Research Publications (Food Safety)

Waterfowl astroviruses are mainly duck astroviruses and goose astroviruses, of which duck astroviruses (DAstV-3, -4), goose astroviruses (GoAstV-1, -2) are the four new waterfowl 21 astroviruses in recent years, which can lead to enteritis, viral hepatitis, gout and reduce the growth performance of waterfowl, affecting the healthy development of the waterfowl farming industry.

Norovirus is the leading cause of viral gastroenteritis globally. While person-to-person transmission is most commonly reported route of infection, human norovirus is frequently associated with foodborne transmission, including through consumption of contaminated bivalve molluscan shellfish.

Fruits, vegetables, and shellfish are often associated with outbreaks of illness caused particularly by human norovirus (HuNoV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV), the leading causative agents of foodborne illness worldwide.

This study aimed to assess two homogenization methods to recover norovirus from Minas artisanal cheese (MAC) made with raw bovine milk obtained from four microregions of the Minas Gerais state, Brazil, with different ripening times and geographical and abiotic characteristics. For this purpose, 33 fiscal samples were artificially contaminated with norovirus GI and GII, and Mengovirus (MgV), used as an internal process control (IPC).

Flavonoids, a diverse group of polyphenolic compounds found in various plant-based foods, have garnered attention for their potential in combating Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection. Flavonoids have demonstrated promising anti-HBV activities by interfering with multiple stages of the HBV life cycle, making them promising candidates for novel antiviral agents.

Controlled environment agriculture (CEA), or indoor agriculture, encompasses non-traditional farming methods that occur inside climate-controlled structures (e.g., greenhouses, warehouses, high tunnels) allowing for year-round production of fresh produce such as leaf lettuce. However, recent outbreaks and recalls associated with hydroponically grown lettuce contaminated with human pathogens have raised concerns.

Previous studies have shown that avian hepatitis E virus (HEV) decreases egg production by 10-40% in laying hens, but have not fully elucidated the mechanism of there. In this study, we evaluated the replication of avian HEV in the ovaries of laying hens and the mechanism underlying the decrease in egg production. Forty 150-days-old commercial laying hens were randomly divided into 2 groups of 20 hens each.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the liver that is mediated by autoimmunity and has complex pathogenesis. Its prevalence has increased globally. Since the liver is the first organ to be exposed to harmful substances, such as gut-derived intestinal microbiota and its metabolites, gut health is closely related to liver health, and the “liver-gut axis” allows abnormalities in the gut microbiota to influence the development of liver-related diseases such as AIH.

Viral testing combined with hydrographic studies is considered standard good practice in determining microbiological impacts on shellfish growing areas following wastewater overflows.

Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) are the most predominant viral agents of acute gastroenteritis. Vegetables are important vehicles of HuNoVs transmission. This study aimed to assess the HuNoVs prevalence in vegetables.

The cytokine storm induced by duck hepatitis A virus type 1 (DHAV-1) infection significantly contributes to severe, rapid deaths and economic losses in the duck industry in Egypt. This study aimed to investigate the potential inhibitory effect of a nanoemulsion containing turmeric and black pepper oil on the immune response and pathogenesis of DHAV-1 in ducklings.

Norovirus (NoV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) stand as the predominant agents associated with viral foodborne infections. Outbreaks have been documented to be caused by various types of food items, including fresh and/or frozen berries. Comprehensive data concerning crucial viral pathogens in berries remain limited and are not currently available in aggregate form. Consequently, the present study aimed to compile the existing information regarding the prevalence of NoV and HAV in this matrix.

An optimized digital RT-PCR (RT-dPCR) assay for the detection of human norovirus GI and GII RNA was compared with ISO 15216-conform quantitative real-time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) assays in an interlaboratory study (ILS) among eight laboratories. A duplex GI/GII RT-dPCR assay, based on the ISO 15216-oligonucleotides, was used on a Bio-Rad QX200 platform by six laboratories. Adapted assays for Qiagen Qiacuity or ThermoFisher QuantStudio 3D were used by one laboratory each.

Foodborne disease outbreaks linked to consumption of vegetables have been often attributed to human enteric viruses, such as Norovirus (NoV), Hepatitis A virus (HAV), and Rotavirus (RoV).

In the field of chemical engineering and water treatment, the study of viruses, included surrogates, is well documented. Often, surrogates are used to study viruses and their behavior because they can be produced in larger quantities in safer conditions and are easier to handle. In fact, surrogates allow studying microorganisms which are non-infectious to humans but share some properties similar to pathogenic viruses: structure, composition, morphology, and size.

Norovirus is the predominant cause of viral acute gastroenteritis globally. While person-to-person is the most reported transmission route, norovirus is also associated with waterborne and foodborne illness, including from the consumption of contaminated bivalve molluscan shellfish. The main cause of shellfish contamination is via the bioaccumulation of norovirus from growing waters impacted by human wastewater.

Human norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne gastroenteritis worldwide. Due to the low infectious dose of noroviruses, sensitive methodologies are required to detect and characterize small numbers of viral particles that are found in contaminated foods.

This study assessed the efficacy of ozone (bubble diffusion in water; 6.25 ppm) and photodynamic inactivation (PDT) using curcumin (75 μM) as photosensitizer (LED emission 430–470 nm; 33.6 mW/cm2 irradiance; 16.1, 20.2, and 24.2 J/cm2 light dose) against the 

Abstract This report by the European Food Safety Authority and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control presents the results of the zoonoses monitoring and surveillance activities carried out in 2022 in 27 Member States (MSs), the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) and 11 non‐MSs. Key statistics on zoonoses and zoonotic agents in humans, food, animals and feed are provided and interpreted historically.

Various interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes (ISGs), expressed via Janus kinase–signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling pathway-stimulated IFNs to increase antiviral effects or regulate immune response, perform different roles in virus-infected cells. In recent years, a novel ISG, SHFL, which is located in the genomic region 19p13.2 and comprises two isoforms, has been studied as a virus-inhibiting agent.

Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) are the major foodborne pathogen that causes non-bacterial gastroenteritis globally. Conventional RT-qPCR is prone to counting free RNA in the sample, resulting in an inflated infectious virus titer. Porcine gastric mucin (PGM), broadly used as the capture unit of in situ capture RT-qPCR (ISC-RT-qPCR), can precisely capture intact norovirus without adsorbing free RNA.

Duck hepatitis A virus type 1 (DHAV-1) can cause severe liver damage in infected ducklings and is a fatal and contagious pathogen that endangers the Chinese duck industry. The objective of this study was to explore the correlation mechanism of liver metabolism-gut microbiota in DHAV-1 infection.

Background

Recent studies have suggested a relationship between gut microbiota and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, the nature and direction of this potential causal relationship are still unclear. This study used two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to clarify the potential causal links.

Methods

Carvedilol is a widely used beta-adrenoreceptor antagonist for multiple cardiovascular indications; however, it may induce cholestasis in patients, but the mechanism for this effect is unclear. Carvedilol also prevents the development of various forms of experimental liver injury, but its effect on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is largely unknown.

Summary This paper explores the potential of blockchain technology (BCT) in promoting sustainable food production and consumption (SFPC) from a consumer perspective. India, a significant global food producer, faces challenges related to affordability and food logistics due to transport and labour constraints. Food safety concerns, i.e., foodborne illnesses and quality issues, alongside unexpected events like COVID‐19 and geopolitical conflicts, threaten SFPC.