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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 305

  1. Global and regional prevalence of Cronobacter sakazakii in powdered milk and flour

    • Scientific Reports
    • Cronobacter sakazakii (Cz) infections linked with powdered milk/flour (PMF) are on the increase in recent times. The current study aimed at assessing worldwide and regional prevalence of Cz in PMF. Cz-PMF-directed data were conscientiously mined in four mega-databases via topic-field driven PRISMA protocol without any restriction.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  2. Antibacterial action of slightly acidic electrolytic water against Cronobacter sakazakii and its application as a disinfectant on high-risk contact surfaces

    • Frontiers in Microbiology
    • Powdered infant formula (PIF) is prone to Cronobacter sakazakii (C. sakazakii) contamination, which can result in infections that endanger the lives of newborns and infants. Slightly acidic electrolytic water (SAEW) has shown antibacterial effects on a variety of foodborne pathogens and has a wide applicability in the food industry. Here, the antibacterial activity of SAEW against C.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  3. Persistence of microbiological hazards in food and feed production and processing environments

    • EFSA Journal
    • Abstract Listeria monocytogenes (in the meat, fish and seafood, dairy and fruit and vegetable sectors), Salmonella enterica (in the feed, meat, egg and low moisture food sectors) and Cronobacter sakazakii (in the low moisture food sector) were identified as the bacterial food safety hazards most relevant to public health that are associated with persistence in the food and feed processing environment (FFPE).

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
      • Listeria monocytogenes
      • Salmonella
  4. Foodborne Pathogen Dynamics in Meat and Meat Analogues Analysed Using Traditional Microbiology and Metagenomic Sequencing

    • Antibiotics
    • Meat analogues play an increasing role in meeting global nutritional needs. However, while it is well known that meat possesses inherent characteristics that create favourable conditions for the growth of various pathogenic bacteria, much less is known about meat analogues.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
      • Listeria monocytogenes
      • Salmonella
  5. Cocoa Bean Shell Wastes for the Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles with Antimicrobial Activity Against Foodborne Pathogens

    • Food and Bioprocess Technology
    • The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles offers a non-toxic, eco-friendly, economical, and efficient solution against various microorganisms. The study aimed to investigate the utilization of cocoa bean shells for the production of silver nanoparticles through green synthesis, besides its characterization and evaluation against foodborne pathogens.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
      • Listeria monocytogenes
      • Salmonella
      • Staphylococcus aureus
  6. A Single-Laboratory Performance Evaluation of MALDI-TOF MS in Rapid Identification of Staphylococcus aureus, Cronobacter sakazakii, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Some Closely Related Bacterial Species of Public Health Importance

    • Journal of AOAC INTERNATIONAL
    • Background Staphylococcus is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria, known to cause food poisoning and gastrointestinal illness in humans. Additionally, the emergence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains has caused a major health care burden worldwide. Cronobacter is a group of Gram-negative bacteria that can survive in extreme dry conditions. Cronobacter sakazakii is known to contaminate powdered infant formula and cause life-threatening infections in neonates.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
      • Staphylococcus aureus
      • Vibrio
  7. Progress in research on the safety of silicone rubber products in food processing

    • Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety
    • Abstract Silicone rubber (SR) is widely used in the food processing industry due to its excellent physical and chemical properties. However, due to the differences in SR product production formulas and processes, the quality of commercially available SR products varies greatly, with chemical and biological hazard potentials.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
      • Listeria monocytogenes
      • Salmonella
      • Staphylococcus aureus
  8. Application of a novel phage LPCS28 for biological control of Cronobacter sakazakii in milk and reconstituted powdered infant formula

    • Food Research International
    • Contamination of infant formula with Cronobacter sakazakii (C. sakazakii) can cause fatal infections in neonates. Phages have emerged as promising antibacterial agents for food safety, but their effectiveness may be limited by thermal processing. In this study, we isolated 27 C. sakazakii phages from environmental water samples and selected LPCS28 due to its broad lysis spectrum.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  9. Mobile Colistin Resistance (mcr) Gene-Containing Organisms in Poultry Sector in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Epidemiology, Characteristics, and One Health Control Strategies

    • Antibiotics
    • Mobile colistin resistance (mcr) genes (mcr-1 to mcr-10) are plasmid-encoded genes that threaten the clinical utility of colistin (COL), one of the highest-priority critically important antibiotics (HP-CIAs) used to treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant bacteria in humans and animals.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
      • Salmonella
      • Shigella
  10. Validation of the Assurance® GDS for Cronobacter Tq II in Infant Formulas, Infant Cereals, Ingredients, and Environmental Samples Collaborative Study: First Action 2021.08

    • Journal of AOAC INTERNATIONAL
    • Background The Assurance® GDS for Cronobacter Tq II assay is a nucleic acid amplification system for the qualitative detection of Cronobacter. The method uses an upfront concentration of the target organism from the enrichment by immunomagnetic separation (IMS) using the PickPen® device. Objective The Assurance GDS for Cronobacter Tq II method was evaluated for Official Methods of AnalysisSM certification.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  11. Screening of Antibiotic and Virulence Genes from Whole Genome Sequenced Cronobacter sakazakii Isolated from Food and Milk-Producing Environments

    • Antibiotics
    • The objective of this study was to use whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to screen for genes encoding for antibiotic resistance, fitness and virulence in Cronobacter sakazakii strains that had been isolated from food and powdered-milk-producing environments. Virulence (VGs) and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) were detected with the Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD) platform, ResFinder and PlasmidFinder tools. Susceptibility testing was performed using disk diffusion.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  12. Biocontrol and anti-biofilm potential of aerosols sprayed slightly acidic electrolyzed water against Cronobacter sakazakii in infant food industry

    • LWT
    • This study aimed to assess microbial contamination of the processed rice product, food contact surface, and air at workplaces in the infant rice food industry. Further, the effectiveness of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) against Cronobacter sakazakii airborne and biofilm was evaluated. C. Sakazaki was detected in the grinding steps, dry room, and dry chamber, which can live in a low-water activity environment.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  13. Antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation as an alternative approach to inhibit the growth of Cronobacter sakazakii by fine-tuning the activity of CpxRA two-component system

    • Frontiers in Microbiology
    • Cronobacter sakazakii is an opportunistic foodborne pathogen primarily found in powdered infant formula (PIF). To date, it remains challenging to control the growth of this ubiquitous bacterium. Herein, antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI) was first employed to inactivate C. sakazakii. Through 460 nm light irradiation coupled with hypocrellin B, the survival rate of C. sakazakii was diminished by 3~4 log.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  14. Effects and molecular mechanism of flagellar gene flgK on the motility, adhesion/invasion, and desiccation resistance of Cronobacter sakazakii

    • Food Research International
    • Cronobacter sakazakii (C. sakazakii), a food-borne pathogen, can infect neonates, elderly and immunocompromised populations with a high infection and mortality rate. However, the specific molecular mechanism of its motility, biofilm formation, cell adhesion, and desiccation resistance remains unclear, and flagellum hook associated protein (FlgK), a main component of the flagellar complex, may be an important determinant of its virulence and desiccation resistance.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  15. Lack of correlation between growth rate and sequence type among Cronobacter sakazakii

    • Food Microbiology
    • Species identification and growth rates for a collection of Cronobacter strains from clinical and non-clinical sources have been previously reported. However, advancements in DNA sequencing-based identification methods now allow for more accurate identification.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  16. Cronobacter sakazakii Cue for the Attraction and Its Impact on the Immunity of Caenorhabditis elegans

    • Infection and Immunity
    • Infection and Immunity, Ahead of Print. Cronobacter sakazakii, an opportunistic foodborne pathogen prevalently detected in contaminated powdered infant formula, is associated with different diseases, including meningitis. It can cross the blood-brain barrier and affects the CNS. The impact of C. sakazakii on host neuronal cells and behavior is largely unknown.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  17. Houttuynia cordata Thunb. crude extract inactivates Cronobacter sakazakii: Antibacterial components, antibacterial mechanism, and application as a natural disinfectant

    • Food Control
    • The purpose of this study was to reveal the antibacterial components of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. crude extract (HCCE), analyze the antibacterial activity and mechanism of HCCE against Cronobacter sakazakii, and evaluate the bactericidal effect of HCCE as a natural disinfectant.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  18. Preparation of silver nanoparticles/polymethylmethacrylate/cellulose acetate film and its inhibitory effect on Cronobacter sakazakii in infant formula milk

    • Journal of Dairy Science
    • Cronobacter sakazakii is a harmful foodborne pathogen, and its contaminated food will pose a huge threat to human health. Prevention of C. sakazakii contamination of food is valuable for food safety as well as for human health. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNP) were successfully immobilized on the surface of cellulose acetate (CA) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) composite to obtain AgNP/PMMA/CA film.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  19. Draft Genome Sequence of Cronobacter sakazakii H05, Sequence Type 156, Isolated from a Spiced Ground Beef Dish, Kitfo

    • Microbiology Resource Announcements
    • Microbiology Resource Announcements, Ahead of Print. Cronobacter sakazakii is a foodborne pathogen that causes severe illness in neonates and the elderly. Here, we present the genome sequence of C. sakazakii H05 sequence type 156 (ST156), CC21 strain from Kitfo, resulting in a genome size of 4,495,386 bp, with 4,340 coding sequences and a G+C content of 56.85% after assembly and annotation.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  20. Fluorescence sensing platform for Cronobacter sakazakii based on the cationic metal-organic frameworks modified upconversion nanoparticles

    • Food Control
    • Cronobacter sakazakii (C. sakazakii) is a serious threat to human health. Efficient detection of C. sakazakii is crucial for food safety and the control of foodborne diseases. Here, a fluorescence sensing platform for C.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  21. Green synthesis of biogenetic Te(0) nanoparticles by high tellurite tolerance fungus Mortierella sp. AB1 with antibacterial activity

    • Frontiers in Microbiology
    • Tellurite [Te(IV)] is a high-toxicity metalloid. In this study, a fungus with high Te(IV) resistance was isolated. Strain AB1 could efficiently reduce highly toxic Te(IV) to less toxic Te(0). The reduced products formed rod-shaped biogenetic Te(0) nanoparticles (Bio-TeNPs) intracellularly. Further TEM-element mapping, FTIR, and XPS analysis showed that the extracted Bio-TeNPs ranged from 100 to 500 nm and consisted of Te(0), proteins, lipids, aromatic compounds, and carbohydrates.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
      • Salmonella
      • Shigella
  22. Biochemical characterisation of glycosylated and deglycosylated forms of phytase from Cronobacter turicensis expressed in Pichia pastoris

    • Enzyme and Microbial Technology
    • Phytases are valuable industrial enzymes widely used in animal feed production, and when expressed in yeast, they undergo glycosylation. Herein, heterologous expression in Pichia pastoris and biochemical characterisation of glycosylated and deglycosylated forms of a novel phytase from Cronobacter turicensis belonging to the histidine acid phosphatase family were successfully carried out.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  23. Bacteriological Quality of Table Eggs in Moroccan Formal and Informal Sector

    • International Journal of Food Science
    • Eggs constitute an important part of the Moroccan diet. However, contaminated eggs can cause a serious public health problem if consumed undercooked, uncooked, or used in unpasteurized egg foodstuffs. This study was carried out to evaluate the microbial contents of eggs according to their sales sector in Morocco.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
      • Salmonella
      • Shigella
      • Staphylococcus aureus
  24. Modelling the UV-C inactivation kinetics and determination of fluence required for incremental inactivation of Cronobacter spp.

    • A study was undertaken to model the UV‑C inactivation kinetics and determine the fluences required for the incremental inactivation of several strains of Cronobacter  spp. suspended in clear phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). A total of 13 strains of Cronobacter  spp. were individually suspended in PBS and treated with UV‑C doses of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 mJ cm ‑2 using a collimated beam device emitting UV‑C at 253.7 nm.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  25. Novel findings in context of molecular diversity and abundance of bacteriophages in wastewater environments of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    • PLOS ONE
    • by Fahad Alanazi, Islam Nour, Atif Hanif, Ibrahim Al-Ashkar, Reem M. Aljowaie, Saleh Eifan The diversity among bacteriophages depends on different factors like ecology, temperature conditions and genetic pool.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter