title: Impact ofClostridium botulinumgenomic diversity on food safety.
abstract: The deadly botulinum neurotoxin formed byClostridium botulinumis the causative agent of foodborne botulism. The increasing availability ofC. botulinumgenome sequences is starting to allow the genomic diversity ofC. botulinumGroups I and II and their neurotoxins to be characterised. This information will impact on microbiological food safety through improved surveillance and tracing/tracking during outbreaks, and a better characterisation ofC. botulinumGroups I and II, including the risk presented, and new insights into their biology, food chain transmission, and evolution.
authors.affiliation: Gut Health and Food Safety, Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UA, UK.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Peck
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: Arnoud Hm
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: van Vliet