Research Publications (Food Safety)

This study aimed to investigate the aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) degradation as a result of using cold plasma by dielectric barrier discharge method at atmospheric pressure with gases (air, nitrogen, argon, and nitrogen + argon) at different times (0, 5, 15, 25, and 35 min) and also to model AFB1 inactivation, cytotoxicity against human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (Hep-G2), and AFB1 bioaccessibility in simulated gastrointestinal conditions.

Saxitoxin (STX), an exceptionally potent marine toxin for which no antidote is currently available, is produced by methanogens and cyanobacteria. This poses a significant threat to both shellfish aquaculture and human health. Consequently, the development of a rapid, highly sensitive STX detection method is of great significance. The objective of this research is to create a novel approach for identifying STX.

Acute Infectious Diarrhea (AID) and the short- and long-term complications associated with it are major causes of hospitalization worldwide. In Italy, due to a lack of robust surveillance programs, only limited data has been collected on their prevalence and circulation. This study aims to evaluate the resistance pattern of enteric pathogens and their epidemiological trends over a six-year period.

The global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is exacerbated by the mobilization of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) occurring in different environmental niches, including seawater. Marine environments serve as reservoirs for resistant bacteria and ARGs, further complicated by the ubiquity of microplastics (MPs). MPs can adsorb pollutants and promote bacterial biofilm formation, creating conditions favorable to the dissemination of ARGs.

The emergence and spread of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major cause of bacterial infections in healthcare. Lysostaphin, a Zn2+‐dependent endopeptidase, hydrolyzes the glycine (G)‐linked pentapeptide bridge in the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. In this study, the stability of lysostaphin was improved by engineering the addition of disulfide bonds around the protein’s Zn2+ binding site through molecular dynamics simulation.

Ultraprocessed foods represent a severe concern to human health due to their direct link with metabolic diseases. Among these foods, mechanically separated meat‐based products are of particular interest due to the use of preservatives and the possible presence of antibiotic residues free or bound to animals’ bone fragments.

by Jillian E. Milanes, Victoria C. Yan, Cong-Dat Pham, Florian Muller, Samuel Kwain, Kerrick C. Rees, Brian N. Dominy, Daniel C. Whitehead, Steven W. Millward, Madison Bolejack, Roger Shek, Logan Tillery, Isabelle Q. Phan, Bart Staker, E. Ashley Moseman, Xiang Zhang, Xipeng Ma, Audriy Jebet, Xinmin Yin, James C. Morris

Microbiology Resource Announcements, Ahead of Print.

Abstract The European Commission requested scientific and technical assistance in the preparation of a EU‐wide baseline survey of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria from aquaculture animals. It is recommended that the survey would aim at estimating the occurrence of AMR in Aeromonas spp.

Abstract Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a mycotoxin affecting animal health through the food chain and has been closely associated with several diseases such as pulmonary edema in pigs and diarrhea in poultry. FB1 is mainly metabolized in the liver. Although a few studies have shown that FB1 causes liver damage, the molecular mechanism of liver damage is unclear.

The safety of milk production in terms of foodborne infections is a worldwide issue, particularly in developing countries where production is often unhygienic. A cross-sectional study was conducted from Decemb...

IntroductionListeria monocytogenes is an ubiquitous foodborne pathogen that represents a serious threat to public health and the food industry.MethodsIn this study Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) was used to characterize 160 L.

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) are potent neurotoxins produced by certain microalgae, particularly dinoflagellates, and they can accumulate in shellfish in coastal seawater and thus pose significant health risks to humans. To explore the relationship between toxicity and PST profiles in seawater and mussels, the spatiotemporal variations in PST concentrations and profiles were investigated along the southern coast of Korea under peak PST levels during spring.

mSystems, Ahead of Print.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a gram-negative halophilic bacterium widespread in temperate and tropical coastal waters; it is considered to be the most frequent cause of Vibrio-associated gastroenteritis in many countries. BolA-like proteins, which reportedly affect various growth and metabolic processes including flagellar synthesis in bacteria, are widely conserved from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. However, the effects exerted by BolA-like proteins on V.

The debranning process, at an industrial scale, was applied to grains of two wheat cultivars to determine its effect on Fusarium mycotoxin content and antioxidant activity. Grain samples from the BRS Marcante and BRS Reponte wheat cultivars, naturally contaminated by Fusarium, were used in the study.