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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 51 - 75 of 305

  1. Colorimetric sensor based on peroxidase-like activity of chitosan coated on magnetic nanoparticles for rapid detection of the total bacterial count in raw milk

    • European Food Research and Technology
    • Recently, frequent outbreaks of foodborne diseases have attracted increasing attention, and how to rapidly detect foodborne pathogens has also become an urgent issue. Herein, we reported the colorimetric sensor based on chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles (CS@MNPs) for rapidly broad-spectrum detection of the total bacterial count, whose color change can be visible to the naked eye without any other sophisticated instruments.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Bacillus cereus
      • Cronobacter
      • Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli
      • Listeria monocytogenes
      • Salmonella
      • Staphylococcus aureus
  2. Development of DNA probes to detect Cronobacter sakazakii based on comparative genomics and its application in food samples

    • Food Control
    • The objective of this study was to develop new primer-probe set to detect Cronobacter sakazakii based on comparative genomics. Among 16 candidates of gene clusters from the results of panX analysis, gene annotated as type 1 fimbrial protein was selected as target of primer and sensitivity/selectivity of designed primer were confirmed with 59 strains.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  3. Validation of PhageDx™ Cronobacter Assay for the Identification of Cronobacter Spp. in Powdered Infant Formula: AOAC Performance Tested MethodSM 051803

    • Journal of AOAC INTERNATIONAL
    • Background The PhageDx™Cronobacter Assay is based on the infection of Cronobacter spp. by specific bacteriophages and expression of a luciferase reporter gene. Results are generated in as little as 18.5 h for powdered infant formula (PIF). Objective An AOAC Performance Tested MethodsSM (PTM) study was conducted to validate the PhageDx Cronobacter Assay for the detection of Cronobacter in 10, 100, and 300 g milk- and soy-based PIF test portions.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  4. Heat shock in Cronobacter sakazakii induces direct protection and cross-protection against simulated gastric fluid stress

    • Food Microbiology
      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  5. The maltose transporter subunit IICB of the phosphotransferase system: An important factor for biofilm formation of Cronobacter

    • International Journal of Food Microbiology
      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  6. Efficacy of slightly acidic electrolyzed water on inactivation of Cronobacter sakazakii and biofilm cell

    • The disinfection efficacy and mechanism of slightly acid electrolyzed water (SAEW) on Cronobacter sakazakii were investigated. SAEW solutions in three concentrations were carried on C. sakazakii which decreased in a range of 23%-55% in 2 minutes. The propidium iodide (PI) uptake and electronic microscopy (SEM) images indicated that SAEW treatment damaged cell integrity and changed membrane permeability with leaking nucleic acid (109.7%), intercellular protein (692.3%) and K + (53.6%).

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  7. Chemotaxis and Shorter O-Antigen Chain Length Contribute to the Strong Desiccation Tolerance of a Food-Isolated Cronobacter sakazakii Strain

    • Frontiers in Microbiology
    • Cronobacter sakazakii is an opportunistic pathogen causing a lethality rate as high as 80% in infants. Desiccation tolerance ensures its survival in powdered infant formula (PIF) and contributes to the increased exposure to neonates, resulting in neonatal meningitis, septicemia, and necrotizing enterocolitis. This study showed that a food-isolated C. sakazakii G4023 strain exhibited a stronger desiccation tolerance than C. sakazakii ATCC 29544 strain.

      • Bacterial pathogens
      • Cronobacter
  8. Synergistic combination of malic acid with sodium hypochlorite impairs biofilm of Cronobacter sakazakii

    • LWT
    • Author(s): Rajni Chauhan, Savita Kumari, Gunjan Goel, Wamik Azmi

      • Cronobacter
      • Bacterial pathogens
  9. The maltose transporter subunit IICB of the phosphotransferase system: An important factor for biofilm formation of Cronobacter

    • International Journal of Food Microbiology
    • Author(s): Xiangxiang Kong, Chunxia Li, Xiaodong Sun, Bing Niu, Dehua Guo, Yuan Jiang, Jielin Yang, Qin Chen

      • Cronobacter
      • Bacterial pathogens
  10. Evaluation of Cronobacter sakazakii biofilm formation after sdiA knockout in different osmotic pressure conditions

    • Food Research International
    • Author(s): Yifang Cao, Li Li, Yan Zhang, Fengsong Liu, Xinglong Xiao, Xiaofeng Li, Yigang Yu

      • Cronobacter
      • Bacterial pathogens
  11. Efficacy of slightly acidic electrolyzed water on inactivation of Cronobacter sakazakii and biofilm cell

    • Journal of Food Protection
    • The disinfection efficacy and mechanism of slightly acid electrolyzed water (SAEW) on Cronobacter sakazakii were investigated. SAEW solutions in three concentrations were carried on C. sakazakii which decreased in a range of 23%-55% in 2 minutes. The propidium iodide (PI) uptake and electronic microscopy (SEM) images indicated that SAEW treatment damaged cell integrity and changed membrane permeability with leaking nucleic acid (109.7%), intercellular protein (692.3%) and K + (53.6%).

      • Cronobacter
      • Bacterial pathogens
  12. Heat shock in Cronobacter sakazakii induces direct protection and cross-protection against simulated gastric fluid stress

    • Food Microbiology
    • Author(s): Hongmei Niu, MingzheYang, Yonghua Qi, Yangtai Liu, Xiang Wang, Qingli Dong

      • Cronobacter
      • Bacterial pathogens
  13. INTERPRETIVE SUMMARIES, NOVEMBER 2021

    • Journal of Dairy Science
    • Invited review: Stress resistance of Cronobacter spp. affecting control of its growth during food production. By Wang et al., page 11348. In this review, we summarized Cronobacter spp. isolated from a variety of sources, including dairy products. The environmental stress resistance of Cronobacter spp. and its influencing factors were analyzed. Stress resistance is the main reason for the presence of Cronobacter in food processing environments and final products.

      • Cronobacter
      • Bacterial pathogens
  14. Current and Future Perspectives on the Role of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics in Controlling Pathogenic Cronobacter Spp. in Infants

    • Frontiers in Microbiology
    • Cronobacter species, in particular C. sakazakii, is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen implicated in the development of potentially debilitating illnesses in infants (<12months old). The combination of a poorly developed immune system and gut microbiota put infants at a higher risk of infection compared to other age groups.

      • Cronobacter
      • Bacterial pathogens
  15. Involvement of PhoP/PhoQ two-component system in biofilm formation in Cronobacter sakazakii

    • Food Control
    • Author(s): Yan Ma, Yingying Zhang, Zhongguo Shan, Xin Wang, Xiaodong Xia

      • Cronobacter
      • Bacterial pathogens
  16. Null mutation in sspA of Cronobacter sakazakii influences its tolerance to environmental stress

    • Canadian Journal of Microbiology
    • Cronobacter sakazakii is a known foodborne opportunistic pathogen that can affect the intestinal health of infants. Despite undergoing complex manufacturing processes and low water concentration in the finished product, infant formula has been associated with Cronobacter infections, suggesting that the pathogenicity of C. sakazakii may be related to its tolerance to stress.

      • Cronobacter
      • Bacterial pathogens
  17. Isolation and characteristics of new phage JK004 and application to control Cronobacter sakazakii on material surfaces and powdered infant formula

    • LWT
    • Author(s): Lihan Wang, Xinyi Pang, Jiayuan Zhao, Haonan Jin, Xinyan Yang, Shiqian Fu, Shasha Cheng, Hongxuan Li, Chao Miao, Chaoxin Man, Yujun Jiang

      • Cronobacter
      • Bacterial pathogens
  18. In silico species identification and serotyping for Cronobacter isolates by use of whole-genome sequencing data

    • International Journal of Food Microbiology
    • Author(s): Lu Wang, Wenxuan Zhu, Gege Lu, Pan Wu, Yi Wei, Yingying Su, Tianyuan Jia, nxing Li Li, Xi Guo, Min Huang, Qian Yang

      • Cronobacter
      • Bacterial pathogens
  19. A simple and sensitive aptasensor with rolling circle amplification for viable Cronobacter sakazakii detection in powdered infant formula

    • Journal of Dairy Science
    • Cronobacter sakazakii is a foodborne, emerging opportunistic pathogen that causes severe bacteremia, necrotizing enterocolitis, and sepsis with a mortality rate of up to 80%. In this study, we developed a simple and sensitive fluorescent turn-off aptasensor with rolling circle amplification assay for viable C. sakazakii detection in powdered infant formula. The results showed that the proposed aptasensor has good performance and specificity for detecting viable C.

      • Cronobacter
      • Bacterial pathogens
  20. Invited review: Stress resistance of Cronobacter spp. affecting control of its growth during food production

    • Journal of Dairy Science
    • Members of the Cronobacter genus include food-borne pathogens that can cause infections in infants, with a mortality rate as high as 40 to 80%. The high fatality rate of Cronobacter and its isolation from numerous types of food, especially from powdered infant formula, demonstrate the serious nature of this organism. The source tracking of Cronobacter spp. and the analysis of high-frequency species from different sources are helpful for a more targeted control.

      • Cronobacter
      • Bacterial pathogens
  21. Genomic Landscape and Phenotypic Assessment of Cronobacter sakazakii Isolated From Raw Material, Environment, and Production Facilities in Powdered Infant Formula Factories in China

    • Frontiers in Microbiology
    • Cronobacter is a foodborne pathogen associated with severe infections and high mortality in neonates. The bacterium may also cause gastroenteritis, septicemia, and urinary tract and wound infectious in adults.

      • Cronobacter
      • Bacterial pathogens
  22. Profiling the Virulence and Antibiotic Resistance Genes of Cronobacter sakazakii Strains Isolated From Powdered and Dairy Formulas by Whole-Genome Sequencing

    • Frontiers in Microbiology
    • Cronobacter sakazakii is an enteropathogen that causes neonatal meningitis, septicemia, and necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants and newborns with a mortality rate of 15 to 80%. Powdered and dairy formulas (P-DF) have been implicated as major transmission vehicles and subsequently the presence of this pathogen in P-DF led to product recalls in Chile in 2017.

      • Cronobacter
      • Bacterial pathogens
  23. Function Characterization of Endogenous Plasmids in Cronobacter sakazakii and Identification of p-Coumaric Acid as Plasmid-Curing Agent

    • Frontiers in Microbiology
    • Virulence traits and antibiotic resistance are frequently provided by genes located on plasmids. However, experimental verification of the functions of these genes is often lacking due to a lack of related experimental technology. In the present study, an integrated suicide vector was used to efficiently and specifically delete a bacterial endogenous plasmid in Cronobacter sakazakii. The pESA3 plasmid was removed from C.

      • Cronobacter
      • Bacterial pathogens
  24. Role of sigma factor RpoS in Cronobacter sakazakii environmental stress tolerance

    • Bioengineered
    • Cronobacter sakazakii is a food-borne, conditionally pathogenic bacterium that mainly infects neonates, especially premature infants. Previous studies have indicated that an important route of infection for C. sakazakii is through infant formula, suggesting a high stress resistance of the bacterium. RpoS is a σ-factor that is closely related to the bacterial resistance mechanisms. In this study, a C. sakazakii BAA894 model strain was used.

      • Cronobacter
      • Bacterial pathogens
  25. Comparative genomics reveals environmental adaptation differences between Cronobacter species

    • Food Research International
    • Author(s): Xue Qin, Hao Wang, Chao Miao, Xinyan Yang, Yanming Zhang, Jing Feng, Stephen J. Forsythe, Chaoxin Man, Yujun Jiang

      • Cronobacter
      • Bacterial pathogens