Research Publications (Food Safety)

Composted or heat-treated Biological Soil Amendments of Animal Origin (BSAAO) can be added to soils to provide nutrients for fresh produce. These products lower the risk of pathogen contamination of fresh produce when compared with use of untreated BSAAO; however, meteorological conditions, geographic location, and soil properties can influence the presence of pathogenic bacteria, or their indicators (e.g., generic E. coli) and allow potential for produce contamination.

The consumption of cheese in China is increasing rapidly. Little is known about the microbiota, the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, or the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in commercially-produced cheeses sold in China. These are important criteria for evaluating quality and safety. Thus, this study assessed the metagenomics of fifteen types of cheese using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Fourteen bacterial genera were detected.

This study evaluated the antibiotic resistance characteristics and virulence genes of enterococci isolated from raw and processed seafood sold in the Marmara Region, Turkey. In this context, the enterococcal load was determined as between 1.0 and 2.5 log CFU/g in 39 of a total of 397 samples. It was determined that 117 strains isolated from the samples belonged to Enterococcus gallinarum, E. casseliflavus, E. durans, E. faecium, and E. faecalis species.

Carbapenem and colistin-resistant bacteria represent a global public health problem. Refugees carrying these bacteria and living in inadequate shelters can spread these microorganisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the intestinal carriage of these bacteria in Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Between June and July 2019, 250 rectal swabs were collected from two refugee camps in North Lebanon. Swabs were cultured on different selective media.

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that can cause a variety of adverse effects on human health, including cancer. Wheat comprises approximately 20% of the human diet worldwide; therefore, reducing the concentrations of Cd in wheat grain will have significant impacts on the intake of Cd in food products. The tests for measuring the Cd content in grain are costly, and the content is affected significantly by soil pH.

Neonicotinoids are synthetic pesticides widely used for the control of various pests in agriculture throughout the world. They mainly attack the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, generate nervous stimulation, receptor clot, paralysis and finally cause death. They are low volatile, highly soluble and have a long half-life in soil and water.

Heteroresistance can lead to treatment failure and is difficult to detect by the methods currently employed by clinical laboratories. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of the amikacin-heteroresistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains and explore potential amikacin heteroresistance mechanism through whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). In this study, 13 isolates (8.39%) were considered as amikacin-heteroresistant K.

The human innate immune system is equipped with multiple mechanisms to detect microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) to fight bacterial infections. The metabolite short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) acetate, propionate and butyrate are released by multiple bacteria or are food ingredients. SCFA production, especially acetate production, is usually essential for bacteria, and knockout of pathways involved in acetate production strongly impairs bacterial fitness.

ABSTRACT Mammals have evolved sophisticated host cell death signaling pathways as an important immune mechanism to recognize and eliminate cell intruders before they establish their replicative niche. However, intracellular bacterial pathogens that have co-evolved with their host have developed a multitude of tactics to counteract this defense strategy to facilitate their survival and replication.

by Shahbaz Ali, Yunzhou Li, Inzamam Ul Haq, Waseem Abbas, Muhammad Zeeshan Shabbir, Muhammad Musa Khan, Mehmet Mamay, Yasir Niaz, Tahir Farooq, Milan Skalicky, Ali Tan Kee Zuan, Omaima Nasif, Mohamad Javed Ansari

by Xiaoye Liang, Tong-Tong Pei, Hao Li, Hao-Yu Zheng, Han Luo, Yang Cui, Ming-Xuan Tang, Ya-Jie Zhao, Ping Xu, Tao Dong The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a spear-like nanomachine found in gram-negative pathogens for delivery of toxic effectors to neighboring bacterial and host cells. Its assembly requires a tip spike complex consisting of a VgrG-trimer, a PAAR protein, and the interacting effectors. However, how the spike controls T6SS assembly remains elusive.

There are few studies on the reduction of heavy metal pollution from the perspectives of digital transformation and the agglomeration effect of heavy metal enterprises. In this study, 430 heavy metal enterprises in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River were selected as research samples based on the data learning method.

Complementary foods (CFs) provided to infants and young children (IYC) in sub-Saharan Africa contain ingredients that are susceptible to aflatoxin contamination. Chronic dietary exposure to aflatoxins is associated with health consequences. This study assessed the risk of exposure of IYC (6-12-month-old) in Kongwa, Tanzania to aflatoxins through CFs. The intake of aflatoxin susceptible flours (ingredients) in CFs by 35 IYC was estimated through multiple-pass 24-hr dietary recalls.

The epidemiological scenario of COVID-19, social distancing, and business restrictions has increased food preparation and consumption at home. Food mishandling at home can significantly raise the risk of foodborne diseases. This study investigates food-mishandling behavior predictors by applying the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB), with the addition of knowledge and risk perception, to households during the COVID-19 pandemic.

European Union launched the RASFF portal in 1977 to ensure cross-border monitoring and a quick reaction when public health risks are detected in the food chain. There are not enough resources available to guarantee a comprehensive inspection policy, but RASFF data has enormous potential as a preventive tool. However, there are few studies of food and feed risk issues prediction and none with RASFF data.

Author(s): Brianna C. Britton, Kelden T. Cook, Sophie Tongyu Wu, Jack Burnett, Rowan C. Wallar, Henk C. den Bakker, Haley F. Oliver The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of L. monocytogenes and validate a predictive statistical model for assessing L. monocytogenes contamination risk at retail which coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Author(s): Estefanía Novoa Rama, Matthew Bailey, Sanjay Kumar, Cortney Leone, Henk C. den Bakker, Harshavardhan Thippareddi, Manpreet Singh Non-typhoidal Salmonella is the second most common bacterial cause of foodborne illness in the United States. More than 50% of the poultry meat sold in the U.S. is categorized as no antibiotics ever (NAE), yet it is unclear how these practices affect the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of Salmonella.

Author(s): Xianyong Wu, Qiming Chen, Cuiyun Yang, Qiqi Ning, Zhanmin Liu Listeria monocytogenes is a kind of foodborne pathogen, which can cause meningitis, septicemia, gastroenteritis, and abortion with a fatality rate of up to 30%. Rapid, sensitive, and convenient detection of L. monocytogenes in food is an important strategy for controlling contamination and infection. In this study, an enhanced visual detection assay for L.

Author(s): Feng Zhang, Shi Wu, Jiahui Huang, Jingsha Dai, Jumei Zhang, Runshi Yang, Liang Xue, Miao Zhao, Juan Wang, Yu Ding, Moutong Chen, Qingping Wu Food-borne Staphylococcus aureus has shown multidrug resistance. According to our previous studies, most S. aureus isolated from retail foods in China exhibited resistance to a variety of antimicrobials.

Author(s): Kang Huang, Jiyoon Yi, Glenn M. Young, Nitin Nitin

Author(s): Yanan Cao, Cheng Ye, Cong Zhang, Guohao Zhang, Haiming Hu, Zhigang Zhang, Haitian Fang, Junping Zheng, Hongtao Liu

Author(s): Stella Nordhagen

Author(s): Martin Laage Kragh, Louisa Obari, Alyssa Marie Caindec, Hanne Aarslev Jensen, Lisbeth Truelstrup Hansen The historic view on low-moisture foods (LMFs) as safe due to the lack of microbial growth in these foods is challenged by an increasing number of reports of outbreaks and recalls caused by LMFs contaminated with foodborne pathogens.

Author(s): Rosalind Robertson, Anna Beaven, Tim Coolbear, Jeremy Hill, Tim Kirk, Greg McCullough, Mark Piper, Pierre Venter

Author(s): Md. Hasan Al Banna, Satyajit Kundu, Keith Brazendale, Bright Opoku Ahinkorah, Tasnim Rahman Disu, Abdul-Aziz Seidu, Joshua Okyere, Md Shafiqul Islam Khan