Molecular Epidemiological Evidence Implicates Cattle as a Primary Reservoir of Infecting People via Contaminated Chickens.

The study aimed to determine the relative contribution of cattle to the burden of illness in a model agroecosystem with high rates of human campylobacteriosis (≥ 115 cases/100 K), and high densities of cattle, including large numbers of cattle housed in confined feeding operations (i.e., in southwestern Alberta, Canada).

Draft Genomes of 75 Isolates from Retail Mollusks Collected in Canada between 2014 and 2018.

spp. isolated from fresh retail mollusk samples were selected for sequencing based on their antimicrobial resistance burden. The genomes include those for Vibrio alginolyticus ( = 48), ( = 15), V.

Draft Genomes of 83 Isolates from Fresh Canadian Mollusks.

A subset of spp. isolated from fresh Canadian mollusks (2014 to 2018) were selected for sequencing based on antimicrobial resistance profiles. The resulting draft genomes include 38 Vibrio alginolyticus, 32 V.

Whole-Genome Sequences of Species from Warm-Water Shrimps Imported into Canada: Detection of Genetic Elements Associated with Antimicrobial Resistance and Potential Mobilizing Capacities.

We present draft genome sequences of species (Vibrio alginolyticus, Vibrio cholerae, and two Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains) that were isolated from warm-water shrimps imported into Canada. All four isolates harbor genetic elements associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR), including mobile genetic elements that can promote horizontal transfer of AMR genes.

Comparative prevalence and diversity of strains in water and human beings over a 1-year period in southwestern Alberta, Canada.

was isolated from diarrheic people, river water (Oldman River watershed), wastewater, and drinking water over a 1-year period in southwestern Alberta (2008-2009). High rates of campylobacteriosis were observed during the study period (≥115 cases/100 K). Infections occurred throughout the year, with peaks in late summer and early autumn.

Exploring the Potential of the Microbiome as a Marker of the Geographic Origin of Fresh Seafood.

Geographic food fraud - misrepresenting the geographic origin of a food item, is very difficult to detect, and therefore this type of fraud tends to go undetected. This potentially negatively impacts the health of Canadians and economic success of our seafood industry. Surveillance studies have shown that up to a significant portion of commercially sold seafood items in Canada are mislabeled or otherwise misrepresented in some way.

Antimicrobial activity of bioactive starch packaging films against Listeria monocytogenes and reconstituted meat microbiota on ham.

Contamination with spoilage organisms and Listeria monocytogenes are major concerns for quality and safety of cooked ready-to-eat (RTE) meat products. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the use of antimicrobial starch packaging films to control competitive microbiota and L. monocytogenes growth on a RTE ham product.

Effect of Pressure, Reconstituted RTE Meat Microbiota, and Antimicrobials on Survival and Post-pressure Growth of on Ham.

Pressure treatment of ready-to-eat (RTE) meats extends the shelf life and reduces risks associated with . However, pressure reduces numbers of on ham by less than 5 log (CFU/g) and pressure effects on other meat microbiota are poorly documented. This study investigated the impact of pressure and RTE meat microbiota, with or without nisin and rosemary oil, on survival of after refrigerated storage.

Glutamine, glutamate, and arginine-based acid resistance in Lactobacillus reuteri.

This study aimed to determine whether glutamine deamidation improves acid resistance of Lactobacillus reuteri, and to assess whether arginine, glutamine, and glutamate-mediated acid resistance are redundant or complementary mechanisms of acid resistance. Three putative glutaminase genes, gls1, gls2, and gls3, were identified in L. reuteri 100-23.

Functional characterization of sucrose phosphorylase and scrR, a regulator of sucrose metabolism in Lactobacillus reuteri.

Lactobacillus reuteri harbours alternative enzymes for sucrose metabolism, sucrose phosphorylase, fructansucrases, and glucansucrases. Sucrose phosphorylase and fructansucrases additionally contribute to raffinose metabolism. Glucansucrases and fructansucrases produce exopolysaccharides as alternative to sucrose hydrolysis.

Levansucrase and sucrose phoshorylase contribute to raffinose, stachyose, and verbascose metabolism by lactobacilli.

Raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs) in food are considered anti-nutritional factors. This study elucidated the role of α-galactosidase (α-Gal), levansucrase, and sucrose phosphorylase for conversion of RFOs by lactobacilli. Quantification of gene expression by reverse-transcriptase quantitative PCR revealed that expression of levansucrase and sucrose phosphorylase by Lactobacillus reuteri is increased more than 100 fold when sucrose or raffinose are available.