**Acronyms and abbreviations**


*Virulence Determinants of Non-typhoidal* Salmonellae *DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88904*

*Microorganisms*

**Acknowledgements**

**Conflict of interest**

Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

**Acronyms and abbreviations**

AMP antimicrobial peptides invA invasion protein A LPS lipopolysaccharide NTS non-typhoidal *Salmonella* NGS next generation sequencing

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

SPIs *Salmonella* pathogenicity islands SIFs *Salmonella*-induced filaments SCV *Salmonella-*containing vacuole

SalFoS *Salmonella* Foodborne Syst-OMICS database

and virulence determinants of NTS was derived from murine model of serovar Typhimurium infection with and only a few studies focused on NTS infection in humans. For this reason, the relevance of published observations is often called into question. Linking clinical, epidemiological and experimental observations on the nature and severity of diseases caused by *Salmonella* organisms with the presence of a large number of virulence genes currently may not garner enough predictive ability to infer virulence or pathogenetic potential of a strain. Still, the increasing availability of a large number of *Salmonella* genomes in the public databases is proving to be a timely resource. Next generation sequencing and the twin subject of bioinformatics represent an unprecedented opportunity to verify past observations and help improve our understanding of *Salmonella* virulence towards a coherent and comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of *Salmonella* pathogenesis. What is required is a robust laboratory tool that can be used to analyze the large number of virulence genes in an isolate using the tools of whole genome sequencing. We expect that a tool such as an AmpliSeq assay for *Salmonella* virulence could be developed to generate accurate and reliable information that can be fed into a quantitative risk assessment framework. This could usher a new era of risk management customized for a *Salmonella* strain involved in an outbreak and should translate to impactful outcomes in the areas of improved food safety, evaluation of

zoonotic diseases and reducing the burden of human salmonellosis.

RG is funded by Genome Canada. DO's research program has received funding support from Genome Research and Development Initiative of the Government of Canada, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Canadian Security and Science Program of the Department of National Defense and the

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