Research Publications (Food Safety)

Pontederia cordata is previously demonstrated a cadmium (Cd) tolerant plant, and also a candidate for the phytoremediation of heavy-metal-contaminated wetlands. A hydroponic experiment was used to investigate variations in photosynthetic gas exchange parameters, antioxidative activities, chlorophyll and secondary metabolite contents, and transcriptome in leaves of the plant exposed to 0.44 mM Cd2+ for 0 h, 24 h, and 48 h.

Plant exposure to metals is associated with the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, which mediate the oxidation of various molecules including lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. The aim of the present study is the evaluation of the impact of short-term Cu and Pb treatment on oxidative events in the roots of soybean seedlings, with special emphasis on RNA oxidation.

The objective was to determine the effects of an immunomodulatory feed ingredient following weaning on cytokine expression and fecal microbial populations of heifers. Commercial Angus heifers (n = 72) were weaned (227 ± 7 d of age), blocked by BW (n = 9 blocks), and randomly assigned to one of two pens per block. Pens within weight block (four heifers per pen) were then randomly assigned to treatments.

In this study, we evaluated the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extracts of Arcopilus eremanthusum sp. nov. (CML3766) isolated from E. erythopappus. The fungi were identified using the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit (LSU), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2). Antibacterial activity was determined using the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) method.

Sewage contaminated with toxic metals is being naturally treated in ponds at East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) for fish cultivation traditionally. From the aquatic phase, these metals get settled on sediment and undergo partitioning. Some fractions are available and may accumulate in the cultivated products. The present study highlights the degree of partition of heavy metals Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd) and Chromium (Cr) in these pond sediments.

High mountain environments are among the most fragile on Earth. Due to anthropogenic disturbances and the exposure to extreme weather events, the rates of soil erosion have recently been accelerating, resulting in ecological degradation and geological hazards. Ecological restoration of mountains and an improved understanding of nature-based solutions to mitigate land degradation is therefore of utmost urgency.

Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, Accepted Article. Rice is an important cereal for Cameroon where 95% of the population consumes it frequently. In order to ensuring a healthy food supply to consumers, the objective of this study was to determine the fungal profile and quantify mycotoxins in twelve rice samples produced in Cameroon.

Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, Accepted Article. The efficacy of fruit extracts in reducing Salmonella on whole and fresh-cut cucumbers was investigated. Fresh cucumbers inoculated with Salmonella were treated with fruit extracts (10% lemon, 10% yuzu, 1% naringin, or 1% resveratrol) and stored at various temperatures. Salmonella populations on the whole or sliced cucumbers during storage were determined.

Infections caused by protozoan parasites are a major public health concern globally. These infections are commonly diagnosed during water-borne outbreaks, necessitating accurate and highly sensitive detection procedures to assure public health protection. Current molecular techniques are challenged by several factors, such as low parasite concentration, inefficient DNA extraction methods, and inhibitors in environmental samples.

Vibrio mimicus (V. mimicus) is a pathogen causing serious vibriosis in aquatic animals. Hepcidin and β-Defensin1 are two important antibacterial peptides (AMPs) with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity in fish. In mammals, some evidences demonstrated that interleukin-1β (IL-1β) primarily promote AMPs expression via activating classical NF-κB pathway, but it still remains unclear in fish.

The present study sought to investigate the levels of multi-pesticide residues in highly consumed edible fungi in China's western regions. A total of 354 edible fungi samples were collected from the local markets, and the concentrations of 53 pesticides in these samples were determined through high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometer (HPLC/MS/MS). Carbendazim, acephate, procymidone, prochloraz, aldicarb sulfone,etc.

Sucrose laurate (SL) is a dual-functional additive with emulsifying and antibacterial activities. The synergistic antibacterial mechanism of SL and nisin were studied against Staphylococcus aureus. Alkaline phosphatase and peptidoglycan assays showed that SL and nisin could synergistically disrupt the integrity of cell wall by blocking the synthesis of peptidoglycan.

Infant milk formulas are designed to substitute human milk when breastfeeding is unavailable. In addition to human milk and milk-derived products, these formulas can be a vehicle of contaminants.

Background Persons who use drugs (PWUD) face substantial risk of Staphylococcus aureus infections. Limited data exist describing clinical and substance use characteristics of PWUD with invasive S. aureus infections or comparing treatment and mortality outcomes in PWUD vs non-PWUD. These are needed to inform optimal care for this marginalized population. Methods We identified adults hospitalized from 2013 to 2018 at 2 medical centers in San Francisco with S.

The aim of this study was to determine whether low doses of zearalenone (ZEN) influence the carry-over of ZEN and its metabolites to the bone marrow microenvironment and, consequently, haematological parameters.

The use of antimicrobials in the livestock sector has been identified as a driver for the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and AMR has become a growing public health and economic threat in the Lao PDR. We conducted surveillance for AMR in five provinces of the Lao PDR, in order to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp.

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of different species of fungi. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) are the main mycotoxins contaminating animal feedstuffs. These mycotoxins can primarily induce hepatotoxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, consequently cause adverse effects on the health and performance of animals.

Pollen is a source of nutrients for honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) and suitable for human consumption as well. In our research, a multiresidue method for pesticide determination was developed and validated for the bee pollen matrix. 247 components met the validation criteria for limit of detection, limit of quantification, linearity, and interday repeatability. Average recoveries varied between 70 and 120% except for 14 analytes, which were corrected during on-going validation.

by Renjie Du, Yuejun Qu, Min Zhao, Yanhong Liu, Phoebe X. Qi, Xingbin Sun Olive leaf extract (OLE) has been increasingly recognized as a natural and effective antimicrobial against a host of foodborne pathogens. This study attempts to predict the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of OLE against Listeria monocytogenes F2365 by utilizing the asymptotic deceleration point (PDA) in a logistic model (LM), namely MIC-PDA.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a major deleterious health effect of chronic arsenic (iAs) exposure. The molecular mechanism of arsenic-induced cSCC remains poorly understood. We recently demonstrated that chronic iAs exposure leads to temporally regulated genome-wide changes in profiles of differentially expressed mRNAs and miRNAs at each stage of carcinogenesis (7, 19, and 28 weeks) employing a well-established passage-matched HaCaT cell line model of arsenic-induced cSCC.

Studies have shown that some peptides and small molecules can induce non IgE-mediated anaphylactoid reactions through mast cell activation. Upon activation, mast cells degranulate and release vasoactive and proinflammatory mediators, from cytoplasmic granules into the extracellular environment which can induce a cascade of severe adverse reactions.

L-alanine possesses extensive physiological functionality and tremendous pharmacological significance, therefore could be considered as potential ingredient for food, pharmaceutical, and personal care products. However, therapeutic properties of L-alanine still need to be addressed in detail to further strengthen its utilization as a viable ingredient for developing natural therapeutics with minimum side effects.

The present study aimed to evaluate the binding capacity and stability of ochratoxin A (10 µg/kg; OTA) by single and co-culture Lactobacillus acidophilus + Lactobacillus rhamnosus in various modes including viable, heat-, and ultrasound-inactivated cells as well as a combination of viable + heat- or ultrasound-inactivated cells. The stability of OTA binding on native and modified lactic acid bacteria (LAB) surface was conducted after washing with solvent.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by fungi of the genus Fusarium is one of the most dangerous crop diseases, which has a wide geographic distribution and causes severe economic losses in the production of major cereal species. The infection leads to the accumulation of mycotoxins in grains, which compromises its suitability for human and animal consumption.

N. sativa is an interesting source of bioactive compounds commonly used for various therapeutic purposes. Associate its seeds extracts with biomaterials to improve their antimicrobial properties are highly demanded. This study aims to investigate the encapsulation of NS extracts in hydroxyapatite nanoparticle sodium silicate glass (nHap/SSG) scaffold. NS essential oil (HS) was extracted by hydrodistillation, while hexane (FH) and acetone extracts (FA) were obtained using Soxhlet extraction.