Research Publications (Food Safety)

by Yanhong Liu, Brian ByongKwon Yoo, Cheng-An Hwang, Mira Rakic Martinez, Atin R. Datta, Pina M. Fratamico Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen and the causative agent of listeriosis, a disease associated with high fatality (20–30%) and hospitalization rates (>95%). ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters have been demonstrated to be involved in the general stress response.

by Priyashi Rao, Dweipayan Goswami, Rakesh M. Rawal Since its origin, the emergence of vector-borne infections has taken a toll on incalculable human lives. The use of chemical insecticides is one of the early known methods of vector control and although their use is still a prevalent way to combat insect population sadly the perils of insects related transmission still persists.

by Kadir Kocabaş, Alina Arif, Reaz Uddin, Tunahan Çakır Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is a highly adaptive pathogenic bacteria with a serious public health concern due to its increasing resistance to antibiotics. Therefore, identification of novel drug targets for S. Typhimurium is crucial. Here, we first created a pathogen-host integrated genome-scale metabolic network by combining the metabolic models of human and S.

by Seishiro Hirano, Osamu Udagawa Promyelocytic leukemia (PML) proteins are involved in the pathogenesis of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Trivalent arsenic (As3+) is known to cure APL by binding to cysteine residues of PML and enhance the degradation of PML-retinoic acid receptor α (RARα), a t(15;17) gene translocation product in APL cells, and restore PML-nuclear bodies (NBs). The size, number, and shape of PML-NBs vary among cell types and during cell division.

by Mu-Xuan Wang, Hong-Wei Qin, Chao Liu, Shen-Ming Lv, Jia-Shu Chen, Chun-Gu Wang, Ying-Ying Chen, Jia-Wei Wang, Jin-Yue Sun, Zhi-Xin Liao Xanthine oxidase (XO) is a key enzyme in the generation and development of hyperuricemia. Thiazolidine-2-thione, a typical heterocyclic compound, have been widely used in the field of drug synthesis.

by Batbold Batsaikhan, Ching-I. Huang, Ming-Lun Yeh, Chung-Feng Huang, Yi-Hung Lin, Po-Cheng Liang, Ming-Yen Hsieh, Yi-Ching Lin, Jee-Fu Huang, Wan-Long Chuang, Jin-Ching Lee, Ming-Lung Yu, Hsing-Tao Kuo, Chia-Yen Dai Background High dosage and longer duration of antiviral treatment has been suggested to treat cryoglobulinemia patients.

by Leah Bührmann, Pia Driessen, Allison Metz, Katie Burke, Leah Bartley, Cecilie Varsi, Bianca Albers Background It requires thoughtful planning and work to successfully apply and sustain research-supported interventions like healthcare treatments, social support, or preventive programs in practice.

by Shelley N. Facente, Rachel Grinstein, Roberta Bruhn, Zhanna Kaidarova, Erin Wilson, Jennifer Hecht, Katie Burk, Eduard Grebe, Meghan D. Morris Background In 2017, San Francisco’s initiative to locally eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) as a public health threat, End Hep C SF, generated an estimate of city-wide HCV prevalence in 2015, but only incorporated limited information about population HCV treatment.

by Yen-Yi Liu, Chih-Chieh Chen, Chien-Hua Yang, Hui-Yi Hsieh, Jia-Xin He, Hao-Hsuan Lin, Chi-Ching Lee Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, and people with hypoimmunity such as pregnant women, infants and fetuses are at high risk of invasive infection. Although the incidence of listeriosis is low, the fatality rate is high. Therefore, continual surveillance and rapid epidemiological investigation are crucial for addressing L. monocytogenes.

by Bingliang Qu, Hui Zhao, Ying Chen, Xiangyong Yu Light intensity has an important environmental influence on the quality and yield of aquatic products. It is essential to understand the effects of light intensity on water quality and fish metabolism before large-scale aquaculture is implemented. In this study, two low-intensity light levels, 0 lx and 100 lx, were used to stress Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), with a natural light level (500 lx) used as control.

by Salma Javed, JoAnn McClure, Muhammad Ali Syed, Osahon Obasuyi, Shahzad Ali, Sadia Tabassum, Mohammad Ejaz, Kunyan Zhang Buffalo represent a major source of milk in Pakistan. However, production is impacted by the disease bovine mastitis. Mastitis causes significant economic losses, with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) being one of its major causative agents.

by Michelle Gende, Martina Schmeling In this work, an analytical method was developed for the determination of lead and cadmium in biological samples using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Escherichia coli (E. coli) was chosen as model substance for this purpose as it is readily available in most laboratories and can be quickly and easily prepared with a high turnaround rate.

by Jonathan Poh, Kao Chin Ngeow, Michelle Pek, Kian-Hin Tan, Jing Shan Lim, Hao Chen, Choon Kiat Ong, Jing Quan Lim, Soon Thye Lim, Chwee Ming Lim, Boon Cher Goh, Yukti Choudhury Next-generation sequencing of circulating tumor DNA presents a promising approach to cancer diagnostics, complementing conventional tissue-based diagnostic testing by enabling minimally invasive serial testing and broad genomic coverage through a simple blood draw to maximize therapeutic benefit to patients.

by Nora H. Al-Shaalan, Jenny Jeehan Nasr, Shereen Shalan, Areej M. El-Mahdy Veterinary medicine uses antibiotics randomly for treatment and growth promotion. Milk of dairy animals contains substantial quantities of antibiotics that have harmful effects on health. It is therefore necessary to test commercially available milk using immunological, chromatographic, or microbiological methods to confirm the absence of antibiotic residues.

by Ravinder Polapally, Manasa Mansani, Karthik Rajkumar, Sandeepta Burgula, Bee Hameeda, Alaa Alhazmi, Farkad Bantun, Atiah H. Almalki, Shafiul Haque, Hesham Ali El Enshasy, R. Z. Sayyed The present study reveals the production of dark, extracellular melanin pigment (386 mg/L) on peptone yeast extract iron agar medium by Streptomyces puniceus RHPR9 using the gravimetric method.

by Vitor M. Almeida, J. Patrick Loria, Sandro R. Marana The bi-enzyme HisF-HisH heterodimer is part of the pathway that produces histidine and purines in bacteria and lower eukaryotes, but it is absent in mammals. This heterodimer has been largely studied probing the basis of the allosteric effects and the structural stability in proteins. It is also a potential target for antibacterial drugs.

by Jordan O. Hampton, Heath Dunstan, Simon D. Toop, Jason S. Flesch, Alessandro Andreotti, Deborah J. Pain Scavenging and predatory wildlife can ingest lead (Pb) from lead-based ammunition and become poisoned when feeding on shot game animals. Humans can similarly be exposed to ammunition-derived lead when consuming wild-shot game animals. Studies have assessed the degree of lead contamination in the carcasses of game animals but this scrutiny has not so far extended to Australia.

by An-Emmie Nieman, Wouter Rozemeijer, Paul H. M. Savelkoul, Rogier P. Schade Objectives Determination of pathogen-specific bacterial DNA load (BDL) in blood has been shown to be directly correlated with severity of infection in patients with bacteremia. In the diagnostic work-up of patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB), determination of the primary focus is imperative, because of implications for treatment duration, and ultimately prognosis.

by Alan Gutierrez, Keith R. Schneider The use of poultry litter as a biological soil amendment presents a risk for the preharvest contamination of fresh produce by Salmonella. In order to properly assess this risk, it is important to understand the factors influencing the persistence of Salmonella in poultry litter. This research was performed to investigate the influence of indigenous microflora on the survival of Salmonella Typhimurium in poultry litter.

by Daniela Montoya Urrego, Johanna M. Vanegas, J. Natalia Jiménez Introduction Staphylococcus aureus is a successful pathogen in hospital and community. Hemodialysis patients have high colonization rates. Interactions between them and their household contacts, are an opportunity to understand the S. aureus colonization between hospitals and community. This study aims to determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of S.

by Codjo Djignefa Djade, Caroline Diorio, Danielle Laurin, Clermont E. Dionne Objectives This study was an in-depth exploration of unique data from a nationally representative sample of adults living in the United States to identify biomarkers associated with musculoskeletal pain. Methods We performed secondary analyses of 2003–2004 NHANES data.

by Hiu-Lam Ngai, Xiao Yang, Adrian Jun Chu, Rachel Harper, Alice B. J. E. Jacobsen, David Tai-Wai Lau, Ho-Yin Yu, Hung-Kay Lee, Pang-Chui Shaw We set forth to assess the quality of an herbal medicine sold in Hong Kong called Qianliguang by employing a multi-methodological approach. The quality is set by its identity, chemical composition, and bioactivities, among others. Qianliguang (Senecionis scandentis Herba, Senecio scandens Buch.-Ham.

by Ambachew W. Hailu, Abraham Degarege, Beyene Petros, Damien Costa, Yonas Yimam Ayene, Ven-ceslas Villier, Abdelmounaim Mouhajir, Loic Favennec, Romy Razakandrainibe, Haileeysus Adamu Non-Human Primates (NHPs) harbor Cryptosporidium genotypes that can infect humans and vice versa.

by Saba Ahmed, Nadeem Iqbal, Xiaoyan Tang, Rafiq Ahmad, Muhammad Irshad, Usman Irshad Functioning of ecosystems depends on the nutrient dynamics across trophic levels, largely mediated by microbial interactions in the soil food web. The present study investigated the use of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and poultry manure (PM) for maintaining labile P in the soil for an extensive fertility enhancement and as a substitution of chemical fertilizers.

by Faruque Parvez, Fredine T. Lauer, Pam Factor-Litvak, Tariqul Islam, Mahbubul Eunus, M. Abu Horayara, Mizanour Rahman, Golam Sarwar, Habibul Ahsan, Joseph H. Graziano, Scott W. Burchiel There is limited evidence on the effects of environmental exposure to arsenic (As) on the immune system in adults.