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Kalpana P, Falkenberg T, Yasobant S, Saxena D, Schreiber C. Agroecosystem exploration for Antimicrobial Resistance in Ahmedabad, India: A Study Protocol. F1000Res 2024; 12:316. [PMID: 38644926 PMCID: PMC11026950 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.131679.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as one of the leading threats to public health. AMR possesses a multidimensional challenge that has social, economic, and environmental dimensions that encompass the food production system, influencing human and animal health. The One Health approach highlights the inextricable linkage and interdependence between the health of people, animal, agriculture, and the environment. Antibiotic use in any of these areas can potentially impact the health of others. There is a dearth of evidence on AMR from the natural environment, such as the plant-based agriculture sector. Antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), and related AMR genes (ARGs) are assumed to present in the natural environment and disseminate resistance to fresh produce/vegetables and thus to human health upon consumption. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the role of vegetables in the spread of AMR through an agroecosystem exploration in Ahmedabad, India. Protocol The present study will be executed in Ahmedabad, located in Gujarat state in the Western part of India, by adopting a mixed-method approach. First, a systematic review will be conducted to document the prevalence of ARB and ARGs on fresh produce in South Asia. Second, agriculture farmland surveys will be used to collect the general farming practices and the data on common vegetables consumed raw by the households in Ahmedabad. Third, vegetable and soil samples will be collected from the selected agriculture farms and analyzed for the presence or absence of ARB and ARGs using standard microbiological and molecular methods. Discussion The analysis will help to understand the spread of ARB/ARGs through the agroecosystem. This is anticipated to provide an insight into the current state of ARB/ARGs contamination of fresh produce/vegetables and will assist in identifying the relevant strategies for effectively controlling and preventing the spread of AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pachillu Kalpana
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bonn, Bonn, NRW, 53113, Germany
- One Health Graduate School, Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Bonn, NRW, 53113, Germany
| | - Timo Falkenberg
- One Health Graduate School, Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Bonn, NRW, 53113, Germany
- Institute for Hygiene and Public Health (IHPH), Universitätsklinikum Bonn (University Hospital Bonn), Bonn, NRW, 53127, Germany
| | - Sandul Yasobant
- One Health Graduate School, Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Bonn, NRW, 53113, Germany
- Institute for Hygiene and Public Health (IHPH), Universitätsklinikum Bonn (University Hospital Bonn), Bonn, NRW, 53127, Germany
- School of Epidemiology & Public Health, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (DMIMS), Wardha, Maharastra, 442004, India
- Centre for One Health Education, Research & Development (COHERD), Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar (IIPHG), Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 382042, India
| | - Deepak Saxena
- School of Epidemiology & Public Health, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (DMIMS), Wardha, Maharastra, 442004, India
- Centre for One Health Education, Research & Development (COHERD), Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar (IIPHG), Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 382042, India
| | - Christiane Schreiber
- Institute for Hygiene and Public Health (IHPH), Universitätsklinikum Bonn (University Hospital Bonn), Bonn, NRW, 53127, Germany
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Zou J, Wong J, Lee CR, Nitin N, Wang L, Sun G. Protein-Based Rechargeable and Replaceable Antimicrobial and Antifouling Coatings on Hydrophobic Food-Contact Surfaces. ACS Appl Bio Mater 2024; 7:1842-1851. [PMID: 38416807 PMCID: PMC10951945 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c01247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
The growing concerns regarding foodborne illnesses related to fresh produce accentuate the necessity for innovative material solutions, particularly on surfaces that come into close contact with foods. This study introduces a sustainable, efficient, and removable antimicrobial and antifouling coating ideally suited for hydrophobic food-contact surfaces such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Developed through a crosslinking reaction involving tannic acid, gelatin, and soy protein hydrolysate, these coatings exhibit proper stability in aqueous washing solutions and effectively combat bacterial contamination and prevent biofilm formation. The unique surface architecture promotes the formation of halamine structures, enhancing antimicrobial efficacy with a rapid contact killing effect and reducing microbial contamination by up to 5 log10 cfu·cm-2 against both Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Listeria innocua (Gram-positive). Notably, the coatings are designed for at least five recharging cycles under mild conditions (pH6, 20 ppm free active chlorine) and can be easily removed with hot water or steam to refresh the depositions. This removal process not only conveniently aligns with existing sanitation protocols in the fresh produce industry but also facilitates the complete eradication of potential developed biofilms, outperforming uncoated LDPE coupons. Overall, these coatings represent sustainable, cost-effective, and practical advancements in food safety and are promising candidates for widespread adoption in food processing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahan Zou
- Department
of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Jody Wong
- Department
of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Chih-Rong Lee
- Department
of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Nitin Nitin
- Department
of Food Science and Technology, University
of California, One Shields
Avenue, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Luxin Wang
- Department
of Food Science and Technology, University
of California, One Shields
Avenue, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Gang Sun
- Department
of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, United States
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Su J, Gao Y, Yang Y, Fan P, Zhou Z, Wang Z, Zhang X, Fang L. Natural Polysaccharide Film-Based Triboelectric Sensor for Fruit Transportation Collision Monitoring. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2024. [PMID: 38427325 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c17241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Transportation-induced damage to fresh produce is a big challenge in logistics. Current acceleration and pressure sensors for collision monitoring face issues of power dependency, high cost, and environmental concerns. Here, a self-powered and environmentally friendly triboelectric sensor has been developed to monitor fruit collisions in transportation packaging. Microcrystalline cellulose/chitosan and sodium alginate films were prepared as positive and negative tribo-layers to assemble a natural polysaccharide film-based triboelectric nanogenerator (NP-TENG). The NP-TENG's electrical output was proportional to the structure parameters (contact surface roughness and separation gap of the tribo-layers) and the vibration factors (force and frequency) and exhibited excellent stability and durability (over 100,000 cycles under 13 N at 10 Hz). The high mechanical-to-electrical conversion efficiency (instantaneous areal power density of 9.6 mW/m2) and force sensitivity (2.2 V/N) enabled the NP-TENG to be a potential sensor for monitoring fresh produce collisions in packaging during logistics. Transportation simulation measurements of kiwifruits verified that the sensor's electrical outputs increased with the vibration frequency and stacking layer while varying at different packaging locations. This study suggests that the NP-TENG can effectively monitor collision damage during fruit transportation, providing new insights into developing intelligent food packaging systems to reduce postharvest supply chain losses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyu Su
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, Guangdong, China
- China-Singapore International Joint Research Institute, Guangzhou 510700, Guangdong, China
| | - Ya Gao
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, Guangdong, China
- China-Singapore International Joint Research Institute, Guangzhou 510700, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuan Yang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, Guangdong, China
| | - Penghui Fan
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, Guangdong, China
- China-Singapore International Joint Research Institute, Guangzhou 510700, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhenlong Zhou
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, Guangdong, China
- China-Singapore International Joint Research Institute, Guangzhou 510700, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhongxiang Wang
- China Rural Technology Development Center, No. 54 Sanlihe Road, Xicheng District, Beijing 100045, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Zhang
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, Guangdong, China
| | - Liming Fang
- China-Singapore International Joint Research Institute, Guangzhou 510700, Guangdong, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Technique and Equipment for Macromolecular Advanced Manufacturing, South China University of Technology, Wushan 381, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510641, China
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Jacob C, Student J, Bridges DF, Chu W, Porwollik S, McClelland M, Melotto M. Intraspecies competition among Salmonella enterica isolates in the lettuce leaf apoplast. Front Plant Sci 2024; 15:1302047. [PMID: 38352648 PMCID: PMC10861783 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1302047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Multiple Salmonella enterica serovars and strains have been reported to be able to persist inside the foliar tissue of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), potentially resisting washing steps and reaching the consumer. Intraspecies variation of the bacterial pathogen and of the plant host can both significantly affect the outcome of foliar colonization. However, current understanding of the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon is still very limited. In this study, we evaluated the foliar fitness of 14 genetically barcoded S. enterica isolates from 10 different serovars, collected from plant and animal sources. The S. enterica isolates were vacuum-infiltrated individually or in pools into the leaves of three- to four-week-old lettuce plants. To estimate the survival capacity of individual isolates, we enumerated the bacterial populations at 0- and 10- days post-inoculation (DPI) and calculated their net growth. The competition of isolates in the lettuce apoplast was assessed through the determination of the relative abundance change of barcode counts of each isolate within pools during the 10 DPI experimental period. Isolates exhibiting varying apoplast fitness phenotypes were used to evaluate their capacity to grow in metabolites extracted from the lettuce apoplast and to elicit the reactive oxygen species burst immune response. Our study revealed that strains of S. enterica can substantially differ in their ability to survive and compete in a co-inhabited lettuce leaf apoplast. The differential foliar fitness observed among these S. enterica isolates might be explained, in part, by their ability to utilize nutrients available in the apoplast and to evade plant immune responses in this niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristián Jacob
- Departamento de Ciencias Vegetales, Facultad de Agronomía y Sistemas Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Joseph Student
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Horticulture and Agronomy Graduate Program, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - David F. Bridges
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Plant Biology Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Weiping Chu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Steffen Porwollik
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Michael McClelland
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Maeli Melotto
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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Amarasekara NR, Swamy AS, Paudel SK, Jiang W, Li K, Shen C, Zhang Y. Hypervirulent clonal complex (CC) of Listeria monocytogenes in fresh produce from urban communities. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1307610. [PMID: 38348192 PMCID: PMC10859469 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1307610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction This study aimed to determine the prevalence and virulome of Listeria in fresh produce distributed in urban communities. Methods A total of 432 fresh produce samples were collected from farmer's markets in Michigan and West Virginia, USA, resulting in 109 pooled samples. Listeria spp. were isolated and L. monocytogenes was subjected to genoserogrouping by PCR and genotyping by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and core-genome multi-locus sequence typing (cgMLST) were conducted for clonal identification. Results Forty-eight of 109 samples (44.0%) were contaminated with Listeria spp. L. monocytogenes serotype 1/2a and 4b were recovered from radishes, potatoes, and romaine lettuce. Four clonal complexes (CC) were identified and included hypervirulent CC1 (ST1) and CC4 (ST219) of lineage I as well as CC7 (ST7) and CC11 (ST451) of lineage II. Clones CC4 and CC7 were present in the same romaine lettuce sample. CC1 carried Listeria pathogenicity island LIPI-1 and LIPI-3 whereas CC4 contained LIPI-1, LIPI-3, and LIPI-4. CC7 and CC11 had LIPI-1 only. Discussion Due to previous implication in outbreaks, L. monocytogenes hypervirulent clones in fresh produce pose a public health concern in urban communities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amrita Subramanya Swamy
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Sumit Kumar Paudel
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Wentao Jiang
- Davis College, Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - KaWang Li
- Davis College, Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - Cangliang Shen
- Davis College, Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - Yifan Zhang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
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Kaur N, Somasundram C, Razali Z, Mourad AHI, Hamed F, Ahmed ZFR. Aloe vera/Chitosan-Based Edible Film with Enhanced Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Thermal, and Barrier Properties for Sustainable Food Preservation. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:242. [PMID: 38257041 PMCID: PMC10821446 DOI: 10.3390/polym16020242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Food bioactive packaging has received increasing attention from consumers and the food industry for its potential to reduce food waste and environmental issues. Several materials can be used to produce edible films/coats; however, bio-based, cost-effective, and sustainable coatings have gained a high reputation these days. For instance, Aloe vera gel (AV) is a promising bio-based material for edible coatings and films; therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the film-forming abilities of AV and Chitosan (CH) combination as a potential active food packaging material. The physicochemical and mechanical characteristics of formed films of various combinations were prepared at different concentrations, i.e., CH (0.5% w/v), AV (100%), CH:AV (75:25), and CH:AV (60:40). The results showed significant differences among all the prepared edible films wherein these differences were mainly on account of incorporating AV gel. The rheological and antioxidant properties of the formulations improved with the inclusion of AV gel. The films composed of CH:AV (60:40) positively affected the water solubility, thermal properties, and water vapour permeability of the edible films. The X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that the films composed of CH:AV, (60:40) were amorphous and had smooth morphology. Further, the edible film solutions were applied to fresh figs (Ficus carica) to investigate their role in preserving fruits during storage. A significant reduction in microbial growth was found in coated fruits after 28 days of cold storage. The films composed of CH and AV showed overall improved results compared to the CH (0.5%, w/v). Therefore, the used formulations (CH:AV, 60:40) can form a sustainable film that has the potential to be utilized for fresh product preservation to maintain its quality and shelf life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navjot Kaur
- Department of Integrative Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Chandran Somasundram
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; (C.S.); (Z.R.)
- The Center for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture (CEBAR), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Zuliana Razali
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; (C.S.); (Z.R.)
- The Center for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture (CEBAR), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Abdel-Hamid I. Mourad
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Fathalla Hamed
- Department of Physics, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Zienab F. R. Ahmed
- Department of Integrative Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates;
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Stanosheck JA, Castell-Perez ME, Moreira RG, King MD, Castillo A. Oversampling methods for machine learning model data training to improve model capabilities to predict the presence of Escherichia coli MG1655 in spinach wash water. J Food Sci 2024; 89:150-173. [PMID: 38051016 DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.16850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
We assessed the efficacy of oversampling techniques to enhance machine learning model performance in predicting Escherichia coli MG1655 presence in spinach wash water. Three oversampling methods were applied to balance two datasets, forming the basis for training random forest (RF), support vector machines (SVMs), and binomial logistic regression (BLR) models. Data underwent method-specific centering and standardization, with outliers replaced by feature-specific means in training datasets. Testing occurred without these preprocessing steps. Model hyperparameters were optimized using a subset of testing data via 10-fold cross-validation. Models were trained on full datasets and tested on newly acquired spinach wash water samples. Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) and Adaptive Synthetic Sampling approach (ADASYN) achieved strong results, with SMOTE RF reaching an accuracy of 90.0%, sensitivity of 93.8%, specificity of 87.5%, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 98.2% (without data preprocessing) and ADASYN achieving 86.55% accuracy, 87.5% sensitivity, 83.3% specificity, and a 92.4% AUC. SMOTE and ADASYN significantly improved (p < 0.05) SVM and RF models, compared to their non-oversampled counterparts without preprocessing. Data preprocessing had a mixed impact, improving (p < 0.05) the accuracy and specificity of the BLR model but decreasing the accuracy and specificity (p < 0.05) of the SVM and RF models. The most influential physiochemical feature for E. coli detection in wash water was water conductivity, ranging from 7.9 to 196.2 µS. Following closely was water turbidity, ranging from 2.97 to 72.35 NTU within this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob A Stanosheck
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - M Elena Castell-Perez
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Rosana G Moreira
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Maria D King
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Alejandro Castillo
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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Krasnow C, Ziv C, Nitzan N. First Report of Alternaria alternata Causing Decay in Exported Sweet Basil During Freight from Israel to Europe. Plant Dis 2024; 108:41-44. [PMID: 37592429 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-05-23-1026-sc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is an important spice herb grown in Israel for local markets and export. The crop is used as a fresh culinary herb or spice, and the essential oils are used in cosmetics and food flavorings. Due to increased demand, the production area of basil has increased in Israel. Postharvest losses due to fungal disease are a major economic concern for growers. In the summer of 2019, a leaf spot was observed in postharvest shipments of sweet basil destined for Europe; in late winter of 2022, leaf spots were observed on greenhouse-grown sweet basil. Fungal isolates from infected leaves were characterized by morphology in culture as Alternaria spp. PCR amplification of the Alternaria major allergen Alt a1, ITS, and gdp gene regions of the recovered isolates confirmed the presence of A. alternata, a common pathogen of numerous herbs and spice plants. In vitro growth tests demonstrated that 25°C was the optimum temperature for growth of the isolates. The isolates were tested for pathogenicity and found to infect a commonly grown cultivar of basil, cultivar Eli (previously cultivar Perrie). Foliar symptoms in pathogenicity tests were identical to those observed in commercial shipments and in the field, which completed Koch's postulates. Control of the nascent disease by applying fungicides to the plants may be necessary to reduce postharvest losses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Krasnow
- Department of Postharvest Science, Agriculture Research Organization, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
- Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Carmit Ziv
- Department of Postharvest Science, Agriculture Research Organization, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
| | - Nadav Nitzan
- Plant Pathology Unit, Valley of Springs Research and Extension Center, Beit She'an 11710, Israel
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Neetoo H, Juggoo K, Johaheer H, Ranghoo-Sanmukhiya M, Manoga Z, Gurib N. A study on the occurrence of human enteric viruses in salad vegetables and seafood and associated health risks for consumers in Mauritius. Ital J Food Saf 2023; 12:11447. [PMID: 38116372 PMCID: PMC10726392 DOI: 10.4081/ijfs.2023.11447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Norovirus (NOV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) are human enteric viruses of major concern worldwide. Salad vegetables and molluscan shellfish are highly susceptible to contamination by NOV and HAV and can pose a health threat when consumed raw. The objective of this study was to determine the occurrence of NOV and HAV in lettuce, watercress, tomatoes, and oysters using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and assess the health risks associated with the consumption of these commodities by semiquantitative risk assessment. The occurrence of NOV in vegetables ranked in the following decreasing order: lettuce (36%) > watercress (16%) > tomatoes (4%). However, HAV was more frequently detected in watercress (56%), compared to lettuce or tomatoes (12%). Additionally, NOV was detected in oysters (60%). The risk assessment exercise pointed to a medium-risk score of contracting a foodborne illness of viral origin for consumers eating fresh watercress or oysters. Future research will ascertain the presence of these enteric viruses in a broader range of food commodities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hudaa Neetoo
- Department of Agriculture and Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Moka, Mauritius
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Bolten S, Belias A, Weigand KA, Pajor M, Qian C, Ivanek R, Wiedmann M. Population dynamics of Listeria spp., Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli on fresh produce: A scoping review. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 2023; 22:4537-4572. [PMID: 37942966 DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.13233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Collation of the current scope of literature related to population dynamics (i.e., growth, die-off, survival) of foodborne pathogens on fresh produce can aid in informing future research directions and help stakeholders identify relevant research literature. A scoping review was conducted to gather and synthesize literature that investigates population dynamics of pathogenic and non-pathogenic Listeria spp., Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli on whole unprocessed fresh produce (defined as produce not having undergone chopping, cutting, homogenization, irradiation, or pasteurization). Literature sources were identified using an exhaustive search of research and industry reports published prior to September 23, 2021, followed by screening for relevance based on strict, a priori eligibility criteria. A total of 277 studies that met all eligibility criteria were subjected to an in-depth qualitative review of various factors (e.g., produce commodities, study settings, inoculation methodologies) that affect population dynamics. Included studies represent investigations of population dynamics on produce before (i.e., pre-harvest; n = 143) and after (i.e., post-harvest; n = 144) harvest. Several knowledge gaps were identified, including the limited representation of (i) pre-harvest studies that investigated population dynamics of Listeria spp. on produce (n = 13, 9% of pre-harvest studies), (ii) pre-harvest studies that were carried out on non-sprouts produce types grown using hydroponic cultivation practices (n = 7, 5% of pre-harvest studies), and (iii) post-harvest studies that reported the relative humidity conditions under which experiments were carried out (n = 56, 39% of post-harvest studies). These and other knowledge gaps summarized in this scoping review represent areas of research that can be investigated in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Bolten
- Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Alexandra Belias
- Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Kelly A Weigand
- Cary Veterinary Medical Library, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
- Flower-Sprecher Veterinary Library, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Magdalena Pajor
- Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Chenhao Qian
- Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Renata Ivanek
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Martin Wiedmann
- Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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11
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Boateng ID. A review of solar and solar-assisted drying of fresh produce: state of the art, drying kinetics, and product qualities. J Sci Food Agric 2023; 103:6137-6149. [PMID: 37097259 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.12660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Global demand exists for high-quality fresh produce. Nevertheless, the quality of fresh produce is severely impacted by its perishability due to its high moisture content. Therefore, fresh produces are preserved using artificial dryers (hot-air dryers, catalytic infrared dryers, etc.) driven by electricity or natural fuels. Nonetheless, the exorbitant cost of power has heightened the need for sustainable resources, notably solar energy, for drying. Hence, this article is a review of how solar dryers and solar-assisted dryers have affected the drying kinetics and quality of fresh produce in the last 5 years. The review showed that solar drying modeling technology (thin-layer modeling, computational fluid dynamics, adaptive-network-based fuzzy interference system, artificial neural network) helps examine fresh produce drying characteristics using various simulation tools before developing any procedure. Solar-assisted drying shortens drying times and increases drying rates. Besides, the quality of the dried fresh produce (color, aroma, appearance, rehydration, etc.) should always be considered. Hybrid solar drying produces higher drying rates and product quality than other solar dryers. However, energy analysis needs to be done as several studies have recognized energy efficiency and product quality. In addition, fresh produce must be pre-treated before solar drying to maintain the final product quality. Therefore, future studies should focus on creating other pretreatment techniques to produce the needed chemical and physical changes and enhance mass and heat transfer. Finally, the influence of solar drying on the final products' nutrient retention or loss, functionalities, or sensory characteristics needs further investigation and comparison to other non-solar drying technologies. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Duah Boateng
- Division of Food, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Kumasi Cheshire Home, Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana
- Organization of African Academic Doctors, Nairobi, Kenya
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12
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Han M, Schierstaedt J, Duan Y, Nietschke M, Jechalke S, Wolf J, Hensel M, Neumann-Schaal M, Schikora A. Salmonella enterica relies on carbon metabolism to adapt to agricultural environments. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1213016. [PMID: 37744895 PMCID: PMC10513388 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1213016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Salmonella enterica, a foodborne and human pathogen, is a constant threat to human health. Agricultural environments, for example, soil and plants, can be ecological niches and vectors for Salmonella transmission. Salmonella persistence in such environments increases the risk for consumers. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the mechanisms used by Salmonella to adapt to agricultural environments. We assessed the adaptation strategy of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium strain 14028s to agricultural-relevant situations by analyzing the abundance of intermediates in glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid pathway in tested environments (diluvial sand soil suspension and leaf-based media from tomato and lettuce), as well as in bacterial cells grown in such conditions. By reanalyzing the transcriptome data of Salmonella grown in those environments and using an independent RT-qPCR approach for verification, several genes were identified as important for persistence in root or leaf tissues, including the pyruvate dehydrogenase subunit E1 encoding gene aceE. In vivo persistence assay in tomato leaves confirmed the crucial role of aceE. A mutant in another tomato leaf persistence-related gene, aceB, encoding malate synthase A, displayed opposite persistence features. By comparing the metabolites and gene expression of the wild-type strain and its aceB mutant, fumarate accumulation was discovered as a potential way to replenish the effects of the aceB mutation. Our research interprets the mechanism of S. enterica adaptation to agriculture by adapting its carbon metabolism to the carbon sources available in the environment. These insights may assist in the development of strategies aimed at diminishing Salmonella persistence in food production systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Han
- Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI), Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jasper Schierstaedt
- Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI), Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Braunschweig, Germany
- Department Plant-Microbe Systems, Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), Großbeeren, Germany
| | - Yongming Duan
- Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI), Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Monika Nietschke
- Division of Microbiology, Biology/Chemistry, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Sven Jechalke
- Institute of Phytopathology, Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition (IFZ), Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Gießen, Germany
| | - Jacqueline Wolf
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michael Hensel
- Division of Microbiology, Biology/Chemistry, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Meina Neumann-Schaal
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Adam Schikora
- Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI), Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Braunschweig, Germany
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13
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Msimango T, Duvenage S, Du Plessis EM, Korsten L. Microbiological quality assessment of fresh produce: Potential health risk to children and urgent need for improved food safety in school feeding schemes. Food Sci Nutr 2023; 11:5501-5511. [PMID: 37701226 PMCID: PMC10494634 DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.3506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
About 388 million school-going children worldwide benefit from school feeding schemes, which make use of fresh produce to prepare meals. Fresh produce including leafy greens and other vegetables were served at 37% and 31% of school feeding programs, respectively, in Africa. This study aimed at assessing the microbiological quality of fresh produce grown onsite or supplied to South African schools that are part of the national school feeding programs that benefit over 9 million school-going children. Coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterobacteriaceae, and Staphylococcus aureus were enumerated from fresh produce (n = 321) samples. The occurrence of E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae was determined. Presumptive pathogens were tested for antimicrobial resistance. E. coli was further tested for diarrheagenic virulence genes. Enterobacteriaceae on 62.5% of fresh produce samples (200/321) exceeded previous microbiological guidelines for ready-to-eat food, while 86% (276/321 samples) and 31.6% (101/321 samples) exceeded coliform and E. coli criteria, respectively. A total of 76 Enterobacteriaceae were isolated from fresh produce including E. coli (n = 43), Enterobacter spp. (n = 15), and Klebsiella spp. (n = 18). Extended-spectrum β-lactamase production was confirmed in 11 E. coli, 13 Enterobacter spp., and 17 Klebsiella spp. isolates. No diarrheagenic virulence genes were detected in E. coli isolates. However, multidrug resistance (MDR) was found in 60.5% (26/43) of the E. coli isolates, while all (100%; n = 41) of the confirmed ESBL and AmpC Enterobacteriaceae showed MDR. Our study indicates the reality of the potential health risk that contaminated fresh produce may pose to school-going children, especially with the growing food safety challenges and antimicrobial resistance crisis globally. This also shows that improved food safety approaches to prevent foodborne illness and the spread of foodborne pathogens through the food served by school feeding schemes are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thabang Msimango
- Department of Plant and Soil SciencesUniversity of PretoriaPretoriaSouth Africa
- Department of Science and Innovation‐National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence in Food SecurityPretoriaSouth Africa
| | - Stacey Duvenage
- Natural Resources Institute, Faculty of Engineering and ScienceUniversity of GreenwichLondonUK
| | - Erika M. Du Plessis
- Department of Plant and Soil SciencesUniversity of PretoriaPretoriaSouth Africa
- Department of Science and Innovation‐National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence in Food SecurityPretoriaSouth Africa
| | - Lise Korsten
- Department of Plant and Soil SciencesUniversity of PretoriaPretoriaSouth Africa
- Department of Science and Innovation‐National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence in Food SecurityPretoriaSouth Africa
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14
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Gómez-Galindo M, Truchado P, Allende A, Gil MI. Optimization of the Use of a Commercial Phage-Based Product as a Control Strategy of Listeria monocytogenes in the Fresh-Cut Industry. Foods 2023; 12:3171. [PMID: 37685104 PMCID: PMC10487045 DOI: 10.3390/foods12173171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
A commercial phage biocontrol for reducing Listeria monocytogenes has been described as an effective tool for improving fresh produce safety. Critical challenges in the phage application must be overcome for the industrial application. The validation studies were performed in two processing lines of two industry collaborators in Spain and Denmark, using shredded iceberg lettuce as the ready-to-eat (RTE), high process volume product. The biocontrol treatment optimized in lab-scale trials for the application of PhageGuard ListexTM was confirmed in industrial settings by four tests, two in Spain and two in Denmark. Results showed that the method of application that included the device and the processing operation step was appropriate for the proper application. The proper dose of Phage Guard ListexTM was reached in shredded iceberg lettuce and the surface was adequately covered for the successful application of phages. There was no impact on the headspace gas composition (CO2 and O2 levels), nor on the color when untreated and treated samples were compared. The post-process treatment with PhageGuard ListexTM did not cause any detrimental impact on the sensory quality, including flavor, texture, browning, spoilage, and visual appearance over the shelf-life as the phage solution was applied as a fine, mist solution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Maria I. Gil
- Research Group on Microbiology and Quality of Fruits and Vegetables, Food Science & Technology Department, CEBAS-CSIC, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (M.G.-G.); (P.T.); (A.A.)
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15
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Kim J, Park S, Lee J, Lee S. Internalization of Salmonella in Leafy Vegetables during Postharvest Conditions. Foods 2023; 12:3106. [PMID: 37628105 PMCID: PMC10453844 DOI: 10.3390/foods12163106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The consumption of fresh produce is increasing due to its role in promoting a healthy and balanced diet. However, this trend is accompanied by increased foodborne disease cases associated with pathogens such as Escherichia, Listeria, and Salmonella. Previous studies provided evidence that the internalization of foodborne pathogens in fresh produce may be a potential contamination route and may pose a public health risk. This study investigates the combination effects of storage temperature and humidity on Salmonella internalization in six types of leafy greens (iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, red lettuce, green onion, spinach, and kale) during the storage stage. The results indicated that temperature plays a critical role in Salmonella internalization, with higher concentrations observed in samples stored at 25 °C compared to those stored at 7 °C. The mean concentration of internalized Salmonella in the iceberg lettuce sample was the highest and that in the green onion sample was the lowest (iceberg lettuce > red lettuce > romaine lettuce > spinach > kale > green onion). Mist conditions also had an impact on internalization. The group treated with mist showed an increase in Salmonella internalization of about 10-30% rather than the group without mist treatment. This research emphasizes the importance of understanding the factors influencing bacterial internalization in fresh produce and highlights the need for proper storage conditions to minimize the risk of contamination and ensure food safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinnam Kim
- Major of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Fisheries Science, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea; (J.K.); (S.P.)
| | - Soeun Park
- Major of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Fisheries Science, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea; (J.K.); (S.P.)
| | - Jiyoung Lee
- Department of Food Science & Technology, The Ohio State University, 1841 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Seungjun Lee
- Major of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Fisheries Science, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea; (J.K.); (S.P.)
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16
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Rothwell JG, Hong J, Morrison SJ, Vyas HKN, Xia B, Mai-Prochnow A, McConchie R, Phan-Thien KY, Cullen PJ, Carter DA. An Effective Sanitizer for Fresh Produce Production: In Situ Plasma-Activated Water Treatment Inactivates Pathogenic Bacteria and Maintains the Quality of Cucurbit Fruit. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0003423. [PMID: 37428084 PMCID: PMC10434273 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00034-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The effect of plasma-activated water (PAW) generated with a dielectric barrier discharge diffusor (DBDD) system on microbial load and organoleptic quality of cucamelons was investigated and compared to the established sanitizer, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). Pathogenic serotypes of Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Listeria monocytogenes were inoculated onto the surface of cucamelons (6.5 log CFU g-1) and into the wash water (6 log CFU mL-1). PAW treatment involved 2 min in situ with water activated at 1,500 Hz and 120 V and air as the feed gas; NaOCl treatment was a wash with 100 ppm total chlorine; control treatment was a wash with tap water. PAW treatment produced a 3-log CFU g-1 reduction of pathogens on the cucamelon surface without negatively impacting quality or shelf life. NaOCl treatment reduced the pathogenic bacteria on the cucamelon surface by 3 to 4 log CFU g-1; however, this treatment also reduced fruit shelf life and quality. Both systems reduced 6-log CFU mL-1 pathogens in the wash water to below detectable limits. The critical role of superoxide anion radical (·O2-) in the antimicrobial power of DBDD-PAW was demonstrated through a Tiron scavenger assay, and chemistry modeling confirmed that ·O2- generation readily occurs in DBDD-PAW generated with the employed settings. Modeling of the physical forces produced during plasma treatment showed that bacteria likely experience strong local electric fields and polarization. We hypothesize that these physical effects synergize with reactive chemical species to produce the acute antimicrobial activity seen with the in situ PAW system. IMPORTANCE Plasma-activated water (PAW) is an emerging sanitizer in the fresh food industry, where food safety must be achieved without a thermal kill step. Here, we demonstrate PAW generated in situ to be a competitive sanitizer technology, providing a significant reduction of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms while maintaining the quality and shelf life of the produce item. Our experimental results are supported by modeling of the plasma chemistry and applied physical forces, which show that the system can generate highly reactive ·O2- and strong electric fields that combine to produce potent antimicrobial power. In situ PAW has promise in industrial applications as it requires only low power (12 W), tap water, and air. Moreover, it does not produce toxic by-products or hazardous effluent waste, making it a sustainable solution for fresh food safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna G. Rothwell
- ARC Training Centre for Food Safety in the Fresh Produce Industry, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sydney Institute of Agriculture, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jungmi Hong
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stuart J. Morrison
- Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Heema Kumari Nilesh Vyas
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Institute of Infectious Diseases, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Binbin Xia
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Anne Mai-Prochnow
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Robyn McConchie
- ARC Training Centre for Food Safety in the Fresh Produce Industry, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sydney Institute of Agriculture, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kim-Yen Phan-Thien
- ARC Training Centre for Food Safety in the Fresh Produce Industry, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sydney Institute of Agriculture, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Patrick J. Cullen
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Dee A. Carter
- ARC Training Centre for Food Safety in the Fresh Produce Industry, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sydney Institute of Agriculture, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Institute of Infectious Diseases, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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17
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Quintieri L, Koo OK, Caleb OJ. Editorial: Fight against food waste: combating contamination and spoilage. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1265477. [PMID: 37649632 PMCID: PMC10462485 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1265477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Quintieri
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production, National Research Council (CNR), Bari, Italy
| | - Ok Kyung Koo
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Oluwafemi James Caleb
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- African Institute for Postharvest Technology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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18
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El Safadi D, Osman M, Hanna A, Hajar I, Kassem II, Khalife S, Dabboussi F, Hamze M. Parasitic Contamination of Fresh Leafy Green Vegetables Sold in Northern Lebanon. Pathogens 2023; 12:1014. [PMID: 37623974 PMCID: PMC10459145 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12081014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Contaminated, raw or undercooked vegetables can transmit parasitic infections. Here, we investigated parasitic contamination of leafy green vegetables sold in local markets in the Tripoli district, Lebanon, during two consecutive autumn seasons (2020-2021). The study involved the microscopic examination of 300 samples of five different types of vegetables (60 samples per type) and used standardized qualitative parasitological techniques for some protozoa and helminths. The results showed that 16.7% (95% interval for p: 12.6%, 21.4%) (50/300) of the vegetable samples were contaminated with at least one parasite. The most frequently detected parasite was Blastocystis spp. (8.7%; 26/300); this was followed in frequency by Ascaris spp. (3.7%; 11/300). Among the different vegetable types, lettuce (23.3%; 14/60) was the most contaminated, while arugula was the least contaminated (11.7%; 7/60). The statistical analysis did not reveal any significant association between the prevalence of parasitic contamination and the investigated risk factors, which included collection date, vegetable type, market storage status, and wetness of vegetables at the time of purchase (p > 0.05). The high prevalence of parasitic contamination also suggested the potential presence of other microbial pathogens. These findings are important because leafy green vegetables are preferentially and heavily consumed raw in Lebanon. Thus, implementing effective measures that target the farm-to-fork continuum is recommended in order to reduce the spread of intestinal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dima El Safadi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L7 8XZ, UK;
- Laboratoire Microbiology, Santé et Environnement, Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon; (A.H.); (I.H.); (F.D.); (M.H.)
| | - Marwan Osman
- Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Angel Hanna
- Laboratoire Microbiology, Santé et Environnement, Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon; (A.H.); (I.H.); (F.D.); (M.H.)
| | - Iman Hajar
- Laboratoire Microbiology, Santé et Environnement, Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon; (A.H.); (I.H.); (F.D.); (M.H.)
| | - Issmat I. Kassem
- Center for Food Safety, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA 30223, USA;
| | - Sara Khalife
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon;
| | - Fouad Dabboussi
- Laboratoire Microbiology, Santé et Environnement, Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon; (A.H.); (I.H.); (F.D.); (M.H.)
| | - Monzer Hamze
- Laboratoire Microbiology, Santé et Environnement, Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon; (A.H.); (I.H.); (F.D.); (M.H.)
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19
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Zhou X, Salazar JK, Fay ML, Zhang W. Efficacy of Power Ultrasound-Based Hurdle Technology on the Reduction of Bacterial Pathogens on Fresh Produce. Foods 2023; 12:2653. [PMID: 37509745 PMCID: PMC10378333 DOI: 10.3390/foods12142653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Minimally processed produce is frequently contaminated with foodborne bacterial pathogens. Power ultrasound is a non-thermal and cost-effective technology that can be combined with other chemical sanitization methods. This study investigated the reduction of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Newport on grape tomato, romaine lettuce, and spinach washed with water, chlorine, or peroxyacetic acid alone or in combination with 25 or 40 kHz power ultrasound for 1, 2, or 5 min. Produce items were inoculated with either pathogen at 10 log CFU/g, dried for 2 h, and treated. Combined treatment of ultrasound and sanitizers resulted in 1.44-3.99 log CFU/g reduction of L. monocytogenes and 1.35-3.62 log CFU/g reduction of S. Newport, with significantly higher reductions observed on grape tomato. Synergistic effects were achieved with the hurdle treatment of power ultrasound coupled with the chemical sanitizers when compared to the single treatments; an additional 0.48-1.40 log CFU/g reduction of S. Newport was obtained with the addition of power ultrasound on grape tomato. In general, no significant differences were observed in pathogen reductions between the ultrasound frequencies, the sanitizers, or the treatment lengths. Results from this study suggest that incorporation of power ultrasound into the current washing procedure may be beneficial for the reduction, but not elimination, of bacterial pathogens on certain produce items, including tomatoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Zhou
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Institute for Food Safety and Health, Illinois Institute of Technology, Bedford Park, IL 60501, USA
| | - Joelle K Salazar
- Division of Food Processing Science and Technology, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Bedford Park, IL 60501, USA
| | - Megan L Fay
- Division of Food Processing Science and Technology, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Bedford Park, IL 60501, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Institute for Food Safety and Health, Illinois Institute of Technology, Bedford Park, IL 60501, USA
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20
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Finger JAFF, Santos IM, Silva GA, Bernardino MC, Pinto UM, Maffei DF. Minimally Processed Vegetables in Brazil: An Overview of Marketing, Processing, and Microbiological Aspects. Foods 2023; 12:foods12112259. [PMID: 37297503 DOI: 10.3390/foods12112259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The global demand for minimally processed vegetables (MPVs) has grown, driven by changes in the population's lifestyle. MPVs are fresh vegetables that undergo several processing steps, resulting in ready-to-eat products, providing convenience for consumers and food companies. Among the processing steps, washing-disinfection plays an important role in reducing the microbial load and eliminating pathogens that may be present. However, poor hygiene practices can jeopardize the microbiological quality and safety of these products, thereby posing potential risks to consumer health. This study provides an overview of minimally processed vegetables (MPVs), with a specific focus on the Brazilian market. It includes information on the pricing of fresh vegetables and MPVs, as well as an examination of the various processing steps involved, and the microbiological aspects associated with MPVs. Data on the occurrence of hygiene indicators and pathogenic microorganisms in these products are presented. The focus of most studies has been on the detection of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes, with prevalence rates ranging from 0.7% to 100%, 0.6% to 26.7%, and 0.2% to 33.3%, respectively. Foodborne outbreaks associated with the consumption of fresh vegetables in Brazil between 2000 and 2021 were also addressed. Although there is no information about whether these vegetables were consumed as fresh vegetables or MPVs, these data highlight the need for control measures to guarantee products with quality and safety to consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica A F F Finger
- Department of Food and Experimental Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil
- Food Research Center (FoRC-CEPID), Sao Paulo 05508-080, SP, Brazil
| | - Isabela M Santos
- Department of Agri-Food Industry, Food and Nutrition, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Guilherme A Silva
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01246-904, SP, Brazil
| | - Mariana C Bernardino
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01246-904, SP, Brazil
| | - Uelinton M Pinto
- Department of Food and Experimental Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil
- Food Research Center (FoRC-CEPID), Sao Paulo 05508-080, SP, Brazil
| | - Daniele F Maffei
- Food Research Center (FoRC-CEPID), Sao Paulo 05508-080, SP, Brazil
- Department of Agri-Food Industry, Food and Nutrition, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, Brazil
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21
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Péloquin L, Goetz C, Jubinville E, Jean J. Protective Effect of Select Bacterial Species Representative of Fresh Produce on Human Norovirus Surrogates Exposed to Disinfecting Pulsed Light. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0004323. [PMID: 37154750 PMCID: PMC10231187 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00043-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Contamination of berries and leafy greens with human norovirus (HuNoV) is a major cause of outbreaks of epidemic gastroenteritis worldwide. Using murine norovirus type 1 (MNV-1) and Tulane virus, we studied the possible extension of HuNoV persistence by biofilm-producing epiphytic bacteria on fresh produce. Nine bacterial species frequently found on the surface of berries and leafy greens (Bacillus cereus, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Kocuria kristinae, Lactobacillus plantarum, Pantoea agglomerans, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Raoultella terrigena, and Xanthomonas campestris) were evaluated for the ability to form biofilms in the MBEC Assay Biofilm Inoculator and in 96-well microplates. The biofilm-forming bacteria were further tested for binding MNV-1 and Tulane virus and the ability to protect them against loss of capsid integrity upon exposure to disinfecting pulsed light at a fluence of 11.52 J/cm2. Based on viral reductions, MNV-1 did not benefit from attachment to biofilm whereas Tulane virus was significantly more resistant than the control when attached to biofilms of E. cloacae (P ≤ 0.01), E. coli (P ≤ 0.01), K. kristinae (P ≤ 0.01), P. agglomerans (P ≤ 0.05), or P. fluorescens (P ≤ 0.0001). Enzymatic dispersion of biofilm and microscopic observations suggest that the biofilm matrix composition may contribute to the virus resistance. Our results indicate that direct virus-biofilm interaction protects Tulane virus against disinfecting pulsed light, and that HuNoV on fresh produce therefore might resist such treatment more than suggested by laboratory tests so far. IMPORTANCE Recent studies have shown that bacteria may be involved in the attachment of HuNoV to the surface of fresh produce. Because these foods are difficult to disinfect by conventional methods without compromising product quality, nonthermal nonchemical disinfectants such as pulsed light are being investigated. We seek to understand how HuNoV interacts with epiphytic bacteria, particularly with biofilms formed by bacterial epiphytes, with cells and extracellular polymeric substances, and to determine if it thus escapes inactivation by pulsed light. The results of this study should advance understanding of the effects of epiphytic biofilms on the persistence of HuNoV particle integrity after pulsed light treatment and thus guide the design of novel pathogen control strategies in the food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence Péloquin
- Department of Food Sciences, Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods (INAF), Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Coralie Goetz
- Department of Food Sciences, Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods (INAF), Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Eric Jubinville
- Department of Food Sciences, Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods (INAF), Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Julie Jean
- Department of Food Sciences, Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods (INAF), Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
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22
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Habib I, Al-Rifai RH, Mohamed MYI, Ghazawi A, Abdalla A, Lakshmi G, Agamy N, Khan M. Contamination Levels and Phenotypic and Genomic Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance in Escherichia coli Isolated from Fresh Salad Vegetables in the United Arab Emirates. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:294. [PMID: 37368712 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8060294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Contaminated fresh produce has been identified as a vehicle for human foodborne illness. The present study investigated the counts, antimicrobial resistance profile, and genome-based characterization of Escherichia coli in 11 different types of fresh salad vegetable products (n = 400) sampled from retailers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. E. coli was detected in 30% of the tested fresh salad vegetable items, with 26.5% of the samples having an unsatisfactory level (≥100 CFU/g) of E. coli, notably arugula and spinach. The study also assessed the effect of the variability in sample conditions on E. coli counts and found, based on negative binominal regression analysis, that samples from local produce had a significantly higher (p-value < 0.001) E. coli count than imported samples. The analysis also indicated that fresh salad vegetables from the soil-less farming system (e.g., hydroponic and aeroponic) had significantly (p-value < 0.001) fewer E. coli than those from traditional produce farming. The study also examined the antimicrobial resistance in E. coli (n = 145) recovered from fresh salad vegetables and found that isolates exhibited the highest phenotypic resistance toward ampicillin (20.68%), tetracycline (20%), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (10.35%). A total of 20 (13.79%) of the 145 E. coli isolates exhibited a multidrug-resistant phenotype, all from locally sourced leafy salad vegetables. The study further characterized 18 of the 20 multidrug-resistant E. coli isolates using whole-genome sequencing and found that the isolates had varying numbers of virulence-related genes, ranging from 8 to 25 per isolate. The frequently observed genes likely involved in extra-intestinal infection were CsgA, FimH, iss, and afaA. The β-lactamases gene blaCTX-M-15 was prevalent in 50% (9/18) of the E. coli isolates identified from leafy salad vegetable samples. The study highlights the potential risk of foodborne illness and the likely spread of antimicrobial resistance and resistance genes associated with consuming leafy salad vegetables and emphasizes the importance of proper food safety practices, including proper storage and handling of fresh produce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ihab Habib
- Veterinary Public Health Research Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 1555, United Arab Emirates
- High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria P.O. Box 21511, Egypt
| | - Rami H Al-Rifai
- Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 1555, United Arab Emirates
- Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohamed-Yousif Ibrahim Mohamed
- Veterinary Public Health Research Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 1555, United Arab Emirates
| | - Akela Ghazawi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 1555, United Arab Emirates
| | - Afra Abdalla
- Veterinary Public Health Research Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 1555, United Arab Emirates
| | - Glindya Lakshmi
- Veterinary Public Health Research Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 1555, United Arab Emirates
| | - Neveen Agamy
- High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria P.O. Box 21511, Egypt
| | - Mushtaq Khan
- Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 1555, United Arab Emirates
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23
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Zhao X, Rahman M, Xu Z, Kasputis T, He Y, Yuan L, Wright RC, Chen J. Engineered Yeast Displaying Specific Norovirus-Binding Nanobodies for the Concentration and Detection of Human Norovirus in Food Matrix. J Agric Food Chem 2023. [PMID: 37227100 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c01946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Human noroviruses pose grave threats to public health and economy. In this study, we genetically engineered yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae EBY100) to display specific norovirus-binding nanobodies (Nano-26 and Nano-85) on cell surface to facilitate the concentration of noroviruses for improved detection. Binding of norovirus virus-like particles (VLPs) to these nanobody-displaying yeasts was confirmed and characterized using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. The ability of our engineered yeasts to capture norovirus VLPs can reach up to 91.3%. Furthermore, this approach was applied to concentrate and detect norovirus VLPs in a real food matrix. A wide linear detection range (1-104 pg/g) was observed, and the detection limit on spiked spinach was calculated as low as 0.071 pg/g. Overall, our engineered yeasts could be a promising approach to concentrate and purify noroviruses in food samples for easy detection, which allows us to prevent the spread of food-borne virus in the food supply chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Zhao
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Mahbubur Rahman
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Zhiyuan Xu
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Tom Kasputis
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Yawen He
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Lijuan Yuan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - R Clay Wright
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Juhong Chen
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
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24
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Jeong S, Kim I, Kim BE, Jeong MI, Oh KK, Cho GS, Franz CMAP. Identification and Characterization of Antibiotic-Resistant, Gram-Negative Bacteria Isolated from Korean Fresh Produce and Agricultural Environment. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1241. [PMID: 37317216 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11051241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The consumption of fresh produce and fruits has increased over the last few years as a result of increasing consumer awareness of healthy lifestyles. Several studies have shown that fresh produces and fruits could be potential sources of human pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In this study, 248 strains were isolated from lettuce and surrounding soil samples, and 202 single isolates selected by the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting method were further characterized. From 202 strains, 184 (91.2%) could be identified based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, while 18 isolates (8.9%) could not be unequivocally identified. A total of 133 (69.3%) and 105 (54.7%) strains showed a resistance phenotype to ampicillin and cefoxitin, respectively, while resistance to gentamicin, tobramycin, ciprofloxacin, and tetracycline occurred only at low incidences. A closer investigation of selected strains by whole genome sequencing showed that seven of the fifteen sequenced strains did not possess any genes related to acquired antibiotic resistance. In addition, only one strain possessed potentially transferable antibiotic resistance genes together with plasmid-related sequences. Therefore, this study indicates that there is a low possibility of transferring antibiotic resistance by potential pathogenic enterobacteria via fresh produce in Korea. However, with regards to public health and consumer safety, fresh produce should nevertheless be continuously monitored to detect the occurrence of foodborne pathogens and to hinder the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes potentially present in these bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunyoung Jeong
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Max Rubner-Institut, Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food, Hermann-Weigmann-Straße 1, 24103 Kiel, Germany
- College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Ile Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Max Rubner-Institut, Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food, Hermann-Weigmann-Straße 1, 24103 Kiel, Germany
- Department of Life Science, Handong Global University, 558 Handong-ro, Buk-gu, Pohang 37554, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo-Eun Kim
- Microbial Safety Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, 166 Nongsaengmyeong-ro, Iseo-myeon, Wanju 55365, Republic of Korea
| | - Myeong-In Jeong
- Microbial Safety Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, 166 Nongsaengmyeong-ro, Iseo-myeon, Wanju 55365, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang-Kyo Oh
- Microbial Safety Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, 166 Nongsaengmyeong-ro, Iseo-myeon, Wanju 55365, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyu-Sung Cho
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Max Rubner-Institut, Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food, Hermann-Weigmann-Straße 1, 24103 Kiel, Germany
| | - Charles M A P Franz
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Max Rubner-Institut, Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food, Hermann-Weigmann-Straße 1, 24103 Kiel, Germany
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25
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Ferguson M, Hsu CK, Grim C, Kauffman M, Jarvis K, Pettengill JB, Babu US, Harrison LM, Li B, Hayford A, Balan KV, Freeman JP, Rajashekara G, Lipp EK, Rozier RS, Zimeri AM, Burall LS. A longitudinal study to examine the influence of farming practices and environmental factors on pathogen prevalence using structural equation modeling. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1141043. [PMID: 37089556 PMCID: PMC10117993 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1141043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The contamination of fresh produce with foodborne pathogens has been an on-going concern with outbreaks linked to these commodities. Evaluation of farm practices, such as use of manure, irrigation water source, and other factors that could influence pathogen prevalence in the farming environment could lead to improved mitigation strategies to reduce the potential for contamination events. Soil, water, manure, and compost were sampled from farms in Ohio and Georgia to identify the prevalence of Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), Campylobacter, and Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), as well as Arcobacter, an emerging human pathogen. This study investigated agricultural practices to determine which influenced pathogen prevalence, i.e., the percent positive samples. These efforts identified a low prevalence of Salmonella, STEC, and Campylobacter in soil and water (< 10%), preventing statistical modeling of these pathogens. However, Lm and Arcobacter were found in soil (13 and 7%, respectively), manure (49 and 32%, respectively), and water samples (18 and 39%, respectively) at a comparatively higher prevalence, suggesting different dynamics are involved in their survival in the farm environment. Lm and Arcobacter prevalence data, soil chemical characteristics, as well as farm practices and weather, were analyzed using structural equation modeling to identify which factors play a role, directly or indirectly, on the prevalence of these pathogens. These analyses identified an association between pathogen prevalence and weather, as well as biological soil amendments of animal origin. Increasing air temperature increased Arcobacter and decreased Lm. Lm prevalence was found to be inversely correlated with the use of surface water for irrigation, despite a high Lm prevalence in surface water suggesting other factors may play a role. Furthermore, Lm prevalence increased when the microbiome's Simpson's Diversity Index decreased, which occurred as soil fertility increased, leading to an indirect positive effect for soil fertility on Lm prevalence. These results suggest that pathogen, environment, and farm management practices, in addition to produce commodities, all need to be considered when developing mitigation strategies. The prevalence of Arcobacter and Lm versus the other pathogens suggests that multiple mitigation strategies may need to be employed to control these pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martine Ferguson
- Office of Analytics and Outreach, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Chiun-Kang Hsu
- Office of Applied Safety and Research Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Christopher Grim
- Office of Applied Safety and Research Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Michael Kauffman
- Center for Food Animal Health, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH, United States
| | - Karen Jarvis
- Office of Applied Safety and Research Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - James B. Pettengill
- Office of Analytics and Outreach, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Uma S. Babu
- Office of Applied Safety and Research Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Lisa M. Harrison
- Office of Applied Safety and Research Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Baoguang Li
- Office of Applied Safety and Research Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Alice Hayford
- Office of Applied Safety and Research Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Kannan V. Balan
- Office of Applied Safety and Research Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Josefina P. Freeman
- Office of Applied Safety and Research Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Gireesh Rajashekara
- Center for Food Animal Health, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH, United States
| | - Erin K. Lipp
- Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Ralph Scott Rozier
- Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Anne Marie Zimeri
- Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Laurel S. Burall
- Office of Applied Safety and Research Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Laurel S. Burall,
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26
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Zara ES, Vital PG. Phylogroup typing and carbapenem resistance of Escherichia coli from agricultural samples in Metro Manila, Philippines. J Environ Sci Health B 2022; 57:644-656. [PMID: 35852239 DOI: 10.1080/03601234.2022.2096988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Primary production environment is considered as reservoir of Escherichia coli contamination of produce. E. coli is classified into eight phylogroups which differ in ecological niches, evolutionary history, and phenotypic properties. To understand the population genetic structure and composition of E. coli in primary production environments in Metro Manila, Philippines, a total of 80 E. coli recovered from irrigation water, soil, vegetables, and feces of cat, carabao, chicken, dog, and goat were allocated into distinct phylogroups based on the presence and absence of genetic markers. Results showed that the most prevalent phylogroup was B1 (71.3%), followed by A (18.6%), D (6.3%), B2 (1.3%), E (1.3%), and an unknown phylogroup (1.3%). The most prevalent genetic marker was arpA, followed by TspE4.C2, yjaA, and chuA. The carbapenem resistance of 24 E. coli isolates representing different phylogroups was also evaluated. Intriguingly, all isolates exhibited uniform susceptibility. This is the first report to provide insights into the phylogroup structure and composition, as well as carbapenem resistance of E. coli from primary production in the Philippines, which highlights possible source of and solution for gastrointestinal and enteric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico S Zara
- Natural Sciences Research Institute, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
| | - Pierangeli G Vital
- Natural Sciences Research Institute, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
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27
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Gibson S, Metcalfe JJ, McCaffrey J, Allison T, Prescott MP. Nutrition Environment at Food Pantries Improves After Fresh Produce Donation Program. J Nutr Educ Behav 2022; 54:432-441. [PMID: 35534101 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2021.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the influence of the Growing Together Illinois fresh produce donation program and understand factors that affect produce distribution at participating food pantries. METHODS In this intervention at 17 Illinois food pantries, Master Gardeners supported food donation gardens, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education provided educational and environmental interventions to increase selection and use of fresh produce. This mixed-methods pre-post study assessed pantry characteristics and program impact via Nutrition Environment Food Pantry Assessment Tool evaluations, interview feedback from pantry staff, and structured pantry observations. RESULTS Pantries experienced significant increases from preintervention to postintervention in providing various types of produce, marketing and nudging healthful products, providing additional resources, and total Nutrition Environment Food Pantry Assessment Tool scores. Participants had positive feedback about the program and educational interventions and reported the weekly timing of donations mitigated potential storage and spoilage issues. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Future research could focus on approaches to increase fresh produce in food pantries while supporting clients via nutrition and cooking education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Starr'Retiece Gibson
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
| | - Jessica Jarick Metcalfe
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
| | - Jennifer McCaffrey
- Office of Extension and Outreach, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
| | - Trinity Allison
- Office of Extension and Outreach, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
| | - Melissa Pflugh Prescott
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL.
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28
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Grivokostopoulos NC, Makariti IP, Hilaj N, Apostolidou Z, Skandamis PN. Internalization of Salmonella in Leafy Greens and Impact on Acid Tolerance. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0224921. [PMID: 35108086 PMCID: PMC8939352 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02249-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Salmonella colonizes the surface or the inner part of leafy greens, while the ability of internalized bacteria to evade common disinfection practices may pose a considerable risk. Hereby, we aimed to assess how the colonization and internalization of Salmonella spp. (i) vary with the type of leafy green, the storage conditions (temperature, time), and Salmonella serovar at phenotypic and gene transcriptional level (regarding stress- and virulence- or type III secretion system [T3SS]-associated genes) and (ii) potentially impact the survival of the pathogen against subsequent exposure at lethal pH (2.7), mimicking the gastric acidity. Internalized Salmonella reached 3.0 to 5.0 log CFU/g depending on storage conditions and vegetable, with spinach and chicory allowing the highest (P < 0.05) internalization. Prolonged storage (48 h) at 20°C increased the recovery of internalized Salmonella in spinach and green amaranth by 1.0 to 1.5 log units. Colonization of Salmonella on/in leafy vegetables induced the transcription (maximum fold change [FCmax], ∼2,000) of T3SS-related genes. Interserovar variation regarding the internalization ability of Salmonella was observed only in lettuce and green amaranth in a time- and temperature-dependent manner. Attached cells exhibited higher survival rates against low pH than the internalized subpopulation; however, habituation at 20°C in lettuce and amaranth induced acid tolerance to internalized cells, manifested by the 1.5 to 2.0 log CFU/g survivors after 75 min at pH 2.7. Habituation of Salmonella in vegetable extracts sensitized it toward acid, while indigenous microbiota had limited impact on acid resistance of the organism. These findings reveal physiological aspects of Salmonella colonizing leafy vegetables that could be useful in fresh produce microbial risk assessment. IMPORTANCE Consumption of leafy greens has been increasingly associated with foodborne illnesses, and their contamination could occur at pre- and/or postharvest level. Human pathogens may become passively or actively internalized in plant tissues, thereby escaping decontamination procedures. Plant colonization may impact bacterial physiology such as stress resistance and virulence. In this study, it was demonstrated that internalization of Salmonella spp., at the postharvest level, varied with type of vegetable, serovar, and storage conditions. Attached and internalized subpopulations of Salmonella on/in leafy greens showed distinct physiological responses regarding transcriptional changes of stress- and virulence-associated genes, as well as survival capacity against subsequent exposure to lethal pH (2.7). These findings could contribute to a better understanding and potential (re)definition of the risk of enteric pathogens colonizing leafy greens, as well as to the design of intervention strategies aiming to improve the microbiological safety of fresh produce.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. C. Grivokostopoulos
- Laboratory of Food Quality Control and Hygiene, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - I. P. Makariti
- Laboratory of Food Quality Control and Hygiene, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - N. Hilaj
- Laboratory of Food Quality Control and Hygiene, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Z. Apostolidou
- Laboratory of Food Quality Control and Hygiene, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - P. N. Skandamis
- Laboratory of Food Quality Control and Hygiene, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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29
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López Ureña NM, Chaudhry U, Calero Bernal R, Cano Alsua S, Messina D, Evangelista F, Betson M, Lalle M, Jokelainen P, Ortega Mora LM, Álvarez García G. Contamination of Soil, Water, Fresh Produce, and Bivalve Mollusks with Toxoplasma gondii Oocysts: A Systematic Review. Microorganisms 2022; 10:517. [PMID: 35336093 PMCID: PMC8954419 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10030517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a major foodborne pathogen capable of infecting all warm-blooded animals, including humans. Although oocyst-associated toxoplasmosis outbreaks have been documented, the relevance of the environmental transmission route remains poorly investigated. Thus, we carried out an extensive systematic review on T. gondii oocyst contamination of soil, water, fresh produce, and mollusk bivalves, following the PRISMA guidelines. Studies published up to the end of 2020 were searched for in public databases and screened. The reference sections of the selected articles were examined to identify additional studies. A total of 102 out of 3201 articles were selected: 34 articles focused on soil, 40 focused on water, 23 focused on fresh produce (vegetables/fruits), and 21 focused on bivalve mollusks. Toxoplasma gondii oocysts were found in all matrices worldwide, with detection rates ranging from 0.09% (1/1109) to 100% (8/8) using bioassay or PCR-based detection methods. There was a high heterogeneity (I2 = 98.9%), which was influenced by both the sampling strategy (e.g., sampling site and sample type, sample composition, sample origin, season, number of samples, cat presence) and methodology (recovery and detection methods). Harmonized approaches are needed for the detection of T. gondii in different environmental matrices in order to obtain robust and comparable results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia María López Ureña
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (N.M.L.U.); (R.C.B.); (L.M.O.M.)
| | - Umer Chaudhry
- Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK; (U.C.); or (D.M.); (F.E.); (M.B.)
| | - Rafael Calero Bernal
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (N.M.L.U.); (R.C.B.); (L.M.O.M.)
| | - Santiago Cano Alsua
- Computing Services, Research Support Center, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Davide Messina
- Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK; (U.C.); or (D.M.); (F.E.); (M.B.)
- Division of Veterinary Clinical Science, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Francisco Evangelista
- Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK; (U.C.); or (D.M.); (F.E.); (M.B.)
| | - Martha Betson
- Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK; (U.C.); or (D.M.); (F.E.); (M.B.)
| | - Marco Lalle
- Unit of Foodborne and Neglected Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Roma, Italy;
| | - Pikka Jokelainen
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Infectious Disease Preparedness, Statens Serum Institute, University of Copenhagen, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Luis Miguel Ortega Mora
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (N.M.L.U.); (R.C.B.); (L.M.O.M.)
| | - Gema Álvarez García
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (N.M.L.U.); (R.C.B.); (L.M.O.M.)
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Silva MBRD, Maffei DF, Moreira DA, Dias M, Mendes MA, Franco BDGDM. Agricultural practices in Brazilian organic farms and microbiological characteristics of samples collected along the production chain. J Appl Microbiol 2022; 132:1185-1196. [PMID: 34365710 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To gather data on agricultural practices in organic farms in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and evaluate their relationship with the microbiological characteristics of samples collected along the production chain. METHODS AND RESULTS Practices data were based on field observations and interviews with farmers in 10 selected organic lettuce producing farms. Counts of Enterobacteriaceae and surveys for Salmonella were performed in samples of lettuce (before and after washing), fertilizers, irrigation and washing water, all collected in the same farm. Water samples were also tested for total coliforms and generic Escherichia coli. Isolated Enterobacteriaceae were identified by MALDI-TOF MS. Contamination of lettuce was influenced by some agricultural practices: chicken manure-based fertilization resulted in higher Enterobacteriaceae counts in lettuce when compared to other types of manure, whereas pre-washed lettuces presented lower microbial counts than non-pre-washed samples. Salmonella was detected in one lettuce sample by qPCR. Escherichia coli was detected in all irrigation water samples. All sample types contained Enterobacteriaceae species commonly reported as opportunistic human pathogens. CONCLUSIONS The data highlight the need for improvement in the good agricultural practices in the studied farms. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY This study provides information on agricultural practices and microbiological characteristics of organic lettuce, contributing to the development of more accurate risk assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Belchior Rosendo da Silva
- Food Research Center (FoRC), Department of Food and Experimental Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Daniele Fernanda Maffei
- Food Research Center (FoRC), Department of Food and Experimental Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Department of Agri-food Industry, Food and Nutrition, ‟Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Debora Andrade Moreira
- Food Research Center (FoRC), Department of Food and Experimental Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Meriellen Dias
- Dempster MS Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnic School of University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria Anita Mendes
- Dempster MS Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnic School of University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Bernadette Dora Gombossy de Melo Franco
- Food Research Center (FoRC), Department of Food and Experimental Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Polkowska A, Räsänen S, Nuorti P, Maunula L, Jalava K. Assessment of Food and Waterborne Viral Outbreaks by Using Field Epidemiologic, Modern Laboratory and Statistical Methods-Lessons Learnt from Seven Major Norovirus Outbreaks in Finland. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10121624. [PMID: 34959579 PMCID: PMC8707936 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10121624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Seven major food- and waterborne norovirus outbreaks in Western Finland during 2014–2018 were re-analysed. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of outbreak investigation tools and evaluate the Kaplan criteria. We summarised epidemiological and microbiological findings from seven outbreaks. To evaluate the Kaplan criteria, a one-stage meta-analysis of data from seven cohort studies was performed. The case was defined as a person attending an implicated function with diarrhoea, vomiting or two other symptoms. Altogether, 22% (386/1794) of persons met the case definition. Overall adjusted, 73% of norovirus patients were vomiting, the mean incubation period was 44 h (4 h to 4 days) and the median duration of illness was 46 h. As vomiting was a more common symptom in children (96%, 143/149) and diarrhoea among the elderly (92%, 24/26), symptom and age presentation should drive hypothesis formulation. The Kaplan criteria were useful in initial outbreak assessments prior to faecal results. Rapid food control inspections enabled evidence-based, public-health-driven risk assessments. This led to probability-based vehicle identification and aided in resolving the outbreak event mechanism rather than implementing potentially ineffective, large-scale public health actions such as the withdrawal of extensive food lots. Asymptomatic food handlers should be ideally withdrawn from high-risk work for five days instead of the current two days. Food and environmental samples often remain negative with norovirus, highlighting the importance of research collaborations. Electronic questionnaire and open-source novel statistical programmes provided time and resource savings. The public health approach proved useful within the environmental health area with shoe leather field epidemiology, combined with statistical analysis and mathematical reasoning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Polkowska
- Health Sciences Unit, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33100 Tampere, Finland; (A.P.); (P.N.)
| | - Sirpa Räsänen
- Pirkanmaa Hospital District, 33520 Tampere, Finland;
| | - Pekka Nuorti
- Health Sciences Unit, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33100 Tampere, Finland; (A.P.); (P.N.)
| | - Leena Maunula
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00100 Helsinki, Finland;
| | - Katri Jalava
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-73-4224-7186
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Chahar M, Kroupitski Y, Gollop R, Belausov E, Melotto M, Sela-Saldinger S. Determination of Salmonella enterica Leaf Internalization Varies Substantially According to the Method and Conditions Used to Assess Bacterial Localization. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:622068. [PMID: 34803936 PMCID: PMC8603913 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.622068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In a previous study, comparing the internalization of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium in various leaves by confocal microscopy, we have demonstrated that the pathogen failed to internalize tomato leaves. Numerous reasons may account for these findings, yet one such factor might be the methodology employed to quantify leaf internalization. To this end, we have systematically studied leaf localization of a Green-fluorescent protein-labeled Salmonella strain in tomato, lettuce, and Arabidopsis leaves by surface sterilization and enumeration of the surviving bacteria, side by side, with confocal microscopy observations. Leaf sterilization was performed using either sodium hypochlorite, silver nitrate, or ethanol for 1 to 7min. The level of internalization varied according to the type of disinfectant used for surface sterilization and the treatment time. Treatment of tomato leaves with 70% ethanol for up to 7min suggested possible internalization of Salmonella, while confocal microscopy showed no internalization. In the case of in lettuce and Arabidopsis leaves, both the plate-count technique and confocal microscopy demonstrated considerable Salmonella internalization thought different sterilization conditions resulted in variations in the internalization levels. Our findings highlighted the dependency of the internalization results on the specific disinfection protocol used to determine bacterial localization. The results underscore the importance of confocal microscopy in validating a particular surface sterilization protocol whenever a new pair of bacterial strain and plant cultivar is studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhvi Chahar
- Department of Food Sciences, The Volcani Center, Institute for Postharvest and Food Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization, Rishon-LeZion, Israel
| | - Yulia Kroupitski
- Department of Food Sciences, The Volcani Center, Institute for Postharvest and Food Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization, Rishon-LeZion, Israel
| | - Rachel Gollop
- Department of Food Sciences, The Volcani Center, Institute for Postharvest and Food Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization, Rishon-LeZion, Israel
| | - Eduard Belausov
- Microscopy Unit, Plant Sciences, Ornamental Plants and Agricultural Biotechnology, The Volcani Center, Agriculture Research Organization, Rishon-LeZion, Israel
| | - Maeli Melotto
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Shlomo Sela-Saldinger
- Department of Food Sciences, The Volcani Center, Institute for Postharvest and Food Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization, Rishon-LeZion, Israel
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Wu Y, Si Y, Liu S, Nitin N, Sun G. Chlorine Rechargeable Halamine Biocidal Alginate/Polyacrylamide Hydrogel Beads for Improved Sanitization of Fresh Produce. J Agric Food Chem 2021; 69:13323-13330. [PMID: 33682418 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c07427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Traditional fresh produce washing systems mainly rely on mechanical forces and usage of chlorine bleach solutions to aid in removal and sanitization of microorganisms attached on surfaces of fresh produce during washing processes. Frequent outbreaks of foodborne diseases from ready-to-eat produce indicate insufficient sanitization of the washing processes. Herein, we present a scalable methodology for creating antimicrobial and chlorine rechargeable hydrogel beads using an in situ formed network of polyacrylamide and natural polysaccharide alginate through an emulsion polymerization. The resulting hydrogel beads exhibited robust mechanical strength, rechargeable chlorination capability, rapid up to 99.99% bacterial killing efficiency, and high produce sanitizaiton efficiency, enabling the hydrogel beads as a promising additive in chlorine sanitization to effectively sanitize the produce and automatically being recharged and reused.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuehan Wu
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
- College of Food Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Si
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Shilin Liu
- College of Food Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Nitin Nitin
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Gang Sun
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
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Richter L, du Plessis EM, Duvenage S, Korsten L. Microbiological safety of spinach throughout commercial supply chains in Gauteng Province, South Africa and characterization of isolated multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli. J Appl Microbiol 2021; 132:2389-2409. [PMID: 34767685 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
AIM To investigate the microbiological quality, potential foodborne pathogen presence, and to phenotypically (antimicrobial resistance [AMR] profiles) and genotypically (DNA fingerprints and diarrhoeagenic genes) characterize Escherichia coli isolated throughout spinach production systems from farm-to-sale. METHODS AND RESULTS Samples (n = 288) were collected from two commercial supply chains using either river or borehole irrigation water. E. coli was enumerated throughout the chain where river water was directly used for overhead irrigation at levels between 0.00 and 3.22 log colony forming unit (CFU) g-1 . Following enrichment, isolation and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry identification, E. coli was isolated from 22.57% (n = 65/288) of all samples. Salmonella spp. were isolated from 3% (n = 9/288) of river and irrigation water samples on one farm, and no Listeria monocytogenes was detected throughout the study. Of the 80 characterized E. coli isolates, one harboured the stx2 virulence gene, while 43.75% (n = 35) were multidrug resistant. Overall, 26.30% of the multidrug-resistant E. coli isolates were from production scenario one that used river irrigation water, and 17.50% from the second production scenario that used borehole irrigation water. A greater percentage of resistance phenotypes were from water E. coli isolates (52.50%), than isolates from spinach (37.50%). E. coli isolates from spinach and irrigation water clustered together at high similarity values (>90%) using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-polymerase chan reaction analysis. CONCLUSIONS This study reported the presence of multidrug-resistant environmental E. coli throughout spinach production from farm, during processing and up to retail. Furthermore, the similarity of multi-drug resistant E. coli isolates suggests transfer from irrigation water to spinach in both scenarios, reiterating that irrigation water for vegetables consumed raw, should comply with standardized microbiological safety guidelines. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY Multidrug-resistant E. coli presence throughout spinach production emphasizes the necessity of increased surveillance of AMR in fresh produce and the production environment within a One Health paradigm to develop AMR mitigation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loandi Richter
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Science and Innovation, National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence in Food Security, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Erika M du Plessis
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Science and Innovation, National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence in Food Security, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Stacey Duvenage
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Science and Innovation, National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence in Food Security, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Lise Korsten
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Science and Innovation, National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence in Food Security, Pretoria, South Africa
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Montero L, Irazabal J, Cardenas P, Graham JP, Trueba G. Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Producing- Escherichia coli Isolated From Irrigation Waters and Produce in Ecuador. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:709418. [PMID: 34671324 PMCID: PMC8521160 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.709418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In cities across the globe, the majority of wastewater – that includes drug resistant and pathogenic bacteria among other contaminants – is released into streams untreated. This water is often subsequently used for irrigation of pastures and produce. This use of wastewater-contaminated streams allows antibiotic-resistant bacteria to potentially cycle back to humans through agricultural products. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli isolated from produce and irrigation water across 17 provinces of Ecuador. A total of 117 vegetable samples, 119 fruit samples, and 38 irrigation water samples were analyzed. Results showed that 11% of the samples were positive for E. coli including 11 irrigation water samples (29%), and samples of 13 vegetables (11%), and 11 fruits (9%). Among the 165 E. coli isolates cultured, 96 (58%) had the ESBL phenotype, and 58% of ESBL producing E. coli came from irrigation water samples, 11% from vegetables, and 30% from fruits. The blaCTX–M–55, blaCTX–M 65, and blaCTX–M 15 genes were the most frequently found gene associated with the ESBL phenotype and coincided with the blaCTX–M alleles associated with human infections in Ecuador. Three isolates had the mcr-1 gene which is responsible for colistin resistance. This report provides evidence of the potential role of irrigation water in the growing antimicrobial resistance crisis in Ecuador.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Montero
- Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Jorge Irazabal
- Agrocalidad, Agencia de Regulación y Control Fito y Zoosanitario, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Paul Cardenas
- Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Jay P Graham
- Environmental Health Sciences Division, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Gabriel Trueba
- Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
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Gekenidis MT, Walsh F, Drissner D. Tracing Antibiotic Resistance Genes along the Irrigation Water Chain to Chive: Does Tap or Surface Water Make a Difference? Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:1100. [PMID: 34572683 PMCID: PMC8469318 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10091100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Irrigation water is well known as potential source of pathogens in fresh produce. However, its role in transferring antibiotic resistance determinants is less well investigated. Therefore, we analyzed the contribution of surface and tap water to the resistome of overhead-irrigated chive plants. Field-grown chive was irrigated with either surface water (R-system) or tap water (D-system), from planting to harvest. Water along the two irrigation chains as well as the respective plants were repeatedly sampled and screened for 264 antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs), using high-capacity qPCR. Differentially abundant (DA) ARGs were determined by comparing the two systems. On R-chive, β-lactam ARGs, multidrug-resistance (MDR) determinants, and MGEs were most abundant, while D-chive featured DA ARGs from the vancomycin class. Diversity and number of DA ARGs was the highest on young chives, strongly diminished at harvest, and increased again at the end of shelf life. Most ARGs highly enriched on R- compared to D-chive were also enriched in R- compared to D-sprinkler water, indicating that water played a major role in ARG enrichment. Of note, blaKPC was detected at high levels in surface water and chive. We conclude that water quality significantly affects the resistome of the irrigated produce.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fiona Walsh
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, W23 F2H6 Maynooth, Ireland;
| | - David Drissner
- Department of Life Sciences, Albstadt-Sigmaringen University, 72488 Sigmaringen, Germany;
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Huang K, Yang X, Ma Y, Sun G, Nitin N. Incorporation of Antimicrobial Bio-Based Carriers onto Poly(vinyl alcohol- co-ethylene) Surface for Enhanced Antimicrobial Activity. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2021; 13:36275-36285. [PMID: 34308624 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c07311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A biobased rechargeable antimicrobial modification approach was developed using a covalent immobilization of food grade yeast cell wall particles on a model plastic film. We demonstrate the applications of this modification approach on poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene) surface to inactivate inoculated bacteria with or without the presence of organic content, reducing the cross-contamination between food contact surface and model fresh produce, and inhibiting the growth of biofilms on the film surface. These biobased cell wall particle modified plastic films can enhance the binding of chlorine to the plastic surface in the form of N-halamine, extend the stability of chlorine against high organic content and ambient storage, and improve the rechargeability of the plastic films. Upon charging with chlorine, these modified plastic films inactivated 5 log of model Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli O157:H7) and Gram-positive bacteria (Listeria innocua used as a surrogate of pathogenic Listeria monocytogenes) within 2 min of surface inoculation in water and within 20 min in an organic-rich aqueous environment. The modified plastic films prevented the transfer of bacteria and eliminated cross-contamination from the contaminated films to a spinach leaf surface, while 3 log CFU/leaf of bacteria were transferred from a contaminated native film to a noninoculated spinach surface. In addition, these modified plastic films reduced the adhesion of L. innocua cells by 2.7-3.6 log CFU/cm2 compared with control films during extended incubation for biofilm formation. Overall, this study demonstrates the feasibility of this biobased food grade modification approach to reduce microbial contamination and improve produce safety in the food processing industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Huang
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Xu Yang
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Yue Ma
- Fiber and Polymer Science, University of California-Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Gang Sun
- Fiber and Polymer Science, University of California-Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Nitin Nitin
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California-Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
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Esteban-Cuesta I, Labrador M, Hunt K, Reese S, Fischer J, Schwaiger K, Gareis M. Phenotypic and Genetic Comparison of a Plant-Internalized and an Animal-Isolated Salmonella Choleraesuis Strain. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9081554. [PMID: 34442630 PMCID: PMC8398053 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9081554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Contamination of fresh produce with human pathogens poses an important risk for consumers, especially after raw consumption. Moreover, if microorganisms are internalized, no removal by means of further hygienic measures would be possible. Human pathogenic bacteria identified in these food items are mostly of human or animal origin and an adaptation to this new niche and particularly for internalization would be presumed. This study compares a plant-internalized and an animal-borne Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Choleraesuis aiming at the identification of adaptation of the plant-internalized strain to its original environment. For this purpose, a phenotypical characterization by means of growth curves under conditions resembling the indigenous environment from the plant-internalized strain and further analyses using Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight spectrometry were assessed. Furthermore, comparative genomic analyses by means of single nucleotide polymorphisms and identification of present/absent genes were performed. Although some phenotypical and genetic differences could be found, no signs of a specific adaptation for colonization and internalization in plants could be clearly identified. This could suggest that any Salmonella strain could directly settle in this niche without any evolutionary process being necessary. Further comparative analysis including internalized strains would be necessary to assess this question. However, these kinds of strains are not easily available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Esteban-Cuesta
- Chair of Food Safety, Veterinary Faculty, LMU Munich, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (K.H.); (K.S.); (M.G.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Mirian Labrador
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Veterinary Faculty, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragon-IA2, University of Zaragoza-CITA, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain;
| | - Katharina Hunt
- Chair of Food Safety, Veterinary Faculty, LMU Munich, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (K.H.); (K.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Sven Reese
- Chair of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany;
| | - Jennie Fischer
- National Salmonella Reference Laboratory, Unit Food Microbiology, Host-Pathogen-Interactions, Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung—BfR), 12277 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Karin Schwaiger
- Chair of Food Safety, Veterinary Faculty, LMU Munich, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (K.H.); (K.S.); (M.G.)
- Unit of Food Hygiene and Technology, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1220 Vienna, Austria
| | - Manfred Gareis
- Chair of Food Safety, Veterinary Faculty, LMU Munich, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (K.H.); (K.S.); (M.G.)
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Sheng L, Zhu MJ. Practical in-storage interventions to control foodborne pathogens on fresh produce. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 2021; 20:4584-4611. [PMID: 34190395 DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.12786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Although tremendous efforts have been made to ensure fresh produce safety, various foodborne outbreaks and recalls occur annually. Most of the current intervention strategies are evaluated within a short timeframe (less than 1 h), leaving the behavior of the remaining pathogens unknown during subsequent storages. This review summarized outbreak and recall surveillance data from 2009 to 2018 obtained from government agencies in the United States to identify major safety concerns associated with fresh produce, discussed the postharvest handling of fresh produce and the limitations of current antimicrobial interventions, and reviewed the intervention strategies that have the potential to be applied in each storage stage at the commercial scale. One long-term (up to 12 months) prepacking storage (apples, pears, citrus among others) and three short-term (up to 3 months) postpacking storages were identified. During the prepacking storage, continuous application of gaseous ozone at low doses (≤1 ppm) is a feasible option. Proper concentration, adequate circulation, as well as excess gas destruction and ventilation systems are essential to commercial application. At the postpacking storage stages, continuous inhibition can be achieved through controlled release of gaseous chlorine dioxide in packaging, antimicrobial edible coatings, and biocontrol agents. During commercialization, factors that need to be taken into consideration include physicochemical properties of antimicrobials, impacts on fresh produce quality and sensory attributes, recontamination and cross-contamination, cost, and feasibility of large-scale production. To improve fresh produce safety and quality during storage, the collaboration between researchers and the fresh produce industry needs to be improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Sheng
- School of Food Science, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Mei-Jun Zhu
- School of Food Science, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
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Fortin-Miller SA, Grantham CE, Campbell JE, Salvatore AL, Hoffman LA, Sisson SB. The effect of the food environment on fresh produce served in family child care homes. Nutr Health 2021; 27:381-386. [PMID: 33781117 DOI: 10.1177/0260106021992663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Higher produce consumption in childhood decreases risks of short- and long-term malnutrition, obesity, and disease. Children in early care programs, including family child care homes (FCCHs), receive 50-67% of daily nutrition while in care. Procuring nutritious foods requires grocer access, which is absent in food deserts (FDs). AIM To determine if FCCH food environment (FE) impacted distance to grocers and amount of fresh produce served. METHODS Using a cross-sectional design, Modified Retail Food Environment Index scores determined census tract FD status. FCCH and grocer addresses were geocoded and distance to the nearest grocers was calculated. Fresh produce was observed during two lunches. RESULTS FE did not influence distance to grocers or fresh produce served. Non-desert FCCHs tended to serve fresh produce more frequently. The amount of fresh produce served was overall low. CONCLUSION Further studies are warranted to inform policies aimed to reduce provider barriers regarding service of fresh produce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara A Fortin-Miller
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, 6186University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Catherine E Grantham
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, 6186University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Janis E Campbell
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | | | - Leah A Hoffman
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, 6186University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Susan B Sisson
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, 6186University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
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Oliveira JB, To L, De La Cruz Y, Schneider GW. Prompting a Fresh Start for Adults With Food Insecurity and Increased BMI: A Case Series of Four Patients in a Food Prescription Program. Cureus 2021; 13:e13857. [PMID: 33859907 PMCID: PMC8038908 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.13857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Estimates place low intake of fruits and vegetables, physical inactivity, and high BMI (overweight-obesity) as all in the top 12 causes of death. Food and dietary education are becoming a focus in how we approach disease prevention and management, and food prescription programs in particular are showing promise, especially in under-resourced, food-insecure communities. This paper describes a pilot food prescription program in a handful of uninsured patients enrolled in an interprofessional clinical and educational program of a medical school in South Florida. This case series of four patients struggling with food insecurity profiles the demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants and provides the results of standardized assessments of their dietary behaviors, physical activity levels, and attitudes toward food before and after the intervention. This four-month pilot food prescription program, Fresh Start Food Rx, involved a prospective case report of four patients seen on a mobile health center (MHC) for uninsured patients in South Miami, Florida. The MHC is part of an interprofessional health professions education, health care, and social service program of the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University called the Neighborhood Health Education Learning Program (NeighborhoodHELP). A systematic review of South Miami MHC patient electronic medical records identified eligible participants for the program: patients with food insecurity and a BMI >30, with comorbid health conditions. Patients with greater BMI and more comorbidities were prioritized. Once enrolled, we provided biweekly packages of fresh fruits and vegetables along with monthly dietary education to the participants. Key measures included self-reported fruit and vegetable consumption, attitude toward healthy eating, and level of activity. Pre- and post-intervention focus groups assessed barriers the participants faced to eating healthy and pursuing physical activity, satisfaction with the program, feedback on strengths and weaknesses, and anticipated behavioral changes after completion of the program. Prior to the intervention, participants reported eating fruits on an average of 4.5 days out of the week. Post-survey answers increased to 5.0 days per week. Though the average amount of days per week that participants reported eating vegetables decreased slightly, the average number of vegetable servings that participants reported eating in a week increased. At termination of the program, most participants agreed that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is good for you, that it is important to eat fruits and vegetables every day, and that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can protect against cancer. This case study demonstrates that easier access to healthy foods, such as fresh produce delivery, and regular health education have the potential to promote healthier attitudes toward foods like fruits and vegetables. This change in attitude can then influence behavior, such as choosing to try new produce or increasing the amount and frequency of produce consumption. With the lessons learned from this small pilot program, the authors helped facilitate the expansion of a larger food prescription program in conjunction with a community partner hospital in the area. Findings from this experience might prove useful for others attempting to develop or expand a food prescription and health education program of their own.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica B Oliveira
- Humanities, Health, and Society/Family Medicine, Florida International University, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, USA
| | - Lennie To
- Humanities, Health, and Society/Family Medicine, Florida International University, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, USA
| | - Yazmine De La Cruz
- Humanities, Health, and Society/Family Medicine, Florida International University, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, USA
| | - Gregory W Schneider
- Humanities, Health, and Society/Family Medicine, Florida International University, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, USA
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Alam AU, Rathi P, Beshai H, Sarabha GK, Deen MJ. Fruit Quality Monitoring with Smart Packaging. Sensors (Basel) 2021; 21:1509. [PMID: 33671571 PMCID: PMC7926787 DOI: 10.3390/s21041509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Smart packaging of fresh produce is an emerging technology toward reduction of waste and preservation of consumer health and safety. Smart packaging systems also help to prolong the shelf life of perishable foods during transport and mass storage, which are difficult to regulate otherwise. The use of these ever-progressing technologies in the packaging of fruits has the potential to result in many positive consequences, including improved fruit quality, reduced waste, and associated improved public health. In this review, we examine the role of smart packaging in fruit packaging, current-state-of-the-art, challenges, and prospects. First, we discuss the motivation behind fruit quality monitoring and maintenance, followed by the background on the development process of fruits, factors used in determining fruit quality, and the classification of smart packaging technologies. Then, we discuss conventional freshness sensors for packaged fruits including direct and indirect freshness indicators. After that, we provide examples of possible smart packaging systems and sensors that can be used in monitoring fruits quality, followed by several strategies to mitigate premature fruit decay, and active packaging technologies. Finally, we discuss the prospects of smart packaging application for fruit quality monitoring along with the associated challenges and prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - M. Jamal Deen
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada; (A.U.A.); (P.R.); (H.B.); (G.K.S.)
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Slana I, Bier N, Bartosova B, Marucci G, Possenti A, Mayer-Scholl A, Jokelainen P, Lalle M. Molecular Methods for the Detection of Toxoplasma gondii Oocysts in Fresh Produce: An Extensive Review. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9010167. [PMID: 33451081 PMCID: PMC7828537 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9010167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Human infection with the important zoonotic foodborne pathogen Toxoplasma gondii has been associated with unwashed raw fresh produce consumption. The lack of a standardised detection method limits the estimation of fresh produce as an infection source. To support method development and standardisation, an extensive literature review and a multi-attribute assessment were performed to analyse the key aspects of published methods for the detection of T. gondii oocyst contamination in fresh produce. Seventy-seven published studies were included, with 14 focusing on fresh produce. Information gathered from expert laboratories via an online questionnaire were also included. Our findings show that procedures for oocyst recovery from fresh produce mostly involved sample washing and pelleting of the washing eluate by centrifugation, although washing procedures and buffers varied. DNA extraction procedures including mechanical or thermal shocks were identified as necessary steps to break the robust oocyst wall. The most suitable DNA detection protocols rely on qPCR, mostly targeting the B1 gene or the 529 bp repetitive element. When reported, validation data for the different detection methods were not comparable and none of the methods were supported by an interlaboratory comparative study. The results of this review will pave the way for an ongoing development of a widely applicable standard operating procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iva Slana
- Department of Microbiology and Antimicrobial Resistance, Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, 621 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (I.S.); (B.B.)
| | - Nadja Bier
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (N.B.); (A.M.-S.)
| | - Barbora Bartosova
- Department of Microbiology and Antimicrobial Resistance, Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, 621 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (I.S.); (B.B.)
| | - Gianluca Marucci
- Unit of Foodborne and Neglected Parasitic Diseases, European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; (G.M.); (A.P.)
| | - Alessia Possenti
- Unit of Foodborne and Neglected Parasitic Diseases, European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; (G.M.); (A.P.)
| | - Anne Mayer-Scholl
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (N.B.); (A.M.-S.)
| | - Pikka Jokelainen
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Infectious Disease Preparedness, Department of Bacteria, Parasites & Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark;
| | - Marco Lalle
- Unit of Foodborne and Neglected Parasitic Diseases, European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; (G.M.); (A.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0649902670
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Abstract
Maintaining microbial safety and quality of fresh fruits and vegetables are a global concern. Harmful microbes can contaminate fresh produce at any stage from farm to fork. Microbial contamination can affect the quality and shelf-life of fresh produce, and the consumption of contaminated food can cause foodborne illnesses. Additionally, there has been an increased emphasis on the freshness and appearance of fresh produce by modern consumers. Hence, disinfection methods that not only reduce microbial load but also preserve the quality of fresh produce are required. Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) has emerged as a better alternative to chlorine-based disinfectants. In this review, we discuss the efficacy of gaseous and aqueous ClO2 in inhibiting microbial growth immediately after treatment (short-term effect) versus regulating microbial growth during storage of fresh produce (long-term effect). We further elaborate upon the effects of ClO2 application on retaining or enhancing the quality of fresh produce and discuss the current understanding of the mode of action of ClO2 against microbes affecting fresh produce.
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45
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Litt PK, Kakani R, Jadeja R, Saha J, Kountoupis T, Jaroni D. Effectiveness of Bacteriophages Against Biofilm-Forming Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli on Leafy Greens and Cucumbers. Phage (New Rochelle) 2020; 1:213-222. [PMID: 36147291 PMCID: PMC9041472 DOI: 10.1089/phage.2020.0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Background: Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) have caused several produce-associated outbreaks, making it challenging to control these pathogens. Bacteriophages could serve as effective biocontrol. Materials and Methods: Spinach, lettuce, and cucumbers, inoculated with STEC (O157, O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145), were treated with lytic bacteriophages and stored at 4°C for 3 days. Surviving STEC were enumerated and observed under scanning electron microscope (SEM), and data analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (p < 0.05). Results: Bacteriophage treatments significantly reduced STEC populations, compared with the control (p < 0.05). On spinach and romaine, STEC O26, O45, and O103 were reduced to undetectable levels and STEC O157, O111, O121, and O145 by ∼2 logs CFU/cm2. Multiserotype phage cocktail reduced STEC on leafy greens by 1.4 CFU/cm2 and on cucumbers by 1.7 logs CFU/cucumber. Clusters of STEC cells, surrounded by extracellular matrix, were observed under SEM of positive control, whereas phage-treated produce surface showed fewer cells, with cellular damage. Conclusions: Bacteriophages could be utilized as biocontrol against STEC on fresh produce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pushpinder K. Litt
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Food and Agricultural Products Center, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Radhika Kakani
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Food and Agricultural Products Center, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Ravirajsinh Jadeja
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Food and Agricultural Products Center, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Joyjit Saha
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Food and Agricultural Products Center, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Tony Kountoupis
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Food and Agricultural Products Center, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Divya Jaroni
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Food and Agricultural Products Center, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
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Hadjilouka A, Tsaltas D. Cyclospora Cayetanensis-Major Outbreaks from Ready to Eat Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. Foods 2020; 9:E1703. [PMID: 33233660 PMCID: PMC7699734 DOI: 10.3390/foods9111703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclospora cayetanensis is a coccidian protozoan that causes cyclosporiasis, a severe gastroenteric disease, especially for immunocompromised patients, children, and the elderly. The parasite is considered as an emerging organism and a major contributor of gastroenteritis worldwide. Although the global prevalence of cyclosporiasis morbidity and mortality has not been assessed, global concern has arisen since diarrheal illness and gastroenteritis significantly affect both developing countries and industrialized nations. In the last two decades, an increasing number of foodborne outbreaks has been associated with the consumption of fresh produce that is difficult to clean thoroughly and is consumed without processing. Investigations of these outbreaks have revealed the necessity to increase the awareness in clinicians of this infection, since this protozoan is often ignored by surveillance systems, and to establish control measures to reduce contamination of fresh produce. In this review, the major cyclosporiasis outbreaks linked to the consumption of ready to eat fresh fruits and vegetables are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agni Hadjilouka
- EMBIO Diagnostics LTD., Athalassas 8b, 2018 Nicosia, Cyprus;
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Archbishop Kyprianos 30, 3036 Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Dimitris Tsaltas
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Archbishop Kyprianos 30, 3036 Limassol, Cyprus
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47
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Fan X, Song Y. Advanced Oxidation Process as a Postharvest Decontamination Technology To Improve Microbial Safety of Fresh Produce. J Agric Food Chem 2020; 68:12916-12926. [PMID: 32369356 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c01381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Fresh produce is frequently associated with outbreaks of foodborne diseases; thus, there is a need to develop effective intervention technologies and antimicrobial treatments to improve the microbial safety of fresh produce. Washing with chemical sanitizers, commonly used by the industry, is limited in its effectiveness and is viewed as a possible cross-contamination opportunity. This review discuses the advanced oxidation process (AOP), which involves generating highly reactive hydroxyl radicals to inactivate human pathogens. Ionizing irradiation, ultraviolet (UV) light, and cold plasma can be regarded as AOP; however, AOPs employing combinations of UV, H2O2, cold plasma, and ozone may be more promising because higher amounts of hydroxyl radicals are produced in comparison to the individual treatments and the combinative AOPs may be more consumer friendly than ionizing irradiation. When applied as a gaseous/aerosolized treatment, AOPs may have advantages over immersion treatments, considering the reactivity of hydroxyl radicals and presence of organic materials in wash water. Gaseous/aerosolized AOPs achieve up to 5 log reductions of pathogenic bacteria on fresh produce compared to reductions of 1-2 logs with aqueous sanitizers. Further research needs to be conducted on specific AOPs before being considered for commercialization, such as reduced formation of undesirable chemical byproducts, impact on quality, and scaled up studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuetong Fan
- Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 600 East Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania 19038, United States
| | - Yuanyuan Song
- Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 600 East Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania 19038, United States
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48
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Sidhu RK, Cavallaro ND, Pola CC, Danyluk MD, McLamore ES, Gomes CL. Planar Interdigitated Aptasensor for Flow-Through Detection of Listeria spp. in Hydroponic Lettuce Growth Media. Sensors (Basel) 2020; 20:E5773. [PMID: 33053744 PMCID: PMC7600482 DOI: 10.3390/s20205773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Irrigation water is a primary source of fresh produce contamination by bacteria during the preharvest, particularly in hydroponic systems where the control of pests and pathogens is a major challenge. In this work, we demonstrate the development of a Listeria biosensor using platinum interdigitated microelectrodes (Pt-IME). The sensor is incorporated into a particle/sediment trap for the real-time analysis of irrigation water in a hydroponic lettuce system. We demonstrate the application of this system using a smartphone-based potentiostat for rapid on-site analysis of water quality. A detailed characterization of the electrochemical behavior was conducted in the presence/absence of DNA and Listeria spp., which was followed by calibration in various solutions with and without flow. In flow conditions (100 mL samples), the aptasensor had a sensitivity of 3.37 ± 0.21 k log-CFU-1 mL, and the LOD was 48 ± 12 CFU mL-1 with a linear range of 102 to 104 CFU mL-1. In stagnant solution with no flow, the aptasensor performance was significantly improved in buffer, vegetable broth, and hydroponic media. Sensor hysteresis ranged from 2 to 16% after rinsing in a strong basic solution (direct reuse) and was insignificant after removing the aptamer via washing in Piranha solution (reuse after adsorption with fresh aptamer). This is the first demonstration of an aptasensor used to monitor microbial water quality for hydroponic lettuce in real time using a smartphone-based acquisition system for volumes that conform with the regulatory standards. The aptasensor demonstrated a recovery of 90% and may be reused a limited number of times with minor washing steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raminderdeep K. Sidhu
- Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;
| | - Nicholas D. Cavallaro
- Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA;
| | - Cicero C. Pola
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA;
| | - Michelle D. Danyluk
- Food Science and Human Nutrition, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA;
| | - Eric S. McLamore
- Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA;
| | - Carmen L. Gomes
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA;
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Schikora A, Jackson RW, Van Overbeek L, Holden N. Editorial: Plants as Alternative Hosts for Human and Animal Pathogens - Second Edition. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1439. [PMID: 32765434 PMCID: PMC7381135 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Schikora
- Julius Kühn-Institut, Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostic, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Robert Wilson Jackson
- School of Biosciences and Birmingham Institute of Forest Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Leo Van Overbeek
- Wageningen Plant Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Nicola Holden
- The James Hutton Institute, Cell and Molecular Sciences, Dundee, United Kingdom
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50
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Majiya H, Galstyan A. Dye extract of calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa has photodynamic antibacterial activity: A prospect for sunlight-driven fresh produce sanitation. Food Sci Nutr 2020; 8:3200-3211. [PMID: 32724585 PMCID: PMC7382145 DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.1580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Photodynamic sanitation of fresh produce could help reduce spoilage and disease transmissions where conventional methods of sanitation are not available, and sunlight is available for free. In this study, we evaluated the photostability and photodynamic antibacterial activity of the dye extracts of calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa. The dye extracts were very photostable in water but bleached in acetate-HCl buffer (pH 4.6), phosphate buffer saline (pH 7.2), and tris base-HCl buffer (pH 8.6). The photostability correlated with the photodynamic antibacterial activity of the dye extracts. Both the methanol and water dye extracts at the concentration of 0.0625 mg/ml caused complete inactivation of Bacillus subtilis (reductions of 8.5 log CFU/ml) within 2 min either with the visible light exposure at 10 mW/cm2 or in the dark without the light exposure. Reductions of 4.8 log CFU/ml and 2.2 log CFU/ml of Escherichia coli were observed when 1 mg/ml of methanol and water dye extracts were used, respectively, in water with the light exposure at 10 mW/cm2 for 20 min. Discussions are included about the ease of the dye extractions of the calyces of H. sabdariffa even in water without the need of energy for heating and the suitability of the dye extracts for the fresh produce sanitation. Dye extract of calyces of H. sabdariffa has photodynamic and nonphotodynamic antibacterial activity which could be exploited for the development of a low-tech sunlight-driven fresh produce sanitation system that is cheap, sustainable, and environmentally friendly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussaini Majiya
- Department of MicrobiologyIbrahim Badamasi Babangida UniversityLapaiNigeria
- Center for Soft NanoscienceUniversity of MünsterMunsterGermany
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