A spotlight on analytical prospects in food allergens: From emerging allergens and novel foods to bioplastics and plant-based sustainable food contact materials.

The present review throws a spotlight on new and emerging food safety concerns in view of a well-established food allergen risk arising from global socio-economic changes, international trade, circular economy, environmental sustainability, and upcycling. Food culture globalization needs harmonization of regulations, technical specifications, and reference materials towards mutually recognised results. In parallel, routine laboratories require high-throughput reliable analytical strategies, even in-situ testing devices, to test both food products and food contact surfaces for residual allergens.

Environmental, Microbiological, and Immunological Features of Bacterial Biofilms Associated with Implanted Medical Devices.

The spread of biofilms on medical implants represents one of the principal triggers of persistent and chronic infections in clinical settings, and it has been the subject of many studies in the past few years, with most of them focused on prosthetic joint infections. We review here recent works on biofilm formation and microbial colonization on a large variety of indwelling devices, ranging from heart valves and pacemakers to urological and breast implants and from biliary stents and endoscopic tubes to contact lenses and neurosurgical implants. We focus on bacterial abundance and distribution across different devices and body sites and on the role of environmental features, such as the presence of fluid flow and properties of the implant surface, as well as on the interplay between bacterial colonization and the response of the human immune system.