Research Publications (Food Safety)

Zearalenone (ZEA) is widely present in food and feed, and pigs are susceptible to its effects. This study explored the underlying function of ZEA-induced apoptosis in porcine endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) through activation of the JNK signaling pathway and mitochondrial division. This study utilized ESCs to explore the impact of exposure to ZEA. A mitochondrial division inhibitor (Mdivi) was also included as a reference.

The disease-free existence of humans is constantly under attack by a variety of infections caused by a variety of organisms including bacteria. Notable among the bacteria is Staphylococcus aureus which is an etiological organism for infections including impetigo, folliculitis, and furuncles. The response of the human immune system against this disease is often neutralized by the production of a pigment called Staphyloxanthin (STX) via a series of reactions mediated by several enzymes.

Incidence and mortality rates of gastrointestinal (GI) and oral cancers are among the highest in the world, compared to other cancers. GI cancers include esophageal, gastric, colon, rectal, liver, and pancreatic cancers, with colorectal cancer being the most common. Oral cancer, which is included in the head and neck cancers category, is one of the most important causes of death in India.

Food-borne illnesses caused by pathogenic Escherichia coli strains, especially enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), are a serious public health problem, as debilitating disease and even death from such food poisonings have been repeatedly reported. Colicin M (ColM), a non-antibiotic antimicrobial protein produced by some strains of E. coli, has shown promising activity in controlling multiple enteropathogenic strains of E. coli and related pathogens.

Lead ions are a toxic metal that can enter the human body through the diet and negatively impact human health. A wide variety of foods, such as vegetables, meat, aquatic product, and drinking water, can be contaminated with lead ions. In this study, a highly sensitive immunochromatographic assay (ICA) based on antibody-oriented probe and silver enhancement was established for the qualitative and quantitative determination of lead ions in drinking water.

From farm to plate, food meets various challenges and pollution. Food detection is essential to ensure food safety. Although detection techniques have obtained great development, the accuracy, sensitivity and operating conditions still have room for improvement. Composed of dielectric media with different refractive indices to form a periodic structure, an optical material named photonic crystal (PC) can offer a breakthrough.

Abstract Maize grain production in the tropics is affected by Fusarium verticillioides, leading to significant losses in yield and quality. Fungicides are commonly used to control foliar diseases and increase grain yield, but have limited efficacy against F. verticillioides and may even stimulate the fungus to produce mycotoxins. Biocontrol can reduce F.

Pymetrozine, a member of the azomethine pyridine group, is gaining popularity among paddy farmers due to its anti-feeding properties against homopteran insects like planthoppers, whiteflies, and aphids on a wide range of fields, fruits, and ornamental crops.

Summary Bacteria adherence to the surface and the resulting biofilm have serious harmful effects in food. Biofilm formation in foods can lead to food deterioration and disease transfer easily. Some alternative applications are being tried in removing biofilms. Among these, biosurfactants and bacteriophages are promising owing to their low toxicity, easy availability, and high activity.

Toxoplasma gondii is a cosmopolitan protozoan parasite that has a wide range of intermediate hosts. It infects all warm-blooded animals, including humans and birds. The latter typically pick up the infection by ground feeding, and people can contract the parasite from eating undercooked chicken meat. In recent years, investigations into T. gondii infection in poultry have been reported worldwide.

Non-aureus staphylococci and the closely related mammaliicoccal species (NASM) are the most common causes of bovine subclinical mastitis on modern dairy farms and are highly prevalent in bulk-tank milk.

Microplastics (MPs) increase the effective state of heavy metals (HMs) in soil and seriously threaten the yield and quality of peanuts (Arachis Hypogea L.). Kaolinite (KL) has the potential to ameliorate MP- and HM- contaminated soils, but the mechanism of action between them is not well understood.

Exposure to arsenic, an environmental contaminant, is known to cause arsenicosis and cancer. Although considerable research has been conducted to understand the underlying mechanism responsible for arsenic-induced cancers, the precise molecular mechanisms remain unknown, especially at the epigenetic regulation level. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) that have been shown to mediate various biological processes, including proliferation, apoptosis, necrosis, and mutagenesis.

by Benedetto Morandi, Maria Chiara Sabetti, Maira Napoleoni, Ilaria Pascucci, Gionata Orlandi, Marco Pietra, John A. VanLeeuwen, Spencer J. Greenwood, Giovanni Poglayen, Roberta Galuppi Humans and dogs commonly share the same domestic environment. Europe, and Italy specifically, have a substantial and growing dog population. Potentially zoonotic parasites may be harbored even by dogs receiving regular veterinary care.

Background Shrimp cultured in a biofloc system (BFS) have a lower disease incidence than those farmed in a water exchange system (WES). Although a number of studies have reported that the gut bacterial community induced by BFS is highly associated with shrimp disease resistance, the causal relationship remains unknown.

Salmonella Dublin and Campylobacter spp. are two foodborne pathogens of importance. A small number of studies reported that consumption of veal liver was associated with an increased risk of human illness from these two pathogens.

Microbiology Resource Announcements, Ahead of Print. We announce the complete genome sequence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus strain PH1273. This strain was collected from a Penaeus vannamei pond in the Philippines in 2015. Genome analysis revealed that it lacks the gene pirAB responsible for causing acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease but encode multiple secretion systems and the associated effectors.

Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Heidelberg (Salmonella Heidelberg) has caused several multistate foodborne outbreaks in the United States, largely associated with the consumption of poultry. However, a 2015-2017 multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak was linked to contact with dairy beef calves.

Karenia mikimotoi is a common species of red tide dinoflagellate that causes the mass mortality of marine fauna in coastal waters of Republic of Korea. Despite continuous studies on the ecophysiology and toxicity of K. mikimotoi, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Red sea bream, Pagrus major, is a high-value aquaculture fish species, and the coastal aquaculture industry of red sea bream has been increasingly affected by red tides.

Abstract Cheap and widely available calcium‐based materials have gained popularity for remediating cadmium‐contaminated soils, but their potential to address cadmium (Cd) toxicity in acidic soils remains deeply understudied. The current study investigated the effects of calcined oyster shells (COS) and dolomite (DM), applied at a rate of 30 g kg‐1, on Cd availability and its accumulation in spinach plants in acidic Cd‐contaminated soils (Cd concentration: 4.42 mg kg‐1).

Salmonellosis is one of the leading causes of gastrointestinal infections in humans. In Canada, it is estimated that approximately 87,500 cases of salmonellosis occur every year in humans, resulting in 17 deaths. In the United States, it is estimated that 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths occur every year. In dairy cattle, infections caused by nontyphoidal Salmonella enterica can cause mild to severe disease, including enteritis, pneumonia, and septicemia.

by Erin A. Hull, Rebekah R. Stiling, Marco Barajas, Rebecca B. Neumann, Julian D. Olden, James E. Gawel Lake sediments store metal contaminants from historic pesticide and herbicide use and mining operations. Historical regional smelter operations in the Puget Sound lowlands have resulted in arsenic concentrations exceeding 200 μg As g-1 in urban lake sediments.

by Jacob J. Capelle, Eva Hartog, Tony Wilkes, Tjeerd J. Bouma Aggregation into groups may affect performance of individuals through the balance and strength of facilitative versus competitive interactions. We studied in situ how seasonal variation in abiotic environment affects this balance for blue mussels, a semi-sessile species. We hypothesize that seasonal variation in stresses and resources affects the strength of the interaction.

Listeriosis remains one of the most severe foodborne diseases regarding mortality rate. L. monocytogenes can grow under stressful conditions and contaminate various food categories. Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 modified on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs includes either qualitative or quantitative food safety criteria on L. monocytogenes and mentions EN ISO 11290-1 Standard as the reference detection method.

by Tingting Li, Qinpei Zou, Cheng Chen, Qin Li, Shuquan Luo, Zhifeng Li, Chuan Yang, Di Yang, Zhi Huang, Huadong Zhang, Wenge Tang, Li Qi Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) is a common cause of foodborne illness. An outbreak of acute gastrointestinal illness occurred at two middle schools in a rural region of Chongqing, China, in 2021. This study aimed to elucidate the outbreak’s characteristics, identify risk factors, and determine the source of contamination.