Growth Kinetics of Listeria monocytogenes in Cut Produce.

Cut produce continues to constitute a significant portion of the fresh fruit and vegetables sold directly to consumers. As such, the safety of these items during storage, handling, and display remains a concern. Cut tomatoes, cut leafy greens, and cut melons, which have been studied in relation to their ability to support pathogen growth, have been specifically identified as needing temperature control for safety.

Prevalence and Level of Listeria monocytogenes in Ice Cream Linked to a Listeriosis Outbreak in the United States.

A most-probable-number (MPN) method was used to enumerate Listeria monocytogenes in 2,320 commercial ice cream scoops manufactured on a production line that was implicated in a 2015 listeriosis outbreak in the United States. The analyzed samples were collected from seven lots produced in November 2014, December 2014, January 2015, and March 2015. L.

Comparative evaluation of direct plating and most probable number for enumeration of low levels of Listeria monocytogenes in naturally contaminated ice cream products.

A precise and accurate method for enumeration of low level of Listeria monocytogenes in foods is critical to a variety of studies. In this study, paired comparison of most probable number (MPN) and direct plating enumeration of L. monocytogenes was conducted on a total of 1730 outbreak-associated ice cream samples that were naturally contaminated with low level of L.

Genomic and phenotypic characterization of Vibrio cholerae non-O1 isolates from a US Gulf Coast cholera outbreak.

Between November 2010, and May 2011, eleven cases of cholera, unrelated to a concurrent outbreak on the island of Hispaniola, were recorded, and the causative agent, Vibrio cholerae serogroup O75, was traced to oysters harvested from Apalachicola Bay, Florida. From the 11 diagnosed cases, eight isolates of V. cholerae were isolated and their genomes were sequenced.

Identification of virulence properties in Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 using Caenorhabditis elegans.

Salmonella enterica serover Typhimurium definitive phage type DT104, resistant to multiple antibiotics, is one of the most widespread Salmonella species in human infection worldwide. Although several cohort studies indicate that DT104 carrying the multidrug resistance (MDR) locus on salmonella genomic island 1 is a possible hyper-virulent strain compared to DT104 strains without MDR, or other Salmonella enterica serotypes, existing experimental evidence regarding virulence properties associated with the MDR region is controversial. To address this question, we constructed an isogenic MDR deletion (∆MDR) mutant strain of DT104, SNS12, by allelic exchange and used Caenorhabditis elegans as a host model to assess differences in virulence between these two strains.

Genomic analysis of stress response against arsenic in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Arsenic, a known human carcinogen, is widely distributed around the world and found in particularly high concentrations in certain regions including Southwestern US, Eastern Europe, India, China, Taiwan and Mexico. Chronic arsenic poisoning affects millions of people worldwide and is associated with increased risk of many diseases including arthrosclerosis, diabetes and cancer. In this study, we explored genome level global responses to high and low levels of arsenic exposure in Caenorhabditis elegans using Affymetrix expression microarrays.

Genomic analysis of immune response against Vibrio cholerae hemolysin in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Vibrio cholerae cytolysin (VCC) is among the accessory V. cholerae virulence factors that may contribute to disease pathogenesis in humans. VCC, encoded by hlyA gene, belongs to the most common class of bacterial toxins, known as pore-forming toxins (PFTs).

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene delivery in an animal model of multiple sclerosis using bone marrow stem cells as a vehicle.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of the neurotrophin family, is neuroprotective in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. However, BDNF has a short half-life and its efficacy in the central nervous system (CNS), when delivered peripherally, is limited due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB). We have developed a means of delivering BDNF into the CNS using genetically engineered bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) as a vehicle, and have explored the clinical effects of BDNF on outcomes in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Interaction of Pyk2 and PTP-PEST with leupaxin in prostate cancer cells.

We have identified the presence of leupaxin (LPXN), which belongs to the paxillin extended family of focal adhesion-associated adaptor proteins, in prostate cancer cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that LPXN is a component of the podosomal signaling complex found in osteoclasts, where LPXN was found to associate with the protein tyrosine kinases Pyk2 and c-Src and the cytosolic protein tyrosine phosphatase-proline-, glutamate-, serine-, and threonine-rich sequence (PTP-PEST). In the current study, LPXN was detectable as a 50-kDa protein in PC-3 cells, a bone-derived metastatic prostate cancer cell line.

Association of leupaxin with Src in osteoclasts.

Leupaxin (LPXN), which belongs to the paxillin extended family of adaptor proteins, was previously identified as a component of the sealing zone in osteoclasts. LPXN was found to associate with several podosomal proteins, such as the protein tyrosine kinase Pyk2, the protein-tyrosine phosphatase-PEST (PTP-PEST), actin-binding proteins, and regulators of actin cytoskeletal reorganization. It was previously demonstrated that inhibition of LPXN expression resulted in reduced osteoclast-mediated resorption.

Overexpression of the ZIP1 zinc transporter induces an osteogenic phenotype in mesenchymal stem cells.

Zinc is an essential trace element that is involved in diverse metabolic and signaling pathways. Zinc deficiency is associated with retardation of bone growth. Previous in vitro studies have suggested a direct effect of zinc on both the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast-like cells.

Expression of the zinc transporter ZIP1 in osteoclasts.

Zinc has been previously demonstrated to be a potent inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast function. The mechanisms for cellular uptake of zinc into osteoclasts have not been characterized. We have corroborated previous studies on the reduction of osteoclastogenesis in the presence of extracellular zinc.

The bacterial adaptive response gene, barA, encodes a novel conserved histidine kinase regulatory switch for adaptation and modulation of metabolism in Escherichia coli.

Histidine kinases are important prokaryotic determinants of cellular adaptation to environmental conditions, particularly stress. The highly conserved histidine kinase, BarA, encoded by the bacterial adaptive response gene, barA, is a member of the family of tripartite histidine kinases, and is involved in stress adaptation. BarA has been implicated to play a role during infection of epithelial cells.