Research Publications (Food Safety)

DNA-based detection methods are highly promising for risk assessment in the food sector, such as tracing the existence of food allergens. However, due to the complexity of food matrices, cumbersome protocols are often needed to isolate the DNA components, which hinder the achievement of rapid and on-site detection. Herein, an instant and multiple DNA extraction method was developed based on the poly(vinyl alcohol) microneedle (MN) patch.

This study presents a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with negative chemical ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC–NCI–QTOF/MS) method, which allows for a precise chromatographic separation of short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs). A new reversed-phase column setup was used, which allows for more accurate separation of MCCPs compared to known GC × GC methods.

In this study, the rhodamine 6G hydrazide (R6GH) complex was synthesized to develop an “off–on” output platform for fluorescence and visual dual-mode analysis of lead(II) (Pb2+). The prepared R6GH complex using the heat to reflux reaction of rhodamine 6G (R6G) and hydrazine hydrate was characterized through FT-IR, MS, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR and demonstrated to have good fluorescence stability and reversibility. The microenvironment for Pb2+ detection has been optimized in detail.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer death in Taiwan. A recent study suggested a link between exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and increased susceptibility to pathology. Exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), an EDC and plasticizer widely used in consumer products, has been reported to be significantly positively correlated with increased risks of various cancers.

A new microfluidic approach using hybrid magnetoliposomes (h-MLs) containing hydrophobic magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4@AuNPs-C12SH) and encapsulated N-acetylcysteine has been developed in this research to determine aminoglycoside antibiotic (AAG) residues in food using o-phthalaldehyde. Four AAGs, kanamycin, streptomycin, gentamicin, and neomycin, have been used as model analytes.

Existing methods for the analysis of pesticides in human breast milk involve multiple extraction steps requiring large sample and solvent volumes, which can be a major obstacle in large epidemiologic studies. Here, we developed a simple, low-volume method for extracting organophosphates, pyrethroids, carbamates, atrazine, and imidacloprid from 100 to 200 μL of human breast milk.

Pollution related to pesticides has become a global problem due to their low utilization and non-targeting application, and nanotechnology has shown great potential in promoting sustainable agriculture. Nowadays, mesoporous silica-based nanomaterials have garnered immense attention for improving the efficacy and safety of pesticides due to their distinctive advantages of low toxicity, high thermal and chemical stability, and particularly size tunability and versatile functionality.

Lanthanum (La), calcium (Ca), and cadmium (Cd) have similar physical and chemical properties because of their similar ionic radius. Although the interactions between La, Ca, and Cd have been frequently reported in plants, few studies have investigated the interactive effects of La and Ca on the growth and Cd accumulation in plants. Therefore, we investigated the interactive effects of La and Ca on the growth and Cd accumulation in wheat under Cd exposure by a hydroponic experiment.

Sixteen metabolites, including seven C7-alkylated salicylaldehyde derivatives (1–7) and nine prenylated indole alkaloids (8–16), three of which are new, namely, asperglaucins A and B (1 and 2) and neoechinulin F (8), were separated from the endolichenic fungus Aspergillus chevalieri SQ-8. Asperglaucin A (1) represents an unusual phthalide-like derivative with a benzo[c]thiophen-1(3H)-one scaffold.

Here, we prepared a series of novel osthole-type ester derivatives modified in the lactone ring of osthole, which is isolated from Cnidium monnieri. The positions of H-3 and H-4 of the representative compound 4z were determined by a 1H–1H COSY spectrum. By opening the lactone ring of osthole, the double bonds at the C-3 and C-4 positions of diol 3 and esters 4a–4z, 4a′, and 4b′ were still retained as a Z configuration.

Citrinin (CIT) is a scarcely studied mycotoxin within foodstuffs, so the biomonitoring of this toxin and its metabolite dihydrocitrinone (DH-CIT) in biological samples represents the main alternative to estimate the exposure. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the presence of CIT and DH-CIT in 300 urine samples from Italian individuals in order to assess the exposure.

A dietary pesticide residue causes underestimated influences on body health. In this work, experimental mice were exposed to commonly used pesticides that cause insulin resistance, inflammation, and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases. Alterations in intestinal flora were detected in the exposure groups. The abundance of the flora causing high endotoxin production was intensively increased and led to body inflammation.

An immunoassay is mostly employed for the direct detection of food contaminants, and a molecular assay for targeting nucleic acids employs amplification techniques for distinguishing genes. The integration of an immunoassay with nucleic acid amplification techniques inherits the direct and rapid performance of an immunoassay and the ultrasensitive merit of a molecular assay.

SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus strain that initiated the COVID-19 pandemic, and its subsequent variants present challenges to vaccine development and treatment. As the coronavirus evades the host innate immune response at the initial stage of infection, the disease can have a long nonsymptomatic period. The uridylate-specific endoribonuclease Nsp15 processes the viral genome for replication and cleaves the polyU sequence in the viral RNA to interfere with the host immune system.

Cadmium (Cd) accumulation in agricultural soils is an increasingly serious problem, as plants absorb Cd, which inhibits their growth and development. Nonetheless, the molecular mechanisms underlying Cd detoxification and accumulation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) are unclear. Here, we isolated the U-box E3 ligase TaPUB1 from wheat and reported the functional characterization of TaPUB1 in Cd uptake and tolerance in wheat.

Given the relevance of organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) with food safety, it is highly urgent to develop sensitive and reliable sensors for OPs. However, most of the OP sensors are developed based on colorimetric and fluorescent techniques, which are limited to severe interference of color and fluorescence from pigments and organic acids in agricultural crops.

Exploring novel p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (EC 1.13.11.27, HPPD) inhibitors has become one of the most promising research directions in herbicide innovation. On the basis of our tremendous interest in exploiting more powerful HPPD inhibitors, we designed a family of benzyl-containing triketone-aminopyridines via a structure-based drug design (SBDD) strategy and then synthesized them.

Bioglycosylation is an efficient strategy to improve biological activities and physicochemical properties of natural compounds to develop structural modifications of drugs. In this study, an N555 residue was identified as a candidate for site-directed mutagenesis through sequence alignment with GTF180ΔN. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) was used as an acceptor substrate. Two generated mutants, N555Q and N555E, demonstrated significant specificity of distribution of products.

This work involved a systematic comparison between serum and urine for the monitoring of anabolic androgenic steroids in livestock. Incurred samples were collected over 120 days from crossbred steers treated with intramuscular injections containing boldenone undecylenate. Independent high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) methods were used for the assessment of the respective detection windows, which were larger for serum samples.

Emerging and fugitive contaminants (EFCs) can be introduced into the food chain through plants, particularly crop plants, and have threatened food safety and human health. The method for determination of volatile EFCs in plant tissues remains challenging.

According to known studies, numerous mycotoxins have been found simultaneously in foods and have a certain expansion toxicity, so the simultaneous detection of multiple mycotoxins is absolutely critical. In this article, multifunctional magnetic g-C3N4/Fe3O4 nanocomposites have been fabricated to employ as modified QuEChERS adsorbents.

Macadamia nut contains important food allergens that potentially cause allergic reactions with severe adverse effects in infants and adults. Reliable and accurate detection of macadamia is critical to avoid allergic reactions. However, knowledge on macadamia allergen is scarce and a reliable detection method has not been reported, yet.

The non-toxic immunoassay for mycotoxins is being paid more attention due to its advantages of higher safety and cost savings by using anti-idiotype antibodies to substitute toxins. In this study, with tenuazonic acid (TeA), a kind of highly toxic Alternaria mycotoxin as the target, an enhanced non-toxic immunoassay was developed based on the ferritin-displayed anti-idiotypic nanobody-nanoluciferase multimers.

Acrylamide, a food processing contaminant with demonstrated genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, and reproductive toxicity, is largely present in numerous prominent and commonly consumed food products that are produced by thermal processing methods. Food regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) and European Union Commission regulations have disseminated various acrylamide mitigation strategies in food processing practices.

Plant bacterial diseases can potentially damage agricultural products around the world, and few effective bactericides can manage these infections. Herein, to sequentially explore highly effective antibacterial alternatives, 1,2,3-triazole-tailored carbazoles were rationally fabricated. These compounds could suppress the growth of three main intractable pathogens including Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae (Xoo), X.