Genomic Diversity, Pathogenicity, and Microbial Forensics of Foodborne Bacteria: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

Foodborne bacterial infections are a major global health concern, causing millions of illnesses and deaths annually. Advances in microbial genomics have improved pathogen characterization, yet the relationship between genomic traits and public health outcomes remains unclear. This study investigates 50 foodborne bacterial species by analyzing genome size, GC content, virulence gene count, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gene presence in relation to global infection rates and mortality. Our findings reveal substantial genomic diversity, with genome sizes ranging from 1.2 Mb to 9.0 Mb and virulence gene counts from 2 to 312. Genome size, gene number, and GC content are strongly correlated, but neither virulence nor AMR gene counts consistently predict mortality or global case numbers. These weak associations suggest that host susceptibility, ecological adaptation, and gene expression contribute significantly to pathogenicity. This study also highlights the value of microbial forensics in foodborne outbreak investigations. Integrating whole-genome sequencing (WGS), comparative genomics, and phylogenetic analysis allows for tracing pathogen origins during contamination events. Bacteria such as Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes frequently feature in forensic cases due to their high public health impact. The use of machine learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) enhanced genomic surveillance holds promise for improving pathogen source attribution and biosecurity. These results highlight the complexity of bacterial virulence and call for integrated approaches combining genomic, epidemiological, and forensic data. Future work should emphasize functional genomics, host-pathogen interactions, and predictive modeling to enhance foodborne disease prevention and outbreak response strategies.