Research Publications (Food Safety)

This study investigated the concentration of the pesticide residues found in Fragaria and Myrica rubra sold in the city of Hangzhou. From an analysis of 151 (77 Fragaria and 74 Myrica rubra ) samples using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), a total of 41 different pesticide residues were found to be present. Of the 41 residues, 14 were found using GC-MS/MS and 27 using LC-MS/MS.

Fish oil inclusion into a dry pet food provides a source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in fish oil have antibacterial activity against various foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella and pathogenic Escherichia coli. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of temperature applied to dry pet food kibbles on the antimicrobial activity of Menhaden fish oil against Salmonella spp.

The disinfection efficacy and mechanism of slightly acid electrolyzed water (SAEW) on Cronobacter sakazakii were investigated. SAEW solutions in three concentrations were carried on C. sakazakii which decreased in a range of 23%-55% in 2 minutes. The propidium iodide (PI) uptake and electronic microscopy (SEM) images indicated that SAEW treatment damaged cell integrity and changed membrane permeability with leaking nucleic acid (109.7%), intercellular protein (692.3%) and K + (53.6%).

Beef is rich in various nutrients while easily spoils due to contamination by pathogens, thus it is of great significance to develop a bactericidal method to inactivate meat-borne pathogens and meanwhile maintain the freshness of beef.

There is limited examination about COVID-19-related food handling concerns and practices that cause chemical or microbial contamination and illness, particularly among those with food insecurity. We investigated consumer food handling concerns and practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether they differed by food insecurity status. An online survey was distributed among Chicago, Illinois residents between July 15-August 21, 2020 (N=437).

Positive outcomes in biochemical and biological assays of food compounds may appear due to the well-described capacity of some compounds to form colloidal aggregates that adsorb proteins, resulting in their denaturation and loss of function. This phenomenon can lead to wrongly ascribing mechanisms of biological action for these compounds (false positives) as the effect is nonspecific and promiscuous.

Livestock, particularly pigs, have increasingly been recognized as important reservoirs for zoonotic transmission of pathogenic bacteria, including staphylococci. Livestock production systems in developing countries of sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, are characterized by high misuse/abuse of antimicrobials and a close association between humans and these animals, which promotes the emergence and transmission of resistant and potentially virulent bacteria.

Ingestion of food- or waterborne antibiotic-resistant bacteria may lead to dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the gut microbiota. The gut microbiota often suffers from various disturbances. It is not clear whether and how disturbed microbiota may affect ARG mobility under antibiotic treatments.

A sustainable technology to eliminate the persistent reactive dyes from the textile effluents discharged indiscriminately in the environment is highly desirous given the explosive growth of textile industries. The present study investigated the potential of two different bacterial strains, Bacillus cereus SKB12 and Enterobacter hormaechei SKB16 isolated from the dye house effluent sludge in the biotransformation of Reactive Red 198 (RR 198).

This study was designed to compare the roles of botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in promoting the functional recovery and regeneration of injured peripheral nerves. A total of 45 six-week-old rats with sciatic nerve injury were randomly divided into two experimental groups and one control group. The experimental groups received a single session of intranerve BoNT/A or ESWT immediately after a nerve-crushing injury.

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a movement disorder characterized by involuntary contractions of the facial muscles innervated by the seventh cranial nerve. Generally, it is associated with a poor quality of life due to social embarrassment and can lead to functional blindness. Moreover, it is a chronic condition, and spontaneous recovery is rare. Intramuscular injections of Botulinum Toxin (BoNT) are routinely used as HFS treatment.

The increasing worldwide prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli constitutes a serious threat to global public health. Surgical site infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates in developing countries, fueled by the limited availability of effective antibiotics. We used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to evaluate antimicrobial resistance and the phylogenomic relationships of 19 ESBL-positive E.

Campylobacter spp. are a major cause of bacterial foodborne diarrhea worldwide. While thermophilic Campylobacter species asymptomatically colonize the intestines of chickens, most human infections in industrial countries have been attributed to consumption of chicken meat or cross-contaminated products.

Palygorskite (Pal), a clay nanoparticle, has been demonstrated to be a vehicle for drug delivery. Copper has antibacterial properties, and zinc is an essential micronutrient for intestinal health in animals and humans. However, whether copper/zinc-modified Pal (Cu/Zn-Pal) can protect chickens from Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) infection remains unclear.

Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) causes an estimated 1600 foodborne illnesses and 260 deaths annually in the U.S. These outbreaks are a major concern for the apple industry since fresh produce cannot be treated with thermal technologies for pathogen control before human consumption. Recent caramel apple outbreaks indicate that the current non-thermal sanitizing protocol may not be sufficient for pathogen decontamination.

Antimicrobial resistance is a major concern to public health demanding effective alternative strategies to disease control and prevention. Modulation of endogenous host defense peptide (HDP) synthesis has emerged as a promising antibiotic alternative approach. This study investigated a potential synergy between sugars and butyrate in inducing HDP gene expression in chickens.

Consumers prefer natural over synthetic chemical preservatives on a food label. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure the safety and efficacy of such natural preservatives. The emergence of heat-resistant spore-forming Alicyclobacillus spp. has been associated with spoilage problems in the fruit juice industry.

by Hamid Motamedi, Matin Fathollahi, Ramin Abiri, Sepide Kadivarian, Mosayeb Rostamian, Amirhooshang Alvandi

Introduction

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a major hospital problem and a common adverse effect of antibiotic treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of the most important bacteria that cause AAD in hospitalized patients.

Materials and methods

by Jaime R. Barrett, Gabriel K. Innes, Kelly A. Johnson, Guillaume Lhermie, Renata Ivanek, Amelia Greiner Safi, David Lansing

C. Lefeuvre et al. We report a transfusion-transmitted hepatitis A virus infection in an immunocompromised patient in France, detected shortly after a transfusion of pathogen-reduced pooled platelets. This case raises questions about the efficacy of donor screening methods. Additional safety measures, such as routine donation screening, should be considered.

Author(s): Klaas De Baerdemaeker, Inge Van der Linden, Anton Nikiforov, Sophie Zuber, Nathalie De Geyter, Frank Devlieghere Non-thermal plasma (NTP) is known as an effective source of a variety of reactive species generated in the gas phase. Nowadays, NTP is gaining increasing interest from the food industry as a microbial inactivation technique.

Author(s): Thirumalairajan Subramaniam, Girija Kesavan

Author(s): Krishan Kumar Sharma, Vandana Tripathy, Khushbu Sharma, Ruchi Gupta, Rajbir Yadav, Suneeta Devi, Suresh Walia

Author(s): Jierong Zhang, Rui Cai, Tianli Yue, Yahong Yuan, Zhenpeng Gao, Zhouli Wang

Author(s): Admasu Fanta Worku, Karta Kaske Kalsa, Merkuz Abera, Mesfin Wogayehu Tenagashaw, Nigus Gabbiye Habtu