Research Publications (Food Safety)

Author(s): Shanshan Wu, Zheng-Zhi Yin, Xiaohui Chen, Xueqing Wang, Datong Wu, Yong Kong

Abstract

Background and aims

Large areas of paddy fields have been contaminated by cadmium (Cd) in both China and worldwide, resulting in excessive Cd accumulation in rice grains. Here, we investigated the effects of cultivars, water regimes, and growth stages on Cd accumulation in rice with different radial oxygen loss (ROL).

In recent years, to increase growth rate and prevent infectious diseases, an excessive use of antibiotics in livestock breeding processes has resulted in the presence of antibiotic residues in animal foods. In this experiment, a new kind of electrochemical sensor is prepared based on magnetic mesoporous hollow carbon microspheres (MHM) as a penicillinase (Pen X) adsorption carrier to rapidly detect penicillin sodium (Pen G), named Pen X/MHM/MGCE.

Melatonin (Mel) is known to prevent and mitigate lead (Pb)-induced gonadotoxicity. However, there is no report in literature on the endogenous levels of different biomarkers after the cessation of Pb exposure, with or without treatment with Mel.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known to improve the resistance of host plants against various heavy metal stresses. However, the arsenic (As) resistance mechanism of AMF-inoculated woody legumes remains unclear. In this study, black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) seedlings were cultivated in potted soils inoculated with or without AMF Rhizoglomus intraradices under three different levels of As stress (0, 100, and 200 mg As kg–1 soil) over 4 months.

by Bilal Kaaki, Digant Gupta

Background

Author(s): Verger Philippe, Agamy Neveen, Anshasi Marwa, Al-Yousfi Ahmad Basel

Human African trypanosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma brucei parasites. These protists are unable to produce the purine ring, making them vulnerable to the effects of purine nucleoside analogues. Starting from 3′-deoxytubercidin (5), a lead compound with activity against central-nervous-stage human African trypanosomiasis, we investigate the structure–activity relationships of the purine and ribofuranose rings.

The objectives of this study was to diagnose Cd and Pb contamination in soil and to identify the main factors that contribute to the transfer of these elements to tomato plants and fruits and contamination levels of the fruits in tropical mountain conditions. Contamination of the study area soils by Cd and Pb was verified. This contamination stemmed from the intensive use of agricultural inputs, mainly organic fertilizers and soluble mineral fertilizers.

The contaminated Kaynaklar soil containing high level of diesel (100,000 mg/kg dw) was treated in slurry systems with solid-to-liquid ratios (S/L) of 1/5, 1/10, and 1/20 to describe the performance of physical treatment. The soil microbial mass was inhibited by using mercury chloride and autoclaving prior to the diesel spiking in order to eliminate any bacterial degradation of non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) and has been treated in the reactor systems for 8 h.

In the present work, we used a double cell screening approach based on phenanthrene (phe) epifluorescence histochemical localization and oxygen radical detection to generate new data about how some specialized cells are involved in tolerance to organic xenobiotics. Thereby, we bring new insights about phe [a common Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH)] cell specific detoxification, in two contrasting plant lineages thriving in different ecosystems.

Traditional fermented foods are important sources of probiotics, which attract intensive attentions because of their beneficial effects. The potential of probiotic strains to remove heavy metals have also aroused interest from researchers.

Gold mines are widely recognized as important sources of arsenic (As) pollution and this work proposes the use of in situ microbial community enzymatic response to assess the risk of As in soil and sediments surrounding “Morro do Ouro,” the largest industrial gold mine in Brazil. Bacterial community exposed to high metals concentrations deviates energy from growth to cell maintenance modifying enzymatic activity response.

Cleft palate (CP), a congenital defect in the oral and maxillofacial regions, is difficult to detect prenatally. This study investigated the correlation between differentially expressed proteins in serum and CP induced by all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in mice.

Author(s): Ümmügülsüm Gülcan, Cihadiye Candal Uslu, Ceren Mutlu, Sultan Arslan-Tontul, Mustafa Erbaş

Author(s): Maqusood Ahamed, Mohd Javed Akhtar, M.A. Majeed Khan, Hisham A. Alhadlaq

It has been recognized that collagen peptides of MW 878 Da (CP1) promote osteoblast proliferation and mineralization. The objective of this study is to identify the peptides responsible for proliferation of osteoblast growth, enhancement of ALP (alkaline phosphatase) activity in osteoblasts and promotion of osteoblast mineralization.

Larvae of Hermetia illucens, commonly known as black soldier fly, efficiently convert organic waste into nutrient-rich supplements for different applications. Here we performed a preliminary experiment to investigate the dynamics of the H. illucens gut microbiota and changes in the composition of the bacterial community in the residue of the larval feed during rearing.

Trace metal contaminations in natural waters, wetlands, and wastewaters pose serious threats to aquatic ecosystems—mainly via targeting microalgae. In this work, we investigated the effects of toxic amounts of chromium and cadmium ions on the structure and function of the photosynthetic machinery of Chlorella variabilis cells. To halt the propagation of cells, we used high concentrations of Cd and Cr, 50–50 mg L−1, in the forms of CdCl2 x 2.5 H2O and K2Cr2O7, respectively.

Excessive cadmium (Cd) damages plants by causing cell death. The present study discusses the function of natural resistance-associated macrophage protein (NRAMP) on cell death caused by Cd in Malus hupehensis. MhNRAMP1 was isolated from M. hupehensis roots, and its protein was located in the cell membrane as a transmembrane protein characterized by hydrophobicity. MhNRAMP1 expression in the roots was induced by Cd stress and calcium (Ca) deficiency.

During the development of antimicrobial peptides (AMP) as potential therapeutics, antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) stands as an essential part of the process in identification and optimisation of candidate AMP. Standard methods for AST, developed almost 60 years ago for testing conventional antibiotics, are not necessarily fit for purpose when it comes to determining the susceptibility of microorganisms to AMP.

Author(s): Katarina Baralić, Katarina Živančević, Dragana Javorac, Aleksandra Buha Djordjevic, Milena Anđelković, Dragica Jorgovanović, Evica Antonijević Miljaković, Marijana Ćurčić, Zorica Bulat, Biljana Antonijević, Danijela Đukić-Ćosić

In order to assess environmental exposure-associated human health risk of dioxin compounds for the population in the vicinity of a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) in Shanghai, the atmospheric samples (n = 24) and soils samples (n = 96) were collected and analyzed to obtain the concentration level, pollution characteristics and seasonal changes of dioxin compounds in environmental medias.

In this review, we highlight new and emerging metrics and tools in esophageal function testing and the clinical manifestations and management of esophageal involvement in connective tissue disorders. Abstract This work summarizes new and emerging metrics and tools in esophageal function testing and their potential clinical impact.

High levels of p‐Coumaric acid was first isolated and identified from Spirulina. Inhibitory kinetics and mechanism of p‐Coumaric acid on two enzymes were studied. Molecular modeling revealed the Spirulina p‐Coumaric acid binding mode. Abstract Spirulina species are edible with high nutritional as well as potential therapeutic values.