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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 26 - 50 of 300

  1. Regulation of T3SS synthesis, assembly and secretion in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

    • Archives of Microbiology
    • T3SS is an important virulence factor of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and has a central role in the infection process. However, the functional regulation of the T3SS by environmental signals is poorly understood. In our lab, we use fluorescence microscopy to study protein kinetics in real-time in live cells. In P. aeruginosa, results have shown that T3SS appears as bright foci at the cell membrane with no specific arrangement.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia
  2. The cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) controls expression of the ferric uptake regulator (Fur) in Yersinia pestis

    • Canadian Journal of Microbiology
    • Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, is one of the most dangerous pathogens in the world. Both the cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) and ferric uptake regulator (Fur) are global regulators that control the expression of a great deal of genes involved in a variety of cellular functions in Y. pestis.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia
  3. Five Draft Genome Sequences of Historical Yersinia pestis Strains of Phylogroups 2.MED4 and 2.MED1 of the Medieval Biovar

    • Microbiology Resource Announcements
    • Microbiology Resource Announcements, Volume 11, Issue 5, May 2022. We announce the genome sequences of five historical highly virulent Yersinia pestis strains of the phylogroups 2.MED4 and 2.MED1 of the medieval biovar. They were the etiological agents of plague outbreaks with high mortality rates in the Northern Caspian Sea region at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia
  4. qPCR screening for Yersinia ruckeri clonal complex 1 against a background of putatively avirulent strains in Norwegian aquaculture

    • Journal of Fish Diseases
    • Journal of Fish Diseases, EarlyView. Although a number of genetically diverse Yersinia ruckeri strains are present in Norwegian aquaculture environments, most if not all outbreaks of yersiniosis in Atlantic salmon in Norway are associated with a single specific genetic lineage of serotype O1, termed clonal complex 1. To investigate the presence and spread of virulent and putatively avirulent strains in Norwegian salmon farms, PCR assays specific for Y.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia
  5. Prevalence, virulence determinants, and genetic diversity in Yersinia enterocolitica isolated from slaughtered pigs and pig carcasses

    • International Journal of Food Microbiology
    • Yersinia enterocolitica is an important zoonotic foodborne pathogen that could be transferred from infected pigs to their carcasses at slaughter, with subsequent introduction of the pathogen into the food chain. The aim of the present study was to study the prevalence, virulence characteristics, and genetic diversity of Y. enterocolitica isolates present in slaughtered pig tonsils and carcasses by using the WGS approach.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia
  6. Fleas from common rodent species are an unlikely source of plague (Yersinia pestis) in managed forests of northwestern Oregon, USA

    • Zoonoses and Public Health
    • Zoonoses and Public Health, EarlyView. Anthropogenic environmental change can alter the susceptibility of wildlife hosts to pathogens and provide an opportunity for disease emergence. We explored Yersinia pestis prevalence in fleas from three rodent species inhabiting intensively managed forests in Oregon, USA. Y. pestis was not detected in the 145 fleas (3 families and 9 species) collected.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia
  7. Live imaging of Yersinia translocon formation and immune recognition in host cells

    • PLOS Pathogens
    • by Maren Rudolph, Alexander Carsten, Susanne Kulnik, Martin Aepfelbacher, Manuel Wolters Yersinia enterocolitica employs a type three secretion system (T3SS) to translocate immunosuppressive effector proteins into host cells. To this end, the T3SS assembles a translocon/pore complex composed of the translocator proteins YopB and YopD in host cell membranes serving as an entry port for the effectors.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia
  8. Yersinia pseudotuberculosis doxycycline tolerance strategies include modulating expression of genes involved in cell permeability and tRNA modifications

    • PLOS Pathogens
    • by Hector S. Alvarez-Manzo, Robert K. Davidson, Jasper Van Cauwelaert de Wyels, Katherine L. Cotten, Benjamin Nguyen, Melody Xiao, Zeyu Zhu, Jon Anthony, Tim van Opijnen, Kimberly Michele Davis Antibiotic tolerance is typically associated with a phenotypic change within a bacterial population, resulting in a transient decrease in antibiotic susceptibility that can contribute to treatment failure and recurrent infections.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia
  9. Evaluation of gallic acid on membrane damage of Yersinia enterocolitica and its application as a food preservative in pork

    • International Journal of Food Microbiology
    • This study was aimed to examine the membrane damage mechanism of gallic acid (GA) on Yersinia enterocolitica BNCC 108930, and to explore whether GA can prolong the shelf life of pork. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of GA against Y. enterocolitica was determined by adopting the broth microdilution method. Second, an investigation was conducted on the morphological and physiological variations of Y.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia
  10. A novel carotenoid from Metabacillus idriensis LipT27: production, extraction, partial characterization, biological activities and use in textile dyeing

    • Archives of Microbiology
    • The present study reports the production, extraction, partial characterization, biological activities and use in textile dyeing of an orange pigment from Metabacillus idriensis strain LipT27 (MN818522.2). Pigment production occurred with 400 µg carotenoid/g biomass yield. Characterization of the methanol extracts of pigment by UV–Visible spectrophotometry, TLC, NMR, and FTIR indicated that the pigment was a carotenoid group pigment.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Staphylococcus aureus
      • Yersinia
  11. Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activities of Chlorogenic Acid Against Yersinia enterocolitica

    • Frontiers in Microbiology
    • Nowadays, developing new and natural compounds with antibacterial activities from plants has become a promising approach to solve antibiotic resistance of pathogenic bacteria. Chlorogenic acid (CA), as a kind of phenolic acid existing in many plants, has been found to process multifunctional activities including antibacterial activity. Herein, the antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of CA against Yersinia enterocolitica (Y.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia
  12. Attenuation of Yersinia pestis fyuA Mutants Caused by Iron Uptake Inhibition and Decreased Survivability in Macrophages

    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
    • Yersinia pestis is the etiological agent of plague, a deadly infectious disease that has caused millions of deaths throughout history. Obtaining iron from the host is very important for bacterial pathogenicity. Y. pestis possesses many iron uptake systems. Yersiniabactin (Ybt) plays a major role in iron uptake in vivo and in vitro, and in virulence toward mice as well. FyuA, a β-barrel TonB-dependent outer membrane protein, serves as the receptor for Ybt.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia
  13. Bacteriophage Tail Proteins as a Tool for Bacterial Pathogen Recognition—A Literature Review

    • Antibiotics
    • In recent years, a number of bacterial detection methods have been developed to replace time-consuming culture methods. One interesting approach is to mobilize the ability of phage tail proteins to recognize and bind to bacterial hosts. In this paper, the authors provide an overview of the current methodologies in which phage proteins play major roles in detecting pathogenic bacteria.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Campylobacter
      • Listeria monocytogenes
      • Salmonella
      • Shigella
      • Staphylococcus aureus
      • Yersinia
  14. An Efficient Tetraplex Surveillance Tool for Salmonid Pathogens

    • Frontiers in Microbiology
    • Fish disease surveillance methods can be complicated and time consuming, which limits their value for timely intervention strategies on aquaculture farms. Novel molecular-based assays using droplet digital Polymerase Chain Reaction (ddPCR) can produce immediate results and enable high sample throughput with the ability to multiplex several targets using different fluorescent dyes.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia
  15. Stone Age Yersinia pestis genomes shed light on the early evolution, diversity, and ecology of plague

    • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
    • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 119, Issue 17, April 2022. The bacterial pathogen Yersinia pestis gave rise to devastating outbreaks throughout human history, and ancient DNA evidence has shown it afflicted human populations as far back as the Neolithic. Y.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia
  16. Outbreak of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) kept in captivity

    • Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
    • On January 2020, an outbreak of acute mortality was detected in the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) population kept in the Cordoba Zoo Conservation Center (CZCC) in Spain. Morbidity and mortality rates were 71%, and the fatality rate was 100%. Macroscopic examination revealed multifocal nodular lesions with fibrinonecrotic exudate in lungs and mesenteric lymph nodes.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia
  17. A Novel Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for Rapid Detection of Yersinia pestis

    • Frontiers in Microbiology
    • Rapid detection of Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, is essential during field investigations to enable prompt control measures for prevention of the spread of the disease. Affordable, efficient, reliable, and simple detection assays are extremely useful, particularly in plague-endemic regions with limited resources. We developed a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay that detects Y. pestis within 30 min by simply incubating at 65°C on a dry bath heater.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia
  18. Osteomyelitis in a slaughter turkey flock caused by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis sequence type ST42

    • Veterinary Microbiology
    • Yersinia pseudotuberculosis outbreak was diagnosed in a male turkey flock in Finland. Y. pseudotuberculosis is a quite rare zoonotic bacterium, which typically causes enteritis in humans and sudden death in animals. In this study, osteomyelitis was diagnosed in small, lame, 11- to 12-wk-old male turkeys. Lameness and slower growth among the turkeys was observed on the farm.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia
  19. Impact of sumac, cumin, black pepper and red pepper extracts in the development of foodborne pathogens and formation of biogenic amines

    • European Food Research and Technology
    • The effects of sumac, cumin, black pepper and red pepper diethyl ether extracts on the growth of eight foodborne pathogens (FBP) and their biogenic amine (BA) production were investigated in histidine decarboxylase broth. The antimicrobial effect was determined by the minimum inhibitory (MIC) and minimum bactericidal (MBC) concentrations. Sumac extract showed the highest antimicrobial activity against FBP.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Campylobacter
      • Salmonella
      • Staphylococcus aureus
      • Yersinia
  20. Yersinia enterocolitica in wild and peridomestic rodents within Great Britain, a prevalence study

    • Zoonoses and Public Health
    • Zoonoses and Public Health, EarlyView. Yersinia enterocolitica is a human pathogen transmitted via the faecal–oral route among animals and humans and is a major foodborne public health hazard. This study explores the role of Y. enterocolitica transmission at the livestock–wildlife interface and investigates the potential role wild and peridomestic rodents play as a source of this zoonotic pathogen.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia
  21. Growth temperature-induced changes in resistance of Listeria monocytogenes and Yersinia enterocolitica to X-ray irradiation

    • Food Microbiology
    • This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different growth temperatures on the resistance of Listeria monocytogenes and Yersinia enterocolitica to low-energy X-ray irradiation and elucidate the mechanisms of resistance variability.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Listeria monocytogenes
      • Yersinia
  22. Prudent Antimicrobial Use Is Essential to Prevent the Emergence of Antimicrobial Resistance in Yersinia enterocolitica 4/O:3 Strains in Pigs

    • Frontiers in Microbiology
    • Yersinia enterocolitica is a psychrotrophic zoonotic foodborne pathogen. Pigs are considered the main reservoir of Y. enterocolitica 4/O:3, which is the most commonly isolated bioserotype in many European countries. Consuming pork contaminated with Y. enterocolitica can be a health threat, and antimicrobial-resistant strains may complicate the treatment of the most severe forms of yersiniosis. We analyzed the antimicrobial resistance of 1,016 pathogenic porcine Y.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia
  23. Transmission of Antimicrobial Resistant Yersinia pestis During a Pneumonic Plague Outbreak

    • Clinical Infectious Diseases
    • Background Pneumonic plague (PP), caused by Yersinia pestis, is the most feared clinical form of plague due to its rapid lethality and potential to cause outbreaks. PP outbreaks are now rare due to antimicrobial therapy. Methods A PP outbreak in Madagascar involving transmission of a Y.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia
  24. Molecular Detection, Biotyping and Serotyping of Yersinia enterocolitica Isolated from Chicken Livers in Tabriz

    • Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
    • Introduction and purpose: Yersinia enterocolitica belongs to the family of Enterobacteriaceae and is a psychrophilic pathogen that is associated with foodborne infections. It usually causes gastroenteritis, mesenteric lymphadenitis, and septicemia. This study aimed to molecular detection, biotyping, and serotyping of Yersinia enterocolitica isolated from chicken livers in Tabriz.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia
  25. Biotyping reveals loss of motility in two distinct Yersinia ruckeri lineages exclusive to Norwegian aquaculture

    • Journal of Fish Diseases
    • Journal of Fish Diseases, EarlyView. Non-motile strains of Yersinia ruckeri, known as Y. ruckeri biotype 2, now dominate amongst clinical isolates retrieved from rainbow trout internationally. Due to an acute increase in the number of yersiniosis cases in Norway in recent years, followed by introduction of widespread intraperitoneal vaccination against the disease, an investigation on the prevalence of Y.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Yersinia