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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 422

  1. Effects of dietary Nisin on growth performance, immune function, and gut health of broilers challenged by Clostridium perfringens

    • Journal of Animal Science
    • Nisin (Ni) is a polypeptide bacteriocin produced by lactic streptococci (probiotics) that can inhibit the majority of gram-positive bacteria, and improve the growth performance of broilers, and exert antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study investigated the potential preventive effect of Nisin on necrotic enteritis induced by Clostridium perfringens (Cp) challenge.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
  2. Research Note: Clostridium perfringens NetB and CnaA neutralizing nanobodies in feed reduce the incidence of poultry necrotic enteritis

    • Poultry Science
    • Necrotic enteritis is a devastating disease to poultry caused by the bacterium Clostridium perfringens. As a novel approach to combating poultry necrotic enteritis, we identified and characterized several hundred single domain antibody fragments (or nanobodies) capable of binding either the NetB toxin or the collagen-binding adhesin (CnaA) of C. perfringens.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
  3. Prevalence, toxin-genotype distribution, and transmission of Clostridium perfringens from the breeding and milking process of dairy farms

    • Food Microbiology
    • This study aimed to elucidate the distribution, transmission, and cross-contamination of Clostridium perfringens during the breeding and milking process from dairy farms. The prevalence of 22.3% (301/1351) yielded 494 C. perfringens isolates; all isolates were type A, except for one type D, and 69.8% (345/494) of the isolates carried atypcpb2 and only 0.6% (3/494) of the isolates carried conscpb2. C.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
  4. Dietary Bacillus subtilis- and Clostridium butyricum-based probiotics supplement improves growth and meat quality, and alters microbiota in the excreta of broiler chickens

    • Canadian Journal of Animal Science
    • This study investigated the effects of the multi-probiotics consisting of Bacillus subtilis and Clostridium butyricum with varying doses (0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, and 0.2%) on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, meat quality, and cecal microbes of male broiler chickens. Seven hundred and twenty Ross 308, 1-day-old male broiler chicks were distributed into four dietary groups.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
  5. Determination of the virulence status of Clostridium perfringens strains using a chicken intestinal ligated loop model is important for understanding the pathogenesis of necrotic

    • Poultry Science
    • Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a poultry intestinal disease caused by virulent strains of the bacterium Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens).

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
  6. Modulation of Broiler Intestinal Changes Induced by Clostridium perfringens and Deoxynivalenol through Probiotic, Paraprobiotic, and Postbiotic Supplementation

    • Toxins
    • Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a predisposing factor for necrotic enteritis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a DON and Clostridium perfringens (CP) challenge on the intestinal morphology, morphometry, oxidative stress, and immune response of broilers. Additionally, we evaluated the potential of a Lactobacillus spp. mixture as an approach to mitigate the damage induced by the challenge.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
      • Natural toxins
      • Mycotoxins
  7. Effect of treatment with Lactococcus lactis NZ9000 on intestinal microbiota and mucosal immune responses against Clostridium perfringens in broiler chickens

    • Frontiers in Microbiology
    • Alterations in intestinal microbiota can modulate the developing avian intestinal immune system and, subsequently, may impact on resistance to enteric pathogens. The aim was to demonstrate that early life exposure to Lactococcus lactis, could affect either susceptibility or resistance of broilers to necrotic enteritis (NE). L. lactis NZ9000 (rL.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
  8. 380 The Sow Milk Microbiome and Resistome

    • Journal of Animal Science
    • In addition to oligosaccharides, proteins (e.g., immunoglobulins), lipids, vitamins, and other nutrients vital for piglet health, sow’s milk contains bacteria believed to be important in gut health. Therefore, certain sow milk isolates with potentially beneficial properties may be of interest for use as probiotic strains.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
      • Staphylococcus aureus
  9. PSIII-28 A Novel Direct-Fed Microbial Supports in Vitro Intestinal Integrity Upon Clostridium Perfringens Challenge

    • Journal of Animal Science
    • Gastrointestinal pathogens cause productive, health, welfare, and financial losses to the beef cattle herd. Among these pathogens, Clostridium perfringens type A is of interest given its prevalence, negative effects on intestinal health, and subsequent losses caused in beef animals. Based on this rationale, we hypothesized that a novel direct-fed microbial (DFM) formulation would support the gut barrier integrity upon a challenge with C. perfringens type A.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
  10. A Microbial Muramidase improves growth performance and reduces inflammatory cell infiltration in the intestine of broilers chickens under Eimeria and Clostridium perfringens challenge

    • Poultry Science
    • The objective of the present studies was to evaluate muramidase (MUR) supplementation in broilers under Eimeria and/or Clostridium perfringens challenge. For this, two experiments were conducted. Experiment 1. A total of 256 one-day old male Cobb 500 chicks were placed in battery cages in a completely randomized design, with 5 treatment groups, 7 replicate cages per treatment and 8 birds per cage.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
  11. PSIII-9 Effects of a Specialty Energy Source on Growth Performance and Fecal Microbiota in Nursery Pigs

    • Journal of Animal Science
    • The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a specialty energy source, which comprises of 28% fat and 55% corn-syrup solids (Solu-E; International Ingredient Corporation, Fenton, MO) on growth performance and fecal microbiota population of nursery pigs. Two hundred and eighty-eight (initial body weight = 5.91 kg) mixed gender pigs were assigned to 4 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with body weight as a blocking factor.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
      • Salmonella
  12. Characterization of thermostable bacteriophage CPD2 and its endolysin LysCPD2 as biocontrol agents against Clostridium perfringens

    • Food Science and Biotechnology
    • Clostridium perfringens is one of the major foodborne pathogens in humans and animals. With the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant C. perfringens strains, bacteriophages and their endolysins have received considerable attention as promising alternatives to antibiotics. In this study, C. perfringens phage CPD2 was isolated from retail chicken samples. CPD2 belongs to the Podoviridae family and exhibits remarkable thermostability.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
  13. In vitro antibacterial effects of Broussonetia papyrifera leaf extract and its anti-colitis in DSS-treated mice

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Recently, the hybrid Broussonetia papyrifera (BP) has been extensively cultivated and predominantly utilized in ruminants because of its high protein and bioactive compound content. In the present study, the effects of an ethanolic extract of BP leaves (BPE, 200 mg/kg) on mitigating 2% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced intestinal inflammation in mice were evaluated.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
      • Salmonella
  14. Characterization and antibacterial activity of highly thermo- and pH-stable endolysin LysCPQ7 and its application as a biocontrol agent against Clostridium perfringens in milk and cheese

    • Food Control
    • Phage-encoded peptidoglycanases (phage endolysins) are hydrolyzing enzymes that break peptidoglycan bonds within infected bacterial cell walls at the end of the lytic cycle. They are promising antibacterial agents capable of controlling major foodborne pathogens. Here, we cloned, overexpressed, and purified the phage-encoded protein LysCPQ7, a putative endolysin from the Clostridium perfringens phage CPQ7.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
  15. Molecular characterization of Clostridium perfringens isolates from a tertiary children’s hospital in Guangzhou, China, establishing an association between bacterial colonization and food allergies in infants

    • Gut Pathogens
    • Background Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) is one of the most common types of food allergy in infants. Faecal pathogen cultures showed that the positive rate of Clostridium perfringens was more than 30%, which was significantly higher than that for other bacteria. Therefore, it is speculated that Clostridium perfringens colonization may be one of the pathogenetic factors for CMPA in infants. We conducted a real-world evidence study.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
  16. Baicalin-aluminum alleviates necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens by inhibiting virulence factors expression of Clostridium perfringens

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Clostridium perfringens type A is the main cause of necrotic enteritis (NE) in chickens. Since the use of antibiotics in feed is withdrawn, it is imperative to find out suitable alternatives to control NE. Baicalin-aluminum complex is synthesized from baicalin, a flavonoid isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. The present study investigated the effects of baicalin-aluminum on the virulence-associated traits and virulence genes expression of C.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
  17. Dietary Macleaya cordata extract supplementation improves the growth performance and gut health of broiler chickens with necrotic enteritis

    • Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology
    • Background The poultry industry needs effective antibiotic alternatives to control outbreaks of necrotic enteritis (NE) caused by Clostridium perfringens. Methods The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with Macleaya cordata extract (MCE) on the immune function and gut microbiota of broilers with NE.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
  18. Diversity and probiotic characterisation of yeast isolates in the bovine gastrointestinal tract

    • Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
    • The use of yeasts as a feed supplement for cattle can promote animal development and performance. However, for the positive results to be consistent, strains with probiotic properties must be selected. The objective of this study was to isolate and identify yeasts present in the bovine feces and evaluate their probiotic potential together with strains previously isolated from the rumen (preliminary study).

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
  19. Evaluating a Salmonella Typhimurium, Eimeria maxima, and Clostridium perfringens coinfection necrotic enteritis model in broiler chickens: repeatability, dosing, and immune outcomes

    • Poultry Science
    • Coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis negatively impact poultry production, making challenge model repeatability important for evaluating mitigation strategies.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
      • Salmonella
  20. Antimicrobial resistance- and pathogen patterns in the fecal microbiota of sows and their offspring in German commercial pig farms

    • PLOS ONE
    • by Anja Lührmann, Andrea Palmini, Justinus Hellmich, Vitaly Belik, Jürgen Zentek, Wilfried Vahjen Reducing antibiotic use is one of the biggest challenges in pig farming, as antibiotics have been used for years to control typical problems such as newborn or post-weaning diarrhea.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
      • Salmonella
      • Shigella
  21. Effects of incorporation of sophorolipids on the texture profile, microbiological quality and oxidative stability of chicken sausages

    • International Journal of Food Science & Technology
    • Production and characterization of chicken sausages with sophorolipids. Summary Sophorolipids present antimicrobial and antioxidant activities allowing their application in meat products such as sausages. In this study, formulations of chicken sausages were developed with 0.008%–0.06% sophorolipid supplementation.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
  22. Characterization of the Clostridium perfringens phage endolysin cpp-lys and its application on lettuce

    • International Journal of Food Microbiology
    • Clostridium perfringens is an important foodborne pathogen that can have severe consequences, including mortality and economic losses.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
  23. PLGA Nanoparticle-Based Dissolving Microneedle Vaccine of Clostridium perfringens ε Toxin

    • Toxins
    • Epsilon toxin (ETX) is an exotoxin produced by type B and D Clostridium perfringens that causes enterotoxemia or necrotic enteritis in animals such as goats, sheep, and cattle. Vaccination is a key method in preventing such diseases. In this study, we developed a new type of dissolving microneedle patch (dMN) with a nanoparticle adjuvant for enhanced immune response to deliver the rETXY196E-C protein vaccine.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
  24. Effect of allyl isothiocyanate on the growth and virulence of Clostridium perfringens and its application on cooked pork

    • Food Research International
    • The objective of this study is to explore the antibacterial action modes and virulence-inhibitory effects of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) against Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of AITC against vegetative cells of Cp 13124 was 0.1 μL/mL, and the time-kill kinetics analysis revealed that AITC could significantly suppress the growth of Cp 13124.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens
  25. The protective effects of Bacillus licheniformis against inflammatory responses and intestinal barrier damage in broilers with necrotic enteritis induced by Clostridium perfringens

    • Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
    • Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, Accepted Article. BACKGROUND Bacillus licheniformis (B. licheniformis) is a gram-positive bacterium that has strong environmental adaptability and can improve the growth performance, immunity, and antioxidant function of broilers. The current study aimed to elucidate the protective capability of B.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Clostridium perfringens