Research Publications (Food Safety)

This study was conducted to propose a new strategy for preventing Pectobacterium carotovorum-mediated potato soft rot through the development of a carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-based antibacterial coating incorporated with green tea extract (GTE). GTE/CMC films resulted in increased water vapor permeability due to the incorporation of polar groups in GTE. In the antibacterial test against P. carotovorum, the MBC value of GTE was 2 mg/mL.

Mycotoxin emergence and co-occurrence trends in Canadian grains are dynamic and evolving in response to changing weather patterns within each growing season. The mycotoxins deoxynivalenol and zearalenone are the dominant mycotoxins detected in grains grown in Eastern Canada. Two potential emerging mycotoxins of concern are sterigmatocystin, produced by Aspergillus versicolor, and diacetoxyscirpenol, a type A trichothecene produced by a number of Fusarium species.

A chalcone cardamonin competitively binds to aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and suppresses its nuclear translocation, heterodimerization of AhR and AhR nuclear translocator (ARNT), their phosphorylation, DNA binding of heterodimer, and cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) expression in the liver cells. Scope Chalcones are widely present in most plants and have various health beneficial functions.

Abstract This study aimed to perform in vitro antiparasitic and antimicrobial tests with the essential oil (EO) of Schinus terebinthifolius against of fish and shrimp. The chemical composition of the EO of S. terebinthifolius was determined by gas chromatography. For the antiparasitic test, the protozoan Epistylis sp. obtained from parasitized Oreochromis niloticus was used, and exposed to different concentrations of EO (2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.25%), and control with 1% grain alcohol.

by Namsoo Kim, Sinyoung Kim, Jong Rak Choi, Younhee Park

Background/aims

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is characterized by the presence of auto-antibodies and high blood immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels. In this study, the line immunoassay (LIA) was designed to assess various autoantibodies.

Methods

The ability to sense and respond effectively to acidic stress is important for microorganisms to survive and proliferate in fluctuating environments. As specific metabolic activities can serve to buffer the cytoplasmic pH, microorganisms rewire their metabolism to favour these reactions and thereby mitigate acid stress. The orally acquired pathogen Listeria monocytogenes exploits alternative metabolic activities to overcome the acidic stress encountered in the human stomach or food products.

Throughout history, Turkish coffee has been the most widely consumed type of coffee in Turkey. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine the amount of ochratoxin A (OTA) present in Turkish coffee and to analyze any potential health hazards. A total of 41 Turkish coffees were collected and analyzed for OTA activity using a competitive enzyme immunoassay (ELISA).

Microbiology Resource Announcements, Ahead of Print.

Abstract River confluences with a compound‐channel tributary are common in large river networks, for example, the Yangtze River basin and the Amazon basin. They affect the confluence hydrodynamics, nutrient depletion and fish migration in the network, due to the seasonal exposure and submergence of the tributary floodplain. The corresponding influencing mechanisms are critical but poorly understood.

Phenolic extract from patawa fruits was encapsulated into acetylated cashew gum polysaccharides and chitosan nanoparticles. acCGP/CS@PEP nanoparticles presented improved antioxidant and antibacterial properties against foodborne pathogens. Summary One recent trend in the food industry is using natural antioxidants and antimicrobials as additives for developing multi‐functional packaging.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important cereal crop worldwide. Contaminated maize kernels pose a significant mycotoxin exposure risk for humans in Latin America. Fumonisins, the most prevalent mycotoxin in maize, typically occur during pre-harvest conditions leading to significant economic losses. Various factors, including weather conditions, may influence this contamination.

Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease impacting over 250 million individuals globally, remains a major public health challenge due to its prevalence and significant impact on affected communities. Praziquantel, the sole available treatment, highlights the urgency of the need for novel anthelmintic agents to achieve the World Health Organization (WHO) goal of schistosomiasis elimination.

Abstract The conclusions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authority of the rapporteur Member State The Netherlands for the pesticide active substance 1‐methylcyclopropene are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council for an amendment in approval conditions.

A new method for screening 300 pesticide residues in fruit‐, vegetable‐, and cereal‐based baby foods by an improved QuEChERS purification method based on amino‐functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (NH2‐MWCNTs) combined with gas chromatography‐electrostatic field orbitrap high‐resolution mass spectrometry (Orbitrap GC‐MS) was developed.

This review evaluates recent novel technologies for aflatoxins decontamination by physical method (microwave heating, Gama and electron beam irradiation, pulse light and ultraviolet), chemical method (ozone, natural plant extracts, and organic acids), and biological method (atoxigenic Aspergillus strains, Trichoderma spp., and bacteria and yeast). The study also highlights on the cutting‐edge technologies of smart packaging and artificial intelligence.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a type B trichothecene mycotoxin that is commonly found in cereals and grains worldwide. The presence of this fungal secondary-metabolite raises public-health concerns at both the agric...

Modified atmosphere package (MAP), as a practical, economic, and easy to operate food package technique, has experienced a rapid development in both scientific and industrial communities. In recent years, given the superiority of super-atmospheric O2 (SO) MAP in preserving fruits and vegetables relative to low O2 and/or high CO2 MAP, SO MAP is back on the radar of researchers.

The homologous E6-AP carboxy-terminal structural domain (HECT) contained in E3 ubiquitin ligases (E3s) is a key factor in protein degradation and maintenance of cellular homeostasis in animals. However, the functional roles and evolutionary aspects of the HECT gene family in bivalve mussels remain unclear and warrant further investigation.

Abstract Grain yield response to consumptive water use a.k.a. evapotranspiration (ETc) is a critical dimension of food‐water nexus in irrigated agroecosystems. With the largest water footprint, irrigated corn production in the U.S. must be assessed for its ETc and water use efficiency (WUE) at a scale meaningful for producers and water managers.

With its historical roots, Iranian traditional medicine has played a significant role in addressing liver‐related disorders and providing alternative approaches to synthetic drugs. Liver‐related disorders, such as hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, pose significant health challenges worldwide. From traditional practices and indigenous knowledge, Iranian traditional medicine offers a holistic approach to liver health.