Research Publications (Food Safety)

The objective of this study was to compare the minimum inhibitory concentrations of antimicrobials included in a commercial broth microdilution panel among Gram-positive pathogens that caused non-severe clinical mastitis on three Michigan dairy farms. Duplicate quarter milk samples were collected from eligible quarters of cows enrolled in a randomized clinical trial, cultured in a university laboratory, and identified using MALDI-TOF.

Livestock farms are major reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) that are discharged into the environment. However, the abundance, diversity, and transmission of ARGs in duck farms and its impact on surrounding environments remain to be further explored. Therefore, the characteristics of ARGs and their bacterial hosts from duck farms and surrounding environment were investigated by using metagenomic sequencing.

Antimicrobial peptides have been developed based on plant-derived molecular scaffolds for the treatment of infectious diseases. Chenopodin is an abundant seed storage protein in quinoa, an Andean plant with high nutritional and therapeutic properties. Here, we used computer- and physicochemical-based strategies and designed four peptides derived from the primary structure of Chenopodin.

Thermal inactivation studies were undertaken on Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. inoculated on the surface of country ham. Hams (average = ca. 3.4 ± 0.5 kg each; average = ca. ≥18% shrinkage) were used as provided by the processor (i.e., “salted hams”), desalted in tap water (i.e., “desalted hams”), or dried for an additional period (i.e., “extra dried hams”). Hams were surface inoculated (ca.

Introduction Staphylococcus aureus is a significant human pathogen that poses a threat to public health due to its association with foodborne contamination and a variety of infections. The factors contributing to the pathogenicity of S. aureus include virulence, drug resistance, and toxin production, making it essential to monitor their prevalence and genetic profiles. This study investigated and compared the genomic characteristics of S.

HMOs (Human milk oligosaccharide) has an impact on maternal and infant health. Colostrum samples of 70 breastfeeding women in China were collected and recorded clinical characteristics. The major oligosaccharides and microbiota were quantitated in colostrum. The concentration of fucosylated HMOs in primipara was higher than that of multipara (p = 0.030). The concentration of N-acetylated HMOs in vaginal delivery milk was less than that of cesarean (p = 0.038).

Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus are the most important food borne pathogen transmitting from animal meat and meat products. Therefore, it is vital to design an accurate and specific diagnostic tool for identifying those food-borne pathogens in animal meat and meat products. In the current study, E. coli, methicillin-resistant and sensitive S. aureus (MRSA and MSSA) were simultaneously detected using a developed triplex PCR-based technique.

Bacteriolytic myxobacteria are versatile micropredators and are proposed as potential biocontrol agents against diverse bacterial and fungal pathogens. Isolation of new myxobacteria species and exploration of effective predatory products are necessary for successful biocontrol of pathogens. In this study, a myxobacterium strain CY-1 was isolated from a soil sample of a pig farm using the Escherichia coli baiting method.

Plants of the genus Prangos are intensively investigated as potential new sources of bioactive isolated products. In this work, the chemical composition of volatile constituents (essential oils and headspace volatiles) and dichloromethane extracts, as well as antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of essential oils and MFDEs (methanol fractions of dichloromethane extracts) of Prangos trifida from Serbia, were investigated.

Mastitis, a highly prevalent disease in dairy cows, is responsible for massive financial losses due to decreased milk yield, milk quality, and costly medication. This research paper investigates antimicrobial susceptibility in cows and the role played by both resistance and virulence gene distribution in bovine mastitis. A total of 984 raw milk samples were collected from five different dairy farms and cultured on sheep blood agar plates.

This study aimed to genotypic and phenotypic analyses of the enterotoxigenic potential of Staphylococcus spp. isolated from raw milk and raw milk cheeses. The presence of genes encoding staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs), including the classical enterotoxins (sea-see), non-classical enterotoxins (seg-seu), exfoliative toxins (eta-etd) and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (tst-1) were investigated.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP22541 could inhibit Staphylococcus aureus growth in fermented milk through the production of antibacterial metabolites including volatiles and non‐volatiles, and manganese competitive exclusion. The antibacterial activity and mechanisms of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP22541 against Staphylococcus aureus in fermented milk were determined here. Results showed L. plantarum inhibited S. aureus in UHT and fermented milk.

Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus are common foodborne pathogens. We determined the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in feces and milk and the prevalence of S. aureus in milk from dairy cattle and camels in the Borana pastoral community in the Southern Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Paired individual cow composite (pooled from all quarters in equal proportions) milk and fecal samples were collected from cows (n = 154) and camels (n = 158).

Intelligent controlled release technologies that rely on environmental changes to control the release rate of antimicrobial agents have attracted attention in the field of food preservation. In this paper, cinnamaldehyde (CN) was grafted onto chitosan (CS) to form a pH-responsive controlled-release complex, CS–CN, via the Schiff base reaction. Then, tempo oxidized cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and PVA were prepared as aerogels loaded with CS–CN with different pore parameters (PCNF@CN).

The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles offers a non-toxic, eco-friendly, economical, and efficient solution against various microorganisms. The study aimed to investigate the utilization of cocoa bean shells for the production of silver nanoparticles through green synthesis, besides its characterization and evaluation against foodborne pathogens.

The consumption of raw milk or raw milk products might be a potential risk factor for the transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Therefore, we studied MRSA growth during raw milk soft cheese-production.

The strain Staphylococcus PT-1 was isolated from soy sauce mash and whole genome sequencing revealed it didn’t contain drug resistance genes and virulence genes. Salt tolerance test showed that PT-1 could withstand 20% NaCl. It was inoculated into a pork broth medium. Through volatile component detection, the content of pyrazine in the fermentation broth was 0.83% pyrazine and 1.36% 2, 5-dimethylpyrazine.

Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) has been widespread globally in pigs and humans for decades. Nasal colonization of LA-MRSA is regarded as an occupational hazard to people who are regularly involved in livestock production. Our previous study suggested pig-to-human transmission caused by LA-MRSA clonal complex (CC) 398, using traditional molecular typing methods.

Livestock-associated Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) has been of increasing concern due to its potential risk to humans. This study investigated the prevalence of MRSA in pig production in Eastern China and determined the genomic characteristics of pig-associated MRSA isolates by whole-genome sequencing (WGS). A total of 1,318 samples were collected from pig farms and pig slaughterhouses, and 150 S. aureus were identified, including 63 MRSA isolates and 87 MSSA isolates.

The early detection of major mastitis pathogens is crucial for the udder health management of dairy herds.

Momordica charantia (M. charantia) seeds are usually discarded; however, the oil extracted from seeds contains polyunsaturated fatty acids with potent antibacterial activity. Unfortunately, low extraction rate and instability of M. charantia seed oil (MCSO) limits its potential food applications. Therefore, it is crucial to explore industrial methods to increase the extraction yield and enhance stability of MCSO.

Background The effect of systemic treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) with telavancin, a semisynthetic lipoglycopeptide with good penetration in vitro biofilms, has not been tested in vivo during mechanical ventilation.

Abstract Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus) is a major pathogen that causes substantial losses in the marine fishery. With the emergence of antibiotic resistance, vaccines have become the most effective approach against V. parahaemolyticus infection. Adhesion factors on the cell surface are pivotal in the colonization and pathogenesis of V. parahaemolyticus within the host, highlighting their potential as vaccine candidates.

The study is aimed at estimating the possibility of using pomegranate peel extracts as a natural food preservative which was investigated in fish samples. All the extracts (cold water, hot water, and 70% methanol) have been tested against five bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Typhi, Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus subtilis) using the agar disc diffusion method. Hot water extract showed the best result against B. megaterium.

This study aimed to reveal the impact of bacterial dynamics on the quality and biogenic amine (BA) accumulation of dry-cured Chinese bacon (Larou). Physicochemical parameters, free amino acids, BAs, amino acid decarboxylase, and microbial profiles were determined, and their relationships were explored during Larou ripening and storage.