Research Publications (Food Safety)

Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) are the most common cause of food-borne disease outbreaks, as well as virus-related waterborne disease outbreaks in the United States. Here, we hypothesize that common free-living amoebae (FLA)—ubiquitous in the environment, known to interact with pathogens, and frequently isolated from water and fresh produce—could potentially act as reservoirs of HuNoV and facilitate the environmental transmission of HuNoVs.

Human noroviruses (HuNoV) are the primary cause of foodborne disease outbreaks in the United States. The most frequent commodities implicated in HuNoV outbreaks are leafy greens where contamination may occur during production and harvesting practices. With respect to transmission of HuNoV to fresh produce, one hypothesis is that free-living amoebae that are ubiquitous in the environment (soil, sediments, water) can serve as vehicles of contamination through interaction with viruses.

Publication date: September 2015
, Volume 50
Author(s): Ashley Predmore , Gabe Sanglay , Jianrong Li , Ken Lee

Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) are a major cause of viral gastroenteritis, with an estimated 3 million cases per year in the United Kingdom. HuNoVs have recently been isolated from pet dogs in Europe (M. Summa, C.-H. von Bonsdorff, and L. Maunula, J Clin Virol 53:244–247, 2012, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcv.2011.12.014), raising concerns about potential zoonotic infections.

Publication date: Available online 13 May 2015

Author(s): Jennifer Gentry-Shields , Lee-Ann Jaykus

To determine whether the norovirus strain GII.17 recently detected in Maryland, USA, (Hu/GII.17/Gaithersburg/2014/US) is spreading globally, we characterized the genome. High similarity with the norovirus GII.17 that caused recent outbreaks in Asia indicates that the same strain was present in the United States during the 2014–15 norovirus season (winter).

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of high-hydrostatic pressureHHP) on inactivation of human norovirus (HuNoV) in oysters and to evaluate organoleptic characteristics of oysters treated at pressure levels required for HuNoV inactivation. Genogroup I.1 (GI.1) or Genogroup II.4 (GII.4) HuNoV was inoculated into oysters and treated at 300 to 600 MPa at 25 and 0 °C for 2 min.

Minimal food-processing methods are not effective against foodborne viruses, such as human norovirus (NV). It is important, therefore, to explore novel nonthermal technologies for decontamination of foods eaten fresh, minimally processed and ready-to-eat foods, and food contact surfaces. We studied the in vitro virucidal activity of cold atmospheric gaseous plasma (CGP) against feline calicivirus (FCV), a surrogate of NV.

Ying-Chun Dai, Xu-Fu Zhang, Ming Xia, Ming Tan, Christina Quigley, Wen Lei, Hao Fang, Weiming Zhong, Bonita Lee, Xiaoli Pang, Jun Nie, Xi Jiang

Noroviruses are the most common causative agent of viral gastroenteritis in humansand are responsible for major foodborne illnesses in the United States. Filter-feeding molluscan shellfish exposed to sewage-contaminated waters bioaccumulate viruses, and if consumed raw, transmit the viruses to humans and cause illness.

Volume 6, Page 411-433, April 2015, ISSN 1941-1413, eISSN 1941-1421.

Background

Norovirus (NoV) is the predominant cause of foodborne disease outbreaks. Virus contamination may occur during all steps of food processing, from production to preparation and serving. The relative importance of these different routes of contamination is unknown.

Methods

Human noroviruses are the leading cause of epidemic and sporadic gastroenteritis across all age groups. Although the disease is usually self-limiting, in the United States norovirus gastroenteritis causes an estimated 56,000 to 71,000 hospitalizations and 570 to 800 deaths each year.

Publication date: June 2015
, Volume 48
Author(s): Shuxia Xu , Dapeng Wang , David Yang , Huashan Liu , Peng Tian

Publication date: 2 March 2015
, Volume 196
Author(s): Ambroos Stals , Liesbeth Jacxsens , Leen Baert , Els Van Coillie , Mieke Uyttendaele

Publication date: 2 April 2015
, Volume 198
Author(s): Martijn Bouwknegt , Katharina Verhaelen , Artur Rzeżutka , Iwona Kozyra , Leena Maunula , Carl-Henrik von Bonsdorff , Apostolos Vantarakis , Petros Kokkinos , Tamas Petrovic , Sava Lazic , Ivo Pavlik , Petra Vasickova , Kris A. Willems , Arie H. Havelaar , Saskia A. Rutjes , Ana Maria de Roda Husman

Publication date: 2 March 2015
, Volume 196
Author(s): Marie-Josée J. Mangen , Martijn Bouwknegt , Ingrid H.M. Friesema , Juanita A. Haagsma , Laetitia M. Kortbeek , Luqman Tariq , Margaret Wilson , Wilfrid van Pelt , Arie H. Havelaar

Paediatric acute gastroenteritis is a global public health problem.Comprehensive laboratory investigation for viral, bacterial and parasitic agents is helpful for improving management of acute gastroenteritis in health care settings and for monitoring and controlling the spread of these infections.Our study aimed to investigate the role of various pathogens in infantile diarrhoea in Bulgaria outside the classical winter epidemics of rotavirus and norovirus.Stool samples from 115 hospitalized

Publication date: 2 April 2015
, Volume 198
Author(s): Stephen F. Grove , Annamalai Suriyanarayanan , Balasubramanyam Puli , Heng Zhao , Mingming Li , Di Li , Donald W. Schaffner , Alvin Lee

Publication date: 2 April 2015
, Volume 198
Author(s): Ashley Predmore , Gabriel C. Sanglay , Erin DiCaprio , Jianrong Li , R.M. Uribe , Ken Lee

Mormann, Sascha et al. The transfer of human norovirus (hNV) to food via contaminated surfaces is highly probable during food production, processing, and preparation. In this study, the tenacity of hNV and its cultivable surrogates feline calicivirus (FCV) and murine norovirus (MNV) on two common nonporous surface materials at two storage temperatures was directly compared.