Research Publications (Food Safety)

Plant growth, development, and ultimately crop productivity are largely impacted by the interaction of plants with different abiotic and biotic factors throughout their life cycle. Perception of different abiotic stresses, such as salt, cold, drought, heat, and heavy metals, and interaction with beneficial and harmful biotic agents by plants lead to transient, sustained, or oscillatory changes of [calcium ion, Ca2+]cyt within the cell.

The mechanism of bacterial adaption to manganese-polluted environments was explored using 50 manganese-tolerant strains of bacteria isolated from soil of the largest manganese mine in China. Efficiency of manganese removal by the isolated strains was investigated using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Bacillus safensis strain ST7 was the most effective manganese-oxidizing bacteria among the tested isolates, achieving up to 82% removal at a Mn(II) concentration of 2,200 mg/L.

The parasitoid fungus Cordyceps cicadae, whose fruiting bodies are known in China as “chan hua,” literally “cicada flower,” has been used as a traditional Chinese medicinal ingredient for centuries. However, systematic disclosure of the vital factors responsible for the formation of wild cicada flower is limited.

The emergence of extensive drug-resistant (XDR) Salmonella in livestock animals especially in poultry represents a serious public health and therapeutic challenge. Despite the wealth of information available on Salmonella resistance to various antimicrobials, there have been limited data on the genetic determinants of XDR Salmonella exhibiting co-resistance to ciprofloxacin (CIP) and tigecycline (TIG).

ABSTRACT Nocardiopsis are actinobacteria which produce active compounds, such as antifungals and volatile compounds. Ganoderma boninense is a pathogenic and aggressive fungus that decreases palm oil yield during production. In this study, we isolated two strains of Nocardia (GME01 and GME22) from airborne contaminants on the actinobacteria culture collection in the laboratory.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a global health concern for women of reproductive age, as 6.5% of women worldwide are affected by this syndrome. PCOS is marked by hyperandrogenism, anovulation, menstrual abnormalities, and polycystic ovaries. Metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury are considered to be systemic toxicants/human carcinogens and seem to have devastating effects on humans, even at minimal exposures.

by Sarah Depenbrock, Sharif Aly, John Wenz, Deniece Williams, Wagdy ElAshmawy, Kristin Clothier, Heather Fritz, Gary McArthur, Meera Heller, Munashe Chigerwe

by Eun-Hee Nah, Seon Cho, Hyeran Park, Dongwon Noh, Eunjoo Kwon, Han-Ik Cho

Background

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has a risk of progressing to cirrhosis. The prevalence of NASH and its associated risk factors in community populations are relatively unknown. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of NASH and advanced liver fibrosis using magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), and determine those risk factors in health examinees with asymptomatic fatty liver.

Migrant populations are one of several underimmunised groups in the EU or European Economic Area (EU/EEA), yet little is known about their involvement in outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. This information is vital to develop targeted strategies to improve the health of diverse migrant communities.

On May 5, 2021, Canada became the first country in the world to approve COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in children aged 12–15 years; later the same month, the US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency also gave the green light to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for adolescents.1 Children younger than 12 years are the next population who need a safe and efficient COVID-19 vaccine.

Author(s): Dipali Yadav, Gautam Dutta, Shubham Kumar

Author(s): Simon Kizito, Joseph Jjagwe, Bruno Ssewaya, Lillian Nekesa, Peter Tumutegyereize, Ahamada Zziwa, Allan John Komakech

Author(s): Yang Ma, Peizhen Huang, Jing Cao, Junfeng Zhang, Yan Huang, Biao Chen

Campylobacter is the leading bacterial pathogen that causes human foodborne illnesses worldwide and outbreaks have been associated with consumption of under-cooked chicken livers.  The objectives of this study were to compare two PCR assays for speciation of 250 Campylobacter isolates, to assess antibiotic resistance of the isolates, and to analyze genetic diversity of the quinolone resistance determining regions (QRDR) of the isolates.

The objective of the present study was to analyze the prevalence of Salmonella in multiple food commodities in China by performing a meta-analysis. Accordingly, we screened studies that examined the prevalence of Salmonella in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Methodological quality assessment and heterogeneity analyses were performed for included studies. The prevalence rate with the 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was selected as the effect size.

In this study, the distribution of hygienic indicator bacteria in cattle livers and bile was examined at slaughterhouses. First, 127 cattle livers with gallbladders were carefully eviscerated from the carcasses at 10 slaughterhouses.

Introduction. The Philippines, comprising three island groups, namely, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, experienced an increase in cholera outbreaks in 2016.

Introduction. Chlamydia psittaci is an important cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

This study assessed how the Sonchus asper L.—Zea mays intercropping influenced the plant Cd level, as well as the organic acid (low molecular mass) types and concentrations in root secretions, which was accomplished by conducting pot experiments with soil that was collected from a farmland surrounding a mining area.

Here, we evaluate the potential for trace metal accumulation of nine elements (Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, As, Cd, and Pb) in the cestodes Proteocephalus macrophallus parasitizing the tucunaré, Cichla kelberi, in the Jacaré-Guaçú River, southeastern Brazil. For metal quantification in the tissues of hosts and parasites, an inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) was used.

This paper describes a hydrochemical study held at Alambari river, which crosses the installations of Henrique Lage refinery (Revap), São José dos Campos city, São Paulo State, Brazil. The hydrochemical characterization of the Alambari river waters allowed to assess its quality and verify the presence of domestic and/or industrial effluents and other environmental impacts caused by urbanization and refinery activities.

Abstract

Soybeans are a common ingredient of animal feed. They contain isoflavones, which are known to act as phytoestrogens in animals. Isoflavones were described to have beneficial effects on farm animals. However, there are also reports of negative outcomes after the consumption of isoflavones.

Staphylococcus aureus causes a foodborne intoxication due to the production of enterotoxins and shows antimicrobial resistance, as in the case of methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA). Herein, we analyzed 207 ready-to-eat foods collected in Algeria, reporting a S. aureus prevalence of 23.2% (48/207) and respective loads of coagulase positive staphylococci (CPS) ranging from 1.00 ± 0.5 to 5.11 ± 0.24 Log CFU/g. The 48 S.

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) is a well-known performance enhancing drug in human athletes, and there is anecdotal evidence of it being used in horse racing for the same purpose. rHuEPO, like endogenous EPO, increases arterial oxygen content and thus aerobic power. Micro-doping, or injecting smaller doses over a longer period of time, has become an important concern in both human and equine athletics since it is more difficult to detect.