Research Publications (Food Safety)

by Omar Assafiri, Adelene Ai-Lian Song, Geok Hun Tan, Irwan Hanish, Amalia Mohd Hashim, Khatijah Yusoff

Author(s): Jesús Sevillano Caño, Fernando Cámara Martos, Ricardo Zamora-Díaz, Jesús Salvador Sevillano–Morales

Author(s): Chao Liao, Luxin Wang

Author(s): D. Tardieu, A. Travel, C. Le Bourhis, J.-P. Metayer, A. Mika, D. Cleva, C. Boissieu, P. Guerre

Author(s): Shengsheng Li, Ruixue Ma, Xiaohui Zhu, Chang Liu, Liangzhong Li, Ziling Yu, Xichao Chen, Zongrui Li, Yan Yang

Author(s): Shabir Ahmad Mir, B.N. Dar, Manzoor Ahamd Shah, Sajad Ahmad Sofi, Afshan Mumtaz Hamdani, Carlos A.F. Oliveira, Motahareh Hashemi Moosavi, Amin Mousavi Khaneghah, Anderson S. Sant'Ana

This study is aimed at investigation of various potential contaminants (arsenic, mercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) content in soils of different landscapes of Eastern Antarctica ice-free areas. Our data not only showed that intensive human impact might result in significant direct contamination of surrounding landforms, but also revealed a specific role of ornithogenic transport in distribution of contaminants.

Hemp is one of the most complete plants for industrial and consumer purposes. In the food industry, the main hemp product is the seed oil, which contains a wide spectrum of compounds such as amino acids and fatty acids that are essential for human health. Given its growing consumption, systematic studies were undertaken for the quantification of toxic elements (As, Cd, and Pb) in hemp products, such as seeds (shelled and peeled), oil, protein, and butter.

Abstract

Aims

We propose a thorough study of the succulent halophyte Sarcocornia carinata endemic to the saline lagoons of the center of the Iberian Peninsula. We describe its elemental composition and possible seasonal variation in relation to edaphic and climatic variables, identify biominerals and analyze the distribution of salt ions and biominerals in tissue.

Novel optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy (OWLS)-based immunosensor formats were developed for label-free detection of Fusarium mycotoxin zearalenone (ZON). To achieve low limits of detection (LODs), both immobilised antibody-based (direct) and immobilised antigen-based (competitive) assay setups were applied.

Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is a widely spread cyanotoxin that can occur in fresh water and food. This research aims to investigate CYN toxicity by studying the effects of drinking 0.25 nM of CYN-contaminated water from a natural source, and of the direct application of moderate concentrations of CYN on different animal targets.

Since its initial approval in 1989 by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of blepharospasm and other facial spasms, botulinum toxin (BoNT) has evolved into a therapeutic modality for a variety of neurological and non-neurological disorders.

Clostridium perfringens is a serious threat to successful bovine farming. It causes severe damage to the buffalo and cattle health causing a drastic reduction in milk and meat production. In Pakistan, C. perfringens is a constant threat, and for its management, antibiotics are mostly used. Most bovine farmers use a single antibiotic to suppress the bacterial infection which in turn, increases the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) against the particular antibiotic.

Background The global epidemiology and resistomes dynamics of multidrug‐resistant Citrobacter spp., Enterobacter hormaechei, Klebsiella variicola, Morganella morganii, Proteus mirabilis and Providencia spp. have not been described, despite their importance as emerging opportunistic clinical pathogens. Methods The genomes of the above‐mentioned organisms were curated from PATRIC and NCBI and used for evolutionary epidemiology, phylogeography and resistome analyses.

Aim To investigate the occurrence of ESBL and colistin‐resistant E. coli and its genotypic characterization and identification of virulence determinants in cases of bovine mastitis in three provinces of China. Materials & methods Five hundred and thirty‐five milk samples presenting mastitis symptoms were screened for the presence of ESBL, colistin‐resistant, and different virulence genes. Susceptibility testing was identified by the micro‐dilution method. E.

The rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria is a global health problem. Mobile genetic elements like conjugative plasmids, transposons, and integrons are the major players in spreading resistance genes in uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) pathotype. The E. coli BH100 strain was isolated from the urinary tract of a Brazilian woman in 1974. This strain presents two plasmids carrying MDR cassettes, pBH100, and pAp, with conjugative and mobilization properties, respectively.

The açai palm (Euterpe oleracea) is native to the Amazon basin, a humid tropical forest. High levels of total mesophilic bacteria with high diversity have been consistently reported in açai fruits. As local consumers have few digestive problems, the results of the present study reveal the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) recovered from açai fruits with characteristics that suggest they are possible candidates for probiotics and antagonistic potential against pathogens for the first time.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have been found on German dairy farms and may be the cause of difficult-to-treat bovine mastitis. Considering the one health approach, MRSA might be transmitted from animals to humans raising the risk for severe infections. On 17 German dairy farms with a history of MRSA detection, MRSA strains were isolated from quarter milk, bulk tank milk, and swab samples of calves, heifers, pigs, and the environment.

Dry fermented sausage is popular among the world because of its rich nutrition and unique flavor. Starter cultures play an important role in the quality of dry fermented sausage. In this study, probiotics lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus delbrueckii N102, Latilactobacillus sakei H1-5, Debaryomyces hansenii Y4-1, and Wickerhamomyces anomalus Y12-3 were isolated from food-borne materials.

Campylobacter jejuni (CJ) is the most prevalent zoonotic pathogen of chicken meat and related products, which may lead to gastroenteritis and autoimmune diseases in humans. Although controlling this bacterium is important, CJ strains resistance against traditional antibiotic therapy has been increased. Vegetable oils and fats are natural biomaterials explored since the Ancient times, due to their therapeutic properties.

Campylobacter jejuni is the leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis, which has motivated the monitoring of genetic profiles circulating in Luxembourg since 13 years. From our integrated surveillance using a genotyping strategy based on an extended MLST scheme including gyrA and porA markers, an unexpected endemic pattern was discovered in the temporal distribution of genotypes.

In Brucella spp., the type IV secretion system (T4SS) is essential for bacterial intracellular survival and inhibition of the host innate immune response. The Brucella T4SS secretes 15 different effectors to escape host immunity and promote intracellular replication. Among them, BspF has a GNAT-family acetyltransferase domain, implying its acetyltransferase activity. We confirmed that BspF has acetyltransferase activity (data not shown) and de-crotonyltransferase activity.

Mosses number about 13,000 species and are an important resource for the study of the plant evolution that occurred during terrestrial colonization by plants. Recently, the physiological and metabolic characteristics that distinguish mosses from terrestrial plants have received attention. In the Arctic, in particular, mosses developed their own distinct physiological features to adapt to the harsh environment.

Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection may result in severe outcomes in immunocompromised individuals such as AIDS patients, transplant recipients, and neonates. To date, no vaccines are available and there are only few drugs for anti-HCMV therapy. Adverse effects and the continuous emergence of drug-resistance strains require the identification of new drug candidates in the near future.