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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 891

  1. Paralytic shellfish toxins producing dinoflagellates cause dysbacteriosis in scallop gut microbial biofilms

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • Filter-feeding bivalves could accumulate paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) produced by harmful dinoflagellates through diet. Despite that bivalves are resistant to these neurotoxins due to possessing PST-resistant sodium channel, exposure to PSTs-producing dinoflagellates impair bivalve survival. We hypothesized that ingesting PSTs-PSTs-producing dinoflagellates may influence the gut microbiota, and then the health of bivalves.

      • Natural toxins
      • Shellfish toxins
  2. Molecular mechanism of selenium against lead-induced apoptosis in chicken brainstem relating to heat shock protein, selenoproteins, and inflammatory cytokines

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • Extensive application of lead (Pb) brought about environmental pollution and toxic reactions of organisms. Selenium (Se) has the effect of antagonizing Pb poisoning in humans and animals. However, it is still unclear how Pb causes brainstem toxicity. In the present study, we wanted to investigate whether Se can alleviate Pb toxicity in chicken brainstems by reducing apoptosis.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  3. From inflammation to pyroptosis: Understanding the consequences of cadmium exposure in chicken liver cells

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • Hepatotoxicity is frequently observed following acute cadmium (Cd) exposure in chicken. Oxidative stress and subsequent inflammation are regarded as the main reasons for cadmium-induced liver injury. NOD-like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-induced pyroptosis is involved in various inflammatory diseases, including liver injury.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  4. Developmental effects of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos after exposure to glyphosate and lead mixtures

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • Natural aquatic environments have a heterogeneous composition; therefore, simultaneous exposure to multiple contaminants is relevant and more realistic when assessing exposure and toxicity.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  5. Toxic effects of nanopolystyrene and cadmium on the intestinal tract of the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • Nanopolystyrene (NP) and cadmium (Cd) are ubiquitous contaminants in aquatic systems. The present study aimed to investigate the toxic effects of exposure to ambient concentrations of NP and/or Cd on the intestinal tract of the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis).

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  6. Potential effect dietary supplementation of calcium tetraborate in quails exposed to cadmium: Its impact on productive performance, oxidative stress, cecal microflora, and histopathological changes

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • Cadmium (Cd) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant, and Cd exposure harms human health, agriculture, and animal husbandry.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  7. Deletion of ArmPT, a LamB-like protein, increases cell membrane permeability and antibiotic sensitivity in Vibrio alginolyticus

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • Vibrio bacterial species are dominant pathogens in mariculture animals. However, the extensive use of antibiotics and other chemicals has increased drug resistance in Vibrio bacteria.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Vibrio
  8. Astilbin antagonizes developmental cardiotoxicity after cadmium exposure in chicken embryos by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress and maintaining calcium homeostasis

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • Cadmium (Cd) is a dangerous heavy metal with high toxicity that is known to impair development. Astilbin (ASB) is a protective flavonoid compound. We aimed to explore whether ASB can antagonize the myocardial developmental toxicity of Cd exposure. Cd (2 µg) and/or ASB (0.002 µg) were injected into embryonized eggs that were 1 day old.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  9. Intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of apoptosis induced by multiple antibiotics residues and ocean acidification in hemocytes of scallop Argopecten irradians irradians: An interactionist perspective

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • The increasing prevalence of antibiotics in seawater across global coastal areas, coupled with the ocean acidification induced by climate change, present a multifaceted challenge to marine ecosystems, particularly impacting the key physiological processes of marine organisms.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Antibiotic residues
  10. Ochratoxin A triggers endoplasmic reticulum stress through PERK/NRF2 signaling and DNA damage during early embryonic developmental competence in pigs

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • Ochratoxin A (OTA), a mycotoxin found in foods, has a deleterious effect on female reproduction owing to its endocrine-disrupting activity mediated through endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress

      • Natural toxins
      • Mycotoxins
  11. Targeted sphingolipidomics indicates increased C22-C24:16 ratios of virtually all assayed classes in liver, kidney, and plasma of fumonisin-fed chickens

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • The biological properties of sphinganine-(d18:0)-, sphingosine-(d18:1)-, deoxysphinganine-(m18: 0)-, deoxysphingosine-(m18:1)-, deoxymethylsphinganine-(m17:0)-, deoxymethylsphingosine-(m17:1)-, sphingadienine-(d18:2)-, and phytosphingosine-(t18:0)-sphingolipids have been reported to vary, but little is known about the effects of fumonisins, which are 

      • Natural toxins
      • Mycotoxins
  12. Kaolinite reduced Cd accumulation in peanut and remediate soil contaminated with both microplastics and cadmium

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • Microplastics (MPs) increase the effective state of heavy metals (HMs) in soil and seriously threaten the yield and quality of peanuts (Arachis Hypogea L.). Kaolinite (KL) has the potential to ameliorate MP- and HM- contaminated soils, but the mechanism of action between them is not well understood.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  13. Cadmium exposure dysregulates purine metabolism and homeostasis across the gut-liver axis in a mouse model

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • Cadmium (Cd) exposure has been associated with the development of enterohepatic circulation disorders and hyperuricemia, but the possible contribution of chronic low-dose Cd exposure to disease progression is still need to be explored.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  14. Mercapto-palygorskite efficiently immobilizes cadmium in alkaline soil and reduces its accumulation in wheat plants: A field study

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • Cadmium (Cd) contamination in wheat fields has become a major environmental issue in many regions of the world. Mercapto-palygorskite (MPAL) is a high-performance amendment that can effectively immobilize Cd in alkaline wheat soil. However, MAPL as an in-situ Cd immobilization strategy for alkaline wheat soil remains to be evaluated on a field-scale and the underlying mechanisms requires further evaluation.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  15. Lead exposure disrupted ileal barrier of developmental Japanese quails(Coturnix japonica): Histopathological damages, microbiota dysbiosis and immune disorder

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • The gut barrier plays an essential role in maintaining homeostasis and is usually composed of a mechanical barrier, a chemical barrier, an immune barrier, and a biological barrier. However, the impacts of lead (Pb) exposure on avian gut barrier are still unclear.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  16. Predicting pesticide residues in pod fruits with a modified peel-like uptake model: A green pea demonstration

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • Peas are among the most popular leguminous plants, consumed by both humans and animals in large quantities.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Pesticide residues
  17. Comparative efficacy of silicon and iron oxide nanoparticles towards improving the plant growth and mitigating arsenic toxicity in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • Nano-enabled agriculture has emerged as an attractive approach for facilitating soil pollution mitigation and enhancing crop production and nutrition. In this study, we conducted a greenhouse experiment to explore the efficacy of silicon oxide nanoparticles (SiONPs) and iron oxide nanoparticles (FeONPs) in alleviating arsenic (As) toxicity in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and elucidated the underlying mechanisms involved.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  18. Combined effects of lead and manganese on locomotor activity and microbiota in zebrafish

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • Exposure to lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) during early life influences neurodevelopment and increases the risk of neurodegenerative disorders. However, the level of developmental neurotoxicity due to combined exposure to the two metals remains unclear.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  19. Cadmium exposure promotes ferroptosis by upregulating Heat Shock Protein 70 in vascular endothelial damage of zebrafish

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • Cadmium (Cd) exposure is a risk factor for endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. Ferroptosis is a type of cell death that relies on lipid peroxidation. Whether ferroptosis acts in Cd-induced vascular endothelial damage and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we found that Cd resulted in ferroptosis of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) in vivo and in vitro.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  20. Aflatoxin B1 impairs porcine oocyte quality via disturbing intracellular membrane system and ATP production

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • Aflatoxin is the most common type of mycotoxins in contaminated corn, peanuts and rice, which affects the livestock and ultimately endangers human health.

      • Natural toxins
      • Aflatoxins
      • Mycotoxins
  21. Zinc alleviates cadmium-induced reproductive toxicity via regulating ion homeostasis, metallothionein expression, and inhibiting mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • Cadmium (Cd) is a carcinogenic environmental pollutant that harms male reproductive systems by lowering sperm quality, impairing spermatogenesis, and causing apoptosis. Although zinc (Zn) has been reported to alleviate Cd toxicity, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this work was to investigate the mitigating effects of Zn on Cd-induced male reproductive toxicity in the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  22. Combined impacts of microplastics and cadmium on the liver function, immune response, and intestinal microbiota of crucian carp (Carassius carassius)

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • Microplastics (MPs) and the heavy metal cadmium (Cd) have attracted global attention for their toxicological interactions in aquatic organisms.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  23. Accurate derivation and modelling of criteria of soil extractable and total cadmium for safe wheat production

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • It is significant to establish an accurate model to predict cadmium (Cd) criteria for safe wheat production. More importantly, for better evaluation of the risk of Cd pollution in high natural background areas, the soil extractable Cd criteria are needed.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  24. Physiological and proteomic analyses reveal the important role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on enhancing photosynthesis in wheat under cadmium stress

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are important in the phytoremediation of cadmium (Cd). Improving photosynthesis under Cd stress helps to increase crop yields. However, the molecular regulatory mechanisms of AMF on photosynthetic processes in wheat (Triticum aestivum) under Cd stress remain unclear.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  25. Protective role of curcumin on broiler liver by modulating aflatoxin B1-induced DNA methylation and CYPs expression

    • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
    • The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of epigenetic DNA methylation and CYPs expression in AFB1-exposed broiler liver and the protective effect of curcumin. Sixty-four one-day-old AA broilers were randomly divided into four groups, including control group, AFB1 group (1 mg/kg AFB1), curcumin + AFB1 group (1 mg/kg curcumin) and curcumin group (300 mg/kg curcumin).

      • Natural toxins
      • Aflatoxins
      • Mycotoxins