Publications by authors named "Sophie Butot"
Broad-Spectrum Supramolecularly Reloadable Antimicrobial Coatings.
ACS Appl Mater Interfaces
June 2024
Article Synopsis
- Antimicrobial surfaces help prevent infectious diseases, but current coatings have limitations like short lifespan, ineffectiveness against organic material, and high costs.
- The new paint developed uses waterborne latex particles combined with quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), providing a cost-effective solution with long-lasting antimicrobial properties.
- This paint remains effective for over 90 washes, can be easily restored with a simple spray, and has shown effectiveness against multiple bacteria and viruses, making it suitable for healthcare and food production.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to explore high-energy electron beam (HEEB) treatments to identify surrogate microorganisms for enteric viruses and to evaluate low-energy electron beam (LEEB) treatments for inactivating these viruses in frozen blueberries.
- Among various microorganisms tested, Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores demonstrated the highest inactivation across most food matrices, with HAV exhibiting significant reduction levels at higher doses, especially on raisins.
- The research concluded that using G. stearothermophilus and bacteriophage MS2 as surrogates could provide reliable estimates for the inactivation of HAV during LEEB treatment at a specific energy level and dose.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the microbiological safety of osmotic dehydration in blueberries, focusing on optimal temperature treatments to eliminate pathogens that can survive in minimally processed fruits.
- Four harmful pathogens were tested, with results showing that osmotic dehydration at 40 °C effectively killed most bacteria, while viruses required 45 °C for successful inactivation.
- A combined treatment of osmotic dehydration at 23 °C followed by air-drying at 100 °C resulted in significant reductions of all tested bacteria and viruses, enhancing the safety of dehydrated berries used in various food products.
Article Synopsis
- Paratuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), is a chronic infection affecting ruminants and is linked to diseases like Crohn's in humans.
- This study evaluated the performance of three methods—culturing, quantitative PCR (qPCR), and a peptide-mediated magnetic separation (PMS) phage-based assay—for detecting MAP in various milk types, like raw and powdered.
- Results showed that qPCR (94% sensitivity) and culture (83% sensitivity) were more effective than the PMS-phage method (40% sensitivity), indicating that qPCR and culture are the best options for MAP detection in dairy products.
Article Synopsis
- Outbreaks of foodborne illnesses linked to berries often involve viruses like hepatitis A and norovirus, as well as bacteria and parasites.
- A study evaluated how effective UV-C light is in killing these pathogens on strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, focusing on chemical safety, sensory quality, and pathogen reduction.
- Results showed that while UV-C treatment could significantly reduce levels of some viruses, it was less effective against bacteria, indicating that UV-C alone may not be enough to ensure berry safety from significant foodborne pathogens.
Article Synopsis
- The study tested the effectiveness of levulinic acid (LVA) combined with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in removing foodborne viruses and bacteria from fresh strawberries.
- The results showed that both a chlorine wash and the LVA-SDS solution significantly reduced the presence of harmful pathogens on strawberries, with no significant difference between the two methods for viruses and bacteria.
- Additionally, the LVA-SDS treatment did not affect the taste of the strawberries or leave harmful chemical residues, making it a safe alternative for food safety.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated the effectiveness of direct steam injection (DSI) at 105 °C for 3 seconds in killing Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in milk, finding no viable bacteria post-treatment.
- It recorded significant log10 reductions (5.6 for pure cultures and 3.3 for fecally contaminated strains), indicating that DSI is a promising method for ensuring milk safety.
- Additionally, tests on 44 powdered infant formula ingredients showed no presence of the bacteria, supporting the idea that DSI could effectively reduce risks associated with contamination in dairy products.
Sample preparation prior to molecular amplification: complexities and opportunities.
Curr Opin Virol
February 2014
Article Synopsis
- RT-qPCR is the leading method for detecting enteric viruses like norovirus and hepatitis A in food and water, but it requires specific sampling and preparation.
- Sampling strategies for viruses differ from those used for bacteria, highlighting the need for tailored approaches.
- The establishment of a reference method in ISO/TS 15216 is critical for improving virus detection performance, but addressing viral infectivity from positive PCR results remains a challenge for future assessments.
Article Synopsis
- Human noroviruses are the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in humans.
- A study evaluated two commercial RT-PCR kits for detecting NoVs against a method recommended by the CEN/TC/WG6/TAG4 group using 59 NoV samples.
- The CEN method had 100% specificity, while the commercial kits failed to detect many NoV strains, making the CEN method preferable for research and outbreak tracking.