Research Publications (Food Safety)

A mutant of Salmonella Typhimurium was isolated that simultaneously affected two metabolic pathways: NAD metabolism and DNA repair. The mutant was isolated as resistant to a nicotinamide analog and as temperature-sensitive for growth on minimal glucose medium. In this mutant, Salmonella's 94 kb virulence plasmid pSLT had recombined into the chromosome upstream of the NAD salvage pathway gene pncA.

Author(s): Kellie P. Burris, Otto D. Simmons, Hannah M. Webb, Robin Grant Moore, Lee-Ann Jaykus, Jie Zheng, Elizabeth Reed, Christina M. Ferreira, Eric Brown, Rebecca L. Bell

Author(s): Cuauhtemoc Marin, Diana Ibañez, Gabriela Rios-Corripio, Jose Angel Guerrero, Dolores Rodrigo, Antonio Martinez

Aims This study aimed synergistic effects of three herbs in Salmonella via increased membrane permeability and apoptosis. Methods and Results Using high‐performance liquid chromatography, four types of phenylethyl glycosides and a lignan were detected in the herb mixture (Brassica juncea, Forsythia suspensa, and Inula britannica).

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common and may occur in foodborne Salmonella outbreaks. Using data from PulseNet, the U.S. national molecular subtyping network for foodborne disease surveillance, we analyzed the 9781 Salmonella isolates associated with the 110 outbreaks from 2004 to 2013 that included at least one urine isolate.

Author(s): Jasmine Kataria, Sasikala Vaddu, Estefania Novoa Rama, Gaganpreet Sidhu, Harshavardhan Thippareddi, Manpreet Singh

Culled beef cows (cows from cow-calf operations that have reached the end of productive life span) and culled dairy cows amount to approximately 18% of the cattle harvested in the U.S. annually, but data on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) levels in U.S. cull cattle is extremely limited.

Short chain fatty acids (SCFA), principally acetate, propionate, and butyrate, are produced by fermentation of dietary fibers by the gut microbiota. SCFA regulate the growth and virulence of enteric pathogens, such as enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), Klebsiella and Salmonella. We sought to investigate the impact of SCFA on growth and virulence of pathosymbiont E.

We report a draft genome sequence of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi isolated from a returned traveler from Pakistan who developed sepsis. Whole-genome sequencing revealed relatedness to a previously reported outbreak in Pakistan and identified the blaCTX-M-15 and qnrS resistance genes.

Author(s): Beatriz Mazón Villegas, Nicole O. Hall, Elliot T. Ryser, Bradley P. Marks

The Sado wrinkled frog Glandirana susurra has recently been classified as a new frog species endemic to Sado Island, Japan. In this study, we cloned 12 cDNAs encoding the biosynthetic precursors for brevinin-2SSa–2SSd, esculentin-2SSa, ranatuerin-2SSa, brevinin-1SSa–1SSd, granuliberin-SSa, and bradykinin-SSa from the skin of G. susurra.

Surface water used for produce production is a potential source of pre-harvest contamination with foodborne pathogens. Decisions on how to mitigate food safety risks associated with pre-harvest water use currently rely on generic Escherichia coli-based water quality tests, although multiple studies have suggested that E. coli levels are not a suitable indicator of the food safety risks under all relevant environmental conditions.

Background Salmonella enterica bloodstream infections are an important cause of childhood morbidity and mortality, including in Mali. We report 17 years of surveillance for nontyphoidal and typhoidal S. enterica infections among inpatients and outpatients at l’Hôpital Gabriel Touré, the main source of pediatric tertiary care in Bamako, Mali.

Control of Salmonella enterica serovar typhi (S. typhi), the agent of typhoid fever, continues to be a challenge in many low- and middle-income countries. The major transmission route of S. typhi is fecal-oral, through contaminated food and water; thus, the ultimate measures for typhoid fever prevention and control include the provision of safe water, improved sanitation, and hygiene.

In 1993, the International Task Force on Disease Eradication classified the political will for typhoid eradication as “none.” Here we revisit the Task Force’s assessment in light of developments in typhoid vaccines and increasing antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella Typhi that have served to increase interest in typhoid elimination.

Background Typhoid fever has been endemic on the island nation of Samoa (2016 population, 195 979) since the 1960s and has persisted through 2019, despite economic development and improvements in water supply and sanitation. Methods Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi isolates from the 2 hospitals with blood culture capability and matched patient demographic and clinical data from January 2008 through December 2019 were analyzed.

The developed miniaturized test (s) rapidly detects Escherichia coli/coliforms colorimetrically utilizing specific enzyme substrates and selective agents incorporated in media. High sensitivity and selectivity for target bacteria. A total of 139 milk samples were tested for presence of E.coli/coliforms using developed test (s). Abstract Current investigation was aimed to develop colorimetric tests for rapid detection of Escherichia coli/coliforms. These test (s) for E.

Acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) are quorum sensing (QS) signaling molecules that mediate cell-to-cell communication in Gram-negative bacteria. Salmonella does not produce AHL, however, it can recognize AHLs produced by other species through SdiA protein modulating important cellular functions.

by Clifford G. Clark, Chrystal Landgraff, James Robertson, Frank Pollari, Stephen Parker, Celine Nadon, Victor P. J. Gannon, Roger Johnson, John Nash

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.

BACKGROUND Serofluid dish, a traditional Chinese fermented food, possesses unique flavors and health beneficial effects. These properties are likely due to the sophisticated metabolic networks during fermentation, which are mainly driven by microbiota. However, the exact roles of metabolic pathways and the microbial community during this process remain equivocal.

Increase in the number of small‐scale backyard poultry flocks in the USA has substantially increased human‐to‐live poultry contact, leading to increased public health risks of the transmission of multi‐drug resistant (MDR) zoonotic and food‐borne bacteria. The objective of this study was to detect the occurrence of Salmonella and MDR Gram‐negative bacteria (GNB) in the backyard poultry flock environment. A total of 34 backyard poultry flocks in Washington State (WA) were sampled.

Author(s): In Hee Bang, Jiwon In, Sea C. Min

Neurological complications occurring due to Salmonella infection in some typhoid patients remain a relatively unexplored serious complication.

Author(s): Jong-Seong Lim, Jae-Won Ha