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Research Publications (Food Safety)

This page tracks research articles published in national and international peer-reviewed journals. Recent articles are available ahead of print and searchable by Journal, Article Title, and Category. Research publications are tracked across six categories: Bacterial Pathogens, Chemical Contaminants, Natural Toxins, Parasites, Produce Safety, and Viruses. Articles produced by USDA Grant Funding Agencies (requires login) and FDA Grant Funding Agencies (requires login) are also tracked in Scopus.

Displaying 176 - 200 of 42047

  1. Bioaccumulation of Cadmium in Muscle and Liver Tissues of Juvenile Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares) from the Indian Ocean

    • Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
    • The present study evaluated the cadmium (Cd) levels and temporal variation of Cd in dark muscle, white muscle, and liver of juvenile Thunnus albacares. 72 individuals (Standard length: 50–67 cm; weight: 0.8–2.5 kg) were collected from Indian Oceanic water around Sri Lanka during the period between April 2021 to May 2022. Total Cd levels were analyzed using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrophotometer.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  2. Metabolic dysfunction−associated liver disease and diabetes: Matrix remodeling, fibrosis, and therapeutic implications

    • Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
    • Disease progression in metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is accelerated in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) due to ongoing hepatocyte damage and ensuing activation of hepatic stellate cells and their transdifferentiation to myofibroblasts. At the same time, matrix remodeling with increasing collagen cross‐linking and architecture changes lead to enhanced viscoelasticity and stiffness, affecting cell–matrix interactions and propagation of fibrosis.

      • Viruses
      • Hepatitis
  3. Prevalence and Characteristics of Salmonella from Tibetan Pigs in Tibet, China

    • Foodborne Pathogens and Disease
    • This study aimed to understand the epidemiological characteristics of Salmonella in Tibetan pigs. We isolated, identified, and examined via antimicrobial susceptibility testing on Salmonella from Tibetan pigs breeder farms and slaughterhouses in Tibet, China. A genetic evolutionary tree was constructed on the basis of whole genome sequencing (WGS). A total of 81 Salmonella isolates were isolated from 987 samples.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Salmonella
  4. Novel recycling strategy for distillers’ grains waste: prolonged biochar aging promotes cadmium immobilization and lettuce growth by regulating soil nutrient availability and bacterial composition

    • Plant and Soil
    • Background and aims Converting distillers’ grains (DGs) into biochar (BC) is sustainable option for waste-recycling, but how different aging times and application rates DG-derived BC (DG-BC) influenced lettuce growth and cadmium (Cd) uptake in soil was unclear.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  5. Development and validation of extraction and clean-up procedures for UPLC-MS/MS analysis of aflatoxins in spices

    • Mycotoxin Research
    • UPLC-MS/MS analytical conditions for the analysis of aflatoxins in spices were optimized and validated in this study. Liquid-liquid partition-based protocols for the cleaning up of extracts using common organic solvents such as acetonitrile, hexane, and ethyl acetate were developed and validated. The developed liquid-liquid partition methods were compared with immuno-affinity column and QuEChERS clean-up methods for the UPLC-MS/MS analysis of aflatoxins in 8 spices.

      • Natural toxins
      • Aflatoxins
      • Mycotoxins
  6. Shrimp shapes a resistance trait against vibriosis by memorizing the colonization resistance of intestinal microbiota

    • PLOS Pathogens
    • by Jianbo Yuan, Yang Yu, Shihao Li, Xiaojun Zhang, Chuntao Zhang, Roujing Li, Jie Hu, Shuqing Si, Chengyi Zhang, Jianhai Xiang, Fuhua Li Vibriosis is one of the most serious diseases that commonly occurs in aquatic animals, thus, shaping a steady inherited resistance trait in organisms has received the highest priority in aquaculture. Whereas, the mechanisms underlying the development of such a resistance trait are mostly elusive.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Vibrio
  7. Characterization and genome analysis of a broad host range lytic phage vB_SenS_TUMS_E19 against Salmonella enterica and its efficiency evaluation in the liquid egg

    • Canadian Journal of Microbiology
    • Salmonella enterica serovars are zoonotic bacterial that cause foodborne enteritis. Due to bacteria’s antibiotic resistance, using bacteriophages for biocontrol and treatment is a new therapeutic approach. In this study, we isolated, characterized, and analyzed the genome of vB_SenS_TUMS_E19 (E19), a broad host range Salmonella bacteriophage, and evaluated the influence of E19 on liquid eggs infected with Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Salmonella
  8. Improving blueberry cold storage quality: the effect of preharvest hexanal application on chilling injuries and antioxidant defense mechanisms

    • Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
    • Abstract Blueberries are vulnerable to chilling injury (CI). This can lead to limited longevity when they are subjected to cold storage conditions. This study investigated the effectiveness of a preharvest spray containing 0.02% hexanal in reducing CI and improving the postharvest storage quality of ‘Star’ and ‘Biloxi’ blueberries. The blueberries were stored for a period of 5 weeks at 2 °C and in 90% relative humidity (RH).

      • Produce Safety
      • Post Harvest
  9. Co-exposure to polyethylene fiber and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium alters microbiome and metabolome of in vitro chicken cecal mesocosms

    • Applied and Environmental Microbiology
    • Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Ahead of Print. Humans and animals encounter a summation of exposures during their lifetime (the exposome). In recent years, the scope of the exposome has begun to include microplastics.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Salmonella
  10. Salmonella prevalence in raw cocoa beans and a microbiological risk assessment to evaluate the impact of cocoa liquor processing on the reduction of Salmonella

    • Journal of Food Protection
    • Salmonella in raw cocoa beans (n= 870) from main sourcing areas over nine months was analyzed. It was detected in 71 (ca. 8.2%) samples, with a contamination level of 0.3-46 MPN/g except for one sample (4.1×104 CFU/g).

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Salmonella
  11. Effect of combined electrolyzed reduced water and slightly acidic electrolyzed water spraying on the control of Salmonella, eggshell quality, and shelf life of eggs during storage

    • Poultry Science
    • Slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) is a safe and effective disinfectant, but its sterilizing efficiency is compromised by organic matter on the egg surface. Electrolyzed reduced water (ERW) is a harmless cleaner with a decontamination effect on a variety of surfaces and can be used to remove organic matter.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Salmonella
  12. A new standardization for the use of chicken embryo: selection of target from the phage display library and infection

    • Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
    • The filamentous bacteriophage M13KO7 (M13) is the most used in phage display (PD) technology and, like other phages, has been applied in several areas of medicine, agriculture, and in the food industry. One of the advantages is that they can modulate the immune response in the presence of pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses. This study evaluated the use of phage M13 in the chicken embryos model.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Salmonella
  13. Association between gut microbiota and adrenal disease: a two-sample Mendelian randomized study

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • BackgroundSome observational studies and clinical experiments suggest a close association between gut microbiota and metabolic diseases.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Vibrio
  14. Individual and combined occurrences of the prevalent mycotoxins in commercial feline and canine food

    • Mycotoxin Research
    • Mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisins (FBs), ochratoxin A (OTA), T-2 toxin (T-2), and zearalenone (ZEN), can contaminate animal feeds and pose risks to animal health and production performance. These mycotoxins are commonly found in cereals and grains, with the increased use of cereals in pet food, there is a rising concern about mycotoxin contamination among pet owners.

      • Natural toxins
      • Aflatoxins
      • Mycotoxins
  15. Effect of Genotype on Cadmium and Trace Element Accumulation in Wheat from Weakly Alkaline Cadmium-contaminated Soil

    • Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
    • Cadmium (Cd) contamination of farmland soils leads to Cd accumulation in crops and reduced micronutrient uptake, posing grave risks to food safety. Herein, we investigated the enrichment and transportation patterns of Cd and trace elements in different parts of six wheat genotypes grown in weakly alkaline Cd-contaminated soils via pot experiments.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  16. Prevalence and Phage-Based Biocontrol of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Raw Milk of Cows with Subclinical Mastitis in Vietnam

    • Antibiotics
    • S. aureus, particularly methicillin-resistant S. aureus, has been recognized as a main cause of bovine mastitis and food poisoning. This study investigated the prevalence, antibiotic resistance, and phage-based biocontrol of S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolated from raw milk of cows with subclinical mastitis. The results showed that the prevalence of S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus was 12% (48/400) and 1.5% (6/400), respectively. The S.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Staphylococcus aureus
  17. Campylobacter assessment along the Spanish food chain: Identification of key points

    • Zoonoses and Public Health
    • Abstract Aims Campylobacteriosis, caused by Campylobacter spp., is one of the most important foodborne zoonotic diseases in the world and a common cause of gastroenteritis. In the European Union, campylobacteriosis is considered the most common zoonotic disease, with over 10,000 cases in 2020 alone. This high occurrence highlights the need of more efficient surveillance methods and identification of key points.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Campylobacter
  18. Prevalence, antibiotic susceptibility, and genomic analysis of Vibrio alginolyticus isolated from seafood and freshwater products in China

    • Frontiers in Microbiology
    • IntroductionThis study characterized Vibrio alginolyticus isolated from seafood and freshwater products in China (2020).Methods and ResultsIn total, 122 (95.31%) V. alginolyticus isolates were resistant to at least 1 antibiotic category, and 2 (1.56%) isolates were resistant to at least 3 antibiotic categories and belong to multi-drug resistance (MDR) isolates.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Vibrio
  19. Exploring the occurrence of Listeria in biofilms and deciphering the bacterial community in a frozen vegetable producing environment

    • Frontiers in Microbiology
    • The establishment of Listeria (L.) monocytogenes within food processing environments constitutes a significant public health concern. This versatile bacterium demonstrates an exceptional capacity to endure challenging environmental conditions in the food processing environment, where contamination of food products regularly occurs.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Listeria monocytogenes
  20. Molecular characterizations of Cryptosporidium spp. in brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) from an animal feedlot in Xinjiang, China

    • Parasitology Research
    • Cryptosporidium infection is a common occurrence in rodents worldwide. In this study, 435 wild brown rats were captured from an animal feedlot in Xinjiang, China, with a fecal sample obtained directly from the rectal contents of each rat. The DNA extracted from these fecal samples was analyzed for Cryptosporidium spp. using PCR targeting the SSU rRNA gene. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in brown rats was found to be 5.5% (24 out of 435).

      • Parasites
      • Cryptosporidium parvum
  21. Bt corn and cotton planting may benefit peanut growers by reducing aflatoxin risk

    • Plant Biotechnology Journal
    • Summary Decades of studies have shown that Bt corn, by reducing insect damage, has lower levels of mycotoxins (fungal toxins), such as aflatoxin and fumonisin, than conventional corn. We used crop insurance data to infer that this benefit from Bt crops extends to reducing aflatoxin risk in peanuts: a non‐Bt crop.

      • Natural toxins
      • Aflatoxins
      • Mycotoxins
  22. Fungal community and toxigenic taxa in chestnut fruits in postharvest conditioning process and storage

    • Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
    • Abstract BACKGROUND Chestnut fruit quality is affected by fungal contamination. The study of the patterns of contamination in the postharvest is crucial to individuate the critical phases and propose solutions. To understand how fungal colonization varies on fruits, the composition of mycobiota was investigated in postharvest handling and in between tissues (shell and kernel). RESULTS Fungal sequences were clustered into 308 operational taxonomic units (OTUs).

      • Natural toxins
      • Aflatoxins
      • Mycotoxins
  23. Melatonin prevents cadmium-induced osteoporosis by affecting the osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation and pyroptosis in duck

    • Poultry Science
    • Cadmium (Cd), is a highly toxic environmental pollutant, which seriously threatens the health of poultry and humans. The occurrence of osteoporosis is the main manifestation of cadmium toxicity. Pyroptosis plays an important role in the development of osteoporosis. Melatonin has been shown to affect preserving bone health. However, the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  24. Challenge Test to Assess the Microbial Inhibitory Potential of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Ice-Kenkey

    • Journal of Food Quality
    • Foods fermented by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are considered safer and healthier due to LAB’s ability to inhibit pathogen growth and produce bioactive compounds. The study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in ice-kenkey, a chilled Ghanaian fermented maize beverage, against common foodborne pathogenic bacteria and to determine the duration of inhibition during ambient storage, all in the interest of promoting public health and safety.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Bacillus cereus
      • Salmonella
      • Staphylococcus aureus
      • Vibrio
  25. Inoculum sources and management of bean scab caused by Elsinoë phaseoli

    • Journal of Phytopathology
    • Abstract Bean scab caused by Elsinoë phaseoli is a major challenge to common bean cultivation in Kenya. However, knowledge about its epidemiology and management is limited. This study conducted three experiments in Kakamega, Kenya, evaluating scab inoculum sources and control options. The first experiment evaluated three different inoculum sources over two seasons; bean crop residue caused the highest scab incidence in both the 2021 (62.1%) and 2022 (81.1%) seasons.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Pesticide residues