Research Publications (Food Safety)

Author(s): M. Päivärinta, S. Latvio, M. Fredriksson-Ahomaa, A. Heikinheimo

Formulation of bio‐degradable active and intelligent food packaging films Propolis extract resulted as an active material for food packaging Anthocyanin preformed as an intelligent material for food packaging Formulated films enhanced food quality, shelf life, and freshness Formulations had shown good antibacterial property against Escherichia coli and methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Formulations had shown good color response against pH 1–14.

Listeria spp. are ubiquitously found in both the natural and the food processing environment, of which Listeria monocytogenes is of an important health risk. Here, we report on the formation of single and mixed species biofilms of L. monocytogenes/Listeria innocua and Lactobacillus plantarum strains in 24‐well polystyrene microtiter plates and on the inactivation of 24‐hr and 72‐hr biofilms using quaternary ammonium compound‐, tertiary alkyl amine‐, and chlorine‐based disinfectants.

This study investigated potential contamination sources in a commercial, closed hydroponic system. Water, substrate, and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) samples were evaluated for microbiological indicator populations, including aerobic plate count (APC), coliform bacteria (CB), and yeast and mold (YM). Listeria spp. detection via cultural enrichment and agglutination was negative for all samples.

Aims The object of this study was to identify potential health concerns of the Aeromons spp. isolated from marketed Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai) with respect to their virulence and antimicrobial resistance patterns.

Norovirus is commonly associated with food and waterborne outbreaks. Genetic susceptibility to norovirus is largely dependent on presence of histo-blood group antigens (HBGA), specifically ABO, secretor, and Lewis phenotypes. The aim of the study was to determine the association between HBGAs to norovirus susceptibility during a large norovirus foodborne outbreak linked to genotype GII.6 in an office-based company in Stockholm, Sweden, 2015.

Observational studies have consistently shown that influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) is lower for H3N2 relative to H1N1pdm09 and type B, and this is not entirely explained by antigenic match. The triad of virus, vaccine, and host immunity provides a framework to examine contributing factors. Antigenic evolution facilitates H3N2 immune escape, and increasing glycosylation of the hemagglutinin shields antigenic sites from antibody binding.

Climate change and geography affect all the living organisms. To date, the effects of climate and geographical factors on plant metabolome largely remain open for worldwide and local investigations. In this study, we designed field experiments with tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) in India versus USA and used untargeted metabolomics to understand the association of two weather factors and two different continental locations with respect to tobacco metabolism.

Does integration into commercial markets lead people to work longer hours? Does this mean that people in more subsistence-oriented societies work less compared to those in more market-integrated societies? Despite their venerable status in both anthropology and economic history, these questions have been difficult to address due to a dearth...

Potential synergism between florfenicol (FF) and thiamphenicol (TAP) was investigated for in vitro efficacy against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and/or Pasteurella multocida as well as in vivo efficacy in swine. Among isolates of A. pleuropneumoniae (n = 58) and P. multocida (n = 79) from pigs in Taiwan that were tested, high percentages showed resistance to FF (52 and 53%, respectively) and TAP (57 and 53%, respectively).

Lead (Pb) is extremely toxic and a major cause of chronic diseases worldwide. Pb is associated with health disparities, particularly within low-income populations. In biological systems, Pb mimics calcium and, among other effects, interrupts cell signaling. Furthermore, Pb exposure results in epigenetic changes that affect multigenerational gene expression. Exposure to...

Voltage-gated sodium channels (NaVs) are a key determinant of neuronal signalling. Neurotoxins from diverse taxa that selectively activate or inhibit NaV channels have helped unravel the role of NaV channels in diseases, including chronic pain. Spider venoms contain the most diverse array of inhibitor cystine knot (ICK) toxins (knottins).

ABSTRACT

Author(s): E.C. Chukwuma, Abdul Rashid, G. Okafor, A.O. Nwoke

Author(s): U.Z. Banday, S.B. Swaleh, N. Usmani

A 12‐week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of two dietary probiotics; Bacillus subtilis KCTC 2217 or Bacillus licheniformis KCCM 11775 with two prebiotics; mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) or fructooligosaccharide (FOS) in Japanese eel. Fish averaging 12.8 ± 0.47 g (mean ± SD) were randomly distributed into five treatments with triplicate tanks.

The invasion of Candida albicans is one of the most common fungal infections seen in clinical practice, and serious drug resistance has been reported in recent years. Therefore, new anti-C. albicans drugs must be introduced. In this research, it was demonstrated that cinnamaldehyde (CA) shows strong antimicrobial activity, with 0.26 mg/mL CA being the minimum inhibitory concentration to manage C. albicans.

Outcome of patients with blood stream infections (BSI) depends on the rapid initiation of adequate antibiotic therapy, which relies on the fast and reliable identification of the underlying pathogen. Blood cultures (BC) using CO2-sensitive colorimetric indicators and subsequent microbiological culturing are the diagnostic gold standard but turnaround times range between 24 and 48 h.

The widespread use of metals influenced many researchers to examine the relationship between heavy metal toxicity and bacterial resistance. In this study, we have inoculated heavy metal-contaminated soil from Janghang region of South Korea in the nickel-containing media (20 mM Ni2+) for the enrichment. Among dozens of the colonies acquired from the several transfers and serial dilutions with the same concentrations of Ni, the strain Ni-2 was chosen for further studies.

In total, 77 rhizobial strains isolated from the root nodules of T. repens, inhabiting heavy metal-contaminated waste heap (36 isolates) and control grassland (41 ones) in southern Poland, were analyzed for genome polymorphism and strength of the heavy metals’ (mainly Zn, Pb, Cd) selective pressure on bacterial genome polymorphism using two PCR-based techniques, ERIC- (enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus) and REP-PCR (repetitive extragenic palindromic) sequences.

Tanneries are the primary source of toluene pollution in the environment and toluene due to its hazardous effects has been categorized as persistent organic pollutant. Present study was initiated to trace out metabolic fingerprints of three toluene-degrading bacteria isolated from tannery effluents of Southern Punjab.

Background Children with cystic fibrosis (CF) can develop life-threatening infections of Mycobacterium abscessus. These present a significant clinical challenge, particularly when the strains involved are resistant to antibiotics. Recent evidence of within-patient subclones of M. abscessus in adults with CF suggests the possibility that within-patient diversity may be relevant for the treatment of pediatric CF patients.

Extended spectrum beta-lactamases and AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL/AmpC-E) have become a great concern in both human and veterinary medicine. One setting in which this risk could be particularly prominent is petting zoos, in which humans, especially children, directly and indirectly interact with the animals.

Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) is considered as an opportunistic zoonotic pathogen that may cause gastroenteritis in humans and other animals. Wild birds may be as potential vectors of C. jejuni around urban and suburban areas. Here, 520 samples were collected from 33 wild bird species in urban and suburban areas, Beijing. In total 57 C. jejuni were isolated from seven species.