Research Publications (Food Safety)

Ivan D. Barrero Farfan, Gerald N. De La Fuente, Seth C. Murray, Thomas Isakeit, Pei-Cheng Huang, Marilyn Warburton, Paul Williams, Gary L. Windham, Mike Kolomiets

Shigellae cause significant diarrheal disease and mortality in humans, as there are approximately 163 million episodes of shigellosis and 1.1 million deaths annually. While significant strides have been made in the understanding of the pathogenesis, few studies on the genomic content of the Shigella species have been completed.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a serious public health problem. The commonly used tests that are specific for current HEV infection diagnosis include the detection of anti-HEV IgM and HEV RNA. Here, we report an improved enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method for HEV antigen detection with a linear range equivalent to 6.3 x 103 to 9.2 x 105 RNA copies per ml.

Virulence markers in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and their association with diseases remain largely unknown. This study determines the importance of 44 genetic markers for STEC (O157 and non-O157) from human clinical cases and their correlation to disease outcome. STEC isolated from a cattle surveillance program were also included. The virulence genes tested were present in almost all O157:H7 isolates but highly variable in non-O157 STEC isolates.

The appropriate treatment and control of infectious gastroenteritis depend on the ability to rapidly detect the wide range of etiologic agents associated with the disease. Clinical laboratories currently utilize an array of different methodologies to test for bacterial, parasitic, and viral causes of gastroenteritis, a strategy that suffers from poor sensitivity, potentially long turnaround times, and complicated ordering practices and workflows.

The epidemiological and bacteriological investigations on four foodborne outbreaks caused by a new type of enterotoxin-producing Clostridium perfringens are described. C. perfringens isolated from patients of these outbreaks did not produce any known enterotoxin and did not carry the C. perfringens enterotoxin gene. However, the culture filtrates of these isolates induced the accumulation of fluid in rabbit ileal loop tests.

Sambucus ebulus L. (dwarf elder) is a medicinal plant, the usefulness of which also as food is restricted due to its toxicity. In the last few years, both the chemistry and pharmacology of Sambucus ebulus L. have been investigated. Among the structural and functional proteins present in the plant, sugar-binding proteins (lectins) with or without anti-ribosomal activity and single chain ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) have been isolated. RIPs are enzymes (E.C.

A duplicate diet study was designed to explore the occurrence of 15 Fusarium mycotoxins in the 24 h-diet consumed by one volunteer as well as the levels of mycotoxins in his 24 h-collected urine. The employed methodology involved solvent extraction at high ionic strength followed by dispersive solid phase extraction and gas chromatography determination coupled to mass spectrometry in tandem. Satisfactory results in method performance were achieved.

Abstract

The CRISPR/Cas system is used by bacteria and archaea against invading conjugative plasmids or bacteriophages. Central to this immunity system are genomic CRISPR loci that contain fragments of invading DNA. These are maintained as spacers in the CRISPR loci between direct repeats and the spacer composition in any bacterium reflects its evolutionary history. We analyzed the CRISPR locus sequences of 335 Yersinia pseudotuberculosis complex strains.

Publication date: August 2015
, Volume 54
Author(s): Analice Kamala , Johana Ortiz , Martin Kimanya , Geert Haesaert , Silvana Donoso , Bendantuguka Tiisekwa , Bruno De Meulenaer

Marion M. Simmons, S. Jo Moore, Richard Lockey, Melanie J Chaplin, Timm Konold, Christopher Vickery, John Spiropoulos

Background. Infection with Coxiella burnetii can lead to acute and chronic Q fever. Toll-like receptor 1 (TLR1), TLR2, TLR4, TLR6, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain receptor 1 (NOD1), NOD2, and the mitogen-activated protein kinases are central in the innate immune response against microorganisms, but little is known about their role in the recognition of C. burnetii in humans.

Human norovirus is a major cause of viral acute gastroenteritis worldwide. However, the transition of endemic norovirus genotypes remains poorly understood. The characteristics of natural immunity against norovirus are unclear because few studies have been performed in the natural infection setting.

Publication date: Available online 23 February 2015
Food and Chemical Toxicology
Author(s): Wei Li , Hua Li , Jie Zhang , Xuewen Tian

Publication date: Available online 23 February 2015

Author(s): Abiola Olumuyiwa Olaitan , Ndèye Méry Dia , Philippe Gautret , Samir Benkouiten , Khadidja Belhouchat , Tassadit Drali , Philippe Parola , Philippe Brouqui , Ziad Memish , Didier Raoult , Jean-Marc Rolain

Ochratoxin A (OTA) has been found in all major cereal grains including oat, wheat, and barley worldwide and considered as a potential concern in food safety. A total of 489 samples of corn-, rice-, wheat-, and oat-based breakfast cereal were collected from U.S. retail marketplaces over a two-year period, and OTA was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Overall, 205 samples (42%) were contaminated with OTA in the range from 0.10 to 9.30 ng/g.

Publication date: August 2015
, Volume 54
Author(s): Magdalena Wrona , Karim Bentayeb , Cristina Nerín

Publication date: August 2015
, Volume 54
Author(s): G. Pesavento , C. Calonico , A.R. Bilia , M. Barnabei , F. Calesini , R. Addona , L. Mencarelli , L. Carmagnini , M.C. Di Martino , A. Lo Nostro

Publication date: August 2015
, Volume 54
Author(s): Edwin O. Baldeón , Miguel Alcañiz , Rafa Masot , Esteban M. Fuentes , José M. Barat , Raúl Grau

Publication date: August 2015
, Volume 54
Author(s): P. Rubio , P. Garijo , P. Santamaría , R. López , J. Martínez , A.R. Gutiérrez

Seventy-one strains of L. monocytogenes isolated from raw salad vegetables consumed in the minimally processed state in Malaysia were characterised by serotyping, random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction analysis (RAPD-PCR) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Based on serotyping, only one strain belonged to serotype 4 while the rest were from serotype 1. RAPD-PCR typing was carried out using two primers, i.e., OPAR-8 and GEN 1-50-09.

The Food Safety Review (FSR) is a partnership between industry, government, academia, and the consumer. The reason for our review is to increase consistency among local health departments and their interpretations of the state food service rules.

During a 12-month period, 138 tissue samples (muscle, liver, kidney) were screened for antibiotic residues (ARs), using the five-plate STAR test. Samples positive to one or more antibiotics were detected in 33.9% of the chicken samples and in 26% of the pig samples.

The elderly population in the USA is rapidly growing and is expected to reach 72 million people by 2030, more than double the number in 2000. Older adults are more likely than younger adults to contract foodborne illness and therefore they experience more health complications from food contamination.