Research Publications (Food Safety)

Publication date: October 2015
, Volume 56
Author(s): Duvan Esteban Hoyos Ossa , Diego Alfonso Hincapié , Gustavo Antonio Peñuela

Publication date: October 2015
, Volume 56
Author(s): Md. Azizul Haque , Jin Hwan Lee , Kye Man Cho

Publication date: October 2015
, Volume 56
Author(s): Carolina V. Di Anibal , M. Susana Rodríguez , Liliana Albertengo

Publication date: October 2015
, Volume 56
Author(s): Junke Li , Teng Hui , Fulong Wang , Shun Li , Baowei Cui , Yuqing Cui , Zengqi Peng

Publication date: October 2015
, Volume 56
Author(s): Luyun Cai , Ailing Cao , Yingchang Li , Zhuo Song , Liping Leng , Jianrong Li

René van den Brom, Hendrik-Jan Roest, Arnout de Bruin, Daan Dercksen, Inge Santman-Berends, Wim van der Hoek, Annemiek Dinkla, Jelmer Vellema, Piet Vellema

Phycotoxins are marine toxins produced by phytoplankton that can get accumulated in filter feeding shellfish. Human intoxication episodes occur due to contaminated seafood consumption. Okadaic acid (OA) and dynophysistoxins (DTXs) are phycotoxins responsible for a severe gastrointestinal syndrome called diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP). Yessotoxins (YTXs) are marine toxins initially included in the DSP class but currently classified as a separated group.

Publication date: Available online 26 March 2015

Author(s): Farhana R. Pinu

Publication date: Available online 26 March 2015

Author(s): Tarcísio Lima Filho , Suzana Maria Della Lucia , Rondinelli Moulin Lima , Valéria Paula Rodrigues Minim

Regulations dealing with microbicides in Europe and the United States are evolving and now require data on the risk of the development of resistance in organisms targeted by microbicidal products. There is no standard protocol to assess the risk of the development of resistance to microbicidal formulations. This study aimed to validate the use of changes in microbicide and antibiotic susceptibility as initial markers for predicting microbicide resistance and cross-resistance to antibiotics.

Pulsed light is a nonthermal processing technology recognized by the FDA for killing microorganisms on food surfaces, with cumulative fluences up to 12 J cm–2.

Inorganic arsenic (As) is highly toxic and ubiquitous in the environment. Inorganic As can be transformed by microbial methylation, which constitutes an important part of the As biogeochemical cycle. In this study, we investigated As biotransformation by Pseudomonas alcaligenes NBRC14159. P. alcaligenes was able to methylate arsenite [As(III)] rapidly to dimethylarsenate and small amounts of trimethylarsenic oxide.

The inability of molecular detection methods to distinguish disinfected virions from infectious ones has hampered the assessment of infectivity for enteric viruses caused by disinfection practices. In the present study, the reduction of infectivity of murine norovirus S7-PP3 and mengovirus vMC0, surrogates of human noroviruses and enteroviruses, respectively, caused by free-chlorine treatment was characterized culture independently by detecting carbonyl groups on viral capsid protein.

Biofilm formation and host-pathogen interactions are frequently studied using multiwell plates; however, these closed systems lack shear force, which is present at several sites in the host, such as the intestinal and urinary tracts. Recently, microfluidic systems that incorporate shear force and very small volumes have been developed to provide cell biology models that resemble in vivo conditions.

Nutrient germination of spores of Bacillus species occurs through germinant receptors (GRs) in spores' inner membrane (IM) in a process stimulated by sublethal heat activation. Bacillus subtilis spores maximum germination rates via different GRs required different 75°C heat activation times: 15 min for l -valine germination via the GerA GR and 4 h for germination with the l -asparagine–glucose–fructose–K+ mixture via the GerB and GerK GRs, with GerK requiring the most heat activation.

Growth of microorganisms in environments containing CO2 above its critical point is unexpected due to a combination of deleterious effects, including cytoplasmic acidification and membrane destabilization. Thus, supercritical CO2 (scCO2) is generally regarded as a sterilizing agent. We report isolation of bacteria from three sites targeted for geologic carbon dioxide sequestration (GCS) that are capable of growth in pressurized bioreactors containing scCO2.

The formation of bacterial spoilage communities in food is influenced by both extrinsic and intrinsic environmental factors. Although many reports describe how these factors affect bacterial growth, much less is known about interactions among bacteria, which may influence community structure. This study investigated interactions among representative species of bacteria isolated from vacuum-packaged (VP) beef.

The food-borne pathogenic bacterium Listeria is known for relatively low morbidity and high mortality rates, reaching up to 25 to 30%. Listeria is a hardy organism, and its control in foods represents a significant challenge. Many naturally occurring compounds, including the bacteriocin nisin and a number of plant essential oils, have been widely studied and are reported to be effective as antimicrobial agents against spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms.

Human norovirus (NoV) is the leading cause of foodborne disease in the United States, and epidemiological studies have shown that fresh produce is one of the major vehicles for the transmission of human NoV. However, the mechanisms of norovirus contamination and persistence in fresh produce are poorly understood.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) originating from swine is concerning for public health, but an understanding of the emergence and persistence of MRSA in nursery herds is lacking. The aim of this study was to determine whether MRSA in nursery pigs is associated with particular herd-level parameters, including the use of antimicrobials, disinfectants, and heavy metals, which may be driving the selection and persistence of antimicrobial resistance.

Aims
The aims of this study were to investigate the in vitro antibacterial activity of the essential oils (EOs) of Hesperozygis ringens (HREO), popularly known as “espanta-pulga” and two different species of basil, Ocimum gratissimum (OGEO) and Ocimum americanum (OAEO), as well as, the potential of these products to be used in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) infected with Aeromonas hydrophila.

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2015

Author(s): Ahmed M. Erfan , Abdullah A. Selim , Mohamed K. Morsi , Soad A. Nasef , E.M. Abdelwhab

In 2008, Health Canada announced it was considering the establishment of maximum levels for ochratoxin A (OTA) in a number of foods, including unprocessed wheat and oats and their products. The Canada Grains Council and Canadian National Millers Association initiated a study to measure the variability and distribution among sample test results so that scientifically based sampling plans could be designed to meet regulatory and industry requirements.

Publication date: Available online 25 March 2015
Food and Chemical Toxicology
Author(s): Andriy Tkachenko , James Clark , Natalie Knutson , Betzy Wallace , Malgorzata Bomba , Michele Yacopucci , Blaine Rhodes , Sarah M. Nemser , Jake Guag , Renate Reimschuessel

Publication date: Available online 25 March 2015
Food and Chemical Toxicology
Author(s): David Y. Lai , Sam Kacew , Wolfgang Dekant