Research Publications (Food Safety)

Campylobacter jejuni is the leading bacterial cause of gastroenteritis worldwide with excessive incidence in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC). During a survey for C. jejuni from putative animal hosts in a town in the Peruvian Amazon, we were able to isolate and whole genome sequence two C. jejuni strains from domesticated guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). The C. jejuni isolated from guinea pigs had a novel multilocus sequence type that shared some alleles with other C.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is noted for its intrinsic antibiotic resistance and capacity of acquiring additional resistance genes. In this study, the genomes of nine clinical P. aeruginosa isolates were fully sequenced. An extensive genetic comparison was applied to 18 P. aeruginosa accessory genetic elements (AGEs; 13 of them were sequenced in this study and located within P.

ABSTRACT Periphytic biofilms have the potential to greatly influence the microbial production of the neurotoxicant monomethylmercury in freshwaters although few studies have simultaneously assessed periphyton mercury methylation and demethylation rates and the microbial communities associated with these transformations. We performed a field study on periphyton from a river affected by run-of-river power plants and artificial wetlands in a boreal landscape (Québec, Canada).

Draft genomes of seven extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli strains recovered from New Zealand waterways are described. The mean genome size was 5.1 Mb, with 4,724 coding sequences. All genomes contained the ESBL gene blaCTX-M, and one carried a plasmid-mediated AmpC gene, blaCMY-2. A multidrug-resistant genotype was detected in three isolates.

We report here the complete genome analysis of a clinical Campylobacter jejuni strain sequenced by a hybrid assembly approach. A hybrid assembly approach provided a complete genome sequence of C. jejuni that contains a 1,681,375-bp chromosome and 47,467-bp plasmid carrying various virulence and antimicrobial resistance determinants.

Nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) strains are associated with gastroenteritis worldwide but are also the leading cause of bacterial bloodstream infections in sub-Saharan Africa. The invasive NTS (iNTS) strains that cause bloodstream infections differ from standard gastroenteritis-causing strains by >700 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

Pathogenic Yersinia spp. depend on the activity of a potent virulence plasmid-encoded ysc/yop type 3 secretion system (T3SS) to colonize hosts and cause disease. It was recently shown that Yersinia pseudotuberculosis upregulates the virulence plasmid copy number (PCN) during infection and that the resulting elevated gene dose of plasmid-encoded T3SS genes is essential for virulence.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a major diarrheal pathogen in children in low- to middle-income countries. Previous studies identified heat-stable enterotoxin (ST)-producing ETEC as a prevalent diarrheal pathogen in children younger than 5 years. While many studies have evaluated the interaction of ETEC heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) with host epithelium and immunity, few investigations have attempted similar studies with ST.

The Gram-positive bacterium Listeria monocytogenes survives in environments ranging from the soil to the cytosol of infected host cells. Key to L. monocytogenes intracellular survival is the activation of PrfA, a transcriptional regulator that is required for the expression of multiple bacterial virulence factors. Mutations that constitutively activate prfA (prfA* mutations) result in high-level expression of multiple bacterial virulence factors as well as the physiological adaptation of L.

The mucin Muc2 is a major constituent of the mucus layer that covers the intestinal epithelium and creates a barrier between epithelial cells and luminal commensal or pathogenic microorganisms. The Gram-positive foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes can cause enteritis and also disseminate from the intestine to give rise to systemic disease. L. monocytogenes can bind to intestinal Muc2, but the influence of the Muc2 mucin barrier on L.

by Elvira Garza-González, Paola Bocanegra-Ibarias, Miriam Bobadilla-del-Valle, Luis Alfredo Ponce-de-León-Garduño, Verónica Esteban-Kenel, Jesus Silva-Sánchez, Ulises Garza-Ramos, Humberto Barrios-Camacho, Luis Esaú López-Jácome, Claudia A.

The use of whole citrus fruits in the food industry means that the valuable peel is used, but this may raise palatability or health concerns among consumers. The content of sugars, dietary fibre, redox compounds, lead, and cadmium was compared in citrus fruits (orange; pomelo; mandarin; lemon; key lime; and red, yellow, and green grapefruit). The pulp of all fruits contained significantly less fibre, tannins, and phenolic compounds than the peel.

Author(s): Ljilja Torović, Gorica Vuković, Nina Dimitrov

Author(s): Yu-Ting Hung, Yu-Tsung Lee, Baskaran Stephen Inbaraj, Kandi Sridhar, Bing-Huei Chen

Author(s): Kan Shao, Zheng Zhou, Pengcheng Xun, Samuel M. Cohen

Author(s): Mahmoud Mohammed Mahros, Samir Mohamed Abd-Elghany, Khalid Ibrahim Sallam

Author(s): Ioulia Koukou, Ole Mejlholm, Paw Dalgaard

Author(s): Mi Rae Kim, Sangha Han, Sa Reum Park, Yoah Moon, Sang-Do Ha

Author(s): Haiying Cui, Jingyu Lu, Changzhu Li, Lin Lin

Author(s): Ya-Ke Li, Hu Chen, Mei Shu, Chan Zhong, Yan Bi, Huan-Huan Yang, Guo-Ping Wu

Author(s): Hai Hoang Tuan Ngo, Luong Nguyen-Thanh, Phuc Pham-Duc, Sinh Dang-Xuan, Hang Le-Thi, José Denis-Robichaud, Hung Nguyen-Viet, Trang T.H. Le, Delia Grace, Fred Unger

Bacillus cereus is a Gram-positive endospore-forming foodborne pathogen that causes lethal food poisoning and significant economic losses, usually through biofilm- and endospore-induced recurrent cross- and postprocessing contamination. Due to the lack of critical inhibitory targets and control strategies, B. cereus biofilm contamination is a problem that urgently needs a solution.

Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) poses a serious health threat to people with cystic fibrosis or compromised immune systems. Infections often arise from Bcc strains, which are highly resistant to many classes of antibiotics, including β-lactams. β-Lactam resistance in Bcc is conferred largely via PenA-like β-lactamases. Avibactam was previously shown to be a potent inactivator of PenA1.

Kinetics of hepatitis A virus (HAV) accumulation and depuration from mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) was studied in an experimental depuration system. Different parameters likely to influence the rate of virus accumulation and elimination were evaluated. Analyses were carried out by both real-time RT-qPCR and digital PCR.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to explore the phytoremediation potential of Salvia tiliifolia for cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soils and to understand the interactions in soil-Cd-plant systems.