Research Publications (Food Safety)

Cadmium (Cd) is a major environmental stressor that induces fetal growth restriction (FGR). Also, changes in gut microbiome diversity-which can be modulated positively by melatonin (Mel) have implications on fetal development and placental functions.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is known to be one of the most common foodborne pathogens capable of secreting a wide range of exotoxins such as enterotoxin, which severely threatens the health of consumers. Over the past few years, the development of safe and effective strategies in inhibiting the growth and enterotoxins generation of S. aureus in food turns out to be the research focus and emphasis.

This study aimed to explore the antibiofilm activity and possible mechanism of lactobionic acid (LBA) against Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of LBA against S. Typhimurium was 8 mg/mL.

Emetic Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) is a foodborne microorganism associated with vomiting disease. Herein, we have established a blocker-tailed polymerase chain reaction (bt-PCR) coupled with rolling circle amplification (RCA) assay for the sensitive and specific detection of emetic B. cereus.

This study evaluated the capacity of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Typhimurium to form pure and mixed biofilms on polypropylene surface and analyzed the expression of genes related to biofilm formation within 24 h and 120 h. The planktonic and sessile growth of L. monocytogenes and S.

Four toco toucans (Ramphastos toco), one channel-billed toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus) and one white-throated toucan (Ramphastos tucanus) died in two disease outbreaks in the same aviary in 2011 and 2016.

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are soil-borne pathogens that severely affect Panax notoginseng growth and productivity. Thus, there is an urgent need for biological control agents or green nematicides to control root-knot nematodes. Rhizosphere bacteria can effectively control RKNs through different mechanisms. In this study, the three rhizosphere Bacillus strains, isolated from the root of P.

Phagemid particles based on the Neisseria gonorrhoeae filamentous phage NgoΦ6 were used as a vaccine delivery system. We demonstrate that the host proteins incorporated into/associated with these particles can be encoded by chromosomal genes of the host bacterium or from plasmids able to replicate as an autonomous entity in the phagemid host. Phagemid particles were prepared from three types of cells, namely, Salmonella enterica ser.

Giardia intestinalis is a protozoan parasite causing diarrheal disease, giardiasis, after extracellular infection of humans and other mammals’ intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) of the upper small intestine. The parasite has two main life cycle stages: replicative trophozoites and transmissive cysts.

Clove oil has many functions such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation. In this experiment, a self-emulsification method was used to prepare clove oil nanoemulsion. And then filter paper diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum bactericidal concentration were used to study the inhibitory behavior of clove oil nanoemulsion on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

Analysis of agrochemical residues in red chilli powder is always considered difficult because of higher matrix interference due to carotenoid pigments and other co-extractives. During the sample preparation, matrix components were co-extracted along with the target compounds leading to frequent source cleaning, changing of liner and column.

A survey on the occurrence of ochratoxin A (OTA) and sterigmatocystin (STC) in grated cheese products obtained from hard grana-type cheeses was carried out, where 107 grated products were collected in retail outlets and analysed. OTA and STC were found in 48.6% and 94.4% of the samples, in a range from <LOD to 25.05 µg kg−1 and from <LOD to 6.87 µg kg−1, respectively. STC was detected in all the OTA-contaminated samples.

Aflatoxin, a type of mycotoxin, is mostly produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. It is responsible for the loss of billions of dollars to the world economy, by contaminating different crops such as cotton, groundnut, maize, and chilies, and causing immense effects on the health of humans and animals. More than eighteen different types of aflatoxins have been reported to date, and among them, aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 are the most prevalent and lethal.

Although botulinum toxin (BoNT) has been suggested as a treatment to counter neuropathic pain, no previous systematic reviews investigated the multidimensional effects of BoNT on pain relief and Health-Related Quality of Life (HR-QoL). The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the current evidence on the effectiveness of BoNT treatment for neuropathic pain, and to characterize its multidimensional effectiveness in order to guide physicians in clinical practice.

L. monocytogenes is a public health threat linked to fast foods such as broiler chickens. This study aimed to verify the occurrence of Listeria species in chickens from abattoirs and evaluate their antimicrobial resistance. In total, 150 broiler carcass swabs distributed as cloacal (n = 60), exterior surface (n = 60), and environmental (n = 30) were collected. Listeria species were characterized using biochemical tests and PCR.

Heavy metals and metalloids originating from industrial, agricultural, and urban wastes and increasing in aquatic ecosystems cause genotoxic damage to fish species. This study aimed to determine the potential genotoxic effects of mixtures of aluminum, arsenic, and manganese in Cyprinus carpio. The effects of the mixtures on erythrocyte cells of C.

Since mcr-1 was first discovered in 2015, this gene has shown excellent transmission ability and evolutionary characteristics worldwide, leading to major public health and food safety concerns.

It was desired to develop the ultrasensitive and efficient strategy for detecting ultratrace aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and protecting consumers' health. In this study, a magnetic immuno-PCR method (MIPCR) based on the barcode DNA was described and evaluated for detecting AFB1 in agricultural by-product samples.

ZEN-responsive hydrogel was prepared using ZEN aptamer and a cationic conjugated skeleton which was formed by the electrostatic interaction between acrylamide and poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA). In the presence of ZEN, the binding of aptamer and ZEN caused the hydrogel to dissociate, releasing the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) encapsulated in the hydrogel into supernatant, whose color changes serving as response instructions were observed by eyes.

The trace detection of pesticide residue becomes particularly important since increasing attentions have been attached to food safety. Herein, we developed an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) covalent organic framework (COF) based-biosensor for trace pesticide detection coupling with CRISPR/Cas12a-mediated signal accumulation strategy.

Several naturally occurring dioxins, including 1,3,7-tribromodibenzo-p-dioxin (1,3,7-TriBDD), synthesized by red algae, have been detected in the marine environment. As 1,3,7-TriBDD is accumulated in mussels and fish, predators, such as marine birds, are exposed to this congener, similar to anthropogenic dioxins (including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin TCDD).

Citrinin, a secondary metabolite, can pose serious risks to the environment and organisms, but its hepatotoxic mechanisms are still unclear. Histopathological and ultrastructural results showed that citrinin-induced liver injury in Kunming mice, and the mechanism of citrinin-induced hepatotoxicity was studied in L02 cells.

In this study, a bio-composite (IBWS700) was prepared using inorganic phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (iPSB), which were immobilized on biochar produced from wheat straw (WS700). Further, the bio-remediation effects of the composite for lead (Pb) in soil were also investigated.

Combined bioaugmentation inoculants composed of two or more plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) were more effective than single inoculants for plant growth and cadmium (Cd) removal in contaminated soils. However, the principles of consortia construction still need to be discovered.

The biofilm of Salmonella is a major source of meat contamination and disease transmission. This study aimed to investigate biofilm inhibitory effects and mechanisms of clove essential oil (CEO) and oregano essential oil (OEO) at different concentrations on Salmonella Derby (S. Derby).