Research Publications (Food Safety)

Influenza vaccines have traditionally been tested in naive mice and ferrets. However, humans are first exposed to influenza viruses within the first few years of their lives. Therefore, there is a pressing need to test influenza virus vaccines in animal models that have been previously exposed to influenza viruses before being vaccinated.

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The complete genome sequence of Brucella abortus 68, isolated from an aborted sheep fetus in Luhansk, Ukraine, was assembled using Nanopore sequences. Two circular chromosomes totaling 3,281,317 bp (N50, 2,124,943 bp) comprised the complete genome sequence. The strain encodes the fosfomycin antibiotic resistance gene fosX, highlighting the risk of cross-species livestock and human infection.

The genome of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium LT7 comprises a chromosome and two plasmids. One plasmid is very close to pSLT of Salmonella Typhimurium LT2; the second harbors a shufflon region. Prophage content is distinct: LT7 lacks Fels-1, while Gifsy-1 and Fels-2 show island-like divergence and likely programmed inversion, respectively.

Staphylococcus aureus bacteria are ranked among the top five foodborne pathogens in the United States. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of 62 S. aureus isolates that originated from the manufacturing environment of an Illinois bakery and were associated with outbreaks between 2010 and 2011 in the United States.

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotype Choleraesuis is a foodborne pathogen with zoonotic potential. We report the draft genome sequence and a closed plasmid sequence from a plant-internalized S. Choleraesuis strain that was isolated from the pulp of a Spanish Galia melon purchased from a German supermarket in 2015.

L. Barclay et al. We report a norovirus GIV outbreak in the United States, 15 years after the last reported outbreak. During May 2016 in Wisconsin, 53 persons, including 4 food handlers, reported being ill. The outbreak was linked to individually prepared fruit consumed as a fruit salad. The virus was phylogenetically classified as a novel GIV genotype.

by Antón L. Martínez, José Brea, Mateo Barro, Xavier Monroy, Manuel Merlos, Javier Burgueño, María Isabel Loza

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of hygiene measures in automatic milking units on the transmission of 3 mastitis pathogens considered to be mainly or partly transmitted from cow to cow during milking events. Two studies were conducted as within-herd experimental trials in 2 Danish commercial dairy herds (A and B) with automatic milking systems. Interventions to enhance hygiene were implemented on the automatic milking units.

Author(s): Lu Lin, Min Chen, Jie Ou, Weiling Yan

Author(s): Xuecheng Zhu, Wei Jiang, Yuan Zhao, Huilin Liu, Baoguo Sun

Plant diseases result in 20–40% of agricultural loss every year worldwide. Timely detection of plant diseases can effectively prevent the development and spread of diseases and ensure the agricultural yield. High-throughput and rapid methods are in great demand. This review investigates the advanced application of Raman spectroscopy (RS) and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) in the detection of plant diseases.

Seeking a means of sanitizing berries, the effectiveness of steady state levels of gaseous chlorine dioxide (ClO2) against hepatitis A virus (HAV) on laboratory-contaminated berries was determined. The generated ClO2 was maintained with 1 or 2 mg/l air inside a 269-l glove box to treat 50 g batches of blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, and 100 g batches of strawberries that were immersion coated with HAV.

Despite the widespread use of parabens as antimicrobial preservatives in personal care products (PCP) and foodstuffs, recent studies have shown that exposure to parabens can play a role in the endocrine disruption process. In the present study, the urinary concentrations of methylparaben (MP), ethylparaben (EP), propylparaben (PP), and butylparaben (BP) were measured among 125 men, and their relationship with the use of 13 distinct PCPs was examined.

Food is intricate, and food quality and safety are indispensable elements. With the rising public demands for safe and nutritious food products, a range of innovative, interdisciplinary, and multidimensional concepts have emerged in the last few decades. Nanozymes, apart from their therapeutic efficacies, are gaining increasing interest in safety and quality monitoring in the agri-food sector.

This research analyzes the behavior of different diatomite from Peru, and their potential use for the removal of heavy metals from contaminated effluents. Seven different diatomites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy, specific surface area, and cation exchange capacity.

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a nonsteroidal estrogenic mycotoxin found in several food commodities worldwide. ZEA causes reproductive disorders, genotoxicity, and testicular toxicity in animals. However, little is known about the functions of apoptosis and autophagy after exposure to ZEA in granulosa cells. This study investigated the effects of ZEA on chicken granulosa cells.

Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) is increasingly being used to diagnose infections caused by respiratory pathogens in pediatric inpatient facilities. mPCR assays detect a broader array of viruses, with higher specificity and sensitivity and faster turnaround than previous assays. We adapted the FilmArray Respiratory Panel (FA-RP) for diagnosing respiratory infections.

Seeking useful biological agents for mycotoxin detoxification has achieved success in the last twenty years thanks to the participation of many multidisciplinary teams. We have recently witnessed discoveries in the fields of bacterial genetics (inclusive of next-generation sequencing), protein encoding, and bioinformatics that have helped to shape the latest perception of how microorganisms/mycotoxins/environmental factors intertwine and interact, so the road is opened for new breakthroughs.

Rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) could play a major role in fighting multidrug-resistant bacteria. Recently, it was discovered that all living organisms oscillate in the range of nanometers and that these oscillations, referred to as nanomotion, stop as soon the organism dies. This finding led to the development of rapid AST techniques based on the monitoring of these oscillations upon exposure to antibiotics.

Arcobacter spp. are emerging waterborne and foodborne zoonotic pathogens responsible for gastroenteritis in humans. In this work, we evaluated the occurrence and the antimicrobial resistance profile of Arcobacter isolates recovered from different aquatic sources. Besides, we searched for Arcobacter spp. in seaweeds and the corresponding seawater samples. Bacteriological and molecular methods applied to 100 samples led to the isolation of 28 Arcobacter isolates from 27 samples.

Journal of Food Safety, EarlyView. Salmonella enterica is an important foodborne pathogen. Its rapid and reliable detection in food is critical for the effective prevention of the outbreak of foodborne diseases. Here, we report a novel method for the rapid, specific, label‐free, and real‐time detection of S. enterica with biolayer interferometry (BLI) using an antibody as the receptor. The limit of detection for S. enterica in buffer was 1.6 × 105 CFU/ml at a binding time of 300 s.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a foodborne pathogen that is frequently isolated from a variety of seafood. To control this pathogenic Vibrio spp., the implementation of bacteriophages in aquaculture and food industries have shown a promising alternative to antibiotics. In this study, six bacteriophages isolated from the seafood samples demonstrated a narrow host range specificity that infecting only the V. parahaemolyticus strains.