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Accurate and efficient quantification of viable bacteria in ready-to-eat food products is crucial for food safety and public health. The rapid and accurate assessment of foodborne bacteria in complex food matrices remains a significant challenge. Herein a culture-based approach was established for easily quantifying viable bacteria in ready-to-eat sea cucumber (RSC) products. Samples of the liquid companion within the package were directly transferred into test tubes to determine bacterial growth curves and growth rate curves, utilizing the electrical microbial growth analyzer. Viable bacteria in the samples were then quantified based on the time required to attain the maximum growth rate indicated on the growth rate curve. At a concentration of 5.0 × 103 CFU/mL of viable bacteria in the liquid companion, the recovery rates were 108.85–112.77% for Escherichia coli (E. coli) and 107.01–130.54% for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), with standard deviations of 1.60 and 3.92, respectively. For the solid content in the package, the quantification was performed using the same methodology following an additional homogenization step. At a concentration of 5.0 × 103 CFU/mL of viable bacteria in the sample, the recovery rates were 91.94–102.24% for E. coli and 81.43–104.46% for S. aureus, with standard deviations of 2.34 and 2.38, respectively. In instances where the viable bacterial concentration was 5.0 × 103 CFU/mL in RSC products, the total time required for the quantification did not exceed 10.5 h. This method demonstrated advantages over traditional plate counting and PCR methods regarding simplicity and efficiency, representing a promising alternative for the quantification of viable bacteria in food like RSC products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation concerning the presence of bacteria in meat products is mandatory for commercializing these goods. Although food bacteria detection is based on microbiological methods, these assays are usually laborious and time-consuming. In this paper, an electronic nose is used to differentiate Salmonella spp. (SA), Escherichia coli (EC), and Pseudomonas fluorescens (PF) inoculated in raw meat (beef, chicken, and pork) and incubated at 22 °C for 3 days. The obtained data were evaluated by principal component analysis (PCA) and different machine learning algorithms. From the graphical analysis of the PCA, on day 1, the clusters were close to each other for beef, chicken, and pork, while on days 2 and 3, more separated bacteria clusters were obtained regardless of the meat type, allowing for the discrimination of the samples for the latter days. To estimate the growth rates of the microorganisms, the distance between clusters was calculated and provided a pattern for the three bacteria, with the slowest-, moderate-, and fastest-growing being EC, SA, and PF, respectively. Concerning the machine learning algorithms, the accuracy varied from 93.8 to 100% for beef and chicken, while for pork, it varied from 75% to 100%. Thus, these results suggest that the proposed methodology based on electronic nose has the potential for the direct discrimination of bacteria in raw meat, with reduced analysis time, costs, and manipulating steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles synthesized from green sources have attracted great recognition in the present times, which can be ascribed to their distinctive attributes and diversified applicability. Therefore, the present study employed Ocimum basilicum seed extract to synthesize silver nanoparticles. UV–vis spectrophotometry revealed strenuous peaks for different concentrations of silver nanoparticles ranging between 400 and 430 nm. The average crystal size calculated using X-ray diffraction analysis was 6.7 nm. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis clearly displayed the presence of silver ions in the elemental structure of the synthesized nanoparticles. The morphology of synthesized nanoparticles revealed by scanning electron microscopy was documented in terms of spherical shape surrounded by an organic layer and nanoparticle size was estimated to be in between 10 and 80 nm. The nanoparticles exhibited substantial antibacterial activity against 46 foodborne bacterial isolates and 15 clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, with the largest inhibition zones measuring 24 and 13 mm, respectively. Minimum inhibitory concentration values ranged between 500 and 800 µl/ml for various isolates. The antibacterial effect of all antibiotics revealed considerable enhancement when combined with nanoparticles. The calculated fractional inhibitory concentration index values were < 1 validating excellent synergism between nanoparticles and all antibiotics except ciprofloxacin against the majority of bacterial isolates. Interestingly, the biogenic nanoparticles showed significant antioxidant potential with IC50 value of 165 µg/ml as well as anti-inflammatory activity with an IC50 value of 82 µg/ml. Conclusively, the seed extract of Ocimum basilicum can be prospected for the development of antibacterial silver nanoparticles against pathogenic bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Nanoparticles synthesized from green sources have attracted great recognition in the present times, which can be ascribed to their distinctive attributes and diversified applicability. Therefore, the present study employed Ocimum basilicum seed extract to synthesize silver nanoparticles. UV–vis spectrophotometry revealed strenuous peaks for different concentrations of silver nanoparticles ranging between 400 and 430 nm. The average crystal size calculated using X-ray diffraction analysis was 6.7 nm. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis clearly displayed the presence of silver ions in the elemental structure of the synthesized nanoparticles. The morphology of synthesized nanoparticles revealed by scanning electron microscopy was documented in terms of spherical shape surrounded by an organic layer and nanoparticle size was estimated to be in between 10 and 80 nm. The nanoparticles exhibited substantial antibacterial activity against 46 foodborne bacterial isolates and 15 clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, with the largest inhibition zones measuring 24 and 13 mm, respectively. Minimum inhibitory concentration values ranged between 500 and 800 µl/ml for various isolates. The antibacterial effect of all antibiotics revealed considerable enhancement when combined with nanoparticles. The calculated fractional inhibitory concentration index values were

The present study investigates the prevalence and etiology of subclinical mastitis in Țurcana sheep flocks located in south-western Romania. Milchtest and California Mastitis Test (CMT), were used for the detection of subclinical mastitis. A number of 360 milk samples across three lactation phases were analyzed. Subclinical mastitis was identified in 146 (40.6%) of sheep milk samples. Only milk samples (n = 146) collected from sheep diagnosed with subclinical mastitis were considered for microbiological analyses. Thus, Staphylococcus aureus (129/146; 88.4%) was identified as the predominant pathogen followed by Streptococcus spp. (14/146; 9.6%) Enterococcus spp. (7/146; 4.8%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6/146; 4.1%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (5/146; 3.4%). Antimicrobial susceptibility of isolated strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. was also tested. The results showed varying resistance patterns depending on the farm and microorganism. In heard A the highest resistance of Staphylococcus aureus was identified to polymyxin B (79.7%) followed by novobiocin (73.4%) and tetracycline (45.3%); Streptococcus spp. to streptomycin (100%), novobiocin (100%), tetracycline (100%) and Enterococcus spp. to tylosin (100%), streptomycin (75.0%) and tetracycline (75.0%). In herd B, Staphylococcus aureus showed high resistance rates to polymyxin B (86.3%), novobiocin (74.5%) and cloxacillin (39.2%); Streptococcus spp. strains to streptomycin (100%), novobiocin (100%), tetracycline (100%) and Enterococcus spp. to gentamicin (100%), streptomycin (66.7%) and erythromycin (66.7%). The obtained preliminary results indicate a potential risk that future treatments of sheep mastitis may not be effective, and demonstrated that raw unpasteurized milk can harbor antimicrobial resistance pathogens posing a threat to public health. However, further investigations involving molecular research on resistance genes are required to draw comprehensive conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foodborne diseases are a significant global public health concern due to their high prevalence, mortality, and economic losses. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of identified foodborne pathogens and outbreaks in Iran over the past 23 years to provide an overview of the risk assessment and prevention approaches in the country. Using appropriate keywords and searching major databases, such as ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Iranian Scientific Knowledge Database, we initially identified 4,740 articles. Finally, 328 articles were selected for evaluation. Among these articles, publications on Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria were the most numerous. Poultry meat was found to be the main source of major foodborne pathogens in Iran, including Campylobacter (46.21%), Listeria monocytogenes (38.45), Salmonella (24.83%), and Yersinia enterocolitica (16.81%). Given the high prevalence of foodborne bacteria in Iranian foods, it is crucial to implement effective control measures to reduce the risk and burden of foodborne diseases. In particular, poultry meat, which poses a high risk for the occurrence of foodborne diseases in Iran, should be subjected to further risk assessment and control measures throughout the food chain.

Antibiotics sensitivity patterns of food-borne bacteria amongst food handlers in a Nigerian University was carried out in this study. 100 food handlers actively participated in this research. Percutaneous and nasal swabs were collected and samples were placed on MacConkey, blood and chocolate agar media, incubated at 37 °C for 24 h, followed by biochemical identification of isolates. Antibiotics multi-disc were used to test bacteria susceptibility. Among bacteria isolates, 14% showed very poor sensitivity. Sensitivity to ampicillin, flucloxacillin, rifampicin and streptomycin was < 50%. Prevalence of food-borne pathogens was 76 % for percutaneous and 51 % for nasal samples. Isolates-sex difference was not statistically significant p > 0.05. Staphylococci isolates had the highest prevalence, 64 % and 45 % from percutaneous and nasal samples, respectively. Thirty (30 %) participants had similar isolates from both sampling regions. Antibiotics multi-resistant strains of bacteria are prevalent in our environment. Food handlers can be potential reservoirs and means of transmission of antibiotics multi-resistant food-borne bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial resistance, including resistant foodborne pathogenic bacteria, is developing daily, thus becoming a growing public health concern worldwide. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) such as tilapia piscidin 4 (TP4) are a class of small peptides widely present in nature that are promising antimicrobial agents that could potentially be considered food preservatives. This study is aimed at investigating the effect of TP4 alone and in combination with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on foodborne bacteria in milk. First, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of TP4 and its combination with ZnO NPs (synergistic effect) were measured against four standard foodborne bacteria using the microdilution and checkerboard methods, respectively. According to the results, TP4 showed a high antibacterial effect against four tested strains. Also, TP4 combination with ZnO NPs showed a relative synergistic effect against three tested strains. Then, a time‐kill assay was performed to evaluate the antibacterial effect of TP4 over time on selected bacteria. The results showed that within 24 h, a TP4 concentration of ≥1 × MIC prevented the growth of Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria. The microbial load of pasteurized and raw milk was also associated with population reduction against the 2 × MIC concentration of TP4. To evaluate the cytotoxicity of TP4, the 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) analysis was performed on the human embryonic kidney‐293 (HEK‐293) cell line and the half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was evaluated as 71.61 μg/mL, indicating the nontoxicity of this peptide. Finally, the results showed that TP4 peptide reduces the microbial load of milk, and due to its safety, it can be used as a food preservative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foodborne diseases are a significant global public health concern due to their high prevalence, mortality, and economic losses. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of identified foodborne pathogens and outbreaks in Iran over the past 23 years to provide an overview of the risk assessment and prevention approaches in the country. Using appropriate keywords and searching major databases, such as ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Iranian Scientific Knowledge Database, we initially identified 4,740 articles. Finally, 328 articles were selected for evaluation. Among these articles, publications on Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria were the most numerous. Poultry meat was found to be the main source of major foodborne pathogens in Iran, including Campylobacter (46.21%), Listeria monocytogenes (38.45), Salmonella (24.83%), and Yersinia enterocolitica (16.81%). Given the high prevalence of foodborne bacteria in Iranian foods, it is crucial to implement effective control measures to reduce the risk and burden of foodborne diseases. In particular, poultry meat, which poses a high risk for the occurrence of foodborne diseases in Iran, should be subjected to further risk assessment and control measures throughout the food chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the growing global demand for seafood, it is imperative to conduct a comprehensive study on the prevalence and persistence patterns of pathogenic bacteria and viruses associated with specific seafood varieties. This assessment thoroughly examines the safety of seafood products, considering the diverse processing methods employed in the industry. The importance of understanding the behavior of foodborne pathogens, such as Salmonella typhimurium, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Clostridium botulinum, Listeria monocytogenes, human norovirus, and hepatitis A virus, is emphasized by recent cases of gastroenteritis outbreaks linked to contaminated seafood. This analysis examines outbreaks linked to seafood in the United States and globally, with a particular emphasis on the health concerns posed by pathogenic bacteria and viruses to consumers. Ensuring the safety of seafood is crucial since it directly relates to consumer preferences on sustainability, food safety, provenance, and availability. The review focuses on assessing the frequency, growth, and durability of infections that arise during the processing of seafood. It utilizes next‐generation sequencing to identify the bacteria responsible for these illnesses. Additionally, it analyzes methods for preventing and intervening of infections while also considering the forthcoming challenges in ensuring the microbiological safety of seafood products. This evaluation emphasizes the significance of the seafood processing industry in promptly responding to evolving consumer preferences by offering current information on seafood hazards and future consumption patterns. To ensure the continuous safety and sustainable future of seafood products, it is crucial to identify and address possible threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Listeria (L.) monocytogenes is an opportunistic foodborne pathogen that causes listeriosis in humans and animals, reaching up to 30% case mortality. There are only a few reports in Mexico about the L. monocytogenes strains found in various foods. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of L. monocytogenes, serogroups, virulence genes, and antimicrobial resistance in different foods from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. L. monocytogenes strains were characterized by microbiological and molecular methods. Susceptibility to 12 antibiotics was determined according to CLSI and EUCAST. A total of 300 samples of seafood, pasteurized and raw milk, cheese, beef, and chicken were collected from supermarkets and retail markets. The presence of L. monocytogenes was detected in 5.6% of the samples. Most strains belonged to serogroups 4b, 4d, and 4e (68.4%). All strains presented a minimum of four virulence genes; the most common were actA, hly, and plcB (92.1%). A high percentage of antimicrobial susceptibility was observed, with resistance only to STX-TMP (78.9%), STR (26.3%), MEM (21.0%), and E (2.6%). These results show that the foods in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, are a reservoir of L. monocytogenes and represent a potential health risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the role of foods in the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance necessitates the initial documentation of antibiotic resistance genes within bacterial species found in foods. Here, the NCBI Pathogen Detection database was used to query antimicrobial resistance gene prevalence in foodborne and human clinical bacterial isolates. Of the 1,843,630 sequence entries, 639,087 (34.7%) were assigned to foodborne or human clinical sources with 147,788 (23.14%) from food and 427,614 (76.88%) from humans. The majority of foodborne isolates were either Salmonella (47.88%), Campylobacter (23.03%), Escherichia (11.79%), or Listeria (11.3%), and the remaining 6% belonged to 20 other genera. Most foodborne isolates were from meat/poultry (95,251 or 64.45%), followed by multi-product mixed food sources (29,892 or 20.23%) and fish/seafood (6503 or 4.4%); however, the most prominent isolation source varied depending on the genus/species. Resistance gene carriage also varied depending on isolation source and genus/species. Of note, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter spp. carried larger proportions of the quinolone resistance gene qnrS and some clinically relevant beta-lactam resistance genes in comparison to Salmonella and Escherichia coli. The prevalence of mec in S. aureus did not significantly differ between meat/poultry and multi-product sources relative to clinical sources, whereas this resistance was rare in isolates from dairy sources. The proportion of biocide resistance in Bacillus and Escherichia was significantly higher in clinical isolates compared to many foodborne sources but significantly lower in clinical Listeria compared to foodborne Listeria. This work exposes the gaps in current publicly available sequence data repositories, which are largely composed of clinical isolates and are biased towards specific highly abundant pathogenic species. We also highlight the importance of requiring and curating metadata on sequence submission to not only ensure correct information and data interpretation but also foster efficient analysis, sharing, and collaboration. To effectively monitor resistance carriage in food production, additional work on sequencing and characterizing AMR carriage in common commensal foodborne bacteria is critical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation concerning the presence of bacteria in meat products is mandatory for commercializing these goods. Although food bacteria detection is based on microbiological methods, these assays are usually laborious and time-consuming. In this paper, an electronic nose is used to differentiate Salmonella spp. (SA), Escherichia coli (EC), and Pseudomonas fluorescens (PF) inoculated in raw meat (beef, chicken, and pork) and incubated at 22 °C for 3 days. The obtained data were evaluated by principal component analysis (PCA) and different machine learning algorithms. From the graphical analysis of the PCA, on day 1, the clusters were close to each other for beef, chicken, and pork, while on days 2 and 3, more separated bacteria clusters were obtained regardless of the meat type, allowing for the discrimination of the samples for the latter days. To estimate the growth rates of the microorganisms, the distance between clusters was calculated and provided a pattern for the three bacteria, with the slowest-, moderate-, and fastest-growing being EC, SA, and PF, respectively. Concerning the machine learning algorithms, the accuracy varied from 93.8 to 100% for beef and chicken, while for pork, it varied from 75% to 100%. Thus, these results suggest that the proposed methodology based on electronic nose has the potential for the direct discrimination of bacteria in raw meat, with reduced analysis time, costs, and manipulating steps.

Accurate and efficient quantification of viable bacteria in ready-to-eat food products is crucial for food safety and public health. The rapid and accurate assessment of foodborne bacteria in complex food matrices remains a significant challenge. Herein a culture-based approach was established for easily quantifying viable bacteria in ready-to-eat sea cucumber (RSC) products. Samples of the liquid companion within the package were directly transferred into test tubes to determine bacterial growth curves and growth rate curves, utilizing the electrical microbial growth analyzer. Viable bacteria in the samples were then quantified based on the time required to attain the maximum growth rate indicated on the growth rate curve. At a concentration of 5.0 × 103 CFU/mL of viable bacteria in the liquid companion, the recovery rates were 108.85–112.77% for Escherichia coli (E. coli) and 107.01–130.54% for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), with standard deviations of 1.60 and 3.92, respectively. For the solid content in the package, the quantification was performed using the same methodology following an additional homogenization step. At a concentration of 5.0 × 103 CFU/mL of viable bacteria in the sample, the recovery rates were 91.94–102.24% for E. coli and 81.43–104.46% for S. aureus, with standard deviations of 2.34 and 2.38, respectively. In instances where the viable bacterial concentration was 5.0 × 103 CFU/mL in RSC products, the total time required for the quantification did not exceed 10.5 h. This method demonstrated advantages over traditional plate counting and PCR methods regarding simplicity and efficiency, representing a promising alternative for the quantification of viable bacteria in food like RSC products.

Grape pomace is the main by-product of vine-winery chains. It requires adequate treatment and disposal but is also an economically underused source of bioactive plant secondary metabolites. This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial effects of polyphenolic extracts from Aglianico (Vitis vinifera L.) grape pomace. In particular, hydroethanolic extracts obtained via an ultrasonic-assisted extraction technique were selected for antimicrobial tests. The extracts were screened for their antibacterial effects against foodborne pathogens that were both Gram-positive, in the case of Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, and Gram-negative, in the case of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium, showing variable bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects. In addition, our results demonstrated that the tested grape pomace extracts can reduce the inhibitory concentration of standard antibiotics. Interestingly, selected extracts inhibited biofilm development by S. aureus and B. cereus. Overall, these new insights into the antibacterial properties of grape pomace extracts may represent a relevant step in the design of novel therapeutic tools to tackle foodborne diseases, and in the management of resistant biofilm-related infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foodborne pathogens can cause gastrointestinal infections in consumers and in some cases can even lead to outbreaks. In the last decade, it has been observed that some zoonotic pathogenic bacteria can use plants as secondary hosts. Contamination with foodborne bacteria becomes relevant in foods that are regularly eaten raw, such as lettuce, cilantro, fenugreek, rocket leaves, basil, and so forth, and some fruits such as tomatoes, melons, and green peppers; because the elimination of these pathogenic bacteria is difficult to achieve with conventional sanitization processes. Contamination of produce can occur throughout the entire production chain. In farmlands, pathogenic bacteria can contaminate the seed, mainly when contaminated water is used for irrigation. Later, bacteria can reach other plant tissues such as the stems, leaves, and fruits. Another form of contamination is when the produce is in contact with feces from domestic, production, or wild animals. Additionally, poor handling practices during harvest, packaging, distribution, and sale can contaminate produce. Studies have shown that foodborne pathogens can adhere to produce, sometimes forming a biofilm, and can also be internalized into the plant or fruit, which protects them from sanitation processes. For this reason, in this text we address three biocontrol strategies such as bacteria, lytic bacteriophages, and some fungi, as an alternative approach for the control of both foodborne and plant pathogens. Additionally, the use of these biological agents can represent an advantage for the development of the plant, making them a good strategy to favor yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bioactive properties of the combination of microencapsulated cell-free supernatant (CFS) from Streptococcus thermophilus and thyme extract on food-related bacteria (Photobacterium damselae, Proteus mirabilis, Vibrio vulnificus, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC29213, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC29212, and Salmonella Paratyphi A NCTC13) were investigated. The microencapsulated CFS of S. thermophilus, in combination with ethanolic thyme extract, had a particle size in the range of 1.11 to 11.39 µm. The microencapsulated CFS of S. thermophilus had a wrinkled, spherical form. In the supernatant, especially at 2% (v/w), the thyme extract additive caused a decrease in the wrinkled form and a completely spherical structure. A total of 11 compounds were determined in the cell-free supernatant of S. thermophilus, and acetic acid (39.64%) and methyl-d3 1-dideuterio-2-propenyl ether (10.87%) were the main components. Thyme extract contained seven components, the main component being carvacrol at 67.96% and 1,2,3-propanetriol at 25.77%. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the inhibition zones of the extracts on bacteria. The inhibitory effect of thyme extract on bacteria varied between 25.00 (P. damselae) and 41.67 mm (V. vulnificus). Less antibacterial activity was shown by the microencapsulated CFS from S. thermophilus compared to their pure form. (p < 0.05). As a result, it was found that microencapsulated forms of CFS from S. thermophilus, especially those prepared in combination with 2% (v/w) thyme extract, generally showed higher bioactive effects on bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The burden of foodborne diseases and antimicrobial resistance carried by key foodborne pathogens in India is unknown due to a lack of an integrated surveillance system at the human-animal interface. Methods: We present data from the WHO-AGISAR (Advisory Group on Integrated Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance), India project. Concurrent human and animal sampling was done across a large area across north India. Community-acquired diarrhea cases (n = 1968) of all age groups were included. Cross-sectional sampling of stool/ intestinal contents (n = 487) and meat samples (n = 419) from food-producing animals was done at farms, retail shops, and slaughterhouses. Pathogens were cultured and identified, and antimicrobial susceptibility was performed. Results: Over 80% of diarrhoeal samples were obtained from moderate to severe diarrhea patients, which yielded EAEC (5%), ETEC (4.84%), EPEC (4.32%), and Campylobacter spp. (2%). A high carriage of EPEC (32.11%) and Campylobacter spp. (24.72%) was noted in food animals, but the prevalence of ETEC (2%) and EAEC (1%) was low. Atypical EPEC (aEPEC, 84.52%, p ≤0.0001) were predominant and caused milder diarrhea. All EPEC from animal/poultry were aEPEC. Overall, a very high level of resistance was observed, and the MDR rate ranged from 29.2% in Campylobacter spp., 53.6% in EPEC, and 59.8% in ETEC. Resistance to piperacillin-tazobactam, cefepime, ceftriaxone, and co-trimoxazole was significantly higher in human strains. In contrast, resistance to ciprofloxacin, aminoglycosides, and tetracycline was higher in animal strains, reflecting the corresponding usage in human and animal sectors. ESBL production was commoner in animal isolates than in humans, indicating high use of third-generation cephalosporins in the animal sector. C. hyointestinalis is an emerging zoonotic pathogen, first time reported from India. Conclusion: In one of the most extensive studies from India, a high burden of key foodborne pathogens with MDR and ESBL phenotypes was found in livestock, poultry, and retail meat.

Essential oils are known to exhibit diverse antimicrobial properties, showing their value as a natural resource. Our work aimed to investigate the primary mode of action of Cuban Lippia graveolens (Kunth) essential oil (EO) against Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. enterica ser. Typhimurium). We assessed cell integrity through various assays, including time-kill bacteriolysis, loss of cell material with absorption at 260 and 280 nm, total protein leakage, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The impact of L. graveolens EO on membrane depolarization was monitored and levels of intracellular and extracellular ATP were measured by fluorescence intensity. The minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) of L. graveolens EO were 0.4 and 0.8 mg/mL, respectively. This EO exhibited notable bactericidal effects on treated cells within 15 min without lysis or leakage of cellular material. TEM showed distinct alterations in cellular ultrastructure, including membrane shrinkage and cytoplasmic content redistribution. We also observed disruption of the membrane potential along with reduced intracellular and extracellular ATP concentrations. These findings show that L. graveolens EO induces the death of S. enterica ser. Typhimurium, important information that can be used to combat this foodborne disease-causing agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella enterica and Campylobacter jejuni are some of the common foodborne pathogens causing gastrointestinal illnesses worldwide. The development of sensitive and specific detection methods is essential to ensure food safety. Dye-based real-time PCR assay using SYBR™ GreenER™ dye was developed for the detection of Salmonella enterica and Campylobacter jejuni. Designed primer sets specifically targeting the genes ompF and omp50 in Salmonella and Campylobacter, respectively, were utilised in the study. The assay was able to detect Salmonella and Campylobacter at as low as 50 fg/μl and 10 fg/μl, respectively. Specificity analysis performed using 16 different bacterial strains to check for cross- reactivity with the respective bacteria found the assay to be specific to Salmonella and Campylobacter. The assay successfully detected Salmonella enterica in inoculated food at as low as 5 fg/reaction for some food samples. Meanwhile, the detection limit for Campylobacter jejuni in all inoculated food samples was 2000 fg/reaction. The coefficient variations (CV%) of the assays for both pathogens indicated that the assays were highly reproducible. Therefore, the developed real-time PCR assays for both Salmonella enterica and Campylobacter jejuni detections were specific and sensitive and can be used for rapid screening to detect these foodborne pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A superior photoelectrochemical (PEC) aptasensor was manufactured for the detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) based on a hybrid of triazine-based covalent–organic framework (COF) and cuprous oxide (Cu2O). The COF synthesized using 1,3,5-tris(4-aminophenyl)-benzene (TAPB) and 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol (Tp) as building blocks acted as a scaffold for encapsulated Cu2O nanoparticles (denoted as Cu2O@TAPB-Tp-COF), which then was employed as the bioplatform for anchoring E. coli-targeted aptamer. Cu2O@Cu@TAPB-Tp-COF demonstrated enhanced separation of the photogenerated carriers and photoabsorption ability and boosted photoelectric conversion efficiency. The developed Cu2O@TAPB-Tp-COF-based PEC aptasensor exhibited a lower detection limit of 2.5 CFU mL−1 toward E. coli within a wider range of 10 CFU mL−1 to 1 × 104 CFU mL−1 than most of reported aptasensors for determining foodborne bacteria, together with high selectivity, good stability, and superior ability and reproducibility. The recoveries of E. coli spiked into milk and bread samples ranged within 95.3–103.6% and 96.6–102.8%, accompanying with low RSDs of 1.37–4.48% and 1.74–3.66%, respectively. The present study shows a promising alternative for the sensitive detection of foodborne bacteria from complex foodstuffs and pathogenic bacteria-polluted environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tsegahun Asfaw, Deribew Genetu, Demissew Shenkute, Tassew Tefera Shenkutie, Berhanu Yitayew Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Tsegahun Asfaw, Email tsegahun.asfaw12@gmail.comBackground: Recently, antibiotic resistance of bacteria contained in foods such as vegetables has become a public health problem. In Ethiopia, the diversity of bacterial contamination and level of antibiotic resistance in vegetables are poorly understood. Local analysis of vegetable contamination and its contribution to the spread of antibiotic resistance are therefore essential for One Health interventions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the level of bacterial contamination of commonly consumed vegetables and their antimicrobial resistance patterns.Methods: A cross-sectional research was conducted in Debre Berhan town from February to August 2022. Questionnaires were used to collect data on sociodemographic variables, hygiene practices, and market hygiene. Six carefully selected vegetables (30 each, 180 in total) were purchased at a local market. Bacterial isolation and identification, multidrug-resistant (MDR) screening and confirmation, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) screening and confirmation, and antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed using standard operating procedure. The data were analysed statistically using SPSS software version 25.Results: The contamination rate of vegetables was 119 (66.1%). Of the 176 bacteria isolates, E. coli (26.1%; 46/176), S. aureus (18.8%; 176), S. epidermidis (10.8%; 19/176), Klebsiella spp. (9.1%; 16/179) and Acinetobacter spp. (6.8%; 12/176) were the most frequently detected isolates. Of the 180 samples tested, (66.1%; 119/180) were contaminated with at least one type of bacteria. Lettuce (22.7%; 40/176), spinach (18.6%; 33/176), and cabbage (19.2%; 32/176) were the most contaminated vegetables. Of the 176 bacteria isolates, (64.8%; 114/176) were MDR, and (18.5%; 23/124) isolates were ESBL producers. The kind of vegetables, vendor/seller finger-nail status, medium of display, market type, and not cleaned before to display were all significantly associated with bacterial contamination.Conclusion: This study found that commonly consumed vegetables are contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Vegetables were also notable for the incidence of multidrug-resistant, extended β-lactamase-resistant, and methicillin-resistant bacterial isolates. Therefore, we urge local health authorities to develop and implement effective control strategies to reduce vegetable contamination.Keywords: foodborne bacteria, multidrug-resistant, extended β-lactamase-resistant, risk factors, vegetables

Listeria (L.) monocytogenes is an opportunistic foodborne pathogen that causes listeriosis in humans and animals, reaching up to 30% case mortality. There are only a few reports in Mexico about the L. monocytogenes strains found in various foods. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of L. monocytogenes, serogroups, virulence genes, and antimicrobial resistance in different foods from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. L. monocytogenes strains were characterized by microbiological and molecular methods. Susceptibility to 12 antibiotics was determined according to CLSI and EUCAST. A total of 300 samples of seafood, pasteurized and raw milk, cheese, beef, and chicken were collected from supermarkets and retail markets. The presence of L. monocytogenes was detected in 5.6% of the samples. Most strains belonged to serogroups 4b, 4d, and 4e (68.4%). All strains presented a minimum of four virulence genes; the most common were actA, hly, and plcB (92.1%). A high percentage of antimicrobial susceptibility was observed, with resistance only to STX-TMP (78.9%), STR (26.3%), MEM (21.0%), and E (2.6%). These results show that the foods in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, are a reservoir of L. monocytogenes and represent a potential health risk.

Environmental monitoring programs (EMPs) for food production facilities are useful for verifying general sanitation controls and are recommended as verification measures to ensure that the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point plan is working effectively. In this study, EMPs for Listeria were conducted at three food production facilities to assess the efficacy of sanitation control and establish effective sanitation control methods. In Facility A, L. monocytogenes was detected in the clean area although in Zone 3, non–food-contact surfaces. To prevent contamination from dirty areas, the cleaning practices in the preparation room were investigated. Normal cleaning combined with disinfection with carbonated hypochlorite water (chlorine concentration, 150 ppm) proved effective. At Facility B, a salad product and its ingredients (pastrami and salami) were positive for L. monocytogenes serotype 3b. The bacterial count was

The toxic reactive oxygen species (toxROS) is the reactive oxygen species (ROS) beyond the normal concentration of cells, which has inactivation and disinfection effects on foodborne bacteria. However, foodborne bacteria can adapt and survive by physicochemical regulation of antioxidant systems, especially through central carbon metabolism (CCM), which is a significant concern for food safety. It is thus necessary to study the antioxidant regulation mechanisms of CCM in foodborne bacteria under toxROS stresses. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to provide an update and comprehensive overview of the reconfiguration of CCM fluxes in foodborne bacteria that respond to different toxROS stresses. In this review, two key types of toxROS including exogenous toxROS (exo-toxROS) and endogenous toxROS (endo-toxROS) are introduced. Exo-toxROS are produced by disinfectants, such as H2O2 and HOCl, or during food non-thermal processing such as ultraviolet (UV/UVA), cold plasma (CP), ozone (O3), electrolyzed water (EW), pulsed electric field (PEF), pulsed light (PL), and electron beam (EB) processing. Endo-toxROS are generated by bioreagents such as antibiotics (aminoglycosides, quinolones, and β-lactams). Three main pathways for CCM in foodborne bacteria under the toxROS stress are also highlighted, which are glycolysis (EMP), pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), and tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA). In addition, energy metabolisms throughout these pathways are discussed. Finally, challenges and future work in this area are suggested. It is hoped that this review should be beneficial in providing insights for future research on bacterial antioxidant CCM defence under both exo-toxROS stresses and endo-toxROS stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foodborne pathogens can have devastating repercussions and significantly threaten public health. Therefore, it is indeed essential to guarantee the sustainability of our food production. Food preservation and storage using nanocomposites is a promising strategy. Accordingly, the present research's objectives were to identify and isolate a few foodborne pathogens from food products, (ii) synthesize and characterize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using wet chemical reduction into the lamellar space layer of montmorillonite (MMT), and (iii) investigate the antibacterial potential of the AgNPs/MMT nanocomposite versus isolated strains of bacteria. Six bacterial species, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Bacillus cereus were isolated from some food products (meat, fish, cheese, and vegetables). The Ag/MMT nanocomposite was synthesized and characterized using UV–visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, particle size analyzer, zeta potential, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy with dispersive energy X-ray (EDX). The antibacterial effectiveness of the AgNPs/MMT nanocomposite further investigated distinct bacterial species using a zone of inhibition assay and microtiter-based methods. Nanoparticles with a narrow dimension range of 12 to 30 nm were identified using TEM analysis. The SEM was employed to view the sizeable flakes of the AgNPs/MMT. At 416 nm, the most excellent UV absorption was measured. Four silver metallic diffraction peaks were found in the XRD pattern during the study, and the EDX spectrum revealed a strong signal attributed to Ag nanocrystals. AgNPs/MMT figured out the powerful antibacterial action. The AgNPs/MMT nanocomposite confirmed outstanding minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against six isolates of foodborne pathogens, ranging from 15 to 75 µg/mL, respectively. The AgNPs/MMT's antibacterial potential against gram-negative bacteria was noticeably better than gram-positive bacteria. Therefore, the AgNPs/MMT nanocomposite has the potential to be used as a reliable deactivator in food processing and preservation to protect against foodborne pathogenic bacteria. This suggests that the nanocomposite may be effective at inhibiting the growth and proliferation of harmful bacteria in food, which could help to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The serrano artisanal cheese (SAC) is a traditional raw milk dairy produced in southern Brazil. The maturation temperature plays a crucial role regarding the cheeses’ microbiological and physicochemical features and has been underexplored when it comes to unpasteurized milk dairy in Brazil. The objective of the present work is to evaluate the effect of ripening temperature on foodborne bacteria (total and thermotolerant coliforms, positive coagulase Staphylococcus and the production of its enterotoxin, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp.) and physicochemical attributes (moisture, water activity, pH, acidity and sodium chloride concentration) of SAC during maturation at 5ºC-20ºC for up to 60 days. Metagenomic analysis was also evaluated through the rDNA 16S method at ripening time of 0-60 days. The samples were safe for L.monocytogenes, E.coli, Salmonella spp. and staphylococcal toxin. The physicochemical parameters reached legal boundaries as follows: moisture, after 30 days at 5ºC; fat, after 30 days at 12.5ºC and 20ºC; fat at dry extract, after 30 days at 12.5ºC or 15 days at 5ºC. The microbiological features indicate that positive coagulase Staphylococcus reached legal conditions after 30 days when cheeses were ripped at 12.5ºC and 20ºC; thermotolerant coliforms after 30 days at 12.5ºC and 20ºC; and total coliforms after 15 days at 20ºC. Lower temperatures lead to lower inactivation rates, and Staphylococcus did not reach legal parameters at 5ºC positive coagulase regarding moisture, water activity and pH reduction. Meanwhile, sodium chloride concentration and enhanced acidity played important role regarding foodborne pathogen inactivation. The main lactic acid bacteria within the cheeses during ripening were Enterococcus sp. and Lactococcus sp.

Understanding the role of foods in the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance necessitates the initial documentation of antibiotic resistance genes within bacterial species found in foods. Here, the NCBI Pathogen Detection database was used to query antimicrobial resistance gene prevalence in foodborne and human clinical bacterial isolates. Of the 1,843,630 sequence entries, 639,087 (34.7%) were assigned to foodborne or human clinical sources with 147,788 (23.14%) from food and 427,614 (76.88%) from humans. The majority of foodborne isolates were either Salmonella (47.88%), Campylobacter (23.03%), Escherichia (11.79%), or Listeria (11.3%), and the remaining 6% belonged to 20 other genera. Most foodborne isolates were from meat/poultry (95,251 or 64.45%), followed by multi-product mixed food sources (29,892 or 20.23%) and fish/seafood (6503 or 4.4%); however, the most prominent isolation source varied depending on the genus/species. Resistance gene carriage also varied depending on isolation source and genus/species. Of note, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter spp. carried larger proportions of the quinolone resistance gene qnrS and some clinically relevant beta-lactam resistance genes in comparison to Salmonella and Escherichia coli. The prevalence of mec in S. aureus did not significantly differ between meat/poultry and multi-product sources relative to clinical sources, whereas this resistance was rare in isolates from dairy sources. The proportion of biocide resistance in Bacillus and Escherichia was significantly higher in clinical isolates compared to many foodborne sources but significantly lower in clinical Listeria compared to foodborne Listeria. This work exposes the gaps in current publicly available sequence data repositories, which are largely composed of clinical isolates and are biased towards specific highly abundant pathogenic species. We also highlight the importance of requiring and curating metadata on sequence submission to not only ensure correct information and data interpretation but also foster efficient analysis, sharing, and collaboration. To effectively monitor resistance carriage in food production, additional work on sequencing and characterizing AMR carriage in common commensal foodborne bacteria is critical.

Grape pomace is the main by-product of vine-winery chains. It requires adequate treatment and disposal but is also an economically underused source of bioactive plant secondary metabolites. This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial effects of polyphenolic extracts from Aglianico (Vitis vinifera L.) grape pomace. In particular, hydroethanolic extracts obtained via an ultrasonic-assisted extraction technique were selected for antimicrobial tests. The extracts were screened for their antibacterial effects against foodborne pathogens that were both Gram-positive, in the case of Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, and Gram-negative, in the case of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium, showing variable bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects. In addition, our results demonstrated that the tested grape pomace extracts can reduce the inhibitory concentration of standard antibiotics. Interestingly, selected extracts inhibited biofilm development by S. aureus and B. cereus. Overall, these new insights into the antibacterial properties of grape pomace extracts may represent a relevant step in the design of novel therapeutic tools to tackle foodborne diseases, and in the management of resistant biofilm-related infections.

The bioactive properties of the combination of microencapsulated cell-free supernatant (CFS) from Streptococcus thermophilus and thyme extract on food-related bacteria (Photobacterium damselae, Proteus mirabilis, Vibrio vulnificus, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC29213, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC29212, and Salmonella Paratyphi A NCTC13) were investigated. The microencapsulated CFS of S. thermophilus, in combination with ethanolic thyme extract, had a particle size in the range of 1.11 to 11.39 µm. The microencapsulated CFS of S. thermophilus had a wrinkled, spherical form. In the supernatant, especially at 2% (v/w), the thyme extract additive caused a decrease in the wrinkled form and a completely spherical structure. A total of 11 compounds were determined in the cell-free supernatant of S. thermophilus, and acetic acid (39.64%) and methyl-d3 1-dideuterio-2-propenyl ether (10.87%) were the main components. Thyme extract contained seven components, the main component being carvacrol at 67.96% and 1,2,3-propanetriol at 25.77%. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the inhibition zones of the extracts on bacteria. The inhibitory effect of thyme extract on bacteria varied between 25.00 (P. damselae) and 41.67 mm (V. vulnificus). Less antibacterial activity was shown by the microencapsulated CFS from S. thermophilus compared to their pure form. (p < 0.05). As a result, it was found that microencapsulated forms of CFS from S. thermophilus, especially those prepared in combination with 2% (v/w) thyme extract, generally showed higher bioactive effects on bacteria.

Objective: This study assessed the bacteriological quality and prevalence of foodborne bacteria in raw broiler meat sold in Mymensingh City. Materials and Methods: Thigh and breast meat samples (n = 80) from broiler chickens were randomly collected from four live bird markets (LBM) in Mymensingh city for bacteriological analysis. To determine the bacteriological quality, a 10-fold serial dilution of the thigh and breast homogenate was made. Then, total viable count (TVC), total coliform count (TCC), Staphylococci, and Salmonella spp. counts were determined using plate count agar, MacConkey agar, Mannitol salt agar, and Salmonella-Shigella agar. Gram stain, biochemical testing, PCR assays, and cultural properties were used to identify the bacterial isolates. Results: The TVC in the broiler meat sample ranged between log10 8.30 ± 0.54 colony forming unit (CFU)/gm and log10 9.04 ± 0.26 CFU/gm. TCC was found between log10 5.53 ± 0.38 CFU/gm and log10 6.66 ± 0.80 CFU/gm. The mean Staphylococcal count was recorded between log10 4.64 ± 0.61 CFU/gm and log10 6.42 ± 0.53 CFU/gm, and the total Salmonella count ranged between log10 4.75 ± 0.08 CFU/gm and log10 5.69 ± 0.58 CFU/gm. The prevalence of Escherichia coli was the highest (43.2%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (36.8%) and Salmonella spp. (20%), respectively. Conclusions: Data from this study indicated that the TVC and TCC of raw broiler meat sold at LBM exceed the permissible limits and are contaminated with foodborne bacteria, which might cause public health hazards. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(3.000): 405-411]

A comprehensive study of bacterial and biotoxin contaminants of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods in Nigeria is yet to be reported. Hence, this study applied 16S rRNA gene sequencing and a dilute-and-shoot LC-MS/MS method to profile bacteria and biotoxins, respectively, in 199 RTE food samples comprising eko (n = 30), bread (n = 30), shawarma (n = 35), aadun (n = 35), biscuits (n = 34), and kokoro (n = 35). A total of 631 bacterial isolates, clustered into seven operational taxonomic units, namely Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Klebsiella, Proteus and Kosakonia, Kurthia, and Yokenella, that are reported for the first time were recovered from the foods. One hundred and eleven metabolites comprising mycotoxins and other fungal metabolites, phytoestrogenic phenols, phytotoxins, and bacterial metabolites were detected in the foods. Aflatoxins, fumonisins, and ochratoxins contaminated only the artisanal foods (aadun, eko, and kokoro), while deoxynivalenol and zearalenone were found in industrially-processed foods (biscuit, bread, and shawarma), and citrinin was present in all foods except eko. Mean aflatoxin (39.0 µg/kg) in artisanal foods exceeded the 10 µg/kg regulatory limit adopted in Nigeria by threefold. Routine surveillance, especially at the informal markets; food hygiene and safety education to food processors and handlers; and sourcing of high-quality raw materials are proposed to enhance RTE food quality and safeguard consumer health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumer demand for fresh produce (vegetables and fruits) has considerably increased since the 1980s for more nutritious foods and healthier life practices, particularly in developed countries. Currently, several foodborne outbreaks have been linked to fresh produce. The global rise in fresh produce associated with human infections may be due to the use of wastewater or any contaminated water for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables, the firm attachment of the foodborne pathogens on the plant surface, and the internalization of these agents deep inside the tissue of the plant, poor disinfection practices and human consumption of raw fresh produce. Several investigations have been established related to the human microbial pathogens (HMPs) interaction, their internalization, and survival on/within plant tissue. Previous studies have displayed that HMPs are comprised of several cellular constituents to attach and adapt to the plant's intracellular niches. In addition, there are several plant-associated factors, such as surface morphology, nutrient content, and plant–HMP interactions, that determine the internalization and subsequent transmission to humans. Based on documented findings, the internalized HMPs are not susceptible to sanitation or decontaminants applied on the surface of the fresh produce. Therefore, the contamination of fresh produce by HMPs could pose significant food safety hazards. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the interaction between fresh produce and HMPs and reveals the ambiguity of interaction and transmission of the agents to humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the use of ultraviolet-C light emitting diodes that emit light at 255 nm and 265 nm, to disinfect bacteria present at occurrence levels and spiked in water matrices, salads and stainless-steel surfaces. The UV-C LEDs effectively inactivated bacteria associated with food outbreaks (Salmonella enterica , Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli) as well as a cocktail of bacteria isolated from packaged salads. Combining the wavelengths did not enhance disinfection. Even low UV fluences of 4 mJ/cm2 achieved a significant 6-log reduction of bacteria spiked in water at high initial concentrations of approximately 108 CFU/mL. Exposure of salad (lettuce and arugula) leaves (110 mJ/cm2) and contaminated stainless-steel surfaces (11 mJ/cm2) to three small LEDs that emit light at 265 nm reduced the pathogenic bacteria by 3 and 2-logs, respectively. The results obtained show that this disinfection technology could be promising for the food industry to guarantee effective inactivation of bacteria associated with foodborne diseases present in water, food and surfaces. This study demonstrated the potential of ultraviolet-C light emitting diodes, emitting at 255 nm and 265 nm, to provide an effective and sustainable disinfection solution for the food industry, ensuring the inactivation of bacteria associated with foodborne diseases on water, food, and surfaces, thereby enhancing food safety. Additionally, this technology holds potential for extending product shelf-life, further benefiting the food industry. The results highlighted the effectiveness of UV-C LEDs even at low fluences, making them a practical choice for modern disinfection needs. [Display omitted] • LEDs (255 & 265 nm) disinfection effectively prevent food waste and outbreaks. • Low UV fluences (4 mJ/cm2) lead to 6-log reduction of bacteria spiked in real water. • 265 nm LED exposure (108 mJ/cm2) reduced bacteria on lettuce and arugula by 3-logs. • LED exposure (11 mJ/cm2) reduced Listeria on surfaces by about 2-logs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foodborne diseases are a global concern due to their high impact on morbidity, and mortality worldwide. The traditional method of bacterial detection is both time-consuming and labor-intensive. Alternative methods, such as immunoassays and polymerase chain reactions, have limited applicability due to the need for an enrichment process and expensive equipment. DNA-based biosensors have gained interest in the field of detection, due to their high rapidity, high sensitivity, and high specificity, which provides a promising technology for bacterial detection. To fabricate DNA-based biosensors, the immobilization of DNA probes on electrodes is a crucial process. This review delves into the three techniques of DNA probe immobilization, discussing their respective advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, recent advancements in DNA-based biosensors are explored. The integration of advanced molecular techniques such as DNA nanostructures, DNA walkers, and the CRISPR-Cas system with DNA-based biosensors for foodborne pathogens is also discussed in this work. [Display omitted] • Review the recent advance in DNA-based foodborne bacterial detection. • Principle for immobilizing DNA probes and summarizing their benefits, and drawbacks. • Compare the latest diverse applications of DNA-based foodborne bacterial biosensors. • Advanced molecular techniques for foodborne pathogens are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enteritidis , and Staphylococcus aureus are widely present in food and can cause serious and large-scale cases of illness worldwide every year. Herein, we developed a triplex immunomagnetic separation (IMS) combined with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) on a microfluidic chip (triplex IMS-mLAMP) for the simultaneous detection of these three important foodborne pathogenic bacteria. To optimize the triplex IMS method, the CEs of the three types of IMBs were determined for different particle sizes, amounts and incubation times. Under optimal reaction conditions, the CEs for the three bacteria were between 65.4% and 71.1% in PBS, and between 41.1% and 47.5% in milk, respectively. After triplex IMS, DNA from target bacteria captured by magnetic beads was extracted and subjected to a multiplexed LAMP reaction in a centrifugal microfluidic chip that allowed for the simultaneous detection of up to 8 individual milk samples. The results were judged directly by the color change. The method only detected the three target bacteria and did not show cross-reaction with other bacteria, exhibiting a high level of specificity. Sensitivity experiments confirmed a detection limit of the triplex IMS-mLAMP as low as 1.2 × 102 CFU/mL for E. coli O157:H7 and S. enteritidis , and 2.5 × 102 CFU/mL for S. aureus in milk samples. The overall testing time of the triplex IMS-mLAMP was just 80 min. This is the first report that IMS-mLAMP was used for simultaneous capture and detection of E. coli O157:H7, S. enteritidis , and S. aureus in milk. This cost-effective, easy-to-use, no need for expensive laboratory-based equipment, integrated on-chip colorimetric multi-target detection system opens a novel pathway for rapid diagnostic screening of pathogens in food. • A triplex IMS-mLAMP method for the simultaneous and multi-sample detection of three kinds of target bacteria is developed. • This method uses lamp assay on microfluidic chip to achieve observable results by the naked eye. • The overall testing time of the triplex IMS-mLAMP in milk samples was less than 80 min. • This method could simultaneously detect as low as 1.2 × 102 CFU/mL to 2.5 × 102 CFU/mL for the three target bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils are known to exhibit diverse antimicrobial properties, showing their value as a natural resource. Our work aimed to investigate the primary mode of action of Cuban Lippia graveolens (Kunth) essential oil (EO) against Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. enterica ser. Typhimurium). We assessed cell integrity through various assays, including time-kill bacteriolysis, loss of cell material with absorption at 260 and 280 nm, total protein leakage, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The impact of L. graveolens EO on membrane depolarization was monitored and levels of intracellular and extracellular ATP were measured by fluorescence intensity. The minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) of L. graveolens EO were 0.4 and 0.8 mg/mL, respectively. This EO exhibited notable bactericidal effects on treated cells within 15 min without lysis or leakage of cellular material. TEM showed distinct alterations in cellular ultrastructure, including membrane shrinkage and cytoplasmic content redistribution. We also observed disruption of the membrane potential along with reduced intracellular and extracellular ATP concentrations. These findings show that L. graveolens EO induces the death of S. enterica ser. Typhimurium, important information that can be used to combat this foodborne disease-causing agent.

An online questionnaire was used to investigate behaviors and habits relating to food retrieval by Swedish dumpster divers. Respondents were also asked to share information on their background, reasons for engaging in dumpster diving, and perceptions of potential bacterial hazards associated with the consumption of discarded foods. The questionnaire was mainly distributed to Swedish social media groups focusing on dumpster diving, and a total of 92 responses were received. The most common reason given for engaging in dumpster diving was to reduce food waste and associated negative environmental impacts (60%, n = 55). Many of the respondents (65%) had completed university education, and around three-quarters (73%) had some form of employment or were enrolled in studies. Half the respondents (52%, n = 48) perceived a risk of falling ill after consuming food obtained through dumpster diving, but very few (2%) reported they had been made ill by food they had picked up from dumpsters. Around one-fifth (22%) of the respondents did not know of any bacteria that could cause foodborne infections or food poisoning. Salmonella was mentioned by 35% of the respondents, while Listeria was mentioned by 18%. The respondents reported employing various techniques to reduce the risk of encountering harmful microbiological agents, for example, rinsing their food retrievals or discarding food that appeared spoiled. These are novel findings on dumpster divers’ perceptions of perceived health risks and the strategies they use to mitigate such risks with food obtained through dumpster diving.

Research interest continues to grow in the field of green synthesis routes to nanomaterials, specifically on the biologically relevant metal oxide nanoparticles that have antimicrobial potency. This green approach allows the utilization of extracts of different parts of plants such as leaves, barks, fruits and flowers for the synthesis of nanomaterials. In the present study, the leaf extract of Daucus carota L has been used to prepare copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs). The synthesized NPs have been characterized by several techniques such as X-ray diffraction analysis, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The absorption spectroscopy showed a maximum absorption peak around 300 nm, while the electronic microscopies confirmed a spherical morphology with an average particle size of 47 nm. The CuO NPs were screened against foodborne pathogenic bacteria including Salmonella enterica Typhimurium ATCC 14028, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19117, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538. An agar well diffusion method was utilized for the antimicrobial assay and the minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined. The biosynthesized CuO NPs exhibited more antibacterial potency against the Gram +ve bacteria compared to Gram −ve bacteria. The results obtained were encouraging and recommend CuO NPs as an alternative antimicrobial agent in food preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) foodborne pathogens have created a great challenge to the supply and consumption of safe & healthy animal-source foods. The study was conducted to identify the common foodborne pathogens from animal-source foods & by-products with their antimicrobial drug susceptibility and resistance gene profile. The common foodborne pathogens Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Campylobacter species were identified in livestock and poultry food products. The prevalence of foodborne pathogens was found higher in poultry food & by-product compared with livestock (p < 0.05). The antimicrobial drug susceptibility results revealed decreased susceptibility to penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, neomycin, streptomycin, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim whilst gentamicin was found comparatively more sensitive. Regardless of sources, the overall MDR pattern of E. coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus were found to be 88.33%, 75%, 95%, and 100%, respectively. The genotypic resistance showed a prevalence of blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCMY, tetA, tetB, sul1, aadA1, aac(3)-IV, and ereA resistance genes. The phenotype and genotype resistance patterns of isolated pathogens from livestock and poultry had harmony and good concordance, and sul1 & tetA resistance genes had a higher prevalence. Good agricultural practices along with proper biosecurity may reduce the rampant use of antimicrobial drugs. In addition, proper handling, processing, storage, and transportation of foods may decline the spread of MDR foodborne pathogens in the food chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the system-scale pathogenesis of Listeria monocytogenes infection have classically focused on its ability to colonize in the intestines following an exposure event. However, despite this, many of the most dangerous complications arising from L. monocytogenes infection are observed days, weeks, or months after exposure, resulting indirectly from bacteria escaping this intestinal colonization hub and invading other organs. Over time, findings of various individual phenomena observed during systemic infection have accumulated, including a shift away from the principal route of intestinal dissemination, delays in bacterial colonization of the central nervous system, differing bacterial flux rates across organs, and multi-stability of bacterial population levels. To further our quantitative understanding of foodborne bacterial infection dynamics, a compartmental model of systemic infection that synthesizes these findings is proposed. Under parameterization to infection in BALB/c mice, the model is used to show a substantial decrease in bacterial populations resulting from dissemination through the mesenteric lymph nodes, as compared to the portal vein, when controlling for the number of bacteria passing through each route. Due to the compartmental nature of this model, we anticipate that this result may be paralleled in other microbes which make use of these pathways to escape the intestinal environment. Additionally, we predict thresholds for intestinal dissemination along each of these routes, which must be surpassed to induce systemic infection, and describe how these thresholds change over time. Supplementarily, logistic curves are fitted to synthetic data as a means of robustly quantifying the dose-response relationship beyond the intestinal barrier., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The author declares no competing interests that could have influenced the content or production of this article., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The present study investigates the prevalence and etiology of subclinical mastitis in Țurcana sheep flocks located in south-western Romania. Milchtest and California Mastitis Test (CMT), were used for the detection of subclinical mastitis. A number of 360 milk samples across three lactation phases were analyzed. Subclinical mastitis was identified in 146 (40.6%) of sheep milk samples. Only milk samples (n = 146) collected from sheep diagnosed with subclinical mastitis were considered for microbiological analyses. Thus, Staphylococcus aureus (129/146; 88.4%) was identified as the predominant pathogen followed by Streptococcus spp. (14/146; 9.6%) Enterococcus spp. (7/146; 4.8%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6/146; 4.1%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (5/146; 3.4%). Antimicrobial susceptibility of isolated strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. was also tested. The results showed varying resistance patterns depending on the farm and microorganism. In heard A the highest resistance of Staphylococcus aureus was identified to polymyxin B (79.7%) followed by novobiocin (73.4%) and tetracycline (45.3%); Streptococcus spp. to streptomycin (100%), novobiocin (100%), tetracycline (100%) and Enterococcus spp. to tylosin (100%), streptomycin (75.0%) and tetracycline (75.0%). In herd B, Staphylococcus aureus showed high resistance rates to polymyxin B (86.3%), novobiocin (74.5%) and cloxacillin (39.2%); Streptococcus spp. strains to streptomycin (100%), novobiocin (100%), tetracycline (100%) and Enterococcus spp. to gentamicin (100%), streptomycin (66.7%) and erythromycin (66.7%). The obtained preliminary results indicate a potential risk that future treatments of sheep mastitis may not be effective, and demonstrated that raw unpasteurized milk can harbor antimicrobial resistance pathogens posing a threat to public health. However, further investigations involving molecular research on resistance genes are required to draw comprehensive conclusions., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: Even though the research entitled “Etiology and Antimicrobial Resistance of Subclinical Mastitis Pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. in Sheep Milk” included live animals (ovines), however, they were not directly affected or used because the samples processed and analyzed in the study were represented by milk samples collected from sheep during milking stages. The statement was included in the Bioethics Commission Approval No. 5639. The experiments assure the proper accommodation and animal handling in accordance with the Directive 2010/63/EU. Also the experimental protocol includes methods for preventing and reducing animal distress in accordance to the recommendation of European Union and Romanian Legislation. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Introduction: Chicken is a source of protein that becomes a reservoir for pathogens under poor hygienic environments. Uncontrolled use of antibiotics in the poultry industry may result in the development of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. This study aimed to assess the microbiological quality of raw chicken breasts sold in Terengganu, Malaysia, as well as the antibiotic profile of isolated pathogenic bacteria and their survival in high salt concentrations. Methods: Isolation of foodborne pathogens was performed via selective media according to the Food and Drug Administration's Bacteriological Analytical Manual. Phenotypic identification was carried out using the Analytical Profile Index (API) 20E Test Kit, followed by an antimicrobial susceptibility test using Kirby-Bauer methods. The growth of MDR bacteria was determined using optical density and was compared to that of the antibiotic susceptible isolates after 24 h incubation in high salt concentrations. Results: C. youngae, E. aerogenes, E. coli, K. oxytoca and Salmonella spp. were identified from the samples. All samples showed unacceptable microbial count limit. Out of eight bacteria isolates, six were MDR (75%) and three expressed resistance to all six antibiotics tested (37%). The bacteria isolates had a multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index of 0.33-1.0. C. youngae, E. coli, K. oxytoca and Salmonella spp. exhibited enhanced survival at 6% or 8% salt concentration. Conclusion: This study revealed the poor microbiological quality of raw chicken breasts due to contamination of MAR foodborne pathogens that developed cross-protection under high salt concentrations, thus indicating food safety risks and challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study assessed the bacteriological quality and prevalence of foodborne bacteria in raw broiler meat sold in Mymensingh City. Materials and Methods: Thigh and breast meat samples (n = 80) from broiler chickens were randomly collected from four live bird markets (LBM) in Mymensingh city for bacteriological analysis. To determine the bacteriological quality, a 10-fold serial dilution of the thigh and breast homogenate was made. Then, total viable count (TVC), total coliform count (TCC), Staphylococci, and Salmonella spp. counts were determined using plate count agar, MacConkey agar, Mannitol salt agar, and Salmonella-Shigella agar. Gram stain, biochemical testing, PCR assays, and cultural properties were used to identify the bacterial isolates. Results: The TVC in the broiler meat sample ranged between log10 8.30 ± 0.54 colony forming unit (CFU)/gm and log10 9.04 ± 0.26 CFU/gm. TCC was found between log10 5.53 ± 0.38 CFU/gm and log10 6.66 ± 0.80 CFU/gm. The mean Staphylococcal count was recorded between log10 4.64 ± 0.61 CFU/gm and log10 6.42 ± 0.53 CFU/gm, and the total Salmonella count ranged between log10 4.75 ± 0.08 CFU/gm and log10 5.69 ± 0.58 CFU/gm. The prevalence of Escherichia coli was the highest (43.2%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (36.8%) and Salmonella spp. (20%), respectively. Conclusions: Data from this study indicated that the TVC and TCC of raw broiler meat sold at LBM exceed the permissible limits and are contaminated with foodborne bacteria, which might cause public health hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-temperature and longtime (LT-LT) cooking, also known as sous vide cooking, is the process in which meat is sealed in a bag and cooked in hot water at a relatively low temperature of around 60°C. This cooking method has increased in popularity, and low-temperature cookers for home use are now commercially available. However, after LT-LT cooking, if any foodborne bacteria remain, they could cause infection and foodborne illnesses. Therefore, in the present study, the aim was to determine the appropriate LT-LT cooking methods for chicken by assessing temperature changes and studying the bacteria in LT-LT–cooked chicken meat. At set cooking temperatures of 60 and 65°C, the temperatures were measured at the surface and in the centers of single- and double-layer samples of 300 g of chicken breast meat. The times required to reach 50°C were 5 to 14 min at the surface, 25 min in the center of the single-layer sample, and 33 to 35 min in the center of the double-layer sample. The time taken to reach 50°C was fastest in the surface of single-layer chicken meat, followed by the center of single-layer and double-layer chicken meat (P < 0.05). When the meat was LT-LT cooked at 60 and 65°C for 60 min, color changes in the meat and heating of the meat were observed all the way to the interior. Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella O7, and Listeria monocytogenes were inoculated into chicken breasts, which were then cooked at set temperatures of 60 and 65°C for 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min. C. jejuni survived for up to 30 min of cooking, Salmonella O7 survived for up to 60 min of cooking at 60°C and 30 min at 65°C, and L. monocytogenes survived for up to 90 min of cooking at 60°C and 60 min at 65°C. Thus, to prevent infection and illness caused by the three tested bacteria species, LT-LT cooking for 120 min at 60°C and 90 min at 65°C is recommended. With LT-LT cooking, the center of a chicken breast reaches 50°C in ∼35 min. Listeria monocytogenes survives for up to 90 min of LT-LT cooking at 60°C. LT-LT cooking for 120 min at 60°C is recommended to avoid bacterial infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most antibacterial nanomaterials used in food packaging act by releasing reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cannot efficiently have an inhibitory effect by penetrating the cell wall of Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. In this work, we used the cruciform petal-like zeolite imidazole framework-8 (ZIF-8) synthesized in the water phase which can release active Zn compounds in aqueous solution and exert a stronger inhibitory effect on S. aureus. The experimental results demonstrated that the aqueous cruciform petal-like ZIF-8 has the same photocatalytic activity as traditional ZIF-8 and can be applied in photocatalytic bacterial inactivation. The cruciform petal-like ZIF-8 was also shown to release active Zn compounds in aqueous solution with a better antibacterial effect against S. aureus, reaching 95% inactivation efficiency. The antibacterial effect was therefore 70% higher than that of traditional ZIF-8. Based on its excellent antibacterial properties, we loaded petal-like ZIF-8, PDA and PVA onto ordinary fibers to prepare ZIF-8-Film. The results further showed that ZIF-8-Film has a high filtration capacity, which can be used in antibacterial packaging material with the required air permeability. Moreover, ZIF-8-Flim can clean the surface on its own and can maintain a sterile environment. It is different from other disposable materials on the market in that it can be reused and has a self-disinfection function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food safety is very important in the food industry as most pathogenic bacteria can cause food-borne diseases and negatively affect public health. In the milk industry, contamination with Salmonella has always been a challenge, but the risks have dramatically increased as almost all bacteria now show resistance to a wide range of commercial antibiotics. This study aimed to isolate a bacteriophage to be used as a bactericidal agent against Salmonella in milk and dairy products. Here, phage ZCSE6 has been isolated from raw milk sample sand molecularly and chemically characterized. At different multiplicities of infection (MOIs) of 0.1, 0.01, and 0.001, the phage–Salmonella interaction was studied for 6 h at 37 °C and 24 h at 8 °C. In addition, ZCSE6 was tested against Salmonella contamination in milk to examine its lytic activity for 3 h at 37 °C. The results showed that ZCSE6 has a small genome size (Siphovirus family. Phage ZCSE6 revealed a high thermal and pH stability at various conditions that mimic milk manufacturing and supply chain conditions. It also demonstrated a significant reduction in Salmonella concentration in media at various MOIs, with higher bacterial eradication at higher MOI. Moreover, it significantly reduced Salmonella growth (MOI 1) in milk, manifesting a 1000-fold decrease in bacteria concentration following 3 h incubation at 37 °C. The results highlighted the strong ability of ZCSE6 to kill Salmonella and control its growth in milk. Thus, ZCSE6 is recommended as a biocontrol agent in milk to limit bacterial growth and increase the milk shelf-life.

Brazil has the greatest plant diversity in the world. Many species exhibit a wide range of phytochemical compounds which can be exploited in food, agronomic, pharmacological and medicinal plant industries. Therefore, the chemical composition and in vitro bioactivities of volatile oil from Psidium firmum fresh leaves (PfVO) were investigated for the first time. GC-FID and GC-MS analyses revealed 28 compounds in PfVO. The major ones were α-selinene (20.8%), β-caryophyllene (16.5%) and nerolidol (10.4%). Results showed that PfVO affected the growth of Leishmania amazonensis promastigote forms in a dose-dependent manner; its IC50 value was 14.05 µg/mL. PfVO also exhibited antibacterial activity against Salmonella enteritidis, Yersinia enterocolitica, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Listeria monocytogenes; MIC values ranged from 25 μg/mL to 250 μg/mL. Moreover, PfVO promoted normal cell growth inhibition at 61.02 ± 1.97 µg/mL. Antiproliferative activity was observed against human tumor cell lines; IC50 values of MCF-7 cells, HeLa cells and M059J cells were 47.91 µg/mL, 73.78 µg/mL and 41.94 µg/mL, respectively. Results provided strong evidence of the promising potential of PfVO as a nature-based antileishmanial, antibacterial and antiproliferative agent.