Research Publications (Food Safety)

Sebastian Steffens, Leonie Nüßer, Thomas-Benjamin Seiler, Nadine Ruchter, Mark Schumann, Ricarda Döring, Catrina Cofalla, Avi Ostfeld, Elad Salomons, Holger Schüttrumpf, Henner Hollert, Markus Brinkmann

Publication date: August 2017
Food and Chemical Toxicology, Volume 106, Part A

Author(s): Soisungwan Satarug, David A. Vesey, Glenda C. Gobe

We are accustomed to thinking of lead as yesterday’s problem, whether it is from the past use of lead in gasoline, paint, or pipes. In most of the world, however, the use of lead is largely unregulated, and most countries still manufacture lead paint and other lead-containing products. Few people realize that both lead mining and the production of recycled lead are growing. Most of the lead produced is now going into making lead batteries.

Timothy M. Ghaly, Louise Chow, Amy J. Asher, Liette S. Waldron, Michael R. Gillings

Abstract

Abstract

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of five cadmium-tolerant endophytic plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) strains on the biomass and cadmium tolerance and accumulation of the bioenergy plant switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) under cadmium (Cd)-contaminated conditions.

Yan Song, Yibana Wang, Weifeng Mao, Haixia Sui, Ling Yong, Dajin Yang, Dingguo Jiang, Lei Zhang, Yunyun Gong

Publication date: June 2017
, Volume 100, Issue 6

Author(s): Elaine O'Brien, Susan Mills, Alleson Dobson, L. Mariela Serrano, John Hannon, Siobhan P. Ryan, Kieran N. Kilcawley, Johannes B. Brandsma, Wilco C. Meijer, Colin Hill, R. Paul Ross

Abstract

A novel bioactive peptide named τ-AnmTx Ueq 12-1 (short name Ueq 12-1) was isolated and characterized from the sea anemone Urticina eques. Ueq 12-1 is unique among the variety of known sea anemone peptides in terms of its primary and spatial structure. It consists of 45 amino acids including 10 cysteine residues with an unusual distribution and represents a new group of sea anemone peptides.

Bo Xu, Yingzhe Wang, Shichao Zhang, Qiang Guo, Yan Jin, Jingjing Chen, Yunhang Gao, Hongxia Ma

Publication date: July 2017
Food and Chemical Toxicology, Volume 105

Author(s): Xiaohui Li, Pinghe Yin, Ling Zhao

ABSTRACT

Background

Accumulation of lead (Pb) in agricultural soils has become a major factor for reduced crop yields and poses serious threats to humans consuming agricultural products. The present study investigated the effects of KNO3 seed priming (0 and 0.5% KNO3) on growth of maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings exposed to Pb toxicity (0, 1300 and 2550 mg kg−1 Pb).

Abstract

Objectives. To highlight contextual factors tied to increased blood lead level (BLL) risk following the lead-in-water contamination in Flint, Michigan.

Publication date: Available online 16 March 2017
Food and Chemical Toxicology

Author(s): Ociel Muñoz, Pedro Zamorano, Olga Garcia, José Miguel Bastías

Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz, Agustín Estrada-Peña, Ryan O. M. Rego, José De la Fuente

Publication date: Available online 9 March 2017
Food and Chemical Toxicology

Author(s): Ming-Yuan Xu, Pan Wang, Ying-Jian Sun, Lin Yang, Yi-Jun Wu

Abstract

Abstract

Aims

To analyse whether some indoleacetic acid (IAA)-secreting plant growth-promoting bacteria can alleviate cadmium (Cd) stress, the role of an Ochrobactrum sp. MGJ11 from rhizosphere of soybean in promoting plant growth, and to evaluate the counteracting Cd effects on soybean.

Fish venoms are often poorly studied, in part due to the difficulty in obtaining, extracting, and storing them. In this study, we characterize the cardiovascular and neurotoxic effects of the venoms from the following six species of fish: the cartilaginous stingrays Neotrygon kuhlii and Himantura toshi, and the bony fish Platycephalus fucus, Girella tricuspidata, Mugil cephalus, and Dentex tumifrons. All venoms (10–100 μg/kg, i.v.), except G. tricuspidata and P.

Brochothrix thermosphacta is a dominant but poorly studied meat spoilage organism. It is a close relative of the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, and Brochothrix constitutes the second genus in the Listeriaceae family. Here, the genomes of 12 B. thermosphacta strains were sequenced, assembled into draft genomes, characterized, and compared with the genomes of Brochothrix campestris and L. monocytogenes.

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that can cause severe disease (listeriosis) in susceptible individuals. It is ubiquitous in the environment and often exhibits resistance to heavy metals. One of the determinants that enables Listeria to tolerate exposure to cadmium is the cadAC efflux system, with CadA being a P-type ATPase. Three different cadA genes (designated cadA1 to cadA3) were previously characterized in L. monocytogenes.

Publication date: Available online 14 February 2017
Food and Chemical Toxicology

Author(s): Victor Udo Nna, Umar Zayyanu Usman, Emmanuel Oleba Ofutet, Daniel Udofia Owu