Is the persistence of in food processing facilities and its resistance to pathogen intervention linked to its phylogeny?

The foodborne pathogen is differentiated into four distinct lineages which differ in their virulence. It remains unknown, however, whether the four lineages also differ with respect to their ability to persist in food processing facilities, their resistance to high pressure, a preservation method that is used commercially for control on ready-to-eat meats, and their ability to form biofilms. This study aimed to determine differences in the pressure resistance and biofilm formation of 59 isolates of representing lineages I and II.

Transduction of stx2a mediated by phage (Φ11-3088) from Escherichia coli O104:H4 in vitro and in situ during sprouting of mung beans.

Escherichia coli O104:H4 strain 11-3088 encoding Stx2a is epidemiologically related to the foodborne outbreak associated with sprouts in Germany, 2011. Sprouting provides suitable conditions for bacterial growth and may lead to transduction of non-pathogenic strains of E. coli with Stx phages.

The Use of Disinfectant in Barn Cleaning Alters Microbial Composition and Increases Carriage of in Broiler Chickens.

To maintain food safety and flock health in broiler chicken production, biosecurity approaches to keep chicken barns free of pathogens are important. Canadian broiler chicken producers must deep clean their barns with chemical disinfectants at least once annually (full disinfection [FD]) and may wash with water (water wash [WW]) throughout the year. However, many producers use FD after each flock, assuming a greater efficacy of more stringent cleaning protocols, although little information is known regarding how these two cleaning practices affect pathogen population and gut microbiota.

Comparison of a Miniaturized Cassette PCR System with a Commercially Available Platform for Detecting in Beef Carcass Swabs.

Detection sensitivity of cassette PCR was compared with a commercial BAX PCR system for detection of and genes in from 806 beef carcass swabs. Cassette PCR detects multiple genetic markers on multiple samples using PCR and melt curve analysis. Conventional PCR served as a gold standard.

Effect of in-package atmospheric cold plasma discharge on microbial safety and quality of ready-to-eat ham in modified atmospheric packaging during storage.

Listeria monocytogenes is often responsible for postprocessing contamination of ready-to-eat (RTE) products including cooked ham. As an emerging technology, atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) has the potential to inactivate L. monocytogenes in packaged RTE meats.

Heat and Pressure Resistance in Relates to Protein Folding and Aggregation.

The locus of heat resistance (LHR) confers extreme heat resistance in . This study explored the role of the LHR in heat and pressure resistance of , as well as its relationship with protein folding and aggregation . The role of LHR was investigated in MG1655 and the pressure resistant LMM1010 expressing an fusion protein to visualize inclusion bodies by fluorescence microscopy.

Lethality of high-pressure carbon dioxide on Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, Salmonella and surrogate organisms on beef jerky.

Low water activity (a) foods permit the survival of low-infectious dose pathogens including Escherichia coli and Salmonella. Desiccation of non-heat resistant E. coli and Salmonella enterica increases their heat resistance; therefore, alternative methods are necessary to ensure the safety of low a foods.

Effect of drying on oxidation of membrane lipids and expression of genes encoded by the Shiga toxin prophage in Escherichia coli.

Drying processes do not eliminate pathogenic Escherichia coli in foods but induce sublethal injury, which may also induce the Shiga toxin (Stx) prophage. This study investigated the effect of drying on membrane lipid oxidation and stx expression in E. coli.

Consumer Sensory Comparisons Among Beef, Horse, Elk, and Bison Using Preferred Attributes Elicitation and Check-All-That-Apply Methods.

Despite their nutritional benefits, consumption of red meat from alternative sources such as bison, elk, and horse is low when compared to beef. Sensory attributes and drivers of liking were identified for these meats using the Preferred Attributes Elicitation (PAE) and Check-All-That-Apply (CATA) methods. For the PAE study, 25 panelists evaluated beef, horse, bison, and elk meats in three different group sessions (n = 7, 7, and 11), whereas 63 panelists participated in the CATA study.

Tolerance to stress conditions associated with food safety in Campylobacter jejuni strains isolated from retail raw chicken.

Campylobacter jejuni is a microaerophilic foodborne pathogen that is sensitive to stress conditions. However, it is not yet understood how this stress-sensitive pathogen may cause a significant number of cases of human gastroenteritis worldwide. In this study, we examined stress tolerance in 70 C.

Detection of pathogenic Escherichia coli on potentially contaminated beef carcasses using cassette PCR and conventional PCR.

Background: Over a one year period, swabs of 820 beef carcasses were tested for the presence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli by performing Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in a novel technology termed "cassette PCR", in comparison to conventional liquid PCR. Cassette PCR is inexpensive and ready-to-use. The operator need only add the sample and press "go".

Stretchable, tough, self-recoverable, and cytocompatible chitosan/cellulose nanocrystals/polyacrylamide hybrid hydrogels.

As medical practitioners' interest in hydrogels continues to grow, their new expectations in terms of mechanical properties, biocompatibility and durability are changed. Here, we demonstrated a new strategy to improve both mechanical properties and self-recovery of double network (DN) hydrogels by introducing a self-healing network, consisting of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) and dialdehyde cellulose nanocrystals (DACNC). Notably, the hydrogel could be repeatedly stretched to 4 times its initial length and has tensile strength of 244 kPa, and completely recovered its shape when compressed by 90% and had the compressive strength up to 8 MPa.

Cold plasma treatment of ready-to-eat ham: Influence of process conditions and storage on inactivation of Listeria innocua.

Ready-to-eat (RTE) deli meat has been linked to several Listeria monocytogenes associated recalls. Recent studies demonstrated the potential antimicrobial effects of atmospheric cold plasma treatment on various food surfaces including RTE meat products. However, the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, determining the efficacy of cold plasma to reduce Listeria has not been reported.

Application of lab-on-a-chip multiplex cassette PCR for the detection of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli.

Background: Fast molecular detection methods benefit from ready-to-run lab-on-a-chip molecular assays with minimum preparation time. Detection efficiency of such methods can improve if multiple targets are detected simultaneously per given reaction. Detection of food pathogens, i.

Comparative Genomics and Characterization of the Late Promoter R' from Shiga Toxin Prophages in .

Shiga-toxin producing (STEC) causes human illness ranging from mild diarrhea to death. The bacteriophage encoded genes are located in the late transcription region, downstream of the antiterminator Q. The transcription of the genes is directly under the control of the late promoter R', thus the sequence diversity of the region between and , here termed the pR' region, may affect Stx toxin production.

Effect of chitosan, and bacteriocin - Producing Carnobacterium maltaromaticum on survival of Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium on beef.

The aim of this study was to investigate the synergistic effect of chitosan and bacteriocins against Escherichia coli and Salmonella in media and in lean beef. The inhibitory effects of chitosan and bacteriocins against E. coli AW1.

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.

Frequent Implication of Multistress-Tolerant Campylobacter jejuni in Human Infections.

Campylobacter jejuni, a major cause of bacterial foodborne illnesses, is considered highly susceptible to environmental stresses. In this study, we extensively investigated the stress tolerance of 121 clinical strains of C. jejuni against 5 stress conditions (aerobic stress, disinfectant exposure, freeze-thaw, heat treatment, and osmotic stress) that this pathogenic bacterium might encounter during foodborne transmission to humans.

Monitoring food pathogens: Novel instrumentation for cassette PCR testing.

In this manuscript, we report the design and development of a fast, reliable instrument to run gel-based cassette polymerase chain reactions (PCR). Here termed the GelCycler Mark II, our instrument is a miniaturized molecular testing system that is fast, low cost and sensitive. Cassette PCR utilizes capillary reaction units that carry all reagents needed for PCR, including primers and Taq polymerase, except the sample, which is loaded at the time of testing.

The Effect of Carbohydrates and Bacteriocins on the Growth Kinetics and Resistance of .

The aim of this study was to determine if different carbohydrates influence the growth of in the presence of carnocyclin A or leucocin A. ATCC PTA-5313 and UAL187 were used to produce carnocyclin A and leucocin A, respectively. Growth curves were modeled for five strains of grown in basal medium supplemented with glucose, sucrose, fructose, mannose, or cellobiose, in the presence of carnocyclin A or leucocin A.

Draft Genome Sequence of 49, a Potential Probiotic That Produces Multiple Bacteriocins.

49, isolated from dog feces, is active against , vancomycin-resistant enterococci, and Its draft genome sequence reported herein contains a gene cluster encoding multiple bacteriocins and indicates the absence of genes for virulence factors. These characteristics signify the strain's potential for use as a probiotic.

Induction of Shiga Toxin-Encoding Prophage by Abiotic Environmental Stress in Food.

The prophage-encoded Shiga toxin is a major virulence factor in Stx-producing (STEC). Toxin production and phage production are linked and occur after induction of the RecA-dependent SOS response. However, food-related stress and Stx-prophage induction have not been studied at the single-cell level.

Differential Survival of Hyper-Aerotolerant under Different Gas Conditions.

accounts for a significant number of foodborne illnesses around the world. is microaerophilic and typically does not survive efficiently in oxygen-rich conditions. We recently reported that hyper-aerotolerant (HAT) are highly prevalent in retail poultry meat.