Research Publications (Food Safety)

The outer membrane protein OmpA is a virulence factor in many mammalian pathogens. In previous global RNA structure probing studies, we found evidence for a temperature-modulated RNA structure in the 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) of the Yersinia pseudotuberculosis ompA transcript suggesting that opening of the structure at host-body temperature might relieve translational repression.

Author(s): A. De Lucia, R.M. Card, N. Duggett, R.P. Smith, R. Davies, S.A. Cawthraw, M.F. Anjum, M. Rambaldi, F. Ostanello, F. Martelli

Author(s): Lapo Mughini-Gras, Angela H.A.M. van Hoek, Tryntsje Cuperus, Cecile Dam-Deisz, Wendy van Overbeek, Maaike van den Beld, Ben Wit, Michel Rapallini, Bart Wullings, Eelco Franz, Joke van der Giessen, Cindy Dierikx, Marieke Opsteegh

Author(s): Vijay K. Juneja, Marangeli Osoria, Anuj S. Purohit, Chase E. Golden, Abhinav Mishra, Neetu K. Taneja, Joelle K. Salazar, Harshavardhan Thippareddi, Govindaraj Dev Kumar

Microbiology and Immunology, Accepted Article. Fibronectin (Fn) is an approximately 450 kDa glycoprotein that is comprised of 12 type I, 2 type II, and 15–17 type III modules. Fibrillation of Fn is important for tissue reconstitution and wound healing. We previously reported that Clostridium perfringens produces several Fn‐binding proteins (Fbps), two of which, FbpA and FbpB, bind to III1‐C (a fragment of Fn derived from the carboxyl‐terminal two‐thirds of the first type III module).

by Nirupama Shivakumar, Ambily Sivadas, Sarita Devi, Farook Jahoor, John McLaughlin, Craig P. Smith, Anura V. Kurpad, Arpita Mukhopadhyay

This study evaluated the effect of varied culture conditions (Temperature, pH, and Sodium Chloride concentration) on bacteriocin production by Lactobacillus fermentum strain COE20 isolated from fermenting African oil bean seeds (Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth) using Response Surface Methodology (RSM).

Intramammary infusion of antimicrobials at the end of lactation (dry cow therapy; DCT) is a central part of mastitis control programs and is one of the major indications for antimicrobial use in dairy cows. However, with increasing focus on prudent use of antimicrobials and concerns about emergence of antimicrobial resistance, the practice of treating every cow at the end of lactation with DCT is in question.

Enterococcus faecium WEFA23 was previously found effectively against adherence and colonization of Listeria monocytogenes CMCC54007, which might be closely related to its surface layer protein (SLP). In this study, the protective of SLP of E. faecium WEFA23 against infection of L. monocytogenes CMCC54007 was systemically investigated. In vitro assay showed that SLP actively inhibited L.

Multi-drug resistant (MDR), gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) limit therapeutic options and increase morbidity, mortality, and treatment costs worldwide. They pose a serious burden on healthcare systems, especially in developing countries like Rwanda. Several studies have shown the effects caused by the global spread of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a common pathogenic marine bacterium that causes gastrointestinal infections and other health complications, which could be life-threatening to immunocompromised patients. For the past two decades, the pathogenicity of environmental V. parahaemolyticus has increased greatly, and the genomic change behind this phenomenon still needs an in-depth exploration.

New Zealand (NZ) has a high rate of reported campylobacteriosis cases. Cross-contamination in home kitchens during poultry handling is considered to be the main factor in campylobacteriosis transmission. The main aim of this study was to measure NZ consumers' food safety awareness and self-reported food safety practices associated with handling raw poultry. This study will contribute to the existing knowledge to explain the reasons behind the increase of campylobacteriosis incidents.

Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) resistance to commonly prescribed drugs is increasing in Vietnam. During pregnancy, ESBL-E may predispose women to reproductive tract infections and increases the risk for neonatal morbidity. Vaginal colonization and infections by Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are seldom studied in Vietnam. In this study, we investigated ESBL-producing Enterobacterales in the birth canal of pregnant women.

Background. The aim of the present study was to prospectively evaluate the prevalence of intestinal carriage of colistin-resistant and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales among pigs from a Swiss farm attending an animal health and antibiotic stewardship program and to determine the associated mechanisms of resistance. Materials/Methods.

Salmonella species (spp.) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) are the most common infectious pathogens in poultry. Antimicrobials are given either as growth promoters or as treatment, thereby increasing the possibility of the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We determined the prevalence of AMR for both pathogens isolated from broiler farms in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia from 2018–2019.

Since the 1950s, antibiotics have been used in the field of animal husbandry for growth promotion, therapy and disease prophylaxis. It is estimated that up to 80% of the antibiotics produced by the pharmaceutical industries are used in food production. Most of the antibiotics are used as feed additives at sub-therapeutic levels to promote growth.

This study aimed to establish a representative strain collection of dominant aerobic bacteria from black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens, BSFL). The larvae were fed either chicken feed or fiber-rich substrates to obtain a collection of BSFL-associated microorganisms. Via an approach based on only considering the highest serial dilutions of BSFL extract (to select for the most abundant strains), a total of 172 bacteria were isolated.

The effects of environmental stresses on microorganisms have been well-studied, and cellular responses to stresses such as heat, cold, acids, and salts have been extensively discussed. Although high pressure processing (HPP) is becoming more popular as a preservation method in the food industry, the characteristics of the cellular damage caused by high pressure are unclear, and the microbial response to this stress has not yet been well-explored.

The foodborne pathogen Yersinia enterocolitica causes gastrointestinal infections worldwide. In the spring of 2019, the Swedish Public Health Agency and Statens Serum Institut in Denmark independently identified an outbreak caused by Yersinia enterocolitica 4/O:3 that after sequence comparison turned out to be a cross-border outbreak. A trace-back investigation suggested shipments of fresh prewashed spinach from Italy as a common source for the outbreak.

The ocular surface possesses its own bacterial microbiota. Once given a chance, opportunistic pathogens within ocular microbiota may lead to corneal infection like bacterial keratitis (BK). To reveal the possible factor that makes people vulnerable to BK from the perspective of ocular bacterial microbiota, as well as to compare diagnostic information provided by high-throughput 16S rDNA sequencing and bacterial culture, 20 patients with BK and 42 healthy volunteers were included.

Campylobacter jejuni is the main pathogen identified in cases of foodborne gastroenteritis worldwide. Its importance in poultry production and public health is highlighted due to the growing antimicrobial resistance. Our study comparatively investigated the effect of five different classes of antimicrobials on the planktonic and biofilm forms of 35 strains of C. jejuni with high phylogenetic distinction in 30 of them.

ABSTRACT Previous studies indicated that Campylobacter has developed several mechanisms that confer resistance to florfenicol, which is used in food animal production. This study describes the coexistence of optrA and fexA in Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolates from pigs and poultry.

The draft genome sequences of 21 Salmonella isolates obtained from poultry production chains in Hat Yai City, Songkhla Province, Thailand, are reported in this study. Our study revealed that there was Salmonella environmental contamination along poultry production chains and cross-contamination among poultry through inanimate surfaces in the environment.

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of a Swedish clinical strain of Yersinia enterocolitica, Y72. With emerging Yersinia outbreaks circulating in Nordic countries, the Y72 genome will provide more insights on the genetic relatedness and antibiotic resistance dissemination in future studies.

by Bezalem Tesfaye Araya, Kirubel Eshetu Ali, Dereje Assefa Geleta, Saba Gebremichael Tekele, Kassu Desta Tulu

Background