Research Publications (Food Safety)

The production of itaconate by macrophages was only discovered in 2011. An increasing number of studies have since revealed essential biological functions for this small molecule, ranging from antimicrobial to immunomodulator.

Fatal exudative dermatitis (FED) is a significant cause of death of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) on the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands where it is associated with a virulent clone of Staphylococcus aureus, ST49. S.

Introduction. New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae has become a serious global health concern.

Antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli , particularly those resistant to critically important antimicrobials, are increasingly reported in wildlife.

An SNP is a spontaneous genetic change having a potential to modify the functions of the original genes and to lead to phenotypic diversity of bacteria in nature.

The virulence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus is variable depending on its virulence determinants. A V.

Increasing antimicrobial resistance and limited alternative treatments have led to fluoroquinolone-resistant Shigella strain inclusion on the WHO global priority pathogens list.

Metagenomics is a valuable diagnostic tool for enhancing microbial food safety because (i) it enables the untargeted detection of pathogens, (ii) it is fast since primary isolation of micro-organisms is not required, and (iii) it has high discriminatory power allowing for a detailed molecular characterization of pathogens. For shotgun metagenomics, total nucleic acids (NAs) are isolated from complex samples such as foodstuff.

Understanding the dynamics and mechanisms of acquired drug resistance across major classes of antibiotics and bacterial pathogens is of critical importance for the optimization of current anti-infective therapies and the development of novel ones. To systematically address this challenge, we developed a workflow combining experimental evolution in a morbidostat continuous culturing device with deep genomic sequencing of population samples collected in time series.

Vaginal dysbiosis-induced by an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria is referred to as bacterial vaginosis (BV). The dysbiosis is associated with an increased risk for acquisition of sexually transmitted infections. Women with symptomatic BV are treated with oral metronidazole (MET), but its effectiveness remains to be elucidated. This study used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to determine the changes in the microbiota among women treated with MET.

Introduction. Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABSC) is an environmental organism and opportunistic pathogen. MABSC pulmonary infections in people with cystic fibrosis are of growing clinical concern. Resistance data guide the use of macrolides and amikacin in MABSC pulmonary disease treatment.

Introduction. The simultaneous use of antifungals with immunosuppressive agents has become a necessity for patients taking immunosuppressive therapy. However, antifungal drugs are problematic because of their limited target.

Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen accounting for the majority of cases of Candida infections. Currently, C. albicans are developing resistance towards different classes of antifungal drugs and this has become a global health burden that does not spare Lebanon.

The Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) is a closely related group of bacteria, composed of at least 20 different species, the accurate identification of which is essential in the context of infectious diseases. In industry, they can contaminate non-food products, including home and personal care products and cosmetics.

Despite the recent advances in sequencing technologies, the complete assembly of multi-chromosome genomes of the Vibrionaceae , often containing several plasmids, remains challenging.

Micro-organisms contribute to Earth’s mineral deposits through a process known as bacteria-induced mineral precipitation (BIMP). It is a complex phenomenon that can occur as a result of a variety of physiological activities that influence the supersaturation state and nucleation catalysis of mineral precipitation in the environment. There is a good understanding of BIMP induced by bacterial metabolism through the control of metal redox states and enzyme-mediated reactions such as ureolysis.

Introduction. Cholix toxin (ChxA) is an ADP-ribosylating exotoxin produced by Vibrio cholerae .

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has caused a pandemic with tens of millions of cases and more than a million deaths. The infection causes COVID-19, a disease of the respiratory system of divergent severity. No treatment exists. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major component of green tea, has several beneficial properties, including antiviral activities. Therefore, we examined whether EGCG has antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2.

Food-borne outbreak investigation currently relies on the time-consuming and challenging bacterial isolation from food, to be able to link food-derived strains to more easily obtained isolates from infected people. When no food isolate can be obtained, the source of the outbreak cannot be unambiguously determined.

As the representative multidrug-resistant pathogen, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia has multiple intrinsic and acquired resistances, including carbapenem resistance.

The increasing use of PCR for the detection of gastrointestinal pathogens in hospital laboratories in England has improved the detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), and the diagnosis of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS).

Introduction. Carbapenem resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii ( A. baumannii ) is an emerging global threat.

Vibrio cholerae

can survive environmental adversities by entering into a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state and is able to resuscitate under favourable conditions. In this study, an environmental strain of

Listeria monocytogenes

In contrast to obligate intracellular pathogens that can remain in relatively stable host-associated environments, the soil-living bacterial pathogen

Listeria monocytogenes