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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 - 25 of 65

  1. Fetoplacental disposition and toxicity of cadmium in mice lacking the Bcrp transporter

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • The environmental toxicant cadmium (Cd) impairs the growth of rodents and humans in utero which in turn heightens susceptibility to diseases later in life. We previously demonstrated that the maternal-facing efflux transporter, breast cancer resistance protein (human BCRP/ABCG2, mouse Bcrp/Abcg2) confers resistance against Cd toxicity in human trophoblasts.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  2. A CRISPR-Cas9 mutation in sox9b long intergenic noncoding RNA (slincR) affects zebrafish development, behavior, and regeneration

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • The role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulators of toxicological responses to environmental chemicals is gaining prominence. Previously, our laboratory discovered an lncRNA, sox9b long intergenic noncoding RNA (slincR), that is activated by multiple ligands of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR).

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Dioxins
  3. Fetal and neonatal dioxin exposure causes sex-specific metabolic alterations in mice

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • Epidemiological studies report associations between early-life exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and impaired metabolic homeostasis in adulthood. We investigated the impact of early-life exposure to low-dose 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD or ‘dioxin’) on the establishment of β-cell area during the perinatal period, as well as β-cell health and glucose homeostasis later in life.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Dioxins
  4. Exposure to 3,3′,4,4′,5-Pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126) Causes Widespread DNA Hypomethylation in Adult Zebrafish Testis

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • Exposure to environmental toxicants during preconception has been shown to affect offspring health and epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation are hypothesized to be involved in adverse outcomes. However, studies addressing the effects of exposure to environmental toxicants during preconception on epigenetic changes in gametes are limited.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Dioxins
  5. Low-Dose Cadmium Potentiates Metabolic Reprogramming Following Early-Life Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection causes serious pulmonary disease and death in high-risk infants and elderly. Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic environmental metal contaminant and constantly exposed to humans. Limited information is available on Cd toxicity after early-life respiratory virus infection. In this study, we examined the effects of low-dose Cd exposure following early-life RSV infection on lung metabolism and inflammation using mouse and fibroblast culture models.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  6. Gestational Cd Exposure in the CD-1 Mouse Sex-Specifically Disrupts Essential Metal Ion Homeostasis

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • In CD-1 mice, gestational-only exposure to cadmium (Cd) causes female-specific hepatic insulin resistance, metabolic disruption, and obesity. To evaluate whether sex differences in uptake and changes in essential metal concentrations contribute to metabolic outcomes, placental and liver Cd and essential metal concentrations were quantified in male and female offspring perinatally exposed to 500 ppb CdCl2.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  7. Higher R2* in the Red Nucleus Is Associated With Lead Exposure in an Asymptomatic Welder Cohort

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • Lead is a nonessential metal and may be a coexposure in welding fumes. Preclinical data indicate lead may affect iron regulation. The current study investigated blood lead concentrations and their association with brain iron accumulation in workers with chronic welding fume exposure, with a focus on iron-rich subcortical regions of the cerebellum and basal ganglia. Occupational exposure, whole blood metal, and brain MRI data were obtained from 29 controls and 42 welders.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  8. The Ahr2-Dependent wfikkn1 Gene Influences Zebrafish Transcriptome, Proteome, and Behavior

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is required for vertebrate development and is also activated by exogenous chemicals, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). AHR activation is well-understood, but roles of downstream molecular signaling events are largely unknown.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Dioxins
  9. Dioxin Disrupts Thyroid Hormone and Glucocorticoid Induction of klf9, a Master Regulator of Frog Metamorphosis

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • Frog metamorphosis, the development of an air-breathing froglet from an aquatic tadpole, is controlled by thyroid hormone (TH) and glucocorticoids (GC). Metamorphosis is susceptible to disruption by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) agonist. Krüppel-like factor 9 (klf9), an immediate early gene in the endocrine-controlled cascade of expression changes governing metamorphosis, can be synergistically induced by both hormones.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Dioxins
  10. Cadmium Suppresses Bone Marrow Thrombopoietin Production and Impairs Megakaryocytopoiesis in Mice

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic heavy metal in our environment. The influence of Cd on the development of platelets, or megakaryocytopoiesis, remains to be defined. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of Cd on megakaryocytopoiesis. C57BL/6 (B6) mice aged 6–8 weeks were treated with 10 ppm Cd via drinking water or control for 3 months, and megakaryocytopoiesis was evaluated thereafter.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  11. Delineating the Effects of Passaging and Exposure in a Longitudinal Study of Arsenic-Induced Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a HaCaT Cell Line Model

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • 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.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  12. Guiding Chemically Synthesized Peptide Drug Lead Optimization by Derisking Mast Cell Degranulation-Related Toxicities of a NaV1.7 Peptide Inhibitor

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • 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.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Antibiotic residues
      • Heavy Metals
  13. Associations Between Residential Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds and Liver Injury Markers

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • Occupational exposures to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been associated with numerous health complications including steatohepatitis and liver cancer. However, the potential impact of environmental/residential VOC exposures on liver health and function is largely unknown. To address this knowledge gap, the objective of this cross-sectional study is to investigate associations between VOCs and liver injury biomarkers in community residents.

      • Hepatitis
      • Chemical contaminants
      • Viruses
  14. Neuroligin-1 Is a Mediator of Methylmercury Neuromuscular Toxicity

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • Methylmercury (MeHg) is a developmental toxicant capable of eliciting neurocognitive and neuromuscular deficits in children with in utero exposure. Previous research in Drosophila melanogaster uncovered that developmental MeHg exposure simultaneously targets the developing musculature and innervating motor neuron in the embryo, along with identifying Drosophila neuroligin 1 (nlg1) as a gene associated with developmental MeHg sensitivity.

      • Chemical contaminants
  15. Comparing the Predictivity of Human Placental Gene, microRNA, and CpG Methylation Signatures in Relation to Perinatal Outcomes

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • Molecular signatures are being increasingly integrated into predictive biology applications. However, there are limited studies comparing the overall predictivity of transcriptomic versus epigenomic signatures in relation to perinatal outcomes.

      • Heavy Metals
      • Chemical contaminants
  16. Development and Application of an Interactive Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic (iPBPK) Model to Predict Oxytetracycline Tissue Distribution and Withdrawal Intervals in Market-Age Sheep and Goats

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • Oxytetracycline (OTC) is a widely used antibiotic in food-producing animals. Extralabel use of OTC is common and may lead to violative residues in edible tissues. It is important to have a quantitative tool to predict scientifically based withdrawal intervals (WDIs) after extralabel use in food animals to ensure human food safety. This study focuses on developing a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for OTC in sheep and goats.

      • Antibiotic residues
      • Chemical contaminants
  17. Bisphenol A and Male Murine Reproductive System: Finding a Link between Plasticizer and Compromised Health

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • The global burden of male infertility is rising at an alarming rate affecting the lives of millions in terms of physical, emotional, and societal perspectives. Among several existing endocrine-disrupting chemicals, bisphenol A (BPA) has been reported by many to inflict male reproductive toxicity in different experimental models, especially in mice.

      • Chemical contaminants
  18. Organochlorine Pesticide Dieldrin Suppresses Cellular Interferon-Related Antiviral Gene Expression

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are persistent pollutants linked to diverse adverse health outcomes. Environmental exposure to OCPs has been suggested to negatively impact the immune system but their effects on cellular antiviral responses remain unknown.

      • Pesticide residues
      • Chemical contaminants
      • Viruses
  19. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon-DNA Adducts in Gulf of Mexico Sperm Whale Skin Biopsies Collected in 2012

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • The northern Gulf of Mexico has a long history of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination from anthropogenic activities, natural oil seepages, and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill. The continental shelf of the same area is a known breeding ground for sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus).

      • Chemical contaminants
  20. Emerging Roles of N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) Epitranscriptomics in Toxicology

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • Epitranscriptomics, the study of chemically modified RNAs, is a burgeoning field being explored in a variety of scientific disciplines. Of the currently known epitranscriptomic modifications, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation is the most abundant. The m6A modification is predominantly regulated by 3 tiers of protein modulators classified as writers, erasers, and readers.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Pesticide residues
  21. Lead in Synergism With IFNγ Acts on Bone Marrow-Resident Macrophages to Increase the Quiescence of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • Lead (Pb) is a highly toxic heavy metal that broadly exists in our living environment. Although Pb has been shown to influence the development of immune cells, to date, the impact of Pb on hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the bone marrow (BM) remains unknown. As people are ubiquitously exposed to Pb and HSC are essential for human health, understanding the impact of Pb on HSC is significant for public health.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  22. Chronic Exposure to Cadmium Induces Differential Methylation in Mice Spermatozoa

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • Cadmium exposure is ubiquitous and has been linked to diseases including cancers and reproductive defects. Since cadmium is nonmutagenic, it is thought to exert its gene dysregulatory effects through epigenetic reprogramming. Several studies have implicated germline exposure to cadmium in developmental reprogramming. However, most of these studies have focused on maternal exposure, while the impact on sperm fertility and disease susceptibility has received less attention.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  23. Elucidation of the Effects of Bisphenol A and Structural Analogs on Germ and Steroidogenic Cells Using Single Cell High-Content Imaging

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • Concerns about the potential adverse effects of bisphenol A (BPA) have led to an increase in the use of replacements, yet the toxicity data for several of these chemicals are limited. Using high-content imaging, we compared the effects of BPA, BPAF, BPF, BPS, BPM, and BPTMC in germ (C18-4 spermatogonial) and steroidogenic (MA-10 Leydig and KGN granulosa) cell lines.

      • Chemical contaminants
  24. Hydroxylated Chalcones as Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Agonists: Structure-Activity Effects

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • Hydroxylated chalcones are phytochemicals which are biosynthetic precursors of flavonoids and their 1,3-diaryl-prop-2-en-1-one structure is used as a scaffold for drug development. In this study, the structure-dependent activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-responsive CYP1A1, CYP1B1, and UGT1A1 genes was investigated in Caco2 colon cancer cells and in non-transformed young adult mouse colonocytes (YAMC) cells.

      • Dioxins
      • Chemical contaminants
  25. Paraquat Inhalation, a Translationally Relevant Route of Exposure: Disposition to the Brain and Male-Specific Olfactory Impairment in Mice

    • Toxicological Sciences
    • Epidemiological and experimental studies have associated oral and systemic exposures to the herbicide paraquat (PQ) with Parkinson’s disease. Despite recognition that airborne particles and solutes can be directly translocated to the brain via olfactory neurons, the potential for inhaled PQ to cause olfactory impairment has not been investigated.

      • Pesticide residues
      • Chemical contaminants