Research Publications (Food Safety)

Salmonella and Vibrio cholerae are the deadliest foodborne pathogens, requiring effective routine screening for food safety assurance. Hence, a duplex polymerase chain reaction integrated with a lateral flow immunoassay (PCR-LFIA) was developed for rapid detections of Salmonella and V. cholerae to overcome the laborious, time-consuming, complicated, and costly limitations of standard bacterial culture.

A methodology with rapidity and specificity is of great significance for the effective control and management of outbreaks caused by Salmonella enterica as it has presented an obvious threat to food safety and public health worldwide.

In shrimp aquaculture, disease mitigation may be accomplished by reducing the virulence of the pathogen or by boosting the shrimp's immunity. Biofloc technology is an innovative system that improves the health and resistance of shrimp to microbial infections while providing a viable option for maintaining the quality of culture water through efficient nutrient recycling.

The development of sustainable alternatives to conventional antimicrobials is needed to address bacterial virulence while avoiding selecting resistant strains in a variety of fields, including human, animal, and plant health. Quorum sensing (QS), a bacterial communication system involved in noxious bacterial phenotypes such as virulence, motility, and biofilm formation, is of utmost interest.

Produce is a known vehicle for Listeria monocytogenes, with the number of produce-related outbreaks increasing. Consumers occasionally misuse frozen vegetables as ready-to-eat instead of ready-to-cook, raising the possibility of L. monocytogenes contamination. Environmental monitoring studies focusing on the freezing step in frozen produce are relatively scarce, yet essential, as this step could cause post-contamination.

Rapid, accurate, and simultaneous screening of V. parahaemolyticus and its antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) is significant for mariculture monitoring and food safety. Thus, we developed an integrated RPA-microfluidic method to simultaneously detect V. parahaemolyticus and its ARGs floR, sul1 and qnrA.

Infection with Vibrio mimicus in the Siluriformes has demonstrated a rapid and high infectivity and mortality rate, distinct from other hosts. Our earlier investigations identified necrosis, an inflammatory storm, and tissue remodeling as crucial pathological responses in yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) infected with V. mimicus.

For the past years, Salmonella has been one of the major foodborne pathogens in Europe, leading to the development of several control efforts to reduce its impact on human health. Poultry meat has been consistently implicated in foodborne cases of salmonellosis.

Abstract BACKGROUND This study evaluated for the first time the potential of orange passion fruit as a base for alcoholic and acetic fermentations, with a view to assessing its profile of organic acids and polyphenols, in vitro digestion, and biological activities. RESULTS In terms of aliphatic organic acids, malic acid was the majority in the wine (3.19 g L−1), while in the vinegar, it was acetic acid (46.84 g L−1).

The 2021 FSIS Stabilization Guidelines for Meat and Poultry Products (Appendix B) Option 1.2 limits Phase 1 cooling from 48.8-26.7°C in uncured meats to 1 hour. However, this time restriction is impractical to achieve in large diameter whole muscle products.

Nowadays, the discovery of alternative natural antimicrobial substances such as bacteriophages, essential oils, and other physical and chemical agents is developing in the food industry. In this study, nine bacteriophages were isolated from various parts of raw chickens and exhibited lytic activities against L. monocytogenes and various Listeria spp.

Tree nuts have been associated with several foodborne outbreaks and recalls in the U.S. While thermal decontamination methods can inactivate pathogens, they come with challenges of varying severity on the product quality. Thus, this study evaluated the effects of nonthermal intense pulsed light (IPL) on Salmonella Typhimurium inactivation and quality attributes of pecan halves.

Purple yam (Dioscorea trifida) has high agricultural productivity in the Amazon region but has not been much investigated. Multivariate strategies were employed to optimize the method to obtain a food extract rich in functional compounds.

Clostridium perfringens spores, which are extremely resistant and difficult to kill, can easily cause food spoilage and foodborne diseases. In this study, the effect of simultaneous ultrasound and heat (thermosonication, TS) treatment for C. perfringens spore inactivation was investigated. The TS treatment at 26.67 W/mL and 80 °C or 90 °C for 30 min resulted in 5.77 and 5.89 log inactivation of C. perfringens spores, respectively.

Salmonella is one of the world’s leading causes of zoonotic and foodborne illnesses. Recently, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become one of the most critical challenges to public health and food safety. Herein, we employed a meta-analysis to determine the pooled prevalence and spatiotemporal distribution of serovars and antimicrobial resistance in NTS in Burkina Faso.

Salmonellosis, an infectious disease caused by the Salmonella species, encompasses a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from mild self‐limiting gastroenteritis to severe systemic infections. It affects millions of people annually, causing immense morbidity and economic losses worldwide. This study aims to evaluate the occurrence of Salmonella in water and raw foods, focusing on meat, fish, shellfish, and vegetables consumed in the city of Nampula, north of Mozambique.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Ahead of Print. Marine bacteria experience fluctuations in osmolarity that they must adapt to, and most bacteria respond to high osmolarity by accumulating compatible solutes also known as osmolytes. The osmotic stress response and compatible solutes used by the coral and oyster pathogen Vibrio coralliilyticus were unknown. In this study, we showed that to alleviate osmotic stress V.

Strain MP-1014T, an obligate halophilic actinobacterium, was isolated from the mangrove soil of Thandavarayancholanganpettai, Tamil Nadu, India. A polyphasic approach was utilized to explore its phylogenetic position completely. The isolate was Gram-positive, filamentous, non-motile, and coccoid in older cultures. Ideal growth conditions were seen at 30 °C and pH 7.0, with 5% NaCl (W/V), and the DNA G + C content was 73.3%.

Microbiology Resource Announcements, Ahead of Print. A Pacific native lineage of Vibrio parahaemolyticus ST36 serotype O4:K12 was introduced into the Atlantic, which increased local source illnesses. To identify genetic determinants of virulence and ecological resiliency and track their transfer into endemic populations, we constructed a complete genome of a 2013 Atlantic-traced clinical isolate by hybrid assembly.

Campylobacter jejuni continues to be a major public health issue worldwide. Poultry are recognized as the main reservoir for this foodborne pathogen. Implementing measures to decrease C. jejuni colonization on farms has been regarded as the most effective strategy to control the incidence of campylobacteriosis. The probiotics supplementation has been regarded as an attractive approach against C. jejuni in chickens.

The microbial population in the pig’s gastrointestinal tract can be influenced by incorporating fibrous by-products into the diets. This study investigated the impact of including two types of dried olive cake (OC) in pigs’ diets on fecal bacterial composition. The correlation between fecal microbiota and growth performance, nutrient digestibility, gut fermentation pattern and slurry gas emissions was also evaluated.

Momordica charantia, commonly known as bitter melon, is a fruiting plant that has been used for several diseases including infectious diseases. In this study, we report the antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activity of different bitter melon fruit parts originating from India and Saudi Arabia. The in vitro experiments are supported by the molecular docking of karavilosides to verify their role in the bioactivity.

Abstract Aims In October 2023, the Tennessee Department of Health identified an outbreak of Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 infections among elementary school students who attended school field trips to the same farm animal exhibit. Our aim was to determine STEC source and prevent additional illnesses by initiating epidemiologic, laboratory and environmental investigations.

Foodborne gastroenteritis cases caused by Campylobacter species are the second most common bacterial infections worldwide, following infections caused by Salmonella spp. Foods contaminated with Campylobacter species can be made safe through effective cooking and processing. Summary The study aimed to assess Campylobacter jejuni prevalence in chicken meat, biofilm formation, virulence factors, antibiotic resistance, and molecular typing.

mSphere, Ahead of Print. Eggs, an important part of a healthy daily diet, can protect chicken embryo development due to the shell barrier and various antibacterial components within the egg white. Our previous study demonstrated that Salmonella Pullorum, highly adapted to chickens, can survive in the egg white and, therefore, be passed to newly hatched chicks. However, the survival strategy of Salmonella Pullorum in antibacterial conditions remains unknown.