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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 1 - 25 of 665

  1. Antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of halogenated phenylboronic acids against Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio harveyi

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Vibrios are associated with live seafood because they are part of the indigenous marine microflora. In Asia, foodborne infections caused by Vibrio spp. are common. In recent years, V. parahaemolyticus has become the leading cause of all reported food poisoning outbreaks. Therefore, the halogenated acid and its 33 derivatives were investigated for their antibacterial efficacy against V. parahaemolyticus.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Vibrio
  2. AflaILVB/G/I and AflaILVD are involved in mycelial production, aflatoxin biosynthesis, and fungal virulence in Aspergillus flavus

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Aflatoxins (AFs) are produced by fungi such as Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus and are one of the most toxic mycotoxins found in agricultural products and food. Aflatoxin contamination, which requires the control of A. flavus, remains problematic because of the lack of effective strategies and the exploration of new compounds that can inhibit A. flavus growth and mycotoxin production is urgently required to alleviate potential deleterious effects.

      • Natural toxins
      • Aflatoxins
      • Mycotoxins
  3. An overview of anti-Hepatitis B virus flavonoids and their mechanisms of action

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Flavonoids, a diverse group of polyphenolic compounds found in various plant-based foods, have garnered attention for their potential in combating Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection. Flavonoids have demonstrated promising anti-HBV activities by interfering with multiple stages of the HBV life cycle, making them promising candidates for novel antiviral agents.

      • Viruses
      • Hepatitis
  4. The significance of gut microbiota in the etiology of autoimmune hepatitis: a narrative review

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the liver that is mediated by autoimmunity and has complex pathogenesis. Its prevalence has increased globally. Since the liver is the first organ to be exposed to harmful substances, such as gut-derived intestinal microbiota and its metabolites, gut health is closely related to liver health, and the “liver-gut axis” allows abnormalities in the gut microbiota to influence the development of liver-related diseases such as AIH.

      • Viruses
      • Hepatitis
  5. Cross-sectional analysis of risk factors associated with Mugil cephalus in retail fish markets concerning methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Aeromonas hydrophila

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Introduction Aeromonas hydrophila and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are potent bacterial pathogens posing major hazards to human health via consuming fish harboring these pathogens or by cross-contamination beyond the contaminated environment. The aim of this study was to determine risk variables associated with the presence of certain pathogenic bacteria from Mugil cephalus fish in retail markets in Egypt. The virulence genes of A. hydrophila and S.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Staphylococcus aureus
  6. First detection of Toxoplasma gondii Africa 4 lineage in a population of carnivores from South Africa

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Introduction

      There have only been a few molecular studies conducted on the detection of T. gondii in tissues of carnivores in South Africa, with no data on the genetic diversity of this parasite. That is why the aim of this study was to detect and genotype T. gondii DNA in tissues of selected wild and domestic carnivores in South Africa.

      Methods

      • Parasites
      • Toxoplasma gondii
  7. Prevalence of virulence- and antibiotic resistance-associated genotypes and phenotypes in Staphylococcus aureus strains from the food sector compared to clinical and cow mastitis isolates

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Background

      Infections by the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus currently represent one of the most serious threats to human health worldwide, especially due to the production of enterotoxins and the ability to form biofilms. These structures and the acquisition of antibiotic resistance limit the action of antibiotics and disinfectants used to combat this microorganism in the industry and the clinic.

      Methods

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Staphylococcus aureus
  8. Invasive Streptococcus suis isolated in Spain contain a highly promiscuous and dynamic resistome

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Introduction

      Streptococcus suis is a major pathogen for swine and human. Here we aimed to know the rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in invasive S. suis isolates recovered along Spain between 2016 – 2021 and elucidate their genetic origin.

      Methods

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Dioxins
  9. Comparative genomic analysis of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes in Staphylococcus aureus isolates from patients and retail meat

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Introduction Staphylococcus aureus is a significant human pathogen that poses a threat to public health due to its association with foodborne contamination and a variety of infections. The factors contributing to the pathogenicity of S. aureus include virulence, drug resistance, and toxin production, making it essential to monitor their prevalence and genetic profiles. This study investigated and compared the genomic characteristics of S.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Staphylococcus aureus
  10. Association between gut microbiota and NAFLD/NASH: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Background

      Recent studies have suggested a relationship between gut microbiota and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, the nature and direction of this potential causal relationship are still unclear. This study used two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to clarify the potential causal links.

      Methods

      • Viruses
      • Hepatitis
  11. Exploring the antibacterial and dermatitis-mitigating properties of chicken egg white-synthesized zinc oxide nano whiskers

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Introduction Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have garnered considerable interest in biomedical research primarily owing to their prospective therapeutic implications in combatting pathogenic diseases and microbial infections. The primary objective of this study was to examine the biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanowhiskers (ZnO-NWs) using chicken egg white (albumin) as a bio-template.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Staphylococcus aureus
  12. Novel sandwich immunoassay detects a shrimp AHPND-causing binary PirABVp toxin produced by Vibrio parahaemolyticus

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Introduction The binary PirA/PirB toxin expressed by Vibrio parahaemolyticus (PirABVp) is a virulent complex that causes acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) in shrimps, affecting the global shrimp farming industry. AHPND is currently diagnosed by detecting pirA and pirB genes by PCR; however, several V. parahaemolyticus strains do not produce the two toxins as proteins. Thus, an immunoassay using antibodies may be the most effective tool for detecting toxin molecules.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Vibrio
  13. Transcriptome analysis of the hepatopancreas from the Litopenaeus vannamei infected with different flagellum types of Vibrio alginolyticus strains

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Vibrio alginolyticus, one of the prevalently harmful Vibrio species found in the ocean, causes significant economic damage in the shrimp farming industry. Its flagellum serves as a crucial virulence factor in the invasion of host organisms. However, the processes of bacteria flagella recognition and activation of the downstream immune system in shrimp remain unclear. To enhance comprehension of this, a ΔflhG strain was created by in-frame deletion of the flhG gene in V.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Vibrio
  14. Effects of dietary traditional Chinese medicine residues on growth performance, intestinal health and gut microbiota compositions in weaned piglets

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Weaning stress can induce diarrhea, intestinal damage and flora disorder of piglets, leading to slow growth and even death of piglets. Traditional Chinese medicine residue contains a variety of active ingredients and nutrients, and its resource utilization has always been a headache.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Antibiotic residues
  15. Increased fecal ethanol and enriched ethanol-producing gut bacteria Limosilactobacillus fermentum, Enterocloster bolteae, Mediterraneibacter gnavus and Streptococcus mutans in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Background Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has become a major public health issue as one of the leading causes of liver disease and transplantation worldwide. The instrumental role of the gut microbiota is emerging but still under investigation. Endogenous ethanol (EtOH) production by gut bacteria and yeasts is an emerging putative mechanism.

      • Viruses
      • Hepatitis
  16. Convergent application of traditional Chinese medicine and gut microbiota in ameliorate of cirrhosis: a data mining and Mendelian randomization study

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Objective Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for the treatment of chronic liver diseases for a long time, with proven safety and efficacy in clinical settings. Previous studies suggest that the therapeutic mechanism of TCM for hepatitis B cirrhosis may involve the gut microbiota. Nevertheless, the causal relationship between the gut microbiota, which is closely linked to TCM, and cirrhosis remains unknown.

      • Viruses
      • Hepatitis
  17. Case Report: The impact of severe cryptosporidiosis on the gut microbiota of a pediatric patient with CD40L immunodeficiency

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite and one of the leading causes of gastroenteritis in the world, primarily affecting very young children and immunocompromised patients. While infection is usually self-limiting, it can become chronic and even lethal in these vulnerable populations, in whom Cryptosporidium treatments are generally ineffective, due to their acting in concert with a functioning immune system.

      • Parasites
      • Cryptosporidium parvum
  18. In vitro antibacterial effects of Broussonetia papyrifera leaf extract and its anti-colitis in DSS-treated mice

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Recently, the hybrid Broussonetia papyrifera (BP) has been extensively cultivated and predominantly utilized in ruminants because of its high protein and bioactive compound content. In the present study, the effects of an ethanolic extract of BP leaves (BPE, 200 mg/kg) on mitigating 2% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced intestinal inflammation in mice were evaluated.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
      • Salmonella
  19. Impact of mutagenesis and lateral gene transfer processes in bacterial susceptibility to phage in food biocontrol and phage therapy

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Introduction The emergence of resistance and interference mechanisms to phage infection can hinder the success of bacteriophage-based applications, but the significance of these mechanisms in phage therapy has not been determined.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Salmonella
  20. Baicalin-aluminum alleviates necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens by inhibiting virulence factors expression of Clostridium perfringens

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Clostridium perfringens type A is the main cause of necrotic enteritis (NE) in chickens. Since the use of antibiotics in feed is withdrawn, it is imperative to find out suitable alternatives to control NE. Baicalin-aluminum complex is synthesized from baicalin, a flavonoid isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. The present study investigated the effects of baicalin-aluminum on the virulence-associated traits and virulence genes expression of C.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
  21. Multiomics and bioinformatics identify differentially expressed effectors in the brain of Toxoplasma gondii infected masked palm civet

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Introduction

      The masked palm civet (Paguma larvata) serves as a reservoir in transmitting pathogens, such as Toxoplasma gondii, to humans. However, the pathogenesis of T. gondii infection in masked palm civets has not been explored. We studied the molecular changes in the brain tissue of masked palm civets chronically infected with T. gondii ME49.

      Methods

      The differentially expressed proteins in the brain tissue were investigated using iTRAQ and bioinformatics.

      • Parasites
      • Toxoplasma gondii
  22. Evolutionary, comparative, and functional analyses of STATs and regulation of the JAK-STAT pathway in lumpfish upon bacterial and poly(I:C) exposure

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Background The Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) system regulates several biological processes by affecting transcription of genes as a response to cytokines and growth factors.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Vibrio
  23. Partnering essential oils with antibiotics: proven therapies against bovine Staphylococcus aureus mastitis

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Introduction

      There is an urgent need to develop therapeutic options for biofilm-producing Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Therefore, the renewed interest in essential oils (EOs), especially carvacrol, linalool and eugenol, has attracted the attention of our research group.

      Methods

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Staphylococcus aureus
  24. Genetic characteristics, antimicrobial susceptibility, and virulence genes distribution of Campylobacter isolated from local dual-purpose chickens in central China

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Food-borne antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter poses a serious threat to public health. To understand the prevalence and genetic characteristics of Campylobacter in Chinese local dual-purpose (meat and eggs) chickens, the genomes of 30 Campylobacter isolates, including 13 C. jejuni and 17 C. coli from Jianghan-chickens in central China, were sequenced and tested for antibiotic susceptibility. The results showed that CC-354 and CC-828 were the dominant clonal complexes of C.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Campylobacter
  25. Antimicrobial activity of dietary supplements based on bacterial lysate of Lactobacillus rhamnosus DV

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Introduction

      According to WHO, antibiotic resistance is increasing to hazardous levels worldwide. Candidiasis often occurs after taking antibiotics. Therefore, antibiotic resistance is a global problem and searching for antibacterial agents is necessary.

      Aim

      To determine the antimicrobial activity of bacterial lysate of Lactobacillus (L.) rhamnosus DV separately and with plant extracts against bacterial and yeast test cultures.

      Material and methods

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Staphylococcus aureus