Research Publications (Food Safety)

Fourteen pesticides were screened and determined through quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) extraction process combined with GC-MS/MS in arid agriculture soil.

Cadmium (Cd) is a widespread pollutant that is toxic to living organisms. Previous studies have identified certain WRKY transcription factors, which confer Cd tolerance in different plant species. In the present study, we have identified 29 Cd-responsive WRKY genes in Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], and confirmed that 26 of those GmWRKY genes were up-regulated, while 3 were down-regulated.

A number of metal hyperaccumulator plants, including nickel (Ni) hyperaccumulators, have been identified in the genus Noccaea. The ability to accumulate Ni in shoots varies widely among species and ecotypes in this genus; however, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying this intra- and inter-specific variation. Here, in hydroponic culture, we compared Ni accumulation patterns between Noccaea japonica, which originated in Ni-enriched serpentine soils in Mt.

Rhizosphere microbiome significantly influences plant growth and productivity. Legume crops such as pea have often been used as a rotation crop along with rice cultivation in long-term conservation agriculture experiments in the acidic soils of the northeast region of India. It is essential to understand how the pea plant influences the soil communities and shapes its rhizosphere microbiome.

Cadmium, although not redox active is highly toxic. Yet, the underlying mechanisms driving toxicity are still to be characterized. In this study, we took advantage of the purple bacterium Rubrivivax gelatinosus strain with defective Cd2 +-efflux system to identify targets of this metal. Exposure of the ΔcadA strain to Cd2 + causes a decrease in the photosystem amount and in the activity of respiratory complexes.

Antibiotic resistance and viral diseases are rising around the world and are becoming major threats to global health, food security, and development. One measure that has been suggested to mitigate this crisis is the development of new antibiotics. Here, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of the phylogenetic and biogeographic patterns...

Lead (Pb), a well‐known toxic metal, has a potential of adverse effects on human health. Selenium (Se) can reduce the toxicity caused by heavy metals. In this study, we investigated the protection mechanism of the purified Se‐enriched rice protein hydrolysates (SPHs‐2) on the Pb2+‐induced cytotoxicity. A Caco‐2 cell model was established to characterize the effect of SPHs‐2 on Pb2+ absorption in the simulated small intestine.

Author(s): Lingfei Ma, Yanfei Wang, Haipu Li, Fangyuan Peng, Bo Qiu, Zhaoguang Yang

BACKGROUND The use of pesticides during tea plant cultivation support agricultural production and prevents and controls pests, diseases, and weeds. It is of the utmost importance to balance pesticide application with tea quality, safety, and consumer health. The uptake of pesticides into plants may lead to the presence of residues that are hazardous to human health, especially for some foliar‐applied insecticides.

A soft coral-derived fungus Penicillium sp. among other isolates e high antibacterial, anti-yeast and cytotoxic activities. The fungus, Penicillium sp. MMA, isolated from Sarcphyton glaucoma, afforded nine diverse compounds (1–9).

Author(s): Yuchen Zhu, Yinghua Luo, Guoyu Sun, Pengpu Wang, Xiaosong Hu, Fang Chen

Sediment samples were taken from sediment adjacent to an urban river in Sheffield in Northern England that had suffered heavy metal pollution due to previous activity of the steel industry (between the 17th and 19th centuries). The most abundant heavy metals found in the samples were lead, chromium, nickel, arsenic and cobalt, with maximum concentrations of 412.80 mg kg‐1 25.232 mg kg‐1, 25.196 mg kg‐1, 8.123 mg kg‐1 and 7.66 mg kg‐1, respectively.

Author(s): Maria Alessia Schouten, Jessica Genovese, Silvia Tappi, Alessandra Di Francesco, Elena Baraldi, Manuela Cortese, Giovanni Caprioli, Simone Angeloni, Sauro Vittori, Pietro Rocculi, Santina Romani

Author(s): Long Wu, Weimin Zhang, Chen Liu, Mohamed F. Foda, Yongheng Zhu

by Kelsey Brown, Maina Mugoh, Douglas R. Call, Sylvia Omulo

Lake and adjoining river ecosystems are ecologically and economically valuable and are heavily threatened by anthropogenic activities. Determining the inherent capacity of ecosystems for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) biodegradation can help quantify environmental impacts on the functioning of ecosystems, especially on that of the microbial community. Here, PAH biodegradation potential was compared between sediments collected from a lake bay (LS) and an adjoining river (RS) ecosystem.

Melanoidins, formed at the final stages of Maillard reaction (MR) present important physiological activities, but their structure and reaction pathways are largely unknown in real food systems. In the present work, these bioactive compounds derived from Brewers’ spent grain (BSG) with different roasting degrees were analyzed. Results showed that BSG could be considered a more important source of bioavailable antioxidants than what it was reported in previous studies.

A dozen or so chemicals modify both cholesterol and copper metabolism. Ascorbic acid and cadmium, etc., inhibit copper metabolism and raise cholesterol. Calcium and clofibrate, etc., enhance copper and lower cholesterol. Perhaps the doses of dietary cholesterol and fructose in this experiment were too severe to permit fenofibrate to lower cholesterol in a manner similar to clofibrate. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry

The effect of pulsed light (PL) on numerous important quality characteristics of pineapple juice was studied and compared with untreated and thermally pasteurised samples. The laboratory scale PL batch system used was operated with each three different voltages (1.8, 2.1, and 2.4 kV) and numbers of pulses (47, 94, and 187). Treatments with 2.4 kV and either 94 or 187 pulses (757/1479 J·cm−2) resulted in a 5-log reduction in aerobic mesophiles and the yeast and mould counts.

ABSTRACT Our understanding of environmental factors controlling prokaryotic community is largely hampered by the large environmental variability across spatial scales (e.g. trace metal contamination, nutrient enrichment and physicochemical variations) and the broad diversity of bacterial pre-exposure to environmental factors.

This work examines polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in yard trash at various stages of the yard trash management cycle of collection, stockpiling, grinding and screening into mulch, and composting. Total extractable PAH concentrations were measured in yard trash at various management stages from 10 locations in Florida. The concentrations of 16 PAH compounds in processed yard trash ranged from 0.38 to 14 mg kg-1.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) transporters of the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) were previously believed to drive the extrusion of multiple antimicrobial drugs through the coupling to proton translocation. Here, we present the identification of the first Na+-coupled MFS-MDR transporter, MdrP, which also can achieve H+-coupled drug efflux independently of Na+.

Author(s): Sihui Liang, Ningge Jian, Jiankun Cao, Huayin Zhang, Jian Li, Qian Xu, Chunmin Wang

Author(s): Mi Li, Hang Yu, Yuliang Cheng, Yahui Guo, Weirong Yao, Yunfei Xie

Author(s): Elena Bartkiene, Modestas Ruzauskas, Vadims Bartkevics, Iveta Pugajeva, Paulina Zavistanaviciute, Vytaute Starkute, Egle Zokaityte, Vita Lele, Agila Dauksiene, Michael Grashorn, Ludwig E. Hoelzle, Anara Mendybayeva, Raushan Ryshyanova, Romas Gruzauskas