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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 - 5 of 5

  1. Multiple sgRNAs for one-step inactivation of the duplicated acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase 2 (ACC2) genes in Brassica napus

    • Plant Physiology
    • Efficient plastid transformation in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) requires genetic lines that are hypersensitive to spectinomycin due to the absence of a chloroplast acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) encoded in the acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase 2 (ACC2) nuclear gene. To obtain plastid transformation-competent oilseed rape (Brassica napus), we inactivated all nuclear encoded, chloroplast targeted ACCase copies using CRISPR–Cas9.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Dioxins
  2. Calcium-Dependent Hydrogen Peroxide Mediates Hydrogen-Rich Water-Reduced Cadmium Uptake in Plant Roots

    • Plant Physiology
    • Hydrogen gas (H2) has a possible signaling role in many developmental and adaptive plant responses, including mitigating the harmful effects of cadmium (Cd) uptake from soil. We used electrophysiological and molecular approaches to understand how H2 ameliorates Cd toxicity in pak choi (Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis). Exposure of pak choi roots to Cd resulted in a rapid increase in the intracellular H2 production.

      • Heavy Metals
      • Chemical contaminants
  3. ZINC TRANSPORTER5 and ZINC TRANSPORTER9 Function Synergistically in Zinc/Cadmium Uptake

    • Plant Physiology
    • The elements Zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) have similar chemical and physical properties, but contrasting physiological effects in higher organisms. In plants, Zn/Cd transport is mediated by various transporter proteins belonging to different families. In this study, we functionally characterized two Zn transporter genes in rice (Oryza sativa), ZINC TRANSPORTER5 (OsZIP5) and ZINC TRANSPORTER9 (OsZIP9), which are tandem duplicates and act synergistically in Zn/Cd uptake.

      • Heavy Metals
      • Chemical contaminants
  4. WRKY13 Enhances Cadmium Tolerance by Promoting D-CYSTEINE DESULFHYDRASE and Hydrogen Sulfide Production

    • Plant Physiology
    • Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a plant gasotransmitter, functions in the plant response to cadmium (Cd) stress, implying a role for cysteine desulfhydrase in producing H2S in this process. Whether d-CYSTEINE DESULFHYDRASE (DCD) acts in the plant Cd response remains to be identified, and if it does, how DCD is regulated in this process is also unknown. Here, we report that DCD-mediated H2S production enhances plant Cd tolerance in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana).

      • Heavy Metals
      • Chemical contaminants
  5. Moonlighting Function of Phytochelatin Synthase1 in Extracellular Defense against Fungal Pathogens

    • Plant Physiology
    • Phytochelatin synthase (PCS) is a key component of heavy metal detoxification in plants. PCS catalyzes both the synthesis of the peptide phytochelatin from glutathione and the degradation of glutathione conjugates via peptidase activity. Here, we describe a role for PCS in disease resistance against plant pathogenic fungi.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals