Research Publications (Food Safety)

The transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes commonly occurs via vertical and horizontal gene transfer, as such genes are often found on the same mobile genetic element. This occurrence can lead to the co‐selection of resistance to antimicrobials without their application.

We re‐engineered a classic tool for mutagenesis and gene expression studies in Gram‐negative bacteria. Our modified Tn5‐based transposon contains multiple features that allow rapid selection for mutants, direct quantification of gene expression, and straightforward cloning of the inactivated gene. The promoter‐less gfp‐km cassette provides selection and reporter assay depending on the activity of the promoter upstream of the transposon insertion site.

Shigella spp. are water‐borne pathogens responsible for mild to severe cases bacilli dysentery all around the world known as Shigellosis. The progressively increasing of antibiotic resistance among Shigella calls for developing and establishing novel alternative therapeutic methods. The present study aimed to evaluate a novel phage cocktail of lytic phages against Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) isolates of Shigella species in an aquatic environment.

Listeria monocytogenes is an opportunistic pathogen with the ability to adapt to different environmental conditions, resulting in safety issues for food producers. Foods contaminated by L. monocytogenes can represent a risk if consumed by susceptible individuals such as elderly, pregnant women and the immunocompromised. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity of a collection of L. monocytogenes isolated from different matrices in Brazil during the period of 1979‐2015.

Carvacrol has been recognized as an efficient growth inhibitor of food pathogens. However, carvacrol oil is poorly water‐soluble and can be oxidized, decomposed or evaporated when exposed to the air, light, or heat. To overcome these limitations, a carvacrol nanoemulsion was developed and its antimicrobial activity against food pathogens evaluated in this study.

The loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique was used to investigate six salmonella‐specific sequences for their suitability to serve as targets for the pathogen identification. Sequences selected for designing LAMP primers were genes invA, bcfD, phoP, siiA, gene62181533 and a region within the ttrRSBCA locus. Primers including single nucleotide polymorphisms were configured as degenerate primers.

Contamination of ready‐to‐eat (RTE) foods by pathogenic bacteria may predispose consumers to foodborne diseases. This study investigated the presence of bacterial contaminants and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns in three locally processed RTE foods (eko, fufu and zobo) vended in urban markets in Ogun state, Nigeria.

A triplex‐PCR assay was developed and evaluated for rapid detection of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) recovered from various biological samples of pig. Three sets of primers were designed to target mecA, 16S rRNA and nuc genes of MRSA. The specific amplification generated 3 bands on agarose gel, with sizes 280 bp for mecA, 654 bp for 16S rRNA and 481 bp for nuc, respectively.

Recent studies have shown that Salmonella shedding status affects sows’ microbiota during gestation and that these modifications are reflected in the faecal microbiota of their piglets at weaning.

Significance and Impact of the Study: Blown pack spoilage of vacuum packaged beef caused by Clostridium estertheticum and Clostridium gasigenes is a significant problem for the beef industry. At present, control is reliant on regular disinfection of the abattoir and equipment with sporicidal agents, but it has been suggested that preventing contamination of cattle at the source could be more effective. This study provides evidence that BPS Clostridium spp.

Campylobacter spp. is the leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide and poultry are the primary reservoir. The aim of this study was to investigate the survival and/or growth of C. jejuni NCTC 11168 in broiler digestate prepared from commercial starter, grower and finisher feed formulations. Bolton broth and digestates were prepared, inoculated with C. jejuni NCTC 11168 (approximately 3 log10 CFU per ml) and incubated under microaerobic conditions at 42°C for 24 hours.

Significance and Impact of the Study: Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis (Cfv) is frequently associated with lowered fertility and abortion in ruminants. These infections are responsible for significant reproductive wastage in infected beef and dairy herds and may reduce gross profit margins up to 66%. In India, decreased fertility rates in productive animals are traditionally attributed to brucellosis.

Clostridium difficile (C.difficile) can cause antibiotic‐associated diarrhea or pseudo‐membranous colitis in humans and animals. Currently, the various methods such as microbiological culture,cytotoxic assay, ELISA and PCR have been used to detect Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). These conventional methods, however, require long detection time and professional staff.

The emergence of novel resistant markers hampers the efficacy of beta‐lactam antibiotics to treat infections caused by microrganisms carrying such resistances. This study investigated the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, the carpapenem associated determinants and the molecular epidemiology of Klebsiella pneumoniae showing a New Delhi (NDM) metallo‐β‐lactamase phenotype, isolated from a patient admitted to intensive care unit of the main hospital for acute care of Molise region, cent

This study aims to investigate the gut microbiota and metabolites in breastfed infants with breast milk jaundice (BMJ) using gut microbiome‐metabolomics. Breastfed newborns diagnosed with BMJ and those without BMJ (control group) were enrolled. Fecal samples were collected from the participants and subjected to high‐throughput sequencing of the 16s rDNA V3 and V4 regions of the gut flora and metabolomics of short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs).

ABSTRACT Antimicrobial resistance is a global emergency which needs one health approach to address. The present study was conducted to detect the prevalence of beta‐lactamase and biofilm‐producing‐Klebsiella strains in rectal swabs (n=624) collected from healthy dogs, cats, sheep and goats reared as companion or household animals in India.

Significance and Impact of the Study: In this study, we investigated phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance characteristics by a novel method based on epidemiological cut‐off values. This is the second comprehensive study on the antimicrobial susceptibility characteristics of Aeromonas species using NRI and epidemiological cut‐off values.

Significance and impact of the study: The emergence of carbapenemases and extended‐spectrum β‐lactamases (ESBLs) in bacteria has now become a global problem leading to failure of advanced antimicrobial therapy. We report for the first time the blaNDM‐1 gene in non‐fermenting Gram‐negative bacterial isolates, and the blaKPC‐2 gene in an Escherichia coli isolate from goat meat in India.

Listeria monocytogenes, a well‐known foodborne pathogen and the causative agent of listeriosis, has the ability to persist in food processing environments due to its high adhesion ability in different surfaces, playing an important role in the food industry. The aim of this study was to assess how the main stressing conditions, usually observed in meat processing facilities (sanitizers, NaCl, curing salts), interfere in L. monocytogenes adhesion and biofilm formation.

This study investigated the effects of dietary Bifidobacterium bifidum (BFD) and mannan‐oligosaccharide (MOS), as a synbiotic, on the production performance, gut microbiology, serum biochemistry, antioxidant profile, and health indices of broiler chicken.

Staphylococci from Sheedal of Northeast India was isolated, identified and characterized. All the isolated Staphylococci were found to be coagulase‐negative. Based on the rpoB gene sequences followed by analysis using NCBI‐BLAST software, seven species of Staphylococcus namely, S. piscifermentans, S. condimenti, S. arlettae, S. sciuri, S. warneri, S. nepalensis and S. hominis were recognized. Phylogenetic analyses revealed three major cluster groups.

Phage therapy is considered an alternative modality in the treatment of different bacterial diseases. However, their therapeutic and preventive roles against infections caused by S.Kentucky and E.coli O119 were of little attention. In this study, two phages were isolated, characterized, and assessed for their potential therapeutic and preventive roles against S.Kentucky and E.coli O119 infections in broilers.

The aims of the present study were to examine the occurrence of Staphylococcus spp. in the tonsils of slaughtered pigs in a regional slaughterhouse in Greece, the antibiotic resistance of the Staphylococcus spp. isolates, and the enteroxigenicity of the S. aureus isolates. Staphylococcus spp. were isolated in 70 (48.61%) out of the total 144 tonsil samples. The predominant species was S.

Significance and Impact of the Study: This study shows the prevalence of pathogenic Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio mimicus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from shrimp that is commercialized in Reynosa city. This could represent a risk to consumers' health, since outbreaks related to shrimp contaminated with Vibrio have been previously reported. Additionally, shrimp fishing has a major role in Mexico's economy.

A Coxiella sp. closely related to the agent of Q‐fever, Coxiella burnetii, has been associated with mortalities in redclaw crayfish, (Cherax quadricarinatus), in farms and experimental facilities for three decades. Limited sequence data including 16S rRNA have placed the rickettsial species as a new species, candidatus Coxiella cheraxi closely related to C. burnetii. MinION sequencing was conducted on the last remaining sample from an outbreak of disease, TO‐98.