Comparative metagenomics of microbial communities and resistome in southern farming systems: implications for antimicrobial stewardship and public health.

Agricultural practices significantly influence microbial diversity and the distribution of virulence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, with implications for ecosystem health and food safety. This study used metagenomic sequencing to analyze 60 samples (30 per state) including water, soil, and manure (10 each) from Alabama (a mix of cattle and poultry sources) and Tennessee (primarily from cattle). The results highlighted a rich microbial diversity, predominantly comprising Bacteria (67%) and Viruses (33%), with a total of over 1,950 microbial species identified.

Rapid detection of pathogenic based on CRISPR Cas system.

Access to safe and nutritious food is critical for maintaining life and supporting good health. Eating food that is contaminated with pathogens leads to serious diseases ranging from diarrhea to cancer. Many foodborne infections can cause long-term impairment or even death.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile of Pathogenic and Commensal Bacteria Recovered from Cattle and Goat Farms.

The use of antibiotics in food animals results to antimicrobial resistant bacteria that complicates the ability to treat infections. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of pathogenic and commensal bacteria in soil, water, manure, and milk from cattle and goat farms. A total of 285 environmental and 81 milk samples were analyzed for Enterobacteriaceae by using biochemical and PCR techniques.

Incidence of Drug-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Strains in Organic and Conventional Watermelons Grown in Tennessee.

The production and consumption of organic fresh produce have constantly increased since the 1990s. Consumers prefer organic produce because it does not contain synthetic chemical residues that are often implicated in health problems. The contamination of fresh produce by pathogenic strains remains a major challenge, and is responsible for frequent foodborne disease outbreaks.

Evaluation of Selected Bacteria and Yeast for Probiotic Potential in Poultry Production.

Performance and efficiency of feed utilization in poultry is highly influenced by gut health, which is dependent on intestinal microbial balance. Probiotics are live microbial feed supplements or viable microorganisms that beneficially affect the host animal by improving its gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbial balance. However, their mode of action and suitable GIT environment favoring their colonization of the GIT is obscure.

Antibiotic Resistant in Milk Alternatives.

The consumption of non-dairy milk is on the rise due to health benefits. Although there is increasing inclination towards milk alternatives (MA), there is limited data on antibiotic resistant bacteria in these substitutes. The aim of this study was to investigate antimicrobial resistance of bacteria isolated from MA.

Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant Foodborne Pathogens and Indicator Bacteria from Edible Offal and Muscle Meats in Nashville, Tennessee.

This study investigated the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in retail edible offal and muscle meats in Nashville, Tennessee. A total of 348 retail meats (160 edible offal and 188 muscle) were analyzed for serovar, , , O157:H7, and enterococci. Bacteria was identified using biochemical and PCR methods.

Ultraviolet inactivation of bacteria and model viruses in coconut water using a collimated beam system.

This study investigated the effect of ultraviolet-C irradiation on the inactivation of microorganisms in coconut water, a highly opaque liquid food (1.01 ± 0.018 absorption coefficient).

Atmospheric Cold Plasma Inactivation of and on the Surface of Golden Delicious Apples.

The contamination of fruits with human pathogens is a reoccurring concern in the fresh produce industry. Atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) is a potential alternate to customary approaches for non-thermal decontamination of foods. In this study, the efficacy of a dielectric barrier discharge ACP system against ( Typhimurium, ATCC 13311; Choleraesuis, ATCC 10708) and (ATCC 25922, ATCC 11775) was explored.

A comparative analysis of microbial profile of Guinea fowl and chicken using metagenomic approach.

Probiotics are live microbial feed supplements that promote growth and health to the host by minimizing non-essential and pathogenic microorganisms in the host's gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The campaign to minimize excessive use of antibiotics in poultry production has necessitated development of probiotics with broad application in multiple poultry species. Design of such probiotics requires understanding of the diversity or similarity in microbial profiles among avian species of economic importance.

Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria from U.S.-Grown and Imported Fresh Produce Retailed in Chain Supermarkets and Ethnic Stores of Davidson County, Tennessee.

The aim of this study was to determine whether U.S.-grown and imported fresh produce retailed in ethnic stores and chain supermarkets was a reservoir of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Occurrence of Listeria and Enterobacteriaceae in domestic refrigerators.

Consumers' refrigeration practices have a significant impact on the safety and quality of foods. To determine the prevalence and the identity of microorganisms in domestic refrigerators, swab samples were taken from various locations in the refrigerators from 137 households in middle Tennessee. The swabs were inoculated into different media, and standard procedures were used to characterize the isolates.

Kinetics of tropomyosin denaturation as a predictive model for verifying thermal processing of beef products.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to study thermal denaturation of tropomyosin (Tm) using the time-temperature requirements for cooked beef. The ELISA employed a monoclonal antibody (MAb 2C9) raised against bovine Tm for quantifying residual Tm in muscle extracts. The specificity of MAb 2C9 to bovine Tm was demonstrated by Western blot and the analytical validity of ELISA was confirmed by dot blot.

Efficacy of home washing methods in controlling surface microbial contamination on fresh produce.

Much effort has been focused on sanitation of fresh produce at the commercial level; however, few options are available to the consumer. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of different cleaning methods in reducing bacterial contamination on fresh produce in a home setting. Lettuce, broccoli, apples, and tomatoes were inoculated with Listeria innocua and then subjected to combinations of the following cleaning procedures: (i) soak for 2 min in tap water, Veggie Wash solution, 5% vinegar solution, or 13% lemon solution and (ii) rinse under running tap water, rinse and rub under running tap water, brush under running tap water, or wipe with wet/dry paper towel.