Research Publications (Food Safety)

Campylobacter is a major cause of bacterial foodborne diarrhea worldwide. Consumption of raw or undercooked chicken meat contaminated with Campylobacter is the most common causative agent of human infections. Given the high prevalence of contamination in poultry meat and the recent rise of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Campylobacter strains, an effective intervention method of reducing bird colonization is needed.

Foodborne diseases have a considerable negative impact on socioeconomic development globally and are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Among the foodborne bacterial pathogens, Campylobacter spp. is recognized as the leading cause of foodborne illness.

Vibrio vulnificus is a free-living marine bacterium associated with the contamination of fish and shellfish—the most consumed seafood in Asia. Owing to its potentially lethal clinical consequences, the consumption of seafood contaminated with V. vulnificus has become a growing public health concern. This systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression aimed to integrate data on the prevalence of seafood-borne V.

Introduction

Salmonella is a major foodborne pathogen worldwide that causes severe morbidity and mortality. It is mainly caused by consuming contaminated food, with retail food considered the primary source.

Methods

Reducing the colonization of Salmonella in turkeys is critical to mitigating the risk of its contamination at later stages of production. Given the increased susceptibility of newly hatched poults to Salmonella colonization, it is crucial to implement interventions that target potential transmission routes, including drinking water.

In this study, the antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs L21, AgNPs L22) produced using aqueous extracts of the Laser trilobum harvested in 2021 and 2022 was optimized. The experimental design and optimization of antimicrobial activity were performed using the response surface method (RSM).

Bacteria have the potential to adhere to abiotic surfaces, which has an undesirable effect in the food industry because they can survive for sustained periods through biofilm formation.

Ensuring food safety measures are essential to minimize the risk of foodborne diseases linked to raw food products. Here, we investigated the efficacy of an innovative approach for the control of Salmonella Typhimurium found in fresh produces. Plasma activated water (PAW) and bacteriophages are emerging effective and valuable alternative methods for microbiological decontamination.

Salmonella is one of the most important zoonotic pathogens and is mostly transmitted through food of animal origin. Application of bacteriophages is a promising tool to biocontrol Salmonella on both food and food contact surfaces. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of a six-phage cocktail for the reduction of Salmonella Enteritidis and a mixture of five major Salmonella serotypes (S.

The objective of the experiment was to evaluate a commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP; NaturSafe, Dimond V, Cedar Rapids, IA) on performance, plasma metabolites, rumen parameters, and fecal pathogen shedding in feedlot steers. Crossbred steers (n = 61; 271 ± 48.1 kg) were sourced from 3 different research units at Oklahoma State University and assigned to 1 of 3 experimental treatments in a randomized complete block design.

Cotton serves as a vital economic driver within the agricultural sector of Mississippi. The seeds of cotton are rich in fat and protein content, making them a cost-effective alternative to soybean meal and other expensive protein sources. Additionally, cottonseed is the primary source of gossypol, a phenolic compound with significant potential for natural parasite control.

The study determined the occurrence and molecular characteristics of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes in Salmonella strains from chickens sampled at the informal market in Gauteng province, South Africa. Human consumers of chickens contaminated with virulent and AMR gene‐carrying Salmonella pose a risk of salmonellosis with therapeutic implications in South Africa.

Citrus fruits are typically waxed before packaging to prevent water loss and extend shelf-life. The survival of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella was evaluated in 15 different commercial finishing waxes used for fresh citrus in California. Survival of L. monocytogenes and Salmonella in citrus finishing waxes depended on wax type. Over 24 h at 4 and 22 °C, populations of L.

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.

The skin of fish contains a diverse microbiota that has symbiotic functions with the host, facilitating pathogen exclusion, immune system priming, and nutrient degradation. The composition of fish skin microbiomes varies across species and in response to a variety of stressors, however, there has been no systematic analysis across these studies to evaluate how these factors shape fish skin microbiomes.

by Tien Ngoc Phuc Nguyen, Son Hai Nguyen, Mai Thi Tran The rapid and accurate detection of pathogenic bacteria is essential for food safety and public health. Conventional detection techniques, such as nucleic acid sequence-based amplification and polymerase chain reaction, are time-consuming and require specialized equipment and trained personnel.

Introduction Shotgun metagenomics has previously proven effective in the investigation of foodborne outbreaks by providing rapid and comprehensive insights into the microbial contaminant. However, culture enrichment of the sample has remained a prerequisite, despite the potential impact on pathogen detection resulting from the growth competition.

Listeria monocytogenes is an important food-borne pathogen with high hospitalization and case fatality rates. To cause disease, L. monocytogenes must gain access to a specific food matrix and in many cases be able to grow before the food isnsumed. The fitness of this pathogen differs between individual foods and depends on its ability to adapt to various environmental stressors that are highly specific in each food matrix.

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.

Absorbent food pads are commonly used to absorb exudate drained from food to maintain initial food quality throughout shelf life. However, the absorbed exudate often serves as a nutrient for contaminating pathogens in the pads, requiring appropriate antimicrobial strategies.

Widespread foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes exhibits a pronounced fatality rate among individuals with compromised immune systems, the elderly, and pregnant women. A simple and user-friendly approach is required to identify L. monocytogenes. A distinctive thermostatic nucleic acid amplification technology called polymerase spiral reaction (PSR) has been extensively employed in the identification of foodborne pathogens.

Reduction of Campylobacter on broiler meat is crucial for decreasing the number of campylobacteriosis cases. A module (IceGun®) that sprays slurry ice on carcasses has been developed to enhance the chilling capacity in poultry slaughterhouses and may, in addition, help reduce the bacterial load. The present study investigated how slurry ice (IceGun®) affects the Campylobacter load on broiler carcasses.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus, the leading cause of seafood-associated gastroenteritis, has a strong capacity to form biofilms on surfaces, which is strictly regulated by the CpsS–CpsR–CpsQ regulatory cascade. OpaR, a master regulator of quorum sensing, is a global regulator that controls multiple cellular pathways including biofilm formation and virulence. QsvR is an AraC-type regulator that works coordinately with OpaR to control biofilm formation and virulence gene expression of V.

Shigella is an important human-adapted pathogen which contributes to a large global burden of diarrhoeal disease. Together with the increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance and lack of an effective vaccine, there is great urgency to identify novel therapeutics and preventatives to combat Shigella infection. In this review, we discuss the development of innovative technologies and animal models to study mechanisms underlying Shigella infection of humans.

Abstract This report by the European Food Safety Authority and the European Centre for Disease prevention and Control, provides an overview of the main findings of the 2021–2022 harmonised Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) monitoring in Salmonella spp., Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli from humans and food‐producing animals (broilers, laying hens and fattening turkeys, fattening pigs and cattle under one year of age) and relevant meat thereof.