Research Publications (Food Safety)

Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, Accepted Article. Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ascorbic, citric and lactic acid (1% and 5%) on the survival of Listeria (L.) monocytogenes and Escherichia (E.) coli O157:H7 inoculated on fresh Atlantic salmon stored at 4 ± 1°C. In this study, in general, L. monocytogenes and E. coli O157: H7 population in samples treated with organic acids were significantly lower than in non-treated fish samples.

Journal of Applied Microbiology, Accepted Article. ABSTRACT
Aims
In this study, the efficacy of using vacuumed hydrogen peroxide vapor (VHPV) to inactivate foodborne pathogens in whole dried black pepper (Piper nigrum) and powdered dried red pepper (Capsicum annuum) was evaluated.

In Japan’s Kanto region, the number of Salmonella enterica serovar Chester infections increased temporarily between 2014 and 2016. Concurrently with this temporal increase in the Kanto region, S. Chester isolates belonging to one clonal group were causing repetitive outbreaks in Europe. A recent study reported that the European outbreaks were associated with travelers who had been exposed to contaminated food in Morocco, possibly seafood.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a common foodborne pathogen that causes gastroenteritis worldwide. Determining its prevalence and genetic diversity will minimize the risk of infection and the associated economic burden. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) is an important tool for molecular epidemiology and population genetic studies of bacteria. Here, we analyzed the genetic and evolutionary relationships of 162 V. parahaemolyticus strains isolated in the Guangdong Province, China, using MLST.

Sepsis caused by Clostridium perfringens infection is rare but often fatal. The most serious complication leading to poor prognosis is massive intravascular hemolysis (MIH). However, the molecular mechanism underlying this fulminant form of hemolysis is unclear. In the present study, we employed 11 clinical strains isolated from patients with C. perfringens septicemia and subdivided these isolates into groups H and NH: septicemia with (n = 5) or without (n = 6) MIH, respectively.

Little is known about the distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes among people who inject drugs (PWID) in North African countries, including Tunisia. This study aims to describe HCV genotypes circulating among Tunisian PWID. A cross-sectional study was conducted, and 128 HCV-positive PWID were recruited between 2018 and 2019 from community-based harm reduction centers.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical challenge worldwide as it impacts public health, especially via contamination in the food chain and in healthcare-associated infections. In relation to farming, the systems used, waste management on farms, and the production line process are all determinants reflecting the risk of AMR emergence and rate of contamination of foodstuffs.

Non-thermal atmospheric plasma (NTAP) has gained attention as a decontamination and shelf-life extension technology. In this study its effect on psychrotrophic histamine-producing bacteria (HPB) and histamine formation in fish stored at 0–5°C was evaluated.

Background

Author(s): Xiaoqing Lin, Tieying Mao, Zhiliang Chen, Jie Chen, Sheng Zhang, Xiaodong Li, Jianhua Yan

Author(s): Chengzhe Tao, Yun Fan, Rui Niu, Zhi Li, Hong Qian, Hao Yu, Qiaoqiao Xu, Qiujin Xu, Chuncheng Lu

Introduction. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) can cause severe disease and large outbreaks. In England, the incidence and clinical significance of STEC serogroups other than O157 (non-O157) is unknown due to a testing bias for detection of STEC O157.

Protein phosphatases are enzymes that dephosphorylate tyrosine and serine/threonine amino acid residues. Although their role in cellular processes has been best characterized in higher eukaryotes, they have also been identified and studied in different pathogenic microorganisms (e.g., parasites) in the last two decades.

Tea is one of the most popular drinks worldwide. In the process of tea planting, for controlling pests, a variety of pesticides are usually applied. Therefore, pesticide residues and their metabolites in tea leaves, as well as their adverse effects on tea drinkers' health, are becoming increasingly concerning.

Fish parvalbumin is a major allergen known to cause allergy and has been a serious concern of food safety all over the world. Recombinant allergen has been broadly applied in allergy diagnosis and immunotherapy in recent years, but different immune activities of several recombinant allergens compared with their natural forms were found.

Knowledge from the negative impacts of the counties’ anthropogenic activities on soil pollution was of great significance in China, and valuable information was urgently needed for the control and remediation of soil pollution. The current pollution levels of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, Ni, and Cr) in farmland soils were investigated in Yangxin County, Hubei Province, central China.

Biofilms can constitute permanent threats to food safety and public health. Bacteria and viruses lodged in biofilm can escape cleaning and sanitizing agents. The aim of this study was to compare Pseudomonas aeruginosa developing and mature biofilms produced on agri-food surfaces in terms of interaction with murine norovirus.

The aim of this study was to investigate the growth-inhibitory effects of X-ray irradiation against gram-negative (Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium) and gram-positive pathogenic bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus) in apple, orange, and tomato juices. Additionally, the effects of X-ray irradiation on juice quality attributes were examined. Upon irradiation with 0.8 kGy X-ray, the counts of E.

Susceptibility testing of tuberculosis (TB) drugs on Mycobacterium tuberculosis is essential for the rapid detection of strains resistant to the drugs, providing the patient with effective treatment, and preventing the spread of drug-resistant TB strains. Pyrazinamide (PZA) is one of the first-line agents used for the treatment of TB. However, current phenotypic PZA susceptibility testing is unreliable due to its performance in acidic pH conditions.

Fusarium mycotoxins represent a major threat for cereal crops and food safety. While previous investigations have described plant biotransforming properties on mycotoxins or metabolic relapses of fungal infections in plants, so far, the potential consequences of radical exposure in healthy crops are mostly unknown.

Antimicrobial resistant (AMR) Enterobacterales are widely distributed among the healthy population of the Indochinese peninsula, including Laos. However, the local reservoir of these pathogens are currently not known and possible sources such as agricultural settings and food have rarely been analyzed.

The aim of the present study was to isolate and identify lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from fermented juice of tropical crops such as Napier grass, Ruzi grass, Purple guinea grass, Stylo legume, and Leucaena and their application to improve the quality of tropical crop silage. Fifteen strains of LAB were isolated.

Bloodstream infections (BSIs), the presence of microorganisms in blood, are potentially serious conditions that can quickly develop into sepsis and life-threatening situations. When assessing proper treatment, rapid diagnosis is the key; besides clinical judgement performed by attending physicians, supporting microbiological tests typically are performed, often requiring microbial isolation and culturing steps, which increases the time required for confirming positive cases of BSI.

ABSTRACT

Author(s): Ji Yoon Kim, Min Gyu Song, Eun Bi Jeon, Jin Soo Kim, Jeong Seok Lee, Eun Ha Choi, Jun Sup Lim, Jin Sung Choi, Shin Young Park