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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 201 - 225 of 560

  1. Phthalyl starch nanoparticles as prebiotics enhanced nisin production in Lactococcus lactis through the induction of mild stress in probiotics

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Aim of the study Effect of internalized phthalyl starch nanoparticles (PSNs) on the antimicrobial ability of Lactococcus lactis (LL) KCTC 2013.

      • Listeria monocytogenes
      • Salmonella
      • Bacterial pathogens
  2. Serological and molecular evidence of Mycobacterium bovis in dairy cattle and dairy farm workers under the intensive dairy production system in Egypt

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Aims we employed a combination of diagnostic tests including single cervical tuberculin test (SCT), rapid lateral‐flow test (RT), TB‐Feron, conventional PCR and culture to investigate the prevalence of M. bovis infections in dairy cattle under the intensive dairy production system in Egypt. Methods and Results In total 2,710 dairy cows from 11 herds in six Governorates were tested by SCT and 444 (16.4%) were TB reactors. Only 65 cows responded to M. bovis antigen by RT and TB‐Feron.

      • Bacterial pathogens
  3. Hepatitis A infections from food

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Food contaminated by hepatitis A virus (HAV) is responsible of the 2‐7% of all HAV outbreaks worldwide. This review provides a description of the HAV characteristics, its infectivity and epidemiological features. In addition, this review compiles existing original papers reporting HAV prevalence, viral titers in foodstuffs and the risk associated with food contamination.

      • Hepatitis
      • Viruses
  4. Factors affecting the species of Campylobacter colonizing chickens reared for meat

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Aim To investigate factors influencing Campylobacter spp. colonization of broiler chickens. Methods and Results Campylobacters were isolated from caeca from 319 flocks of two different breeds (199 Cobb and 120 Hubbard), reared as standard (199), Freedom Food/corn fed (57), free‐range (47) or organic (16). The standard category exclusively used Cobb birds slaughtered at 38‐41 days.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Campylobacter
  5. Effect of ampicillin, cephalexin, ceftiofur and tetracycline treatment on selection of resistant coliforms in a swine fecal micro‐cosmos

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Aims To analyze and compare the effect of selection power for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in coliforms of two kinds of β‐lactams ‐aminopenicillins; ampicillin (Amp) and cephalosporins; cephalexin (Cpn) and ceftiofur (Cef)‐ and tetracycline (Tet) using an approach based on a swine fecal micro‐cosmos.

  6. Inactivation of Escherichia coli, Salmonella entericia serova Typhimurium, and Bacillus cereus in roasted grain powder by Radio Frequency Heating

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Aims The objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of Radio frequency (RF) heating and the combination treatment of RF heating with ultraviolet (UV) radiation against foodborne pathogens in roasted grain powder (RGP). Methods and Results Foodborne pathogens inoculated on RGP were subjected to RF heating or RF‐UV combination treatments. After 120 s of RF heating, 4.68, 3.89, and 4.54 log reductions were observed for E. coli, S. Typhimurium, and B.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Bacillus cereus
      • Salmonella
  7. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing: currently used methods and devices and the near future in clinical practice

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • ABSTRACT Rapid identification of pathogen and its resistance to antimicrobial drugs, and subsequent appropriate antimicrobial treatment are essential for correct patient outcomes. Conventional detection methods of bacterial resistance, such as disk‐diffusion, broth microdilution and automated instruments, are constantly widely used and primarily standardized.

  8. Staphylococcus aureus persistence properties associated with bovine mastitis and alternative therapeutic modalities

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Staphylococcus aureus is an important agent of contagious bovine intramammary infections in dairy cattle. Its ability to persist inside the udder is based on the presence of important mechanisms such as its ability to form biofilms, polysaccharide capsules, small colony variants (SCVs), and their ability to invade professional and non‐professional cells, which will protect S.

      • Staphylococcus aureus
      • Bacterial pathogens
  9. Characterization of carbapenem‐resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in a tertiary hospital in Fuzhou, China

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Aims The emergence of carbapenem‐resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) strains has led to increased mortality and morbidity rates. Tigecycline, a new class of broad‐spectrum glycyl‐tetracycline antibiotics, has been used to target multi‐ and pan‐drug resistant bacterial infections. This study aimed to assess the molecular characteristics of CRKP in a tertiary hospital, and its susceptibility to tigecycline, to create a reference for hospital infection control and clinical drug use.

      • Bacterial pathogens
  10. Survival of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Javiana and Listeria monocytogenes is dependent on type of soil–free microgreen cultivation matrices

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • ABSTRACT Aims This study measured the survival of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Javiana over a 10–day period on four soil‐free cultivation matrix (SFCM) types in the absence of microgreens and fertilizers. Methods and Results Coco coir (CC), a Sphagnum peat/vermiculite mix, Biostrate®, and hemp mat samples were inoculated with 3 x 106 CFU mL‐1 bacteria, incubated at room temperature, and analyzed on day 0, 1, 3, 6, and 10.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Listeria monocytogenes
      • Salmonella
  11. Recovery and Chemical Disinfection of Foot‐and‐Mouth Disease and African Swine Fever Viruses from Porous Concrete Surfaces

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Aims Develop an effective laboratory method to consistently recover viral loads sufficient for disinfectant efficacy testing from porous concrete coupons. Investigate the role of matrix pH on the recovery of Foot‐and‐mouth disease virus (FMDV) and African Swine Fever virus (ASFV) from porous concrete. Compare parameters for FMDV and ASFV inactivation on porous and non‐porous surfaces in quantitative carrier tests with a liquid chemical disinfectant.

  12. Ready‐to‐eat vegetable salads served in Nigerian restaurants: a potential source of multidrug‐resistant bacteria

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Aim Public health promotion of fruit and vegetables as healthier sources of nutrition in Nigeria has led to an increase in consumption of fruit and vegetables, particularly in the form of ready‐to‐eat (RTE) salads. However, the continual association of drug‐resistant bacteria with fruit and vegetables creates an additional challenge for consumer safety.

      • Bacterial pathogens
  13. Monitoring and controlling bacteria in pharmaceutical industries water system

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Aim This research aimed to monitor pharmaceutical water system by sampling water from all treatment stages, identify bacterial isolates from each phase and determine the most suitable methods to control them.

      • Cronobacter
      • Bacterial pathogens
  14. Controlled Expression of Lysis Gene E by a Mutant of the Promoter pL of the Thermo‐inducible λcI857‐pL System

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Aims To identify a lambda promoter pL mutant that could extend the thermal stability of the thermo‐inducible λcI857‐pR/pL system and to evaluate the effects of the modified system for the controlled expression of lysis gene E during the production of bacterial ghosts (BGs). Methods and Results The promoter pL mutant was identified by random mutagenesis and site‐directed mutagenesis. The results showed that a T→35C mutation in the pL promoter was responsible for the phenotype alteration.

      • Salmonella
      • Bacterial pathogens
  15. Inactivation efficacy and mechanisms of plasma activated water on bacteria in planktonic state

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Aims The study aimed to investigate the inactivation efficacy and mechanisms of plasma activated water (PAW) on selected bacteria in planktonic state. Methods and results PAW was generated using an atmospheric cold plasma jet at 15, 22 and 30 kV for 5 min. Escherichia coli, Listeria innocua, Staphylococcus aureus, Aeromonas hydrophila, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Shewanella putrefaciens were selected as the representative bacterial species.

      • Staphylococcus aureus
      • Bacterial pathogens
  16. Enterotoxin genes and antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from food products in Algeria

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Aims The aim of this study was to characterize S. aureus isolates of food origin (dairy and meat products, pastries, and sandwiches) determining the carriage in enterotoxin genes and the antimicrobial resistance pheno/genotypes. Methods and results A total of 300 food samples were collected and analyzed for the detection of S. aureus. The presence of enterotoxin genes was investigated by multiplex‐PCRs.

      • Staphylococcus aureus
      • Bacterial pathogens
  17. Examining the efficacy of mushroom industry biocides on Listeria monocytogenes biofilm

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Aims The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of new and currently used biocides in the mushroom industry for inactivating L. monocytogenes biofilm. Methods and results A lab‐scale study was initially carried out to test the efficacy of eleven biocidal products against a cocktail of five L. monocytogenes strains that were grown to three‐day biofilms on stainless steel coupons. Biocidal efficacy was then tested under clean and dirty conditions based on the EN 13697:2015 method.

      • Listeria monocytogenes
      • Bacterial pathogens
  18. Determination of gastrointestinal tract colonization sites from feedlot cattle transiently shedding or super‐shedding Escherichia coli O157:H7 at harvest

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Aims The objective of the study was to determine levels of Escherichia coli O157:H7 colonization in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of naturally‐shedding cattle shedding the pathogen at low‐ or super‐shedder levels. Methods and Results Over two years, feedlot cattle were sampled multiple times for faecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7.

      • Escherichia coli O157:H7
      • Bacterial pathogens
  19. Hydrophobic and adhesive patterns of lactic acid bacteria and their antagonism against foodborne pathogens on tomato surface (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Aims To evaluate tomato epiphyte lactic acid bacteria (LAB) hydrophobicity and auto‐aggregation as an indicator of bacteria adhesion to tomato. Likewise use LAB adhesion and co‐aggregation as mechanisms to antagonize pathogen attachment. Methods and Results Fifty‐four LAB were screened to evaluate their hydrophobic, auto‐ and co‐aggregative properties against Salmonella Typhimurium, Saintpaul, Montevideo and Escherichia coli O157:H7.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Escherichia coli O157:H7
      • Salmonella
  20. Aporphinoid alkaloids inhibit biofilm formation of Yersinia enterocolitica isolated from sausages

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Aims of the study The ability of Yersinia enterocolitica strains to form biofilms and the capacity of different alkaloids to inhibit biofilm formation were investigated. Methods and Results The capacity to form biofilm on polystyrene of 31 Y. enterocolitica strains was evaluated. Biofilm and quorum sensing (QS) inhibition of 17 alkaloids were assayed; furthermore, minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) was determined.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia
  21. In vitro mechanism of antibacterial action of a citrus essential oil on an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus rhamnosus

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Aim This study investigated the in vitro mechanism of action of a commercial citrus EO, Brazilian orange terpenes (BOT), on an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) isolated from pig gut and on Lactobacillus rhamnosus.

      • Bacterial pathogens
  22. Detection of Multidrug Resistant Gram Negative Bacteria from Imported Reptile and Amphibian Meats

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Aims The food supply is a potential source of antimicrobial resistance. Current surveillance programs targeting food are limited to beef, pork and poultry and do not capture niche products. In this study, imported reptile and amphibian products were screened for antimicrobial resistant bacteria. Methods and Results Fifty‐three items including soft shell turtles, frog legs, geckos, snakes and a turtle carapace were purchased from specialty markets in Vancouver and Saskatoon, Canada.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Salmonella
  23. Sustainable management strategies for bacterial wilt of sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum) and other Solanaceous crops

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Pepper bacterial wilt is caused by the bacterial pathogen, Ralstonia solanacearum. It is the most destructive disease of many Solanaceous crops such as potatoes, tobacco, pepper, tomatoes, and eggplant and is a significant source of crop loss worldwide. Physical, cultural and chemical controls have been employed to combat this destructive disease.

      • Bacillus cereus
      • Bacterial pathogens
  24. Efficacy of volatile compounds from Streptomyces philanthi RL‐1‐178 as a biofumigant for controlling growth and aflatoxin production of the two aflatoxin‐producing fungi on stored soybean seeds

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Aims This study aimed to apply the volatile organic compounds from S. philanthi RL‐1‐178 (VOCs RL‐1‐178) as a fumigant to protect soybean seeds against the two aflatoxin‐producing fungi in stored soybean seeds. Methods and Results The antifungal bioassay tests on PDA dishes showed that 30 g L‐1 wheat seed inoculum of S. philanthi RL‐1‐178 exhibited total (100 %) inhibition on A. parasiticus TISTR 3276 and A. flavus PSRDC‐4.

      • Aflatoxins
      • Natural toxins
  25. From laboratory to the field: Biological control of Fusarium graminearum on infected maize crop residues

    • Journal of Applied Microbiology
    • Aim To evaluate biological control agents (BCA) against Fusarium graminearum on infected maize stalks as a means to reduce Fusarium head blight (FHB) in subsequently grown wheat. Methods and Results In the laboratory, BCAs were applied against F. graminearum on maize stalk pieces. Clonostachys rosea inhibited the perithecia development and ascospore discharge when applied before, simultaneously with and after the pathogen. In the field, we simulated a system with high disease pressure, i.e.

      • Mycotoxins
      • Natural toxins