Research Publications (Food Safety)

Growing concerns exist regarding human ingestion of contaminated seafood that contains Vibrio biofilms on microplastics (MPs). One of the mechanisms enhancing biofilm related infections in humans is due to biofilm dispersion, a process that triggers release of bacteria from biofilms into the surrounding environment, such as the gastrointestinal tract of human hosts.

Using controlled infection experiments this study provides evidence that incorporation into marine planktonic substrates (i.e., phytoplankton cells and, to a greater extent marine aggregates) significantly promote intake of the pathogenic bacterial strain V. aestuarianus 02/041 by the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas maintained under stressful conditions in the laboratory resulting in a compromised health status of the infected animals.

Introduction

Fluctuations in environmental physicochemical parameters can affect the diversity and prevalence of microbial communities, including vibrios, associated with aquatic species and their surrounding environments. This study aimed to investigate the population dynamics of two Vibrio species as well as the microbial community diversity of whole crab and seawater from the Maryland Coastal Bays (MCBs), using 16S rRNA sequencing.

Methods

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a hazardous bacterium that causes serious disease in shrimps, leading to enormous economic losses and high rates of mortality. The control of V. parahaemolyticus is a difficult task due to its ability to produce biofilms. In this work, the ability of inexpensive quinoline to inhibit V. parahaemolyticus growth and biofilm formation was explored for the first time.

This study aimed to evaluate a method for effectively reducing Vibrio vulnificus contamination in fish based on the type of washing water and method. Texture profiles and sensory evaluations were performed to determine the effect of the developed method on the quality and preference of the samples. The selected fish sample was Konosirus punctatus, which is mainly consumed in Asian countries. Various factors that could affect the survival rate of V.

Background

High-producing dairy cows face varying degrees of metabolic stress and challenges during the late perinatal period, resulting in ruminal bacteria abundance and their fermentative ability occurring as a series of changes. However, the dynamic changes are still not clear.

Aims/methods

Background The Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) system regulates several biological processes by affecting transcription of genes as a response to cytokines and growth factors.

There is little known about the growth and survival of naturally-occurring Vibrio parahaemolyticus in harvested raw shrimps. In this study, the fate of naturally-occurring V. parahaemolyticus in post-harvest raw shrimps was investigated from 4℃ to 30℃ using real-time PCR combined with propidium monoazide (PMA-qPCR). The Baranyi-model was used to fit the growth and survival data.

Dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS) are rich in nutrients, and partially alternative feeding of DDGS effectively reduces cost of feed and improves animals’ growth. We used 16S rDNA gene sequencing and LC/MS-based metabolomics to explore the effect of feeding cattle with a basal diet (BD) and a Jiang-flavor DDGS diet (replaces 25% concentrate of the diet) on microbiome and metabolome of ruminal and cecal contents in Guanling yellow cattle.

Vibrio mimicus caused a seafood-associated outbreak in Florida, USA, in which 4 of 6 case-patients were hospitalized; 1 required intensive care for severe diarrhea. Strains were ctx-negative but carried genes for other virulence determinants (hemolysin, proteases, and types I–IV and VI secretion systems). Cholera toxin–negative bacterial strains can cause cholera-like disease.

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the relationship between seasonal variations, water parameters and the prevalence of Vibriosis in Gilthead seabream. A total of 160 Gilthead seabream fish were sampled over the course of 1 year from private earthen pond farms in the Suez Canal area and examined for abnormalities and internal lesions. Vibrio alginolyticus, the causative agent of Vibriosis, was isolated and characterized from the sampled Gilthead seabream fish.

High stocking density has been regarded as an adverse factor in bivalve aquaculture. However, its subsequent molecular response to pathogenic bacteria has been little studied.

Aflatoxins, a family of fungal secondary metabolites, are toxic and carcinogenic compounds that pose an enormous threat to global food safety and agricultural sustainability. Specifically agricultural products in African, Southeast Asian and hot and humid regions of American countries suffer most damage from aflatoxin producing molds due to the ideal climate conditions promoting their growth.

Abstract BACKGROUND Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) has been used widely in preparing silage. However, forage legumes are prone to contamination by spoilage bacteria during fermentation. Nisin has broad‐spectrum antibacterial properties and has been applied as an inhibitor of rumen methane emissions. However, little research has been carried out on the application of nisin in silage.

Raw oyster meats may be contaminated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus. These Vibrio species have been strongly associated with severe and life-threatening conditions in immunocompromised individuals. Post-harvest treatment, such as freezing, affects Vibrio species present in oyster meats and the quality of oysters.

Background The Thermo Scientific™ SureTect™ Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio vulnificus PCR Assay method is a real-time PCR method for the multiplex detection of Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio vulnificus in seafood. Objective The Thermo Scientific SureTect Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio vulnificus Assay was evaluated for AOAC Performance Tested MethodsSM certification.

The potential of using commercial peroxyacetic acid (PAA) for Vibrio parahaemolyticus sanitization was evaluated. Commercial PAA of 0.005 % (v/v, PAA: 2.24 mg/L, hydrogen peroxide: 11.79 mg/L) resulted in a planktonic cell reduction of >7.00 log10 CFU/mL when initial V. parahaemolyticus cells averaged 7.64 log10 CFU/mL.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate Vibrio parahaemolyticus occurrences in bivalve molluscs harvested from Sardinian coastal environments between 2013–2015.The prevalence of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus isolates is based on the detection of the two major virulence genes thermostable direct haemolysin (tdh) and thermolabile hemolysin (trh) To assess changes between 2011–2018 in the prevalence of V.

The intestine is a host-pathogen interaction site and improved intestinal barrier function help to prevent disease in shrimp. Alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) are derived from resourceful brown algae. The intestine protection properties of AOS were widely recognized, and their benefits in fish have been reported. Nevertheless, there are no reports on AOS in shrimp and other crustaceans.

Gram-negative Vibrio species are major foodborne pathogens often associated with seafood intake that causes gastroenteritis. On food surfaces, biofilm formation by Vibrio species enhances the resistance of bacteria to disinfectants and antimicrobial agents. Hence, an efficient antibacterial and antibiofilm approach is urgently required. This study examined the antibacterial and antivirulence effects of chromones and their 26 derivatives against V. parahaemolyticus and V. harveyi.

Abstract A supplemental effect of Achyranthes aspera extract (200 mg/kg phytosterol) in diets was evaluated for Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) on growth performance, digestibility, innate immunity, antioxidant capacity, and disease resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus. A fish meal and soybean meal‐based control diet (Con; protein 38.0% and lipid 8.7%) was formulated and five other diets were prepared by adding A.

Abstract Establishing efficient methods to combat bacterial biofilms is a major concern. Natural compounds, such as essential oils derived from plants, are among the favored and recommended strategies for combatting bacteria and their biofilm. Therefore, we evaluated the antibiofilm properties of peppermint oil as well as the activities by which it kills bacteria generally and particularly their biofilms.

Abstract Antibiotic drugs (ABD) are often used in shrimp farms to treat the disease when a bacterial diagnosis is presumed. This scenario was the impetus to carry out a field survey to define how ABD are employed in the State of Sonora, the second largest producer of shrimp in Mexico. Twenty‐nine farms were surveyed through their general managers.

Abstract An acute infectious disease of northern sheatfish (Silurus soldatovi) was found in a commercial aquaculture pond in Tianjin, China. Herein, two dominant bacterial strains were isolated from naturally diseased northern sheatfish and identified as Aeromonas veronii and Vibrio cholerae. Seven healthy and seven naturally diseased fish that were collected from the pond were used for the gut microbiota analysis by high‐throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Abstract The study aimed to evaluate the effect of tributyrin on the growth performance, survival, hypoxia tolerance, and nutrient digestibility of Pacific white shrimp fed 25% and 50% soybean meal (SBM) diets. Six experimental diets were formulated: (1) 25% SBM without tributyrin; (2) 25% SBM with 0.05% tributyrin; (3) 25% SBM with 0.1% tributyrin; (4) 50% SBM without tributyrin; (5) 50% SBM with 0.05% tributyrin; and (6) 50% SBM with 0.1% tributyrin.