULTIPLE SALMONELLA SEROVARS AND A RAPID DIAGNOSTIC TOOL.THE SUPPORTING OBJECTIVES ARE TO: (1) ASSESS THE IMMUNOGENICITY AND EFFICACY OF INVG OF SALMONELLA ENTERITIDIS AGAINST A CHALLENGE OF S. ENTERITIDIS IN CHICKENS; (2) DETERMINE IF ANTIBODIES AGAINST INVG CAN TRANSFER PASSIVELY FROM VACCINATED HENS TO PROGENY CHICKENS, THUS PROVIDING PROTECTION AGAINST HOMOLOGOUS AND HETEROLOGOUS SALMONELLA; (3) CONSTRUCT AN E. COLI-VECTORED VACCINE EXPRESSING INVG TO MINIMIZE COLONIZATION OF CHICKEN INTESTINES AND OVARIES BY NONTYPHOIDAL SALMONELLA; AND (4) ESTABLISH A PROOF OF CONCEPT, HIGH THROUGHPUT, RAPID TEST FOR TARGETING INVG ON THE SURFACE OF SALMONELLA FOUND IN SHELL EGGS. WE EXPECT THIS RESEARCH WILL CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS IMPROVING U.S. AGRICULTURE AND ENSURING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF FOOD SYSTEMS.