The conjugative transfer of plasmid-mediated mobile colistin resistance gene, mcr-1, to Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Escherichia coli O104:H4 in nutrient broth and in mung bean sprouts.

The emergence of mobile colistin resistant gene (mcr-1) in Enterobacteriaceae has become a global public health concern. Dissemination of the mcr-1 gene through conjugation of bacteria associated with food may occur. This research investigated the transfer frequency of the mcr-1 gene among Escherichia coli in liquid media and during growth of mung bean sprouts.

Influences of photosensitizer curcumin on microbial survival and physicochemical properties of chicken during storage.

Curcumin is a natural plant derived antimicrobial, which was shown to inactivate or inhibit the growth of a broad spectrum of microorganisms through photodynamic inactivation. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the influence of curcumin against commensal spoilage bacteria on chicken, foodborne pathogens, and the chicken skin pH and color. Chicken skin samples were immersed into water, photosensitizer curcumin (PSC), or peracetic acid (PAA).

The effect of crisping, misting, and storage temperature on the survival or growth of and natural psychrotrophic bacteria on romaine lettuce.

has been linked to fresh produce and detected in the retail environment. This study simulated the retail practices (crisping, misting, and storage) of unbagged whole heads of romaine lettuce to determine the growth of and natural psychrotrophic microflora. Three nalidixic acid-resistant strains of strains were inoculated to each head of lettuce (≈5 log CFU/g).

Occurrence of Antibiotic-Resistant spp. in Orange Orchards in Thailand.

Background: The widespread indiscriminate application of antibiotics to food crops to control plant disease represents a potential human health risk. In this study, the presence of antibiotic-resistant staphylococci associated with workers and orange orchard environments was determined. A total of 20 orchards (orange and other fruits) were enrolled in the study.

Occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria on hydroponically grown butterhead lettuce ().

Antibiotics used during production of food crops to control plant diseases may result in selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and occurrence of antibiotic residues. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of antibiotics used in butterhead lettuce production on persistence of commensal microbiota. Butterhead lettuce were treated with antibiotics (oxytetracycline, gentamicin, and streptomycin) at different concentrations (100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 ppm) starting at 5 weeks' growth by spraying once daily for 4 weeks and harvesting 7 days after the final spray application.

Influence of product volume on water antimicrobial efficacy and cross-contamination during retail batch washing of lettuce.

Fresh produce shall be thoroughly washed at the retail level prior to serving to the consumer with potable water. Foodborne pathogens if present on a product may transfer to the wash water and cross-contaminate other products immersed in the water. Typically, an entire carton of lettuce (24 heads) is washed together increasing the likelihood of cross-contamination due to the close contact between each head.

Plant Chemical Composition and Pharmacological Attributes: Targeting Clinical Studies from Preclinical Evidence.

Members of the genus are native to America, Africa and Asia, and have long been used in traditional medicine. The species most commonly used for medicinal purposes are , , , , , , , and , which are highly effective in asthma, birth/postpartum pains, callouses, conjunctivitis, diabetes, diarrhea, expectorant, fever, flu, lactation, liver infection, malaria, otitis, pains, pediculosis, rheumatism, scabies, skin inflammations, spasm, stomach ache, bladder and pancreas stone removal. Flour, syrup, and beverages from pods have also been potentially used for foods and food supplement formulation in many regions of the world.

Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of Species Isolated From Four Infant Formula Production Factories in China.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and genotypic characteristics of isolated from powdered infant formula (PIF) manufacturing facilities and to identify a potential source of contamination. A total of 42 isolates (5%) were detected in 835 environmental samples collected during the surveillance study. These isolates included .

Influence of water antimicrobials and storage conditions on inactivating MS2 bacteriophage on strawberries.

Foodborne illnesses caused by norovirus contaminated fresh produce remain a food safety concern worldwide. In the present study, the impacts of commercial and home processing conditions of strawberries were evaluated for inactivation of the MS2 bacteriophage. MS2 was used as a surrogate of norovirus and was spot inoculated onto strawberries to achieve 6.

Antimicrobial resistance, virulence genes and molecular subtypes of S. Enteritidis isolated from children in Shanghai.

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella poses a key threat to public health worldwide. Salmonella Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) (119 isolates) from children under 10 years old with diarrhea in Shanghai from 2010-2012 were characterized for antimicrobial susceptibility, virulence gene profiles and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns.

Ethnobotany of the genus Taraxacum-Phytochemicals and antimicrobial activity.

Plants belonging to the genus Taraxacum have been used in traditional healthcare to treat infectious diseases including food-borne infections. This review aims to summarize the available information on Taraxacum spp., focusing on plant cultivation, ethnomedicinal uses, bioactive phytochemicals, and antimicrobial properties.

Survival and interaction of Escherichia coli O104:H4 on Arabidopsis thaliana and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in comparison to E. coli O157:H7: Influence of plant defense response and bacterial capsular polysaccharide.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) has been associated with illnesses and outbreaks linked to fresh vegetables, prompting a growing public health concern. Most studies regarding interactions of STEC on fresh produce focused on E. coli O157:H7.

Plants of the Genus Zingiber as a Source of Bioactive Phytochemicals: From Tradition to Pharmacy.

Plants of the genus Zingiber (Family Zingiberaceae) are widely used throughout the world as food and medicinal plants. They represent very popular herbal remedies in various traditional healing systems; in particular, rhizome of spp. plants has a long history of ethnobotanical uses because of a plethora of curative properties.

Influence of surface polysaccharides of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on plant defense response and survival of the human enteric pathogen on Arabidopsis thaliana and lettuce (Lactuca sativa).

This study aimed to determine the influence of bacterial surface polysaccharides (cellulose, colanic acid, and lipopolysaccharide; LPS) on the colonization or survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on plants and the plant defense response. Survival of E. coli O157:H7 were evaluated on Arabidopsis thaliana and romaine lettuce as a model plant and an edible crop (leafy vegetable), respectively.

Sanitizer efficacy in preventing cross-contamination of heads of lettuce during retail crisping.

This study was conducted to provide information regarding mitigation of cross-contamination through the use of sanitizer during crisping at retail outlets. Seven non-inoculated heads and one inoculated head (≈5 log CFU/g) of lettuce were placed into commercial sink filled with 76 L of tap water (TW), electrolyzed water (EW, free chlorine: 43 ± 6 ppm), lactic acid and phosphoric acid-based sanitizer (LPA, pH 2.89), or citric acid-based sanitizer (CA, pH 2.

Potential transfer of extended spectrum β-lactamase encoding gene, blashv18 gene, between Klebsiella pneumoniae in raw foods.

This study investigated the transfer frequency of the extended-spectrum β-lactamase-encoding gene (blaSHV18) among Klebsiella pneumoniae in tryptic soy broth (TSB), pasteurized milk, unpasteurized milk, alfalfa sprouts and chopped lettuce at defined temperatures. All transconjugants were characterized phenotypically and genotypically. KP04(ΔKM) and KP08(ΔKM) isolated from seed sprouts and KP342 were used as recipients in mating experiments with K.

Differences in inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains in ground beef following repeated high pressure processing treatments and cold storage.

High pressure processing (HPP) is a safe non-thermal processing method to effectively improve food safety. In this study, HPP treatment followed by cold storage was investigated to reduce Escherichia coli O157:H7 in ground beef. Experiments were conducted using ground beef contaminated with six E.

Effect of the food production chain from farm practices to vegetable processing on outbreak incidence.

The popularity in the consumption of fresh and fresh-cut vegetables continues to increase globally. Fresh vegetables are an integral part of a healthy diet, providing vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other health-promoting compounds. The diversity of fresh vegetables and packaging formats (spring mix in clamshell container, bagged heads of lettuce) support increased consumption.

Exposure of Escherichia coli O157:H7 to soil, manure, or water influences its survival on plants and initiation of plant defense response.

This study evaluated whether growth medium or exposure conditions influence the production of capsular polysaccharides (CPS) by Escherichia coli O157:H7, and whether changes in CPS impact plant defense responses, consequently affecting survival on plants. E. coli O157:H7 grown in Luria-Bertani (LB) broth supplemented with manure extracts showed an approximately 58% increase in CPS production compared to cells grown in LB medium alone.

Antibacterial Mode of Action of Ib-AMP1 Against Escherichia coli O157:H7.

Continual occurrence of foodborne outbreaks, along with the increase in antibiotic resistance which burdens clinical treatments, has urged scientists to search for other potential promising antimicrobial agents. Antimicrobial peptides are emerging as one of the potential alternatives. The mode of action of a given AMP is critical and essential for future application; however, it is still not completely known for many of these compounds.

Susceptibility of aged guinea pigs to repeated daily challenge with Listeria monocytogenes.

Epidemiological data suggests that certain groups such as the elderly are more susceptible to listeriosis than the general population. Repeated exposure to low levels of Listeria monocytogenes may increase the probability of infection. Increased susceptibility to infection in the elderly has been attributed in part to reduced activity of T cells.

Immune status and the development of Listeria monocytogenes infection in aged and young guinea pigs.

Purpose: Consuming even low numbers of the foodborne pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes, places the elderly at risk for severe illness. The impact of immunomodulation on the development of listerial infection within a young and aged population after low dose challenge with L. monocytogenes was investigated.

Influence of the plant defense response to Escherichia coli O157:H7 cell surface structures on survival of that enteric pathogen on plant surfaces.

Consumption of fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 has resulted in hundreds of cases of illness and, in some instances, death. In this study, the influence of cell surface structures of E. coli O157:H7, such as flagella, curli fimbriae, lipopolysaccharides, or exopolysaccharides, on plant defense responses and on survival or colonization on the plant was investigated.

Bacteriostatic Mode of Action of Trypsin-Hydrolyzed Palm Kernel Expeller Peptide Against Bacillus cereus.

Palm kernel expeller (PKE), the by-product derived from the palm kernel oil milling industry, is commonly added to ruminant feed as a source of protein. Recent research has demonstrated that the enzymatically hydrolyzed protein is inhibitory to spore-forming bacteria including Bacillus cereus. The trypsin-hydrolyzed PKE peptide appears to disrupt the membrane integrity and inhibit the intracellular macromolecule metabolism of B.