Research Publications (Food Safety)

More still needs to be learned regards the relative contamination of heavy metals and pesticide residues, particularly those found in widely consumed Nigerian food crops like cereals, vegetables, and tubers. In this current study, the heavy metals and pesticide residues detectable in widely consumed Nigerian food crops were respectively quantified using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and gas chromatography (GC).

Author(s): Yue Zhu, Peixian Luan, Xiao Liu, Jun Bao, Qi Liu, Jingzeng Cai, Jie Yang, Ziwei Zhang

Author(s): Guang Yang, Difan Fang, Liming Yang, Zengming Wei, Yunyun Tu, Penghui Shao, Zan Hua, Zhongkai Wang, Xubiao Luo

Author(s): Aichen Zhang, Hongbin Cao, Yang Jiang, Yanjiao Chen, Jianwei Liu, Xu Zhou, Anqi Zhou, Yue Gao, Jie Li

Spider venom is a valuable resource for the development of novel anticancer drugs. In this study, we focused on novel linear amphipathic α-helical anticancer peptide LVTX-9, which was derived from the cDNA library of the venom gland of the spider Lycosa vittata. The cytotoxicity of LVTX-9 against murine melanoma cells in the range of 1.56–200 μM was tested and found to be significantly lower than those of most anticancer peptides reported.

Fabric-phase sorptive extraction (FPSE) coats organic–inorganic hybrid sorbent materials onto flexible and hydrophilic fabrics through sol–gel sorbent-coating technology. Herein, we explored four different coating chemistries, including those of nonpolar sol–gel poly(dimethylsiloxane), medium polar sol–gel poly(tetrahydrofuran), and polar sol–gel poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)–block-poly(propylene glycol)–PEG, and sol–gel PEG.

Cadmium (Cd) speciation ratio in arable land determines the Cd exposure risk and Cd uptake in crops. However, the driving mechanisms of Cd speciation change on the vertical scale of paddy fields remain poorly understood. In this study, the effects of plow layer and plow pan on Cd speciation distribution were investigated in a long-term Cd-contaminated rice ecosystem. The Cd accumulative effect within rice grain was enhanced with high levels of activated Cd speciation ratios in soils.

Author(s): Qiandai Shi, Jing Jing Wang, Lu Chen, Zhiyun Peng, Qiao-Hui Zeng, Yongheng Zhu, Yong Zhao Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) is an effective alternative to traditional antibiotics to broadly kill bacteria. This study aimed to develop a potent PDI system by coupling calcinated melamine sponges (CMSs) with the Fenton reaction.

Author(s): Yingying Zhang, Zhu Zhu, Qiao Liu, Meng Zhang, Hui Yang, Wenzhi Wei

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis has become an essential tool for the enantioselective synthesis of pharmaceuticals, natural products, and agrochemicals (mainly fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and pheromones).

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that can cause a variety of adverse effects on human health, including cancer. Wheat comprises approximately 20% of the human diet worldwide; therefore, reducing the concentrations of Cd in wheat grain will have significant impacts on the intake of Cd in food products. The tests for measuring the Cd content in grain are costly, and the content is affected significantly by soil pH.

Neonicotinoids are synthetic pesticides widely used for the control of various pests in agriculture throughout the world. They mainly attack the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, generate nervous stimulation, receptor clot, paralysis and finally cause death. They are low volatile, highly soluble and have a long half-life in soil and water.

by Shahbaz Ali, Yunzhou Li, Inzamam Ul Haq, Waseem Abbas, Muhammad Zeeshan Shabbir, Muhammad Musa Khan, Mehmet Mamay, Yasir Niaz, Tahir Farooq, Milan Skalicky, Ali Tan Kee Zuan, Omaima Nasif, Mohamad Javed Ansari

by Shiva Izadi, Mokhtar Jalali Javaran, Sajad Rashidi Monfared, Alexandra Castilho

Ringer tablet-based micelle-mediated extraction-solvent back extraction method coupled to HPLC has been investigated for the determination of neonicotinoid pesticides in honey, cucumber, and orange samples. The method employs the entrapment of the analytes in the micelles of non-ionic surfactant (Triton X-114). By ultrasonication, the ringer tablet is dissolved, and the extractant is released into the aqueous phase as very tiny droplets to provide a cloudy solution.

Abstract

Difenoconazole (DIF) and dimethomorph (DIM) are widely used pesticides frequently detected together in environmental samples, so the deleterious effects of combined exposure warrant detailed examination. In this study, the individual and combined effects of DIM and DIF on conventional developmental parameters (hatching rate, deformity rate, lethality) and gene expression were measured in embryonic zebrafish.

by Clifton K. Fagerquist, Claire E. Dodd

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a developmental toxicant capable of eliciting neurocognitive and neuromuscular deficits in children with in utero exposure. Previous research in Drosophila melanogaster uncovered that developmental MeHg exposure simultaneously targets the developing musculature and innervating motor neuron in the embryo, along with identifying Drosophila neuroligin 1 (nlg1) as a gene associated with developmental MeHg sensitivity.

Journal of Applied Microbiology, Accepted Article. Aims
The adsorption of lead ions from aqueous solution by macroporous Ca-alginate-lignin (MCAL) beads immobilized with Clostridium tyrobutyricum (C. tyrobutyricum) and free strains was evaluated.

Author(s): Kamran Banan, Dara Hatamabadi, Hanif Afsharara, Bahar Mostafiz, Hadise Sadeghi, Soheil Rashidi, Amirreza Dowlati Beirami, Mohammad-Ali Shahbazi, Rüstem Keçili, Chaudhery Mustansar Hussain, Fatemeh Ghorbani-Bidkorbeh

Author(s): Ting Cui, Wenjuan Jiang, Fan Yang, Junrong Luo, Ruiming Hu, Huabin Cao, Guoliang Hu, Caiying Zhang

Mutations in the Crumbs homolog 1 (CRB1) gene cause both autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). Since three separate CRB1 isoforms are expressed at meaningful levels in the human retina, base editing shows promise as a therapeutic approach. This retrospective analysis aims to summarise the reported pathogenic CRB1 variants and investigate their amenability to treatment with currently available DNA base editors.

Abstract

Main conclusion

Multiple rice GT61 members were demonstrated to be xylan arabinosyltransferases (XATs) mediating 3-O-arabinosylation of xylan and the functions of XATs and xylan 2-O-xylosyltransferases were shown to be conserved in grass species.

Optimization of different types of exposure to workers, public, and vegetation is a major issue for several institutions. The main exposure is due to the activities related to various ores of the subsoil such as phosphate which generates heavy metals during its exploitation. This study used the energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry to investigate the heavy metal pollution that affects life on earth.