Research Publications (Food Safety)

Min-Goo Seo, Seung-Hun Lee, Dorene VanBik, In-Ohk Ouh, Sun-Hee Yun, Eunsang Choi, Yong-Soo Park, Sang-Eun Lee, Jong Wan Kim, Gil-Jae Cho, Oh-Deog Kwon, Dongmi Kwak

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is the most common cause of seafood-borne gastroenteritis worldwide and a blight on global aquaculture. This organism requires a horizontally acquired type III secretion system (T3SS2) to infect the small intestine, but knowledge of additional factors that underlie V. parahaemolyticus pathogenicity is limited. We used transposon-insertion sequencing to...

Using the squid-vibrio association, we aimed to characterize the mechanism through which Vibrio fischeri cells signal morphogenesis of the symbiotic light-emitting organ. The symbiont releases two cell-envelope molecules, peptidoglycan (PG) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that, within 12 h of light-organ colonization, act in synergy to trigger normal tissue development. Recent work has shown that outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) produced by V.

The iprA gene (formerly known as yaiV or STM0374) is located in a two-gene operon in the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium genome and is associated with altered expression during spaceflight and rotating wall vessel culture conditions that increase virulence. However, iprA is uncharacterized in the literature. In this report, we present the first targeted characterization of this gene which reveals that iprA is highly conserved across Enterobacteriaceae. We found that S.

The McMurdo Dry Valleys (MCM) of southern Victoria Land, Antarctica, harbor numerous ice-covered bodies of water that provide year-round liquid water oases for isolated food webs dominated by the microbial loop. Single-cell microbial eukaryotes (protists) occupy major trophic positions within this truncated food web, ranging from primary producers (e.g., chlorophytes, haptophytes, and cryptophytes) to tertiary predators (e.g., ciliates, dinoflagellates, and choanoflagellates).

Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms possess mechanisms for the detoxification of heavy metals, and these mechanisms are found among distantly related species. We investigated the role of intracellular glutathione (GSH), which, in a large number of taxa, plays a role in protection against the toxicity of common heavy metals. Anaerobically grown Lactococcus lactis containing an inducible GSH synthesis pathway was used as a model organism.

A structurally novel chitinase, Tc-ChiD, was identified from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus chitonophagus, which can grow on chitin as the sole organic carbon source. The gene encoding Tc-ChiD contains regions corresponding to a signal sequence, two chitin-binding domains, and a putative catalytic domain.

Bacterial community composition and longitudinal fluctuations were monitored in a riverine system during and after Superstorm Sandy to better characterize inter- and intracommunity responses associated with the disturbance associated with a 100-year storm event.

Publication date: December 2016
, Volume 70

Author(s): S. Samapundo, T.N. Cam Thanh, R. Xhaferi, F. Devlieghere

Publication date: December 2016
, Volume 70

Author(s): Panuwat Suppakul, Thitiporn Thanathammathorn, Ornsiri Samerasut, Surachai Khankaew

The unusual attribution of trace amounts of ochratoxin A in some Chinese food commodities to Penicillium polonicum is questioned by European experience in searches for ochratoxinogenic food-spoilage Penicillia, where mistaken attribution is now known to have been due to cryptic Penicillium verrucosum contamination. Consequently, selection of single-spore isolates is recommended as pre-requisite for attributing mycotoxin biosynthetic potential to fungi.

Abstract

In the United States, Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (SE) is among the leading bacterial cause of foodborne illness via consumption of raw or undercooked eggs. The top Salmonella serovars implicated in U.S. foodborne outbreaks associated with chicken consumption include SE, Typhimurium (ST), Heidelberg (SH), Montevideo, Mbandka, Braenderup, and Newport.

Epidemiologic analyses have linked the frequency of human infections with Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Enteritidis to the consumption of contaminated eggs and thus to the prevalence of this pathogen in commercial egg-laying flocks. Contamination of the edible contents of eggs by Salmonella Enteritidis is a consequence of the colonization of reproductive tissues in systemically infected hens.

The microbial quality of eggs entering the hatchery represents an important critical control point for biosecurity and pathogen reduction programs in integrated poultry production. The development of safe and effective interventions to reduce microbial contamination on the surface of eggs will be important to improve the overall productivity and microbial food safety of poultry and poultry products.

A 20-day trial was conducted to determine the impact of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and dietary protein concentration on performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut health in broiler chicks. The 6 dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 x 3 factorial with 3 crude protein (CP) concentrations (16, 22, and 26%) with or without 1.5 mg/kg AFB1. Each diet was fed to 6 replicate cages (6 chicks per cage) from zero to 20 d of age.

Avian influenza virus has received increasing attention in recent years because of the potential for recombination with the human virus. Distributions of sialic acid receptors on target cells are determinants of the susceptibilities of different species to influenza virus infection. In this study, the distribution of sialic acid receptors in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts of Silky Fowl and White Leghorn chickens were compared.

A 20-day trial was conducted to determine the effects of dietary branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) on performance, nutrient digestibility, and gene expression of the mTOR pathway in broiler chicks when exposed to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The 6 dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 x 3 factorial with 3 BCAA concentrations (1.16, 1.94, and 2.73%) with or without 1.5 mg/kg AFB1 (1.77 mg/kg analyzed). Each diet was fed to 8 replicate cages (6 chicks per cage) from 6 to 20 d of age.

In this study, respiratory viral pathogens were screened using real-time RT-PCR in 86 broiler chicken flocks suffering from respiratory diseases problems in 4 Egyptian governorates between January 2012 and February 2014. The mortality rates in the investigated flocks ranged from 1 to 47%. Results showed that mixed infection represented 66.3% of the examined flocks. Mixed infectious bronchitis (IBV) and avian influenza (AI)-H9N2 viruses were the most common infection (41.7%).

Abstract

Aims

The aim of the present study was to assess the potential risk posed to the human population by the presence of L. monocytogenes serotype 1/2c in food based on the characterization of virulence factors of Listeria involved in the invasion of host cells and sensitivity to antimicrobial agents.

Abstract

The pulp of freshly harvested mature Synsepalumdulcificum (miracle fruit) berries were analyzed for proximate, pH, titratable acidity, anti-nutritional and phytochemical content. The results indicated a moisture content of 45.12%, protein content of 2.48% and a carbohydrate content of 48.84%.The anti-nutrients content include Tannin 2.90 ± 0.64mg/100g, phytate 5.21 ± 0.92 mg/100g, glycosidic cyanide 0.03 ± 0.00mg/100g, steroid 1.56±0.03 mg/100g and oxalate 11.04 ± 0.29%.

Publication date: Available online 28 May 2016


Author(s): Yuehua Ke, Wenna Li, Yufei Wang, Mingjuan Yang, Jinpeng Guo, Shaoxia Zhan, Xinying Du, Zhoujia Wang, Min Yang, Juan Li, Wenfeng Li, Zeliang Chen

Publication date: December 2016
, Volume 70

Author(s): Nadarajan Abirami, H. Nidaullah, Li-Oon Chuah, Ahamed Kamal Shamila-Syuhada, S.R. Chandraprasad, Nurul Huda, Hassim Hasmaizal, Gulam Rusul

Publication date: December 2016
, Volume 70

Author(s): Pei Yee Woh, Kwai Lin Thong, Jerzy Marian Behnke, John Watkin Lewis, Siti Nursheena Mohd Zain