Research Publications (Food Safety)

Journal of Applied Microbiology, Accepted Article. Aims Norovirus remains the most significant virological risk that is transmitted via food and the environment to cause acute gastroenteritis.

Evaluate the anti-noroviral efficacy of PURELL® Surface Sanitizer and Disinfectant Spray (PSS; an alcohol-based formulation) using human norovirus GII.4 Sydney [hNoV, by RT-qPCR and human intestinal enteroid (HIE) infectivity assay] and its cultivable surrogate, Tulane virus (TuV, infectivity assay), compared to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solutions. Methods and Results. PSS efficacy was evaluated in suspension and on surfaces [stainless steel (SS)] using ASTM methods.

Journal of Applied Microbiology, EarlyView.

Journal of Applied Microbiology, Accepted Article. Aims
To compare the heat stability of two globally prevalent human norovirus (HuNoV) strains (GII.2[P16] and GII.4[P16]) and a commonly used HuNoV surrogate, Tulane virus (TV).

ABSTRACT Aims The efficacy of a novel photochemical method for generating chlorine dioxide (photoClO2) was evaluated against human noroviruses (HuNoV) surrogate, bacteriophage MS2, and Clostridium difficile endospores. Methods and Results Chlorine dioxide was generated by mixing 1% sodium chlorite with 10 parts‐per‐million (ppm) Eosin Y and irradiating with a photo‐activator‐excitable light. PhotoClO2 efficacy was assessed against bacteriophage MS2 and C.

Aims This study aims to investigate the presence and spatial‐seasonal variability of human and fish viruses in coastal marine systems using Ravenna’s harbor area (Adriatic Sea, Italy) as a model. Methods and Results Human viruses (noroviruses and hepatitis A virus) and one of the most threatening finfish pathogens, the nervous necrosis virus (NNV), were investigated in mussels living inside and offshore Ravenna’s harbor.

Aim Infiltration experiments aimed to show the effectivity of coral sand to remove microorganisms in septic tank wastewater treatment system, in South Tarawa, Kiribati. Methods and Results Laboratory experiments evaluated effective microbial removal properties of a packed bed of coral beach sand conditioned with domestic effluent.

Aims:  To assess norovirus (NoV) contamination in aquatic ecosystems in the city of Florianópolis, in Southern Brazil, in order to provide epidemiological data that can support actions for environmental contamination control. Methods and Results:  An adsorption‐elution method, followed by ultrafiltration, was performed to concentrate the viruses. NoV were detected using semi‐nested PCR and quantified by real‐time PCR.

Aims To determine the seasonal occurrence and diversity of norovirus (NoV) and human adenovirus (HAdV) in groundwater from sinkholes, and brackish water used for recreational activities in the karst aquifer of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Methods and results Hollow fibre ultrafiltration was used to concentrate viruses and standard plaque assay methods were used to enumerate somatic and F+ specific coliphages as viral indicators.

Summary

Abstract

Aim

To assess the potential of a viability dye and an enzymatic RT-qPCR pretreatment to discriminate between infectious and non-infectious enteric viruses.

Abstract

Aims

This study was performed to develop passive sampling methodology for the detection of two viruses in seawater in the area of shellfish production, The Norovirus (NoV), a human pathogen implicated in gastroenteritis outbreaks linked to oyster consumption and the ostreid herpesvirus type 1 (OsHV-1) a virus associated with mass mortalities of Pacific oysters.

Abstract

Aims

The aim of this study was to detect and quantify Aichi virus (AiV) in shellfish from three estuaries in Galicia, the main producer of molluscs in Europe.

Abstract

Aims

to investigate the presence of genomic traits associated with a set of enteric viruses as well as pathogenic Escherichia coli in Top Soil Improvers (TSI) from Italy

Methods

24 TSI samples originating from municipal sewage sludges, pig manure, green and household wastes were analysed by Real Time PCR for the presence of Hepatitis E virus, porcine and human adenovirus, norovirus, rotavirus and diarrheagenic E. coli.

Abstract

Aims

To identify faecal pollution along the southeastern Florida coast and determine the performance of a reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) method for pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV).

Abstract

Aims

To assess the prevalence of enteric viruses in different irrigation water sources and in the irrigated produce, and the possible links with microbiological and physicochemical water characteristics.

Abstract

Aims

To determine the cause of an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis that occurred on a cruise ship sailing along the Yangzi River from Chongqing to Nanjing, China.