Research Publications (Food Safety)

Background: Toxoplasmosis is one of the most widespread foodborne parasitic zoonoses caused by the obligate intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. Although a number of studies have reported on the seroprevalence and risk factors of T. gondii infection in ruminants in China, information about T. gondii infection in cattle in Hunan province of China is not available.

Lead (Pb) is a hazardous heavy metal that accumulates in many environments. Phytoremediation of Pb polluted soil is an environmentally friendly method, and a better understanding of mycorrhizal symbiosis under Pb stress can promote its efficiency and application. This study aims to evaluate the impact of two ectomycorrhizal fungi (Suillus grevillei and Suillus luteus) on the performance of Pinus tabulaeformis under Pb stress, and the biomineralization of metallic Pb in vitro.

Fifty-four maize grain samples freshly harvested from subsistence farmers’ fields in southwestern Ethiopia were analyzed for multiple mycotoxins using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method following extraction by acetonitrile/water/acetic acid on a rotary shaker. The grain samples were contaminated with a total of 164 metabolites, of which Fusarium and Penicillium metabolites were the most prevalent accounting for 27 and 30%, respectively.

This study was designed to assess the impacts of a mixture of deoxynivalenol (DON) and ergot alkaloids (EAs) on growth performance, rumen function, blood parameters, and carcass traits of feedlot cattle.

3D food printers facilitate novel customization of the physicochemical properties of food. This study aimed to investigate the impact of storage conditions on the inactivation of the human norovirus surrogate, Tulane virus (TuV), within 3D printed foods. TuV-inoculated protein cookie food ink (∽ 4 log PFU/g) was distributed into 18 3D food printer capsules (50 g each); half immediately underwent extrusion.

Cyclodextrin enhances the activity of bioactive compounds through the formation of inclusion complexes (ICs), but its effect on diverse compound structures and processing methods is poorly understood.

The fermented tea would appear to have some advantages over the green tea. However, the presence and density of B. cereus should be monitored. Summary Camellia sinensis var. shan is a special tea variety in Vietnam that is in high demand, especially its fermented products. This study compared the total polyphenol content (TPC), antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity, and microbiome of a green Shan tea and a five‐year‐old fermented Shan tea.

by Aliyu Dantani Abdullahi, Kridsada Unban, Chalermpong Saenjum, Pratthana Kodchasee, Napapan Kangwan, Hathairat Thananchai, Kalidas Shetty, Chartchai Khanongnuch Bacterial pathogens have remained a major public health concern for several decades.

Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) gas is widely recognized as a potent antimicrobial agent effective against various microorganisms. Chia seeds are prone to microbial contamination, and thermal treatments are not feasible due to potential quality issues. The study is aimed at investigating the effectiveness of chlorine dioxide (ClO2) gas followed by mild heat for Salmonella reduction in chia seeds.

by Lingyun Li, Baoyan Li, Henghua Qu, Shan Tian, Zimeng Xu, Lulu Zhao, Xueqin Li, Baoyou Liu In the present study, we attempted to use melatonin combined with germination treatment to remove pesticide residues from contaminated grains. High levels of pesticide residues were detected in soybean seeds after soaking with chlorothalonil (10 mM) and malathion (1 mM) for 2 hours.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the addition of a cocktail of three lactic acid bacteria (LAB) (Lactococcus lactis, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum) as a protective culture into marinated pork. The pork was artificially inoculated with two Listeria monocytogenes strains and stored for 12 days.

This study investigated the synergistic effects of ε-poly- L -lysine (ε-PL) and lysozyme against P. aeruginosa and L. monocytogenes biofilms. Single-culture biofilms of two bacteria were formed on silicone rubber (SR), stainless steel (SS), and beef surfaces and then treated with lysozyme (0.05–5 mg/mL) and ε-PL at minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 1 to 4 separately or in combination. On the SR surface, P.

Magnetic separation presents significant potential for culture-independent detection of foodborne pathogens in food samples. In this study, we compared two magnetic separation pretreatment strategies for molecular detection using (q)PCR assays targeting Staphylococcus aureus in milk as models.

Microbiology Resource Announcements, Ahead of Print. Vibrio metoecus was isolated from the abdominal cavity of moribund laboratory zebrafish. We report complete genomic sequences of V. metoecus strain ZF102 that has two circular chromosomes of 2,872,299 and 1,170,691 bp and two plasmids of 5,265 and 2,361 bp.
 

The present study showed a positive correlation (both clpC and hly were downregulated) between stress response and virulence on apple surfaces, which indicates that the low‐dose gaseous ClO2 may not trigger Listeria to increase virulence or enhance the stress response. Abstract Fresh apples are vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) contamination during handling and storage causing subsequent foodborne outbreaks.

Clostridium perfringens, a common environmental bacterium, is responsible for a variety of serious illnesses including food poisoning, digestive disorders, and soft tissue infections. Mastitis in lactating cattle...

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infects roughly 20 million people worldwide, causing self-limiting acute hepatic disease that can evolve into a chronic course. HEV-3, HEV-4, and HEV-7 genotypes are zoonotic and transmitted to humans by consuming raw or undercooked meat. Here, we developed an indirect ELISA based on the recombinant HEV-3 capsid and performed a seroprevalence study on domestic swine in northeastern Brazil.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is the most widespread mycotoxin contaminant hazardous to human and animal health globally. It acts as a crucial virulence factor to stimulate the spread of pathogenic Fusarium within wheat plants. Control of DON and Fusarium disease contributes enormously to food safety, which relies on chemical fungicides.

Although more attention has been paid to microplastics (MPs) pollution in environment, research on the synthetic influence of microplastic and heavy metals remains limited. To help fill this information gap, we investigated the adsorption behavior of virgin polyvinyl chloride microplastics (PVCMPs) (≤450 µm white spherical powder) on cadmium (II).

Listeria monocytogenes is a concerning foodborne pathogen incriminated in soft cheese and meat-related outbreaks, highlighting the significance of applying alternative techniques to control its growth in food. In the current study, eco-friendly zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were synthesized using Rosmarinus officinalis, Punica granatum, and Origanum marjoram extracts individually.

Edible grasshopper, Ruspolia ruspolia, has nutritional and cherished cultural and economic importance to people from diverse cultures, particularly in over 20 African countries. It is consumed at home or commercially traded as sautéed, deep-fried, or boiled products. However, there is limited information on the hygiene practices of the vendors and the implications on the microbial safety of the final product.

Probiotic feed additive use in the swine industry has become increasingly popular as a substitute for antibiotic feed additives. This is due to the overuse of antibiotics in swine diets that has led to antibiotic residues in animal products and bacterial resistance. For this reason, we decided to feed a probiotic to prevent illnesses associated with the transition from the nursery to finisher phase.

This study evaluated the effects of bioactive feed ingredients on fecal microbiome of weaned pigs subjected to F18 enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) challenge. Two blocks of weaned pigs [n = 72; Yorkshire/Landrace/Duroc; initial body weight (BW) = 6.62 ± 1.37 kg] were balanced by gender and litter and randomly allocated to one of the six treatments with 12 pens/block and 6 pigs/pen.

The sheep rumen microbiome contains a vast wealth of known and unknown members, whose metabolic processes impact nutrient acquisition as well as gut and overall health of the animal. Based on previous research from our group on investigating the impact of a change in diet on the composition of the rumen microbiome in lambs, further insights into the metabolic functions of novel bacterial species represented by three Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) were pursued.

Methane is a natural product of rumen fermentation and emissions from ruminant livestock represent a major environmental concern. Methane is not only a potent greenhouse gas but also represents a loss of energy efficiency for the host. The objective of this study was to perform in vitro screening of a range of compounds with potential anti-methanogenic activity, including polyphenols, flavonoids, fatty acids, amino acids, and salts.