Research Publications (Food Safety)

Antimalarial drug resistance is a substantial impediment to malaria control. The spread of resistance has been described using genetic markers, which are important epidemiological tools. We carried out a temporal analysis of changes in allele frequencies of 12 drug resistance markers over 2 decades of changing antimalarial drug policy in Kenya.

Valganciclovir, the ganciclovir prodrug, is an antiviral agent administered orally to prevent or treat cytomegalovirus infection in solid-organ transplant recipients. The valganciclovir dosing regimen in children is still controversial, as the number of patients reaching the area under the concentration-time curve at steady state (AUCss) target (40 to 60 mg·h/liter) remains highly variable.

Globally, more people die annually from tuberculosis than from any other single infectious agent. Unfortunately, there is no commercially available vaccine that is sufficiently effective at preventing the acquisition of pulmonary tuberculosis in adults. In this study, preexposure prophylactic pulmonary delivery of active aerosolized antituberculosis bacteriophage D29 was evaluated as an option for protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Author(s): Xingmin Wang, Yonghong Yang, Mark M. Huycke

Author(s): Xiaojing Tian, Yi Liu, Qianqian Yu, Lele Shao, Xingmin Li, Ruitong Dai

Author(s): Erpeng Wang, Zhifeng Gao, Yan Heng, Lijia Shi

Author(s): E. Mercken, I. Van Damme, A. Serradell, S. Gabriël

The calix[4]resorcinarene macrocycles are excellent oligomers for the design of amphiphilic derivatives; they can form self-assemblies and stable sensing networks. Owing to their favorable properties, they are the focus of many exploitations and studies ranging from biological controls to heavy metal ion sensing.

ABSTRACT Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are a major concern for public health, and broiler farms are a potential source of MRSA isolates. In this study, a total of 56 MRSA isolates from 15 broiler farms from 4 different counties in Germany were characterised phenotypically and genotypically.

ABSTRACT This study was performed to investigate the hypothesis that supplementation of processed lignocellulose (PL) in the diets of broilers has a positive effect on growing performance, pH value of gizzard, hepatic enzyme activity, immunologic indicators, histomorphological character of small intestine, and cecal microflora populations.

ABSTRACT Chromium propionate (Cr Prop) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine for supplementation to broiler diets up to 0.20 mg Cr/kg diet.

ABSTRACT This study was aimed to assess the protective effects of γ-irradiated Astragalus polysaccharides (IAPS) on the development of small intestine and intestinal mucosal immunity of immunosuppressed broilers induced by cyclophosphamide (CPM).

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the effect of in ovo Bacillus spp. base probiotic (BBP) administration on hatchability, Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) recovery, performance, and microbiota composition in 2 independent trials using a virulent E. coli seeder challenge model. In each trial, one hundred and eighty 18-day-old embryos were allocated into 1 of 2 groups: Control and treated group (inoculated with 107 BBP).

ABSTRACT Antimicrobial resistance is a global threat for both human and animal health. One of the main drivers of antimicrobial resistance is inappropriate antimicrobial use in livestock production. The aim of this study was to examine the technical and economic impact of tailor-made interventions, aimed at reducing antimicrobial use in broiler production.

F. Burckhardt and E. Kissling Abstract We created a free and interactive training activity based on playing cards (disease detective cards) that introduces foodborne outbreak investigations to public health professionals and students. Competencies taught cover-selected descriptive and analytic epidemiologic topics, such as case definition, epidemic curve, 2-by-2 tables, relative risks, attack rates, stratification, and confounding.

The deliberate release of biological agents with terrorist or criminal intent continues to pose concerns in the current geopolitical situation. Therefore, attention is still needed to ensure preparedness against the potential use of pathogens as unconventional weapons. Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is one such biological threat, characterized by an extremely low lethal dose, high morbidity and mortality when appropriately disseminated, and the capacity to cause panic and social disruption.

A pheochromocytoma of the rat adrenal medulla derived (a.k.a. PC12) cell-based assay for dopamine measurement by luminescence detection was customized for the qualitative evaluation of agonists and antagonists of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The assay mechanism begins with ligand binding to transmembrane nAChRs, altering ion flow into the cell and inducing dopamine release from the cell.

by Kelsey A. Behrens, Leigh A. Jania, John N. Snouwaert, MyTrang Nguyen, Sheryl S. Moy, Andrey P. Tikunov, Jeffrey M. Macdonald, Beverly H. Koller

by Elizeth Lopes, Teresa Conceição, Laurent Poirel, Hermínia de Lencastre, Marta Aires-de-Sousa

Background

In 2016, very high rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-ST398 (99%) were found in Portuguese pig farms that used colistin, amoxicillin, and zinc oxide as feed additives. Since then, farms A and B banned the use of colistin, and farm C banned the use of both antibiotics.

Objective

ABSTRACT

Author(s): Kelvin B. Musyoka, John N. Kiiru, Eva Aluvaala, Protus Omondi, William K. Chege, Terry Judah, Daniel Kiboi, Joseph K. Nganga, Francis T. Kimani

Author(s): Silvia Gianì, Verdiana Di Cesare, Floriana Gavazzi, Laura Morello, Diego Breviario

Author(s): Maryia Mishyna, Jianshe Chen, Ofir Benjamin