Research Publications (Food Safety)

Author(s): Woxiu Zhong, Chengcheng Xie, Dan Hu, Siyi Pu, Xi Xiong, Jun Ma, Lingxia Sun, Zhuo Huang, Mingyan Jiang, Xi Li

Transgenic tobacco (N. tabacum cv. Xanthi nc) expressing Capsicum chinense CchGLP gene that encodes an Mn-SOD, constitutively produces hydrogen peroxide that increase endogenous ROS levels. Previous studies using these plants against geminivirus infections as well as drought stress confirmed that CchGLP expression conferred resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses.

Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is one of the most common swine pathogens in the swine industry and leads to great harm to the normal progress of the swine industry. S. suis can also infect humans and cause a variety of fatal diseases, such as meningitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, that pose a major threat to the safety of life and health of both humans and animals.

Lead is toxic to humans and wildlife. Most studies of lead exposure of raptors focus on the winter, non-breeding season when they scavenge heavily. We evaluated blood lead concentrations (BLCs) of red-shouldered hawks (Buteo lineatus) during the non-scavenging season in the eastern United States.

Phosphate metabolism was studied to determine whether polyphosphate (polyP) pools play a role in the enhanced resistance against Cd2+ and metal-removal capacity of Cd2+-preadapted (CdPA) Methanosarcina acetivorans. Polyphosphate kinase (PPK), exopolyphosphatase (PPX) and phosphate transporter transcript levels and their activities increased in CdPA cells compared to control (Cnt) cells. K+ inhibited recombinant Ma-PPK and activated Ma-PPX, whereas divalent cations activated both enzymes.

Horizontal transfer of plasmids encoding antimicrobial resistance and virulence determinants has been instrumental in Staphylococcus aureus evolution, including the emergence of community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA). In the early 1990s, the first CA-MRSA strain isolated in Western Australia (WA), WA-5, encoded cadmium, tetracycline, and penicillin resistance genes on plasmid pWBG753 (~30 kb).

New drugs with novel mechanisms of resistance are desperately needed to address both community and nosocomial infections due to Gram-negative bacteria. One such potential target is LpxC, an essential enzyme that catalyzes the first committed step of lipid A biosynthesis. Achaogen conducted an extensive research campaign to discover novel LpxC inhibitors with activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Author(s): Milton Cabral de Vasconcelos Neto, Thales Brendon Castano Silva, Vânia Eloísa de Araújo, Scheilla Vitorino Carvalho de Souza

Author(s): Ruth Vanderschueren, Vincent De Mesmaeker, Sandra Mounicou, Marie-Pierre Isaure, Emmanuel Doelsch, Daniela Montalvo, Jan A. Delcour, Eduardo Chavez, Erik Smolders

Author(s): Shin-ichi Nakamura, Nobuo Suzui, Yong-Gen Yin, Satomi Ishii, Shu Fujimaki, Naoki Kawachi, Hiroki Rai, Takashi Matsumoto, Kanna Izawa-Sato, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu

Author(s): Huiru Chen, Yang Yang, Yafeng Ye, Liangzhi Tao, Xiangdong Fu, Binmei Liu, Yuejin Wu

Author(s): Ziwei Xu, Meiping Wang, Dongliang Xu, Zongliang Xia

Congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) is a cluster of malformation, and the mechanisms that lead it are still unclear. Using hypothesis-driven candidate genes and their function in viral infections, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in a sample population from Sergipe State, Brazil.

Author(s): Chenlu Fu, Hongling Zhang, Mingzhu Xia, Wu Lei, Fengyun Wang

Cryptosporidiosis is a significant cause of gastroenteritis in both humans and livestock in developing countries. The only FDA-approved drug available against the same is nitazoxanide, with questionable efficacy in malnourished children and immunocompromised patients.

Increasingly variable hydrologic regimes combined with more frequent and intense extreme events are challenging water systems management worldwide. These trends emphasize the need of accurate medium‐ to long‐term predictions to timely prompt anticipatory operations.

Author(s): Yingjie Wang, Zhengfei Xie, Qian Wu, Wanying Song, Liang Liu, Yongning Wu, Zhiyong Gong

Author(s): Leticia Rodrigues Alves, André Rodrigues dos Reis, Emilaine Rocha Prado, José Lavres, Georgia Bertoni Pompeu, Ricardo Antunes Azevedo, Priscila Lupino Gratão

In order to trace the source of Pb pollution in wheat, the contribution ratio of soil and atmospheric fallout source was quantified based on stable isotope ratios. Results showed that the average Pb content of soil was significantly lower than that of fallout, and Pb in the fallout had a higher weak acid fraction than soil. Pb in wheat had a distinct distribution in its tissues and the content of Pb in wheat roots was significantly higher than it in shoots.

Author(s): Letícia Harumi Oshiquiri, Karina Roterdanny Araújo dos Santos, Sidnei Alves Ferreira Junior, Andrei Stecca Steindorff, Jomal Rodrigues Barbosa Filho, Thuana Marcolino Mota, Cirano José Ulhoa, Raphaela de Castro Georg

Author(s): Annette Petersen, Bodil Hamborg Jensen, Nathalie Michelle Löbl, Elsa Nielsen, Lea Bredsdorff, Sisse Fagt, Tue Christensen, Julie Boberg This study shows that dietary habits have an impact on contaminant exposures. A tool was developed to calculate chemical exposures for different Danish population groups. First, the tool divided the individuals into quartiles using a previously developed scoring system for how well their diet complies with the Danish dietary guidelines.

Abstract

Aims

Excessive boron (B) can pose toxicity to many plant species, and consequently restricts land utilization in B-laden regions. The purpose of this study was to identify “agretti” (Salsola soda) as an alternative B-tolerant food crop.

Effect of base trehalose solution on quality of prepared weever during repeated freeze‐thaw cycles has been studied. L* (lightness), b* (yellowness), expressible moisture and total volatile base nitrogen (TVBN) of weever sample dipped in base trehalose solution reduced comparing with the control (without treatment), while pH, a* (redness), shear force, moisture content of treated samples increased (p ＜ .05) with the increased freeze‐thaw cycle.

Interactions of the flavoring compounds hexyl acetate (HxAc), heptyl acetate (HpAc), linalyl formate (LiFo), linalyl acetate (LiAc), geraniol, linalool, limonene, and myrcene with soy protein isolate (SPI) were estimated in pH 3.0, 6.0, and 9.0 aqueous solutions using headspace solid‐phase microextraction gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (SPME–GC–MS). The binding capacity of HxAc, HpAc, LiFo, LiAc, geraniol, and linalool increased in the pH of the medium from 3 to 9.

The use of leaded gasoline adversely affects cardiovascular, nervous, and immune systems. Study projects to rule out different variables of prognostic importance in lead-exposed subjects. A total of 317 traffic wardens with 5 years of outdoor experience and Hb levels < 10 µg/dl, and 100 traffic wardens with indoor duties were substituted in two groups.