Research Publications (Food Safety)

To determine the genetic structure of ermB-positive Tn1546-like mobile elements in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from mainland China. A total of 271 erythromycin-resistant MRSA isolates were isolated from Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (SRRSH) from 2013 to 2015. Whole-genome sequencing was performed for the ermB-positive strains, and the genetic environment of the ermB genes was analyzed.

Endophytic fungi of medicinal plants are abundant, and their metabolites often have antioxidant, antibacterial, and antitumor effects and can produce secondary metabolites identical or similar to those of their hosts, which can mitigate the problem of insufficient supply of medicinal plants. In this study, we screened endophytic fungi for strains that produce the same diterpene lactones as Andrographis paniculata based on their biological activity.

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) are a large group of biotoxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning. Their appearance in natural waters and their ingestion by aquatic species have a huge socio-economic impact, whereby their monitoring is of the upmost relevance to minimize the consequences. For earlier detection and faster response/action by stakeholders, validation of adjusted analytical methods, particularly for lower concentration levels, is important.

Powdered Pleurotus ostreatus (PO) was tested for the detoxification of ochratoxin A (OTA) and zearalenone (ZEN) through in vitro gastrointestinal digestion in the absence and presence of ground feed and cornmeal. Ochratoxin α was detected in the chromatograms after OTA elimination, suggesting the presence of an OTA-hydrolytic enzyme in the PO, whereas ZEN was adsorbed by PO.

In this study, the effects of potassium lactate (PL, Potassium-L-2-hydroxy-propionate, Potassium-L-Lactate) usage (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0% PL of curing mixture) in addition to NaCl and sodium nitrite as curing agent on the physico-chemical, microbiological and sensory properties of ready-to-eat pastırma were investigated.

A multiresidue method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of eight synthetic pyrethroids and hexaconazole fungicide residues in curry leaves. The method involves extraction of leaf sample with ethyl acetate, purified by dispersive SPE with primary secondary amine and graphitized carbon black.

Arsenic (As) has been observed to co-exist with atrazine (ATR) in soils worldwide. ATR, as an organic chemical, may affect the availability of As and further influence its uptake by organisms.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a leading cause of life-threatening endovascular infections. Endothelial cell (EC) damage is a key factor in the pathogenesis of these syndromes. However, genetic factors related to the EC damage have not been well studied. This study aims to identify genetic determinants that impact human EC damage by screening the genome-wide Nebraska Transposon Mutant Library (NTML).

Soil Use and Management, Accepted Article. Ecological restoration refers to the gradual recovery of damaged ecosystems by utilizing their self-recovery capacity and artificial measures. It is considered as an effective technique to alleviate heavy metal pollution in open-pit mining soils. However, little is known about the stability of heavy metals and soil bacterial responses in artificially restored soil-plant systems.

Soil Use and Management, Accepted Article. The accumulation of heavy metals like cadmium (Cd) and metalloids like arsenic (As) in plants can do harm to human health through the food chain, especially through the rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Letters in Applied Microbiology, Accepted Article. Listeria monocytogenes is a typical foodborne pathogen that causes hard-to-treat bacterial infections, mainly due to its ability to form biofilm and enter into a viable but non-culturable state (VBNC). In this study, we investigated the removal effects of four antimicrobial agents on L.

Environmental Microbiology, Volume 24, Issue 2, Page 762-771, February 2022. Organoarsenicals enter the environment from biogenic and anthropogenic sources. Trivalent inorganic arsenite (As(III)) is microbially methylated to more toxic methylarsenite (MAs(III)) and dimethylarsenite (DMAs(III)) that oxidize in air to MAs(V) and DMAs(V).

Environmental Microbiology, Volume 24, Issue 2, Page 752-761, February 2022. Arsenic can be biomethylated to form a variety of organic arsenicals differing in toxicity and environmental mobility. Trivalent methylarsenite (MAs(III)) produced in the methylation process is more toxic than inorganic arsenite (As(III)). MAs(III) also serves as a primitive antibiotic and, consequently, some environmental microorganisms have evolved mechanisms to detoxify MAs(III).

Cooling deviations and temperature abuse are two main reasons leading to the risk of Clostridium botulinum outgrowth in cooked pork. The aim of this research was to create a model that could be used to estimate C. botulinum growth from spores in cooked pork at temperatures similar to those used to chill cooked pork in processing facilities and food establishments. A cocktail of proteolytic C.

Pigs are one of several host species for Toxoplasma gondii, and consumption of infected pork may lead to toxoplasmosis in humans. The aim of this study was to develop an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using surface antigen protein 1 (SAG1) of T. gondii for the diagnosis of porcine toxoplasmosis and to perform a serological investigation of pigs in Shandong province, China.

Caenorhabditis elegans is a well-established model organism for toxicity testing of chemical substances. We recently demonstrated its potential for bioanalysis of the toxic potency of chemical contaminants in water.

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic metal pollutant that can endanger the life and health of animals. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) can result in testicular cell damage by positively regulating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Meanwhile, Testosterone (T) synthesis disorder can affect sexual behavior.

Arsenic and antimony are common toxic metalloids found in associated minerals.

Chili (Capsicum annum) and chili powder are widely consumed in south India. The inherent and eco physiological factors with unusual nutritional characteristics of chili favors the growth of molds, during harvest and post-harvest processing.

Previous research has shown that the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum (ASCO) has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and also increases milk I concentration.

Microorganisms can produce many antibiotics against bacteria and fungi, which have been used as a potential choice of new antibiotics. In this paper, we studied the characteristics of antibacterial substances by Bacillus cereus BC1. The results showed that the acid-precipitated substance played the main role in antibacterial activity, and further characterization indicated that the antibacterial substance might be a lipopeptide substance.

Iron (Fe) deficiency in plants is a common problem affecting agricultural production. Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal that can be taken up and transported within plants by transporters for divalent metals including Fe(II).

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and ochratoxin A (OTA), which are occasionally detected in milk and commercial baby foods, could easily enter and reach the gastrointestinal tract, posing impairment to the first line of defense and causing dysfunction of the tissue. The objective of this study was to investigate the immunostimulatory roles of individual and combined AFM1 and OTA on the immature intestine.

Aspergillus flavus is a saprophytic fungus that can be found across the entire world. It can produce aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), which threatens human health. CreA, as the central factor in carbon catabolite repression (CCR), regulates carbon catabolism and AFB1 biosynthesis in A. flavus. Additionally, SsnF-RcoA are recognized as the corepressors of CreA in CCR.

The increasing number of nosocomial pathogens with resistances towards last resort antibiotics, like linezolid for gram positive bacteria, leads to a pressing need for screening and, consequently, suitable screening media. Some national guidelines on infection prevention (e.g., in Germany) have already recommended screening for linezolid-resistant bacteria, despite an accurate screening medium that was not available yet.