Publications by authors named "Manan Sharma"

Biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAO) are a source of foodborne pathogens that can contaminate fresh produce. This study evaluated the survival of E. coli over 140 d in agricultural soils amended with composted poultry litter (PL), heat-treated poultry pellets (HTPP), or unamended (UN) in Florida (FL) and Georgia (GA).

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Recurring outbreaks of cyclosporiasis linked to fresh produce demonstrate the need to develop interventions to reduce in irrigation water. is resistant to commonly used irrigation water treatments, such as chemical sanitizers, making removal of oocysts by filtration the most suitable intervention. This study evaluated the reduction of and , as surrogates for , in water using filters packed with sand alone or mixtures of sand and zero-valent iron (ZVI).

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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a world-wide public health threat that is projected to lead to 10 million annual deaths globally by 2050. The AMR public health issue has led to the development of action plans to combat AMR, including improved antimicrobial stewardship, development of new antimicrobials, and advanced monitoring. The National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) led by the United States (U.

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Identification of methods for the standardized assessment of bacterial pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in environmental water can improve the quality of monitoring and data collected, support global surveillance efforts, and enhance the understanding of environmental water sources. We conducted a systematic review to assemble and synthesize available literature that identified methods for assessment of prevalence and abundance of bacterial fecal indicators and pathogens in water for the purposes of monitoring bacterial pathogens and AMR. After screening for quality, 175 unique publications were identified from 15 databases, and data were extracted for analysis.

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  • Alternative irrigation waters can contain harmful bacterial foodborne pathogens that may contaminate fruits and vegetables, making detection crucial for food safety.
  • A study compared qPCR (real-time PCR) with traditional culture methods for identifying these pathogens, examining factors like water type, season, and sample volume over two years across multiple sites.
  • The findings revealed that qPCR detection had reasonable predictive values, with better agreement observed in spring and summer, particularly in reclaimed and pond water compared to river water, indicating water type influences detection accuracy.
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Here, we examine surface waters as a modality to better understand baseline antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across the environment to supplement existing AMR monitoring in pathogens associated with humans, foods, and animals. Data from metagenomic and quasimetagenomic (shotgun sequenced enrichments) are used to describe AMR in Maryland surface waters from high and low human impact classifications.

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Developing effective and sensitive detection methods for antimicrobial resistant Salmonella enterica from surface water is a goal of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS). There are no specified methods for recovery of S. enterica in surface waters in the U.

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Enteric bacterial pathogen levels can influence the suitability of irrigation water sources for fruits and vegetables. We hypothesize that stable spatial patterns of Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes levels may exist across surface water sources in the Mid-Atlantic U.S.

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  • Human norovirus (HuNoV) is a major cause of foodborne illnesses globally, and its ability to survive in water raises concerns for food safety, especially in agricultural contexts.
  • This study examined how long HuNoV surrogate viruses (murine norovirus and Tulane virus) can remain present and infectious in different types of water used for irrigation after being stored at 16°C for 100 days.
  • Results showed that while the two viruses had similar persistence rates, significant variability existed across different water types, with some viruses remaining infectious even after prolonged storage, highlighting ongoing risks for contamination in food production.
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Foodborne pathogen contamination causes approximately 47 million cases of foodborne illness in the United States and renders thousands of pounds of food products inedible, aggravating the already dire situation of food loss. Reducing foodborne contamination not only improves overall global public health but also reduces food waste and loss. Phage biocontrol or phage-mediated reduction of bacterial foodborne pathogens in various foods has been gaining interest recently as an effective and environmentally friendly food-safety approach.

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Abstract: Many studies have examined the survival of Escherichia coli and foodborne pathogens in agricultural soils. The results of these studies can be influenced by various growth conditions and growth media used when preparing cultures for an experiment. The objectives of this study were to (i) determine the growth curves of rifampin (R)-resistant E.

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As more fresh fruits and vegetables are needed to meet the demands of a growing population, growers may need to start depending on more varied sources of water, including environmental, recycled, and reclaimed waters. Some of these sources might be susceptible to contamination with microbial pathogens, such as . Surveys have found this pathogen in water, soil, vegetation, and farm animal feces around the world.

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  • The study analyzed the presence and ESBL activity of E. coli in surface and reclaimed water across the mid-Atlantic U.S. and found that phylogroups B1 and A were the most and least common, respectively.
  • Water type influenced the distribution of phylogroups, with group A being more prevalent in reclaimed water compared to other types.
  • Although general resistance to cephalosporins was low, specific groups exhibited higher resistance rates and the presence of resistance genes was linked to the water source, providing insights on water safety and public health.
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  • Climate change is impacting irrigation sources, leading to the need for evaluating alternative water sources like harvested rainwater for safe agricultural use.
  • A study in Frederick, Maryland, assessed the water, soil, and produce quality from vegetable rain gardens using rainwater irrigation, focusing on E. coli and other pathogens.
  • Results showed that the harvested rainwater and produce were within food safety guidelines, suggesting these systems can help address water challenges while ensuring food safety.
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Abstract: Composted or heat-treated biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAOs) can be added to soils to provide nutrients for fresh produce. These products lower the risk of pathogen contamination of fresh produce compared with the use of untreated BSAAOs; however, meteorological conditions, geographic location, and soil properties can influence the presence of pathogenic bacteria or their indicators (e.g.

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Groundwater depletion is a critical agricultural irrigation issue, which can be mitigated by supplementation with water of higher microbiological risk, including surface and reclaimed waters, to support irrigation needs in the United States. Zero-valent iron (ZVI) filtration may be an affordable and effective treatment for reducing pathogen contamination during crop irrigation. This study was performed to determine the effects of ZVI filtration on the removal and persistence of , and pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) in irrigation water.

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  • ! This study investigates the presence of foodborne pathogens, specifically Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes, in alternative irrigation water sources in Maryland's Eastern Shore over a 2-year period. * ! A total of 188 water samples were collected from various sources, showing that 65% contained S. enterica and 40% contained L. monocytogenes, with higher pathogen levels in nontidal freshwater and tidal brackish rivers compared to reclaimed water. * ! Results indicate significant variability in pathogen levels based on water source and filtration method, highlighting the importance of monitoring irrigation water quality to prevent potential foodborne illnesses. *
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The COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on education globally, forcing the teaching community to think outside the box and create innovative educational plans to benefit students at home. Here, we narrate how the undergraduate, laboratory-based Summer Internship Program of our CONSERVE Center of Excellence, which focuses heavily on engaging women and underrepresented minorities in STEM programming, took a turn from an in-person research experience to a fully virtual one. We share our challenges and how we overcame them.

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  • Enteric viruses (EVs) are a major cause of foodborne illnesses, and their persistence in the environment poses contamination risks for agricultural crops, especially through nontraditional irrigation sources like reclaimed and surface waters.
  • A 17-month study focused on detecting specific human EVs and indicators in Mid-Atlantic region irrigation waters, using real-time quantitative PCR to assess viral presence and environmental factors.
  • The results indicated higher detection rates of EVs and PMMoV in reclaimed water compared to surface water, showing significant correlations with water salinity and highlighting the need for microbiological analysis to ensure food safety.
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Biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAO) increase nutrient levels in soils to support the production of fruits and vegetables. BSAAOs may introduce or extend the survival of bacterial pathogens which can be transferred to fruits and vegetables to cause foodborne illness. survival over 120 days in soil plots (3 m) covered with (mulched) or without plastic mulch (not mulched), amended with either poultry litter, composted poultry litter, heat-treated poultry pellets, or chemical fertilizer, and transfer to cucumbers in 2 years (2018 and 2019) were evaluated.

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The aim of this study was to determine whether and how poultry litter compost and dairy manure compost alter the microbial communities within field soils planted with spinach. In three successive years, separate experimental plots on two fields received randomly assigned compost treatments varying in animal origin: dairy manure (DMC), poultry litter (PLC), or neither (NoC). The composition and function of bacterial and fungal communities were characterized by the amplicon sequencing of marker genes and by the ecoenzyme activity, respectively.

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  • Climate change is straining freshwater resources, necessitating the search for safe, alternative water sources for irrigation of fresh produce.
  • A 26-month study analyzed bacterial contamination levels in water from various sites (like creeks, tidal rivers, and ponds) to assess their safety for irrigation, with many samples showing high levels of total coliforms and enterococci.
  • Only a few sites met food safety standards, but implementing recommended measures could enable all tested water sources to safely be used for irrigation within 2 days, highlighting the importance of this research for food safety and agricultural practices.
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This study aimed at developing a predictive model that captures the influences of a variety of agricultural and environmental variables and is able to predict the concentrations of enteric bacteria in soil amended with untreated Biological Soil Amendments of Animal Origin (BSAAO) under dynamic conditions. We developed and validated a Random Forest model using data from a longitudinal field study conducted in mid-Atlantic United States investigating the survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and generic E. coli in soils amended with untreated dairy manure, horse manure, or poultry litter.

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Abstract: Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Newport is a bacterial foodborne pathogen isolated from several environmental reservoirs on the Delmarva Peninsula and has been associated with several produce-related outbreaks. However, little is known about specific interactions between Salmonella Newport and soil amendments used as fertilizers.

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