Research Publications (Food Safety)

Phenotypic testing for drug susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is critical to basic research and managing the evolving problem of antimicrobial resistance in tuberculosis management, but remains a specialized technique to which access is severely limited. Here, we report on the development and validation of an improved phage-mediated detection system for M. tuberculosis.

by Malathi Banda, Karen L. McKim, Meagan B. Myers, Masahiro Inoue, Barbara L. Parsons

The molecular environment of the host can have profound effects on the behavior of resident bacterial species. We recently established how the sensing and response of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to d-serine (d-Ser) resulted in down-regulation of type 3 secretion system-dependent colonization, thereby avoiding unfavorable environments abundant in this toxic...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a direct-fed microbial (DFM) product in reducing fecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in finishing commercial feedlot cattle in Kansas (KS) and Nebraska (NE).

Author(s): Radu C. Racovita, Catinca Secuianu, Florentina Israel-Roming

Author(s): Tolgahan Kocadağlı, Lisa Methven, Avinash Kant, Jane K. Parker

Author(s): Pingjie Fu, Wei Zhang, Keming Yang, Fei Meng

Author(s): Yijia Deng, Yaling Wang, Qi Deng, Lijun Sun, Rundong Wang, Lin Ye, Sen Tao, Jianmeng Liao, Ravi Gooneratne

Author(s): Sini Reuna, Ari Väisänen

Author(s): Chengsi Li, Haiyan Zeng, Jumei Zhang, Dandan Luo, Moutong Chen, Tao Lei, Xiaojuan Yang, Haoming Wu, Shuzhen Cai, Yingwang Ye, Yu Ding, Juan Wang, Qingping Wu

Author(s): Rania Osama, Hanem M. Awad, Shanshan Zha, Fangang Meng, Ahmed Tawfik

For pesticide registration a post application assessment is made on the safety of any residue remaining in the edible portion of the treated crop. This assessment does not typically consider the bioaccessibility of pesticide residues. The effects of this on potential exposure to incurred difenoconazole residues passing through the human gastrointestinal tract were studied, including the impact of commodity processing.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association among polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure and air pollutants and the diversity of microbiota. Daily average concentrations of six common air pollutants were obtained from China National Environmental Monitoring Centre.

The concentrations of trace elements in feather moss Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt. were used to indicate the relative levels of air pollution by trace elements in Polish national parks. Pleurozium schreberi was collected from nine national parks. The highest concentrations were recorded in the moss samples from the southern and most industrialised part of the country; the lowest from northern and north-eastern Poland.

A dispersive liquid–liquid micro-extraction method was combined with high-performance liquid chromatography to rapidly and efficiently separate and detect organophosphorus pesticide residues in coarse cereals. In order to select the best conditions, the extraction conditions, including the type and volume of the extraction agent, the type and volume of the dispersant, extraction time, pH, and the amount of NaCl, were optimized.

The causes of the changes in different heavy metals in the hypereutrophic Qilu Lake were investigated by reconstructing the change history of heavy metal contamination in the past century, combined with land-use change and meteorological data. The results indicated that Qilu Lake was one of the lakes with the most serious risk of heavy metal pollution in China. The potential ecological risk index (RI) has remained at a very high level, and Cd and Hg were the main ecological risk factors.

This explorative cross-sectional study aims at exploring emotional distress, psychological profiles, and the attitude towards receiving psychological support in eighty-seven patients with chronic migraine (CM) undergoing OnabotulinumtoxinA prophylactic treatment (OBT-A, n = 40) or withdrawal treatment (WT, n = 47). The outcomes were explored through a specific battery of questionnaires.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is an enteric pathogen that causes several gastrointestinal ailments in humans across the world. STEC’s ability to cause ailment is attributed to the presence of a broad range of known and putative virulence factors (VFs) including those that encode Shiga toxins. A total of 51 E.

Grapefruit and lemon pectin obtained from the respective waste citrus peels via hydrodynamic cavitation in water only are powerful, broad-scope antimicrobials against Gram-negative and -positive bacteria. Dubbed IntegroPectin, these pectic polymers functionalized with citrus flavonoids and terpenes show superior antimicrobial activity when compared to commercial citrus pectin. Similar to commercial pectin, lemon IntegroPectin determined ca.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has emerged as a major threat to public health. This study investigated the occurrence of MRSA in humans, chickens, chicken meat and environmental samples within poultry farms and live bird markets in southwestern Nigeria. Methods: MRSA were isolated using selective culture and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility by broth microdilution. Selected isolates were characterized by whole genome sequencing (WGS).

This study aims to investigate the gut microbiota and metabolites in breastfed infants with breast milk jaundice (BMJ) using gut microbiome‐metabolomics. Breastfed newborns diagnosed with BMJ and those without BMJ (control group) were enrolled. Fecal samples were collected from the participants and subjected to high‐throughput sequencing of the 16s rDNA V3 and V4 regions of the gut flora and metabolomics of short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs).

The Strategic Alliance for Research into Infectious Diseases of Animals and Zoonoses (STAR‐IDAZ) International Research Consortium (IRC) coordinates global animal health research to accelerate delivery of disease control tools and strategies. With this vision, STAR‐IDAZ IRC has constructed four generic research roadmaps for the development of candidate vaccines, diagnostic tests, therapeutics and control strategies for animal diseases.

Seven candidates for starter cultures for cucumber fermentations belonging to the Lactobacillus pentosus and Lactobacillus plantarum species were characterized based on physiological features desired for pickling. The isolates presented variable carbohydrate utilization profile on API® 50CHL test strips. The L. pentosus strains were unable to utilize d‐xylose in MRS broth or the M medium.

With the surge in consumption of insects, the search continues to find ways to increase the popularity of insect‐based products in the Western world. The black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), which is mainly utilized for animal feed, has great potential to provide a sustainable source of nutrients for human food. This review aims to discuss some of the key benefits and challenges of BSFL and their potential role as a food ingredient and/or product for human consumption.

Rapid detection of foodborne pathogens, spoilage microbes, and other biological contaminants in complex food matrices is essential to maintain food quality and ensure consumer safety. Traditional methods involve culturing microbes using a range of nonselective and selective enrichment methods, followed by biochemical confirmation among others.