Research Publications (Food Safety)

The development and implementation of rapid molecular diagnostics for tuberculosis (TB) drug-susceptibility testing is critical to inform treatment of patients and to prevent the emergence and spread of resistance. Optimal trial planning for existing tests and those in development will be critical to rapidly gather the evidence necessary to inform World Health Organization review and to support potential policy recommendations.

AbstractBackgroundProtective immunity against Coxiella burnetii infection is conferred by vaccination with virulent (PI-WCV), but not avirulent (PII-WCV) whole-cell inactivated bacterium. The only well-characterized antigenic difference between virulent and avirulent C. burnetii is they have smooth and rough lipopolysaccharide (LPS), respectively.MethodsMice were vaccinated with PI-WCV and PII-WCV.

AbstractBackgroundEnterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) commonly cause diarrhea in children living in developing countries and in travelers to those regions. ETEC are characterized by colonization factors (CFs) that mediate intestinal adherence.

AbstractWe analyzed the virulence of pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza A viruses in vivo and in vitro. Selected viruses isolated in 2009, 2010, 2014, and 2015 were assessed using an aerosol-mediated high-dose infection model for pigs as well as air-liquid interface cultures of differentiated airway epithelial cells.

AbstractBackgroundViral hepatitis epidemiological data are important for the World Health Organization plan of eliminating viral hepatitis. We aimed to document the prevalence of viral hepatitis A to E in Hong Kong.MethodsThis community-based study was open to all Hong Kong Chinese citizens aged ≥18 years. Baseline data and risk factors were collected.

AbstractThe resolution of Shigella flexneri infection–associated hyperinflammation is crucial for host survival. Using in vitro and in vivo models of shigellosis, we found that S. flexneri induces the expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) through the nucleotide oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway.

AbstractBackgroundNontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) organisms are a major cause of gastroenteritis and bacteremia, but little is known about maternally acquired immunity and natural exposure in infant populations residing in areas where NTS disease is highly endemic.MethodsWe recruited 503 pregnant mothers and their infants (following delivery) from urban areas in Vietnam and followed infants until they were 1 year old.

AbstractBackgroundThe bacterial pathogen Vibrio vulnificus causes severe septic foodborne infections. The multifunctional autoprocessing repeats-in-toxins (MARTX) toxin is an important secreted virulence factor. The effector domain region is essential for lethal intestinal infection in mice, but the contribution of each of the 5 effector domains to infection has not been investigated.MethodsV.

AbstractBackgroundThe 2013–2016 outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa led to unprecedented morbidity and mortality.

To the Editor—In response to an article by Manor et al [1], Chen et al recently reported on an outbreak of acute hepatitis A virus (HAV) in northern Taiwan that affected primarily men who have sex with men (MSM) who had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) [2]. That outbreak started in mid-2015 and peaked with >1000 cases of acute HAV reported in 2016.

AbstractBackgroundHigh-pathogenicity avian influenza viruses continue to circulate in poultry and wild birds and occasionally infect humans, sometimes with fatal outcomes. Development of vaccines is a priority to prepare for potential pandemics but is complicated by antigenic variation of the surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin.

AbstractBackgroundCholera is a public health problem worldwide, and the risk factors for infection are only partially understood.MethodsWe prospectively studied household contacts of patients with cholera to compare those who were infected to those who were not. We constructed predictive machine learning models of susceptibility, using baseline gut microbiota data.

AbstractLassa fever is a viral zoonosis that can be transmitted from person to person, especially in the hospital setting. The disease is endemic to several countries in West Africa and can be a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in affected areas. There are no approved vaccines to prevent Lassa virus infection.

AbstractBackgroundTreatment with nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA) suppresses hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA but rarely leads to functional cure of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Following NA cessation, some hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative CHB patients experience hepatitis B s antigen (HBsAg) loss.

AbstractBrucellaceae are stealthy pathogens with the ability to survive and replicate in the host in the context of a strong immune response. This capacity relies on several virulence factors that are able to modulate the immune system and in their structural components that have low proinflammatory activities.

AbstractBackgroundCryptosporidiosis affects all human populations, but can be much more severe or life-threatening in children and individuals with weak or weakened immune systems. However, current options to treat cryptosporidiosis are limited.MethodsAn in vitro phenotypic screening assay was employed to screen 1200 existing drugs for their anticryptosporidial activity and to determine the inhibitory kinetics of top hits.

AbstractMost current Ebola virus (EBOV) vaccine candidates are based on viral vectors, some of which cause side effects or require complex manufacturing. Modified mRNA vaccines are easily produced, safe, and are highly immunogenic. We developed 2 mRNA vaccines based on the EBOV envelope glycoprotein, which differed by the nature of signal peptide for improved glycoprotein post-translational translocation.

AbstractZika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy can cause devastating congenital abnormities or fetal demise. Zika virus infection could also cause Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. Mosquito control, vaccine, and therapeutics are 3 potential, effective means to prevent ZIKV infection. Here we review the current status of ZIKV drug discovery.

AbstractBackgroundPostdiarrheal hemolytic-uremic syndrome (D+HUS) following Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection is a serious condition lacking specific treatment. Host immune dysregulation and genetic susceptibility to complement hyperactivation are implicated in non–STEC-related HUS.

AbstractBackgroundAlthough cholera is considered the quintessential long-cycle waterborne disease, studies have emphasized the existence of short-cycle (food, household) transmission. We investigated singular Danish cholera epidemics (in 1853) to elucidate epidemiological parameters and modes of spread.MethodsUsing time series data from cities with different water systems, we estimated the intrinsic transmissibility (R0).

AbstractBackgroundWe investigated safety and immunogenicity of 1–2 doses of different bivalent virus-like particle (VLP) norovirus vaccine candidate (NoV) formulations in healthy 18- to 64-year-olds.MethodsOn days 1 and 28, participants (n = 420) randomized to 14 equal groups received intramuscular control vaccine (hepatitis A) or 1 of 11 NoV formulations containing varying dosages of GI.1 and GII.4c genotype VLP antigens with aluminum hydroxide [Al(OH)3], and 0

Tuberculosis caused an estimated 1.4 million deaths in 2015 and now ranks as the leading infectious disease cause of mortality in the world [1]. An additional 1.7 billion people are currently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and are at risk of developing active tuberculosis disease. The challenge to eliminate tuberculosis has never been more relevant and urgent.

AbstractBackgroundCampylobacteriosis is inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract as a result of Campylobacter infection. Most campylobacteriosis cases are acute and self-limiting, with Campylobacter excretion ceasing a few weeks after symptoms cease.

AbstractClostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) causes food poisoning and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. It uses some claudin tight junction proteins (eg, claudin-4) as receptors to form Ca2+-permeable pores in the membrane, damaging epithelial cells in small intestine and colon. We demonstrate that only a subpopulation of colonic enterocytes which are characterized by apical dislocation of claudins are CPE-susceptible.

AbstractBackgroundAspergillus flavus is one of the most common agents of invasive aspergillosis and is associated with high mortality. The orotomides are a new class of antifungal agents with a novel mechanism of action.