Research Publications (Food Safety)

Journal of Fish Diseases, EarlyView. Bacterial mutation and genetic diversity in aquaculture have led to increasing phenotypic variances, which can weaken or invalidate strategies for controlling diseases. However, few studies have monitored the degree of mutation in fish bacterial pathogens caused by environmental pressure within a short period.

Meta-analysis was used to investigate the concentration and prevalence of AFM1 in different types of cheese consumed in Iran. The results demonstrated that the pooled estimated mean of AFM1 concentration in Iranian cheese was 130.65 ng kg-1 (95% CI: 110.43, 150.86), while the percentage of AFM1 positive samples were 66.56% (95% CI: 56.82, 76.30).

Aflatoxins and ochratoxin A (OTA) are chemical hazards in dried figs that induce adverse effects on international trade. However, there is no maximum level (ML) for OTA in dried figs worldwide. Risk assessment of OTA in dried figs has drawn great attention for establishing an ML or providing other risk management advice to control or prevent contamination.

This study sought to І)investigate the effect of varying concentrations of salt on the survival of Gram-negative bacteria in artificial seawater (ASW; pH 6) stored at 4 °C, ІІ)examine the culturable populations of Vibrio vulnificus persisting in ASW with or without 1000 U/mg catalase or 0.1% sodium pyruvate (pH 6) under aerobic and oxygen-restricted environments at 4 °C, and ІІІ)determine whether double layer agar plate (DLAP) methods can improve the culturability of 

Poultry is one of the fastest growing industries due to advantages in land use, rapid production and advances in feed technology. The rising trend in the consumption of poultry meat over the last 50 years has also increased concerns about food safety. Campylobacter jejuni is the leading bacterial cause of gastroenteritis, the foremost cause of foodborne deaths.

Lead (Pb) is an environmental neurotoxin that can lead to toxicity. It has shown that tissues can be exposed to oxidative stress in lead poisoning. Since silymarin is a natural agent with antioxidant effects, this study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and chelation effects of silibinin and nano-silibinin on the oxidative stress status in lead-poisoned rats. Sixty male Wistar rats randomly divided into ten groups (n=6).

In the present study, primer-probe sets for the detection of Salmonella enterica and S. enterica serovar Montevideo were developed based on comparative genomics. Genomic information of 706 strains of S. enterica, including 23 strains of serovar Montevideo, was retrieved from National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) RefSeq and analyzed by the panX program.

Foodborne outbreaks are closely associated with the formation of biofilms. However, due to their complexity of the formation and structure, studies of dual-species biofilms are still required. The aim of this study was to analyse the dual-species biofilm of Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas fluorescens by investigating the interactions between the two species.

Antimicrobial resistance in Listeria monocytogenes biofilms is considered a risk. When using disinfectants, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) must be contemplated to avoid resistance. The objective of the present study was to determine the MIC of four essential oils in four L. monocytogenes strains. Once the MICs were obtained, the effect of subinhibitory doses of the most effective oil was determined.

Some serovars of Salmonella are not or rare found to cause salmonellosis in human. In our clinic-based surveillance, three rare Salmonella 4,5,12:a:- strains were recovered from three patients with diarrhea. To explore their genetic and epidemiological characteristics and pathogenesis, we conducted whole-genome sequencing, in vitro invasion assays in mammalian cells, and in vivo virulence assays in an animal model.

In 2019, the United States National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) surveyed raw salmon, shrimp, and tilapia from retail grocery outlets in eight states to assess the prevalence of bacterial contamination and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the isolates.

Bacterial pathogens, such as Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Shigella spp., are important causes of foodborne illness internationally. Recovery of these organisms from foods is critical for food safety investigations to support attribution of illnesses to specific food commodities; however, isolation of bacterial cultures can be challenging. Methods for the isolation of STEC and Shigella spp.

Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) is an important zoonotic microorganism that is increasingly causing public health concern worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine the transmission and occurrence of MRSA in a slaughterhouse environment and evaluate its antimicrobial resistance and genetic characterization. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive epidemiological survey of S.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is affecting people worldwide. Changes in the intestinal microbiome are crucial to NASH. A previous study showed that eradicating intestinal fungi ameliorates NASH; however, the role of intestinal fungi in the development of NASH remains unclear. Saccharomyces boulardii (SB), a dietary supplement yeast, has been reported to restore the integrity of the intestine. Here, we tested the effect of SB in the treatment of NASH.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes an acute, self-limiting hepatitis. The disease takes a severe form in pregnant women, leading to around 30% mortality. Zinc is an essential micronutrient that plays a crucial role in multiple cellular processes. Our earlier findings demonstrated the antiviral activity of zinc salts against HEV infection. Zinc oxide (ZnO) and its nanostructures have attracted marked interest due to their unique characteristics.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) strains are increasingly emerging as serious pathogens because they can be resistant to many antibiotics called multidrug resistance (MDR) that limit the therapeutic options. In the case of vancomycin- and rifampin-resistant MDR-MRSE, the physicians are not allowed to increase the doses of antibiotics because of severe toxicity.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological characteristics and rhizofiltration potential of Talinum paniculatum cuttings subjected to lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) excess. The cuttings excised from T. paniculatum were transferred to a nutrient solution, to which different concentrations of Pb (0, 10, 50, 100, and 200 mg L−1) and Mn (0, 10, 50, 100, and 150 mg L−1) were added.

Abstract Heavy metals (HMs), among the components of air pollution that is one of the utmost critical concerns our world has faced, are one of the biggest threats to living organisms. The plants, as a biomonitor, offer the most effective solution in tracking the change of HM concentration on earth and taking them under control.

Background and aims Chelates like ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) have frequently been applied for facilitating lead (Pb) phytoextraction and cleaning contaminated soils but without detailed report regarding the internal mechanisms happening in plants in response to EDTA addition.

In order to study the relationship between the distribution and aflatoxin production capacity of Aspergillus species and soil types, 35 soil samples were collected from the main peanut planting areas in Xiangyang, which has 19.7 thousand square kilometers and is located in a special area with different soil types. The soil types of peanut planting areas in Xiangyang are mainly sandy loam and clay loam, and most of the soil is acidic, providing unique nature conditions for this study.

Fusarium fujikuroi, a causal agent of Rice Bakanae Disease, produces secondary metabolites such as gibberellin, pigments bikaverin, and mycotoxins fumonisins. Fumonisins produced by F. fujikuroi pose a severe threat to human and animal health. The copper chaperone protein plays a critical role in different growth stages of plants, fungi, and yeasts, but their functions and regulation in fumonisin biosynthesis are still unclear. Here, a copper chaperone protein, FfCOX17, was identified in F.

mBio, Ahead of Print. The intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii adapts to diverse host cell environments within a replicative compartment that is heavily decorated by secreted proteins. In an attempt to identify novel parasite secreted proteins that influence host cell activity, we identified and characterized a transmembrane dense granule protein dubbed GRA64 (TGME49_202620).

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Ahead of Print. Bacillus cereus sensu lato (s.l.) includes foodborne pathogens, as well as beneficial microorganisms, such as bioinsecticides. Some of the beneficial and commercially used B. cereus s.l. strains have been shown to carry enterotoxin genes, the products of which can cause toxicoinfection in humans.

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, EarlyView. BACKGROUND Cadmium is a non-biodegradable heavy metal with a long biological half-life.

CFZ533 (iscalimab) is a nondepleting anti-CD40 antibody intended for inhibition of transplant organ rejection and treatment of autoimmune diseases. In a safety assessment in rhesus monkeys, CFZ533 was administered for 13 weeks up to 150 mg/kg/week subcutaneously. CFZ533 was shown previously to completely inhibit primary and secondary T-cell-dependent antibody responses.