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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 2438

  1. The Effects of T-2 Toxin, Deoxynivalenol, and Fumonisin B1 on Oxidative Stress-Related Genes in the Kidneys of Laying Hens

    • Toxins
    • In the context of nephrotoxic risks associated with environmental contaminants, this study focused on the impact of mycotoxin exposure on the renal health of laying hens, with particular attention to oxidative stress pathways. Sixty laying hens were assigned to three groups—a control group (CON), a low-dose mycotoxin group (LOW), and a high-dose mycotoxin group (HIGH)—and monitored for 72 h.

      • Natural toxins
      • Mycotoxins
  2. Unveiling ochratoxin a and ochratoxigenic fungi in Brazilian artisanal Cheeses: Insights from production to consumption

    • Food Research International
    • Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a toxin produced by several Aspergillus species, mainly those belonging to section Circumdati and section Nigri. The presence of OTA in cheese has been reported recently in cave cheese in Italy.

      • Natural toxins
      • Mycotoxins
  3. Determination of ochratoxin A in brown rice through a rapid, straightforward strategy based on FaTEx coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography–fluorescence detection

    • Food Control
    • Ochratoxin A is a mycotoxin commonly found in cereals. In this study, a rapid and straightforward method was developed for measuring trace concentrations of ochratoxin A in brown rice; the method combines the fast toxin extraction (FaTEx) technique with high-performance liquid chromatography–fluorescence detection.

      • Natural toxins
      • Mycotoxins
  4. OCCURRENCE OF AFLATOXIN M1 AND ESTIMATE OF DIETARY EXPOSURE IN CHEESES FROM ORGANIC AND CONVENTIONAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

    • Journal of Food Protection
    • This study aimed to compare AFM1 occurrence in different cheese types produced by organic and conventional systems; and to evaluate the risk of food exposure to AFM1. A total of 176 commercial cheeses of 17 types were analyzed, 84 of organic and 92 of conventional production.

      • Natural toxins
      • Aflatoxins
      • Mycotoxins
  5. Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of fumonisin esterase produced with Komagataella phaffii NCAIM (P) Y001485 for all pigs (piglets, pigs for fattening, sows and minor growing and reproductive porcine species) (Dr. Bata Ltd.)

    • EFSA Journal
    • Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of the additive based on fumonisin esterase (Free Yeast® F), produced with a genetically modified strain of Komagataella phaffii.

      • Natural toxins
      • Mycotoxins
  6. Inhibition of Aflatoxin Production in Aspergillus flavus by a Klebsiella sp. and Its Metabolite Cyclo(l-Ala-Gly)

    • Toxins
    • During an experiment where we were cultivating aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus on peanuts, we accidentally discovered that a bacterium adhering to the peanut strongly inhibited aflatoxin (AF) production by A. flavus. The bacterium, isolated and identified as Klebsiella aerogenes, was found to produce an AF production inhibitor. Cyclo(l-Ala-Gly), isolated from the bacterial culture supernatant, was the main active component.

      • Natural toxins
      • Aflatoxins
      • Mycotoxins
  7. Unveiling the Broad Substrate Specificity of Deoxynivalenol Oxidation Enzyme DepA and Its Role in Detoxifying Trichothecene Mycotoxins

    • Toxins
    • DepA, a pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)-dependent enzyme isolated from Devosia mutans 17-2-E-8, exhibits versatility in oxidizing deoxynivalenol (DON) and its derivatives. This study explored DepA’s substrate specificity and enzyme kinetics, focusing on DON and 15-acetyl-DON. Besides efficiently oxidizing DON, DepA also transforms 15-acetyl-DON into 15-acetyl-3-keto-DON, as identified via LC-MS/MS and NMR analysis.

      • Natural toxins
      • Mycotoxins
  8. Efficacy of powdered alfalfa leaves to ameliorate the toxic effects of aflatoxin B1 in turkey poults

    • Mycotoxin Research
    • This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of an adsorbent material based on powdered alfalfa leaves added in the aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-contaminated diet of turkey poults on production parameters, blood cell count, serum biochemistry, liver enzymes, and liver histology.

      • Natural toxins
      • Aflatoxins
      • Mycotoxins
  9. Protection from stored grain insects using transgenic maize hybrids and implications for Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination

    • Journal of Stored Products Research
    • Transgenic insect-resistant maize has been assessed thoroughly in the field but not in storage. The effects of several transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize hybrids on the interactions between stored-grain insects (Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella, or maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais) and the storage fungus Aspergillus flavus were evaluated in this study under laboratory conditions.

      • Natural toxins
      • Aflatoxins
      • Mycotoxins
  10. Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Selective Extraction of Aflatoxins from Feeds

    • Toxins
    • Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) have fused molecular imprinting technology with magnetic separation technology, emerging as an innovative material capable of recognizing specific molecules and efficiently separating target substances. Their application to the extraction and purification of mycotoxins has great potential, due to the toxicity and economic impact of these contaminants.

      • Natural toxins
      • Aflatoxins
      • Mycotoxins
  11. Assessment of the Impact of Humic Acids on Intestinal Microbiota, Gut Integrity, Ileum Morphometry, and Cellular Immunity of Turkey Poults Fed an Aflatoxin B1-Contaminated Diet

    • Toxins
    • A recent study published data on the growth performance, relative weights of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, liver histology, serum biochemistry, and hematological parameters for turkey poults fed an experimental diet contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and humic acids (HA) extracted from vermicompost.

      • Natural toxins
      • Aflatoxins
      • Mycotoxins
  12. The Toxicokinetics, Excretion Patterns, and Milk Transmission of Ochratoxin A in Lactating Sows

    • Toxins
    • Ochratoxin A (OTA), a mycotoxin commonly found in feedstuffs, is known for its detrimental effects on the kidneys and liver, posing significant health risks to animals and humans. This study investigated the toxicokinetics, excretion patterns, and milk transmission of Ochratoxin A (OTA) in lactating sows. The sows were administered a single oral dose of 500 μg/kg BW (body weight), followed by the systematic sampling of plasma, feces, urine, and milk.

      • Natural toxins
      • Mycotoxins
  13. Deoxynivalenol and fumonisin predispose broilers to bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis lameness

    • Poultry Science
    • Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) lameness is the most critical animal health and welfare issue facing the broiler industry worldwide. It is estimated that 1 to 2% of bird condemnation at marketing age is caused by BCO lameness, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in annual losses.

      • Natural toxins
      • Mycotoxins
  14. Duration of Zearalenone Exposure Has Implications on Health Parameters of Lactating Cows

    • Toxins
    • There is a limited research focus on evaluating the detrimental effects of prolonged zearalenone (ZEN) intake on dairy cows’ health under controlled conditions. This experiment was conducted to evaluate whether the length of exposure to a ZEN-contaminated total mixed ration (TMR) at a level of 9.45 mg per day can negatively influence animal health parameters, such as milk composition, rumen and fecal fermentation, and the chewing activity of lactating dairy cows.

      • Natural toxins
      • Mycotoxins
  15. Curcumin attenuates aflatoxin B1-induced ileum injury in ducks by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome and regulating TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway

    • Mycotoxin Research
    • Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a widespread toxic contamination in feed for animals. The primary active component of turmeric, curcumin (Cur), is an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory. However, it is yet unknown how AFB1 affects the intestinal epithelial barrier and whether Cur acts as a protective mechanism when exposed to AFB1.

      • Natural toxins
      • Aflatoxins
      • Mycotoxins
  16. 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde, a more effective antifungal aroma than vanillin and its derivatives against Fusarium graminearum, destroys cell membranes, inhibits DON biosynthesis, and performs a promising antifungal effect on wheat grains

    • Frontiers in Microbiology
    • Fusarium graminearum (F. graminearum) is a severe pathogen threatening the safety of agriculture and food. This study aimed to explore the antifungal efficacies of several plant-derived natural compounds (vanillin and its derivatives) against the growth of F. graminearum and investigate the antifungal mechanism of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (HMB), the strongest one. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of HMB in inhibiting mycelial growth was 200 μg/mL.

      • Natural toxins
      • Mycotoxins
  17. Risk of exposure to aflatoxin M1 through consumption of cow’s milk among children in Magadu, Morogoro

    • Mycotoxin Research
    • Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) contamination of milk affects the general population with particular attention to children who frequently consume milk as part of complementary food. This study determined AFM1 contamination of cow’s milk and estimated the health risk of dietary AFM1 through consumption of cow’s milk among children (6 to 36 months) in the Magadu ward of Morogoro region in Tanzania.

      • Natural toxins
      • Aflatoxins
      • Mycotoxins
  18. Phylogenetic, metabolic and pathogenic characteristics of Alternaria alternata strains from wheat in China

    • Plant Pathology
    • Alternaria alternata dominated in wheat grains from China with high toxin production capacity and distinct pathogenicity to wheat and apple. Abstract Alternaria is an important toxigenic fungal genus endangering the quality of cereal grains. No data are available in the literature regarding the composition of Alternaria species in wheat from the main wheat‐cultivating regions of China. In this study, a total of 282 strains were isolated from wheat kernels collected in various provinces.

      • Natural toxins
      • Mycotoxins
  19. Determination and analysis of patulin in apples, hawthorns, and their products by high-performance liquid chromatography

    • Mycotoxin Research
    • This study aimed to establish a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method to investigate the residues of patulin in apples, hawthorns, and their products. A total of 400 samples were collected from online shopping plats and supermarkets in China, including apples (n = 50), hawthorns (n = 50), and their products (apple juice, apple puree, apple jam, hawthorn juice, hawthorn chips, and hawthorn rolls, n = 300).

      • Natural toxins
      • Mycotoxins
  20. Microbial Composition of Water Kefir Grains and Their Application for the Detoxification of Aflatoxin B1

    • Toxins
    • Water kefir grains (WKGs), the starter used to develop a traditional beverage named water kefir, consist of a symbiotic mixture of probiotics with diverse bioactivities, but little is known about their abilities to remove mycotoxins that have serious adverse effects on humans and animals.

      • Natural toxins
      • Aflatoxins
      • Mycotoxins
  21. Characterization and mechanism of simultaneous degradation of aflatoxin B1 and zearalenone by an edible fungus of Agrocybe cylindracea GC-Ac2

    • Frontiers in Microbiology
    • Contamination with multiple mycotoxins is a major issue for global food safety and trade. This study focused on the degradation of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and zearalenone (ZEN) by 8 types of edible fungi belonging to 6 species, inclulding Agaricus bisporus, Agrocybe cylindracea, Cyclocybe cylindracea, Cyclocybe aegerita, Hypsizygus marmoreus and Lentinula edodes. Among these fungi, Agrocybe cylindracea strain GC-Ac2 was shown to be the most efficient in the degradation of AFB1 and ZEN.

      • Natural toxins
      • Aflatoxins
      • Mycotoxins
  22. The Influence of Long-Term Storage on the Epiphytic Microbiome of Postharvest Apples and on Penicillium expansum Occurrence and Patulin Accumulation

    • Toxins
    • Patulin is a secondary metabolite primarily synthesized by the fungus Penicillium expansum, which is responsible for blue mold disease on apples. The latter are highly susceptible to fungal infection in the postharvest stages. Apples destined to produce compotes are processed throughout the year, which implies that long periods of storage are required under controlled atmospheres. P.

      • Natural toxins
      • Mycotoxins
  23. Seasonal Variation and Risk Assessment of Exposure to Aflatoxin M1 in Milk, Yoghurt, and Cheese Samples from Ilam and Lorestan Provinces of Iran

    • Journal of Food Composition and Analysis
    • The current study aimed to evaluate aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) contamination in a total number of 240 samples collected during four consecutive seasons (from January to November 2022) from two western Iranian provinces (Ilam and Lorestan). AFM1 was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector after the toxin extraction with immunoaffinity columns. The results showed 100% of AFM1 contamination in all the surveyed matrices.

      • Natural toxins
      • Aflatoxins
      • Mycotoxins
  24. Effective removal of aflatoxin B1 using modified attapulgite loaded with bacillomycin D from stored peanut kernels

    • Journal of Stored Products Research
    • Peanut kernels could be easily contaminated by Aspergillus flavus and its mycotoxins. This not only reduced their nutritional and economic value, but also posed a serious threat to human health. In this study, acid-modified attapulgite loaded with bacillomycin D (H-ATP-BD) was used for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) removal in peanut kernels contaminated with A. flavus spores. During storage, H-ATP-BD treatment inhibited mildew of peanut kernels.

      • Natural toxins
      • Aflatoxins
      • Mycotoxins
  25. Superoxide dismutase, a novel aflatoxin oxidase from Bacillus pumilus E-1-1-1: Study on the degradation mechanism of aflatoxin M1 and its application in milk and beer

    • Food Control
    • The aim of this work was to study the effect of a recombinant superoxide dismutase (rSOD) from Bacillus pumilus E−1-1-1 regarding the degradation of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in model solution. The degradation mechanism was further explored and applied in milk and beer. The Kinetic Momentum and maximal velocity of the rSOD towards AFM1 were 3.6 μg/mL and 1.8 μg/mL/min, respectively. The rSOD-mediated AFM1 degradation product was identified as C12H11O3.

      • Natural toxins
      • Aflatoxins
      • Mycotoxins