Research Publications (Food Safety)

by Lingyun Li, Baoyan Li, Henghua Qu, Shan Tian, Zimeng Xu, Lulu Zhao, Xueqin Li, Baoyou Liu

Microbiology Resource Announcements, Ahead of Print.

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.

This study evaluated the effects of a sulfate polysaccharide extracted from marine algae product on performance, intestinal lesion scores, and mRNA abundance of various tight junction proteins and immune response genes.

Mycotoxin contamination in pig feed is a recurring problem leading to chronic exposure of the animals, even when mycotoxin levels are below official guidance (FDA, EFSA). Deoxynivalenol (DON) and its derivates are among the main mycotoxins impacting pig production in the United States.

Several feed supplements have received interest for their potential to increase growth performance and health post weaning, including alternatives to high levels of zinc oxide (ZnO) such as short- and medium-chain fatty acids (SCFA, MCFA), and phytogenics. The objective of this study is to observe the growth performance and intestinal health effects from the supplementation of SCFA with and without the addition of MCFA and phytogenics.

Poultry feed is often contaminated with several mycotoxins that can impair animal health and performance, even at levels below the official guidance. The incorporation of mycotoxin decontaminants in the feed can limit these adverse effects. It is necessary to test the efficacy of these supplementations in vivo, but this requires specific experimental setups.

The activation of the immune system reduces the nutrient availability for growth and increases the variability among pigs. Functional amino acids (AA) supplementation can reduce the negative effects of immune activation. Additionally, providing daily tailored diets using individual precision feeding (IPF) was shown to account for individual variability.

Various types and levels of mycotoxins are present in feed ingredients, thus negatively impacting swine health and productivity. Appropriate sampling and frequent testing of feed ingredients are recommended to assess the risk of mycotoxins in feed and to determine mitigation strategies for mycotoxin control. However, monitoring plans do not guarantee feed will be free of mycotoxins, so in-feed mitigation strategies are implemented to minimize production losses.

Mycotoxins are secondary fungal metabolites which may affect animal health, reproduction, and performance. These naturally occurring toxic metabolites are found in a variety of feedstuffs worldwide. Classic signs of mycotoxicosis in livestock can include reduced feed intake, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Abstract Aims Our aim is to characterize through whole‐genome sequencing (WGS) the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and heavy metal tolerance (HMT) genes content, plasmid presence, virulence potential and genomic diversity of the rare non‐typhoid Salmonella enterica serovar Orion (S. Orion) from 19 countries of the African, American, Eastern Mediterranean, European, Southeastern Asia and Western Pacific regions. Methods and Results Totally 324 S.

The study compared the effects of the flow regimes (laminar, transitional, and turbulent), treatment time, and the volume of water and plasma‐activated water bubbles circulation on the inactivation of the mixed‐species biofilms of Salmonella Typhimurium and Aeromonas australiensis grown on the inner surfaces of the polyvinyl chloride pipes. Abstract Biofilm formation in broiler drinking water systems is a public health concern.