Research Publications (Food Safety)

Publication date: Available online 13 May 2015

Author(s): Jennifer Gentry-Shields , Lee-Ann Jaykus

Publication date: Available online 12 May 2015

Author(s): Ahmed Gomaa , Joyce Boye

To the Editor: Health authorities from Cambodia and European Union member states recently described a pronounced increase in Salmonella enterica serotype Paratyphi A infections in Cambodia resulting from an ongoing outbreak (1,2).

Contaminated leafy green vegetables have been linked to several outbreaks of human gastrointestinal infectionsAntimicrobial interventions that are adoptable by the fresh produce industry for control of pathogen contamination are in great demand. This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of sustained active packaging on control of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and total aerobic bacteria on lettuce. Commercial Iceberg lettuce was inoculated with a 3-strain mixture of E.

Yichen Hu, Weijun Kong, Hongli Luo, Lianhua Zhao, Meihua Yang Although increasing attention has been paid to the health threat caused by mycotoxins in commodities such as food or medicines, mycotoxin transfer processes from crude material to products have raised little concern so far. Radix Astragali is a commonly used edible and medicinal herbal plant that is susceptible to contamination with aflatoxins from Aspergillus flavus.

From clinical and microbiological perspectives, it is important to know which serogroups, virulence, and antibiotic resistance genes and antibiotic resistance patterns are present in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains in poultry meats from turkey, quail and ostrich that have recently been added to the cart households. These were investigated in the present study. Five-hundred poultry meat samples were collected from the supermarkets of Isfahan province, Iran.

To determine whether the norovirus strain GII.17 recently detected in Maryland, USA, (Hu/GII.17/Gaithersburg/2014/US) is spreading globally, we characterized the genome. High similarity with the norovirus GII.17 that caused recent outbreaks in Asia indicates that the same strain was present in the United States during the 2014–15 norovirus season (winter).

A total of 300 food samples including 180 milk and 120 meat products have been examined for the presence of Yersinia sppusing the ISO 10273 and the cold enrichment method. The overall prevalence of Yersinia spp. was 84 (28%). Yersinia enterocolitica was isolated from 18 (6%) of the 300 samples.

Publication date: Available online 12 May 2015

Author(s): Milica Zivkovic , Claudio Hidalgo-Cantabrana , Milan Kojic , Miguel Gueimonde , Natasa Golic , Patricia Ruas-Madiedo

The foodborne bacterial pathogen Campylobacter jejuni is an obligate microaerophile, which is exposed to atmospheric oxygen during transmission through the food chain. Survival under aerobic conditions requires the concerted control of oxidative stress systems, which in C. jejuni are intimately connected with iron metabolism via the PerR and Fur regulatory proteins. Here we have characterised the roles of C.

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Aims
To characterize integron-harbouring Gram-negative bacteria in recreational lakes, with focus on the genetic content of integrons, antimicrobial resistance profiles, and virulence-associated genes.

In Salmonella enterica 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PD) utilization (Pdu) is mediated by a bacterial microcompartment (MCP). The Pdu MCP consists of a multi-protein shell that encapsulates enzymes and cofactors for 1,2-PD catabolism and its role is to sequester a reactive intermediate (propionaldehyde) to minimize cellular toxicity and DNA damage. For the Pdu MCP to function, the enzymes encapsulated within must be provided with a steady supply of substrates and cofactors.

Brucella are intracellular bacterial pathogens that use a type IV secretion system (T4SS) to escape host defenses and create a niche in which they can multiply. Although the importance of Brucella T4SS is clear, little is known about its interactions with host cell structures. In this study, we identified the eukaryotic protein CD98hc as a partner for Brucella T4SS subunit VirB2.

Catrin E. Moore, Phot Nget, Mao Saroeun, Suy Kuong, Seng Chanthou, Varun Kumar, Rachel Bousfield, Johanna Nader, J. Wendi Bailey, Nicholas J. Beeching, Nicholas P. Day, Christopher M. Parry

Background

Gram-negative bacteria survive harmful environmental stressors by modifying their outer membrane. Much of this protection is afforded upon remodeling of the lipid A region of the major surface molecule lipopolysaccharide (LPS). For example, the addition of cationic substituents, such as 4-amino-4-deoxy-L-arabinose (L-Ara4N) and phosphoehthanolamine (pEtN) at the lipid A phosphate groups, is often induced in response to specific environmental flux stabilizing the outer membrane.

The study explores antifungal, anti-aflatoxigenic and antioxidant efficacy of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil (ROEO) and its major compounds. In addition, the mode of action of ROEO and its practical efficacy as preservative have been assessed. GC-MS analysis of ROEO identified 16 compounds; α-pinene, 1,8-cineole and camphor being the major compounds.

Publication date: Available online 9 May 2015

Author(s): Kjersti Selstad Utaaker , Qirong Huang , Lucy J. Robertson

Lü, Jianhua et al. The ability of the cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae), to infest wheat flour under packaged and unpackaged conditions was investigated in the laboratory at 27 ± 2°C and 75% ± 5% relative humidity. Five common packaging materials, namely, vacuum plastic bags, kraft paper bags, nonwoven cloth bags, aluminum foil bags, and woven plastic bags, were investigated. Adults and eggs of L.

Ko, Sang-Mu et al. Outbreaks of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections are most frequently associated with the consumption of contaminated oysters. A rapid and selective concentration method is necessary for the recovery of HAV from contaminated oysters prior to detection using PCR.

Hiko, Adem et al. Processing changes the meat ecosystem and, hence, has an impact on the microbiological load and quality of the product. Microbial contamination decreases shelf life and, if a pathogen is present, increases the risk of zoonoses in humans. The aim of this study was to assess the microbiological load, including zoonotic agents, in ready-to-eat beef mortadella from Ethiopian supermarkets.

Bezerra, André Vinícius Andrade et al. Foodborne diseases are a public health problem worldwide. The consumption of contaminated raw milk has been recognized as a major cause of transmission of bovine tuberculosis to humans. Other mycobacteria that may be present in raw milk and may cause diseases are those belonging to the Mycobacterium avium complex. In this study, molecular biology tools were applied to investigate raw milk contamination with Mycobacterium spp.

Cho, Ara et al. Clostridium difficile is an important cause of enteric disease in humans and animals. The prevalence of C. difficile infection is increasing, and the bacterium is frequently found in meat products, suggesting the possibility of animal-to-human transmission. Therefore, food animals must be assessed for their role as reservoirs of C. difficile. In this study, C. difficile was isolated from 2 (0.3%) of 659 slaughtered pigs in Korea.

Lopatek, Magdalena et al. Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a marine bacterium recognized as an important cause of gastroenteritis in humans consuming contaminated shellfish. In recent years, increasing resistance to ampicillin and aminoglycosides has been observed among V. parahaemolyticus isolates. However, the first-line antimicrobials such as tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones remained highly effective against these bacteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of V.

Korsak, Dorota et al. The purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence of thermophilic Campylobacter in poultry, pork, and beef meat at the retail level and to identify the main categories of meat representing the most significant reservoirs of Campylobacter. A monitoring study was conducted throughout Poland from 2009 to 2013. A total of 1,700 fresh meat samples were collected from supermarkets, large retail outlets, and smaller stores.