Research Publications (Food Safety)

The research was conducted to elucidate the antibacterial performance and mode of action of Eucommia ulmoides male flower extract (EUMFE) against Staphylococcus aureus and its application as a natural preservative in cooked beef. The antibacterial activity was evaluated by determining the diameter of inhibition zone (DIZ), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericide concentration (MBC).

Listeria monocytogenes is an environmentally adapted saprophyte that can change into a human and animal bacterial pathogen with zoonotic potential through several regulatory systems. In this review, the focus is on the occurrence of Listeria sensu stricto and sensu lato in different ecological niches, the detection methods, and their analytical limitations. It also highlights the occurrence of L.

Climate change driven seawater temperature (SWT) increases results in greater abundance and geographical expansion of marine pathogens, among which Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) causes serious economic and health issues. In addition, plastic pollution in the ocean constitutes a vector for harmful pathogens dissemination.

Harmful secondary metabolites produced by fungi, mycotoxins, are found worldwide in a multitude of products. Roquefortine C (ROQ-C) is a mycotoxin produced by Penicillium roqueforti, the major fungus used to ripen blue-veined cheeses. To facilitate the screening of cheeses for ROQ-C, a method based upon the ambient ionization technique of direct analysis in real time-mass spectrometry (DART-MS) was developed.

In this study, a recombinase aided amplification (RAA) assay with an improved propidium monoazide (PMAxx) treatment called PMAxx-RAA assay was developed to detect Salmonella in milk. The established method was performed at 39 °C and the detection time was less than 40 min. Compared with traditional detection methods, the PMAxx-RAA assay is fast, sensitive, and specific because of the gene invA that was selected to design unique primers and probes for detection.

In the present study, a total of 80 commercial blossom honey samples were obtained from local markets in Ankara, Turkey. These honeys were analyzed for 35 important and risky antibiotics (sulfonamide, tetracycline, macrolide, cephalosporin, aminoglycoside, quinolone, nitrofuran, chloramphenicol, and anthelmintic groups) by the LC-MS/MS multi-antibiotic method. In addition to these analyses, pH measure, moisture, and electrical conductivity were determined in these honey samples.

Journal of Food Process Engineering, EarlyView. A food safety agent-based model (FS-ABS) with discrete time event simulation using NetLogo© was developed to predict the levels of cross-contamination in a lettuce processing facility. Visualization of the whole processing line shows different lettuce pieces around each equipment's surface.

A novelty high-throughput semi-automatic sample clean-up method was developed and used for rapid analysis of 9 drug residues in fish muscle tissues combined with high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-linear ion trap mass spectrometry (HPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS). The target compounds were extracted by Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe multiresidue (QuEChERS) method with acetonitrile. A vortex oscillating clean-up column was proposed for single step purification firstly.

In underdeveloped and developing countries, due to poverty, fermentation is one of the most widely used preservation methods. It not only allows extending the shelf life of food, but also brings other benefits, including inhibiting the growth of pathogenic microorganisms, improving the organoleptic properties and product digestibility, and can be a valuable source of functional microorganisms.

The Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS) is one of the pillars of the global action plan on antimicrobial resistance launched by the World Health Organization in 2015. This study was conducted to determine the feasibility and benefits of GLASS as a component of antimicrobial stewardship strategies in three provincial hospitals in Thailand.

Antimicrobial drug resistance is a major health issue plaguing healthcare worldwide and leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths globally each year. Tackling this problem requires discovery and development of new antibacterial agents.

Outbreaks and recalls associated with foods containing spices suggest a need for risk assessment of Salmonella in spices. In this study, the survivability of Salmonella Enteritidis PT 30, Salmonella cocktail (S. Enteritidis PT 30, S. Tennessee K4643 and S. Agona 447967) and Enterococcus faecium NRRL B-2354 in chili, cinnamon and black pepper at water activities (aw) 0.3 and 0.5 were evaluated during one-year storage at 21 °C.

The Fusarium toxins constitute one of the largest groups of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium species, which are major pathogens of cereal plants.

Listeria monocytogenes (LM) is a bacterial pathogen known to cause rhombencephalitis in ruminants. Neutrophils accumulate intracerebrally as microabscesses, where bacterial phagocytosis occurs. In-situ investigations in ruminant brains indicate that LM can persist in neutrophils, but LM interaction with neutrophils is poorly studied.

This study evaluated the presence of aflatoxin B1 in five different animal feeds collected from manufacturers, suppliers and consumers and its possible reduction by heating at 100°C for 180 min. A total of 160 animal feed samples were collected and analyzed by using lateral flow immunoassay method.

The present study aimed to determine the presence of the aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in breast milk samples from 123 nursing women and the degree of exposure of infants to this toxin, in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon state (northeast Mexico). Upon analysis, 100% of the samples were found to be contaminated with the toxin at an average concentration of 17.04 ng/L, with a range of 5.00 to 66.23 ng/L.

This study evaluated the fungal incidence through direct plating in Agar Dichloran Glycerol, and the presence of aflatoxins in maize samples from the Highlands and Coast of Ecuador by HPLC, investigating the influence of the temperature, altitude, water activity, and humidity of the collection regions on the maize samples’ contamination using Principal Components Analysis (PCA).

Zoonoses and Public Health, EarlyView. Autochthonous cases of hepatitis E (HE) associated with zoonotic genotypes HEV-3 and HEV-4 have significantly increased in industrialized countries over the last decade. Suidae are generally recognized as the main reservoirs of these genotypes. Susceptibility to HE virus (HEV) infection and zoonotic potential have also been confirmed in other species, including sheep and goat.

Zoonoses and Public Health, EarlyView. Worldwide, hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is considered a significant public health concern. In particular, HEV genotype 4 (HEV-4) has spread to more areas and host species. In this study, we describe the global distribution of HEV-4 and characterize HEV-4 subtypes by host, country and year of isolation. We retrospectively collected HEV-4 sequences available before December 31, 2019, in GenBank.

Environmental Microbiology Reports, EarlyView. Antibiotic resistance (AR) in bacteria is an urgent and global health issue, encompassing clinical, agricultural, terrestrial and aquatic environments. AR is not only expressed through genetic resistance. It is also found in bacteria in a small fraction of populations exhibiting antibiotic ‘persister’ states, thereby acting as a reservoir for re-growth.

Journal of Food Biochemistry, EarlyView. This study reports the protective role of the aqueous extract of Syzygium aromaticum (ESA) against lead (Pb)-induced neurotoxicity in mice. Thirty male mice weighing between 18 g and 25 g were randomly divided into five groups.

Journal of Applied Microbiology, Accepted Article. This study explored how dairy farm operating systems with free-stall or tie-stall housing and cow hygiene score influence the occurrence of zoonotic bacteria in raw milk. Samples from bulk tank milk, milk filters, feces, feed, teats and teat milk were collected from eleven farms with loose housing and seven farms with tie-stall housing every second month over a period of 11 months and analyzed for the presence of STEC by culturing c

International Journal of Food Science & Technology, EarlyView. A new gelatin-protocatechuic acid (PCA) film with Escherichia coli O157:H7 phage JN01 was developed and characterised. After incorporated with JN01, swelling value, water vapour permeability, water solubility and elongation at break of gelatin-PCA film were not significantly different.

Salmonellosis involving chicken meat is one of the most frequent foodborne diseases registered worldwide. Many studies report the prevalence of Salmonella spp. on chicken meat; however, data are limited or variable.

Salmonella enterica is a leading human pathogen responsible for foodborne outbreaks worldwide. In the last decade, foods with low water activity (aw) and high-fat content have been involved in an increased occurrence of foodborne outbreaks. This research focuses on the foodstuff tahini, which is often linked to Salmonella infection outbreaks and recalls.