Research Publications (Food Safety)

IntroductionCape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) is a wellconsumed crop in Ecuador, whose fruits are abundant in bioactive molecules.

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced during the growth, storage, and transportation of crops contaminated by fungi and are physiologically toxic to humans and animals. Aflatoxin, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin, patulin, and fumonisin are the most common mycotoxins and can cause liver and nervous system damage, immune system suppression, and produce carcinogenic effects in humans and animals that have consumed contaminated food.

Citrinin (CIT), a polyketide mycotoxin produced by Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Monascus species, is a contaminant that has been found in various food commodities and was also detected in house dust. Several studies showed that CIT can impair the kidney, liver, heart, immune, and reproductive systems in animals by mechanisms so far not completely elucidated.

Abstract Studying inflammatory responses induced by vaccination can contribute to a more detailed understanding of underlying immune mechanisms in lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus). Tissue samples from lumpfish intraperitoneally immunized with a divalent oil‐adjuvanted vaccine (Aeromonas salmonicida and Vibrio salmonicida) at water temperatures of 5, 10, and 15°C were collected at 630 day degrees and 18 weeks post injection.

by Hidetoshi Sumimoto, Satoshi Noda, Hiroyoshi Koide, Yutaro Douke, Kosuke Sakai, Akihito Nishikawa, Azumi Tomioka, Maki Hori, Hiromi Nakato, Yuri Kimura, Aya Tokuda, Atsushi Takano, Koji Teramoto, Satoshi Murata, Yataro Daigo

BackgroundConstipation is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder affecting approximately 15% of the global population, leading to significant healthcare burdens. Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of constipation, although causality remains uncertain due to potential confounding factors in observational studies.

This study represents the first analysis of the bacterial community in chickens affected by swollen head syndrome, utilizing 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Samples were obtained from clinical laying chickens and were examined for the presence of Avibacterium paragallinarum (APG) and Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Tenuazonic acid (TeA), usually found in cereals, fruits, vegetables, oil crops, and their products, was classified as one of the highest public health problems by EFSA as early as 2011, but it has still not been regulated by legislation due to the limited toxicological profile. Moreover, it has been reported that the coexistence of TeA and patulin (PAT) has been found in certain agricultural products; however, there are no available data about the combined toxicity.

WHO (World Health Organization) reports from recent years warn about the growing number of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. Therefore, there is an urgent need to constantly search for new substances effective in the fight against microorganisms. Plants are a rich source of chemical compounds with antibacterial properties. These compounds, classified as secondary metabolites, may act independently or support the action of currently used antibiotics.

Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of the feed additive consisting of endo‐1,4‐beta‐xylanase (produced with Trichoderma reesei MUCL 49755), endo‐1,3(4)‐beta‐glucanase (produced with T. reesei MUCL 49754) and polygalacturonase (produced with Aspergillus fijiensis CBS 589.94) (AveMix® 02 CS/ AveMix® 02 CS L) as a zootechnical feed additive for weaned and suckling piglets.

The antibacterial potential of RBPH‐B and RBPH‐C, along with their fractions, is effective against Listeria monocytogenes. Conversely, both SPH‐B and SPH‐C, and their fractions, exhibit pronounced antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes. Notably, the peptide fraction smaller than 10 kDa (SPH‐B‐F3), manifests the highest antimicrobial activities against both bacterial strains.

The targeted depletion of potential gut pathogens is often challenging because of their intrinsic ability to thrive in harsh gut environments. Earlier, we showed that Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) exclusively uses the Type-VI Secretion System (T6SS) to target its prey such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), and phenotypic differences between T6SS-negative and T6SS-positive C.

Perillaldehyde (PAH) is a natural compound and food additive that is added to meat, beverage, sauce and baked food. PAH has been confirmed to have antibacterial and antifungal properties, but its antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities against Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus) have not been reported. This work aimed to explore the antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacy of PAH against V.

Probiotics are increasingly recognized for their capacity to combat pathogenic bacteria. In this study, we isolated a strain of Ligilactobacillus salivarius XP132 from the gut microbiota of healthy chickens. This strain exhibited resistance to low pH and bile salts, auto-aggregation capabilities, and the ability to co-aggregate with pathogenic Salmonella.

The present study evaluated the cadmium (Cd) levels and temporal variation of Cd in dark muscle, white muscle, and liver of juvenile Thunnus albacares. 72 individuals (Standard length: 50–67 cm; weight: 0.8–2.5 kg) were collected from Indian Oceanic water around Sri Lanka during the period between April 2021 to May 2022. Total Cd levels were analyzed using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrophotometer.

Disease progression in metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is accelerated in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) due to ongoing hepatocyte damage and ensuing activation of hepatic stellate cells and their transdifferentiation to myofibroblasts. At the same time, matrix remodeling with increasing collagen cross‐linking and architecture changes lead to enhanced viscoelasticity and stiffness, affecting cell–matrix interactions and propagation of fibrosis.

This study aimed to understand the epidemiological characteristics of Salmonella in Tibetan pigs. We isolated, identified, and examined via antimicrobial susceptibility testing on Salmonella from Tibetan pigs breeder farms and slaughterhouses in Tibet, China. A genetic evolutionary tree was constructed on the basis of whole genome sequencing (WGS). A total of 81 Salmonella isolates were isolated from 987 samples.