Editorial for the Special Issue: Foodborne Pathogen Distribution, Ecology, Inactivation, and Methods of Differentiation

This protocol outlines the all the steps necessary to become a GenomeTrakr data contributor. GenomeTrakr is an international genomic reference database of mostly food and environmental isolates from foodborne pathogens. The data and analyses are housed at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), which is a database freely available to anyone in the world. The Pathogen Detection browser at NCBI computes daily cluster results adding the newly submitted data to the existing phylogenetic clusters of closely related genomes. Contributors to this database can see how their new isolates are related to the real-time foodborne pathogen surveillance program established in the USA and a few other countries, and at the same time adding valuable new data to the reference database. ------ Although originally published as a Chapter in Methods and Protocols, Foodborne Bacterial Pathogens, the protocol has since been adapted and split into four separate protocols all of which are contained in this collection.

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Acinetobacter: an underrated foodborne pathogen?

The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries ◽

10.3855/jidc.8418 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 11 (02) ◽

pp. 111-114 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Angelo Maximo Batista de Amorim ◽

Janaína dos Santos Nascimento

Keyword(s):

Diarrheal Disease ◽

Multiple Drug Resistance ◽

Foodborne Pathogen ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Food Sources ◽

Multiple Drug ◽

Foodborne Illnesses ◽

Healthcare Settings ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Raw Foods

The increasing prevalence of foodborne diseases observed in developing countries has been linked to a rise in the consumption of raw foods. However, unlike the classical pathogens that are commonly implicated in foodborne illnesses, members of the genus Acinetobacter are rarely associated with diarrheal disease, probably because of the difficulty in isolating these Gram-negative bacteria from food sources. Nevertheless, several species of Acinetobacter, especially A. baumannii, possess many of the characteristics associated with successful pathogens and exhibit a prodigious ability to acquire the multiple-drug resistance (MDR) phenotype. In this mini-review, we summarize the epidemiological data relating to MDR Acinetobacter and consider evidence suggesting that contaminated dairy products, along with raw fruit and vegetables, constitute extra-hospital reservoirs of this underrated pathogen, and may represent an increased risk to immunocompromised individuals and young children in healthcare settings.

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Low Prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in Human Stool

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-68.1.178 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 68 (1) ◽

pp. 178-181 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

BRIAN D. SAUDERS ◽

DAVID PETTIT ◽

BRIAN CURRIE ◽

PAUL SUITS ◽

ANN EVANS ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Listeria Monocytogenes ◽

Foodborne Pathogens ◽

Diarrheal Disease ◽

New York State ◽

Foodborne Pathogen ◽

The United States ◽

Invasive Infection ◽

Single Individual ◽

Positive Specimen ◽

Human Stool

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that is found widely in the environment and in a variety of ready-to-eat foods, yet human invasive infection is relatively rare (five cases per million people annually in the United States). Despite wide exposure to this organism, little is known about the prevalence of L. monocytogenes in human stool, and it is not known whether human fecal dispersal contributes to human foodborne transmission. We cultured 827 stool specimens (well formed and loose-watery) from individuals from four large metropolitan areas of New York state for L. monocytogenes and found only 1 (0.12%) positive specimen. L. monocytogenes was also isolated from the blood of the person with the single positive specimen, and the two isolates were indistinguishable by molecular subtyping (both were ribotype DUP-1042B). This provides further evidence that human L. monocytogenes fecal carriage among persons with and without diarrheal disease is remarkably low. Unlike the case for other foodborne pathogens (e.g., Salmonella), human shedders probably do not contribute significantly to L. monocytogenes contamination of foods. However, we observed a single individual with invasive listeriosis that shed the pathogen in feces, indicating the potential for fecal dispersal of L. monocytogenes from persons with listeriosis.

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Efficacy of Bacteriophage Cocktail to Control E. coli O157:H7 Contamination on Baby Spinach Leaves in the Presence or Absence of Organic Load

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9030544 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 544

Author(s):

Badrinath Vengarai Jagannathan ◽

Steven Kitchens ◽

Paul Priyesh Vijayakumar ◽

Stuart Price ◽

Melissa Morgan

Keyword(s):

Foodborne Pathogens ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Foodborne Pathogen ◽

Organic Load ◽

Lytic Bacteriophage ◽

Foodborne Illnesses ◽

E Coli ◽

Pathogen Reduction ◽

Spinach Leaves

Fruits and vegetables are high in nutrients that are essential for a healthy lifestyle. However, they also harbor an extensive array of microorganisms such as bacteria, which can be beneficial, neutral, or pathogenic. Foodborne pathogens can contaminate produce at any stage from the farm to the consumer’s table. Appropriate washing techniques using sanitizers can reduce the risk of pathogen contamination. Issues related to maintaining concentration, efficacy, and other problems have been a challenge for the food industry and, when left unresolved, have led to different outbreaks of foodborne illnesses. In this study, the efficacy of a lytic bacteriophage cocktail was examined for its ability to infect and reduce the contamination of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7), in media with a high organic load, using a microplate technique. The study was conducted for 3 h to determine if the bacteriophage cocktail could reduce the pathogen in the presence of a high organic load. A significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the population of E. coli O157:H7 was observed, representing a 99.99% pathogen reduction at the end of 3 h. Fresh spinach leaves were washed in sterile potable or organic water (~9000 ppm organic load) containing E. coli O157:H7 and a bacteriophage cocktail to study the effectiveness of bacteriophages against the foodborne pathogen. Results indicated that the bacteriophage significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the contamination of E. coli O157:H7 in both situations. The study also demonstrated the bacteriophages’ ability to infect and reduce the pathogen in an organic-rich environment. This characteristic differs from commercially available sanitizers that have demonstrated a tendency to bind with the available organic load. Thus, these studies highlight the advantage of employing bacteriophages during produce wash to eliminate foodborne pathogen contamination on fruits and vegetables.

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Escherichia coli O157:H7 Populations in Sheep Can Be Reduced by Chlorate Supplementation†

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-66.2.194 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 66 (2) ◽

pp. 194-199 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

T. R. CALLAWAY ◽

T. S. EDRINGTON ◽

R. C. ANDERSON ◽

K. J. GENOVESE ◽

T. L. POOLE ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Nitrate Reductase ◽

Foodborne Pathogens ◽

Intestinal Tract ◽

Foodborne Pathogen ◽

Escherichia Coli O157 ◽

Foodborne Illnesses ◽

Fatty Acid Production ◽

E Coli ◽

Ruminant Animals

Ruminant animals are a natural reservoir of the foodborne pathogen Escherichia coli O157:H7. Some foodborne pathogens (e.g., E. coli) are equipped with a nitrate reductase that cometabolically reduces chlorate. The intracellular reduction of chlorate to chlorite kills nitrate reductase–positive bacteria; however, species that do not reduce nitrate are not affected by chlorate. Therefore, it has been suggested that ruminants be supplemented with chlorate prior to shipment for slaughter in order to reduce foodborne illnesses in human consumers. Sheep (n = 14) were fed a high-grain ration and were experimentally infected with E. coli O157:H7. These sheep were given an experimental product (XCP) containing the equivalent of either 2.5 mM NaNO3 and 100 mM NaCl (control sheep; n = 7) or 2.5 mM NaNO3 and 100 mM NaClO3 (chlorate [XCP]–treated sheep; n = 7). Control and XCP-treated sheep were treated for 24 h; XCP treatment reduced the population of inoculated E. coli O157:H7 (P < 0.05) from 102, 105, and 105 CFU/g in the rumen, cecum, and rectum, respectively, to <101 CFU/g in all three sections of the gastrointestinal tract. The number of sheep testing positive for E. coli O157:H7 was significantly reduced by XCP treatment. In a similar fashion, total E. coli and coliforms were also reduced (P < 0.05) in all three compartments of the intestinal tract. Intestinal pH, total volatile fatty acid production, and the acetate/propionate ratio were unaffected by XCP treatment. On the basis of these results, it appears that chlorate treatment can be an effective method for the reduction of E. coli O157:H7 populations in ruminant animals immediately prior to slaughter.

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Editorial for Special Issue “Monitoring Land Subsidence Using Remote Sensing”

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13091771 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 1771

Author(s):

Massimo Fabris ◽

Nicola Cenni ◽

Simone Fiaschi

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Land Subsidence ◽

Geological Hazard ◽

Special Issue ◽

The World

Land subsidence is a geological hazard that affects several different communities around the world [...]

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Hepatitis E Virus RNA Presence in Wild Boar Carcasses at Slaughterhouses in Italy

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11061624 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1624

Author(s):

Mario Forzan ◽

Maria Irene Pacini ◽

Marcello Periccioli ◽

Maurizio Mazzei

Keyword(s):

Wild Boar ◽

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Foodborne Pathogen ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Cross Contamination ◽

Wild Animals ◽

Prevalence Rates ◽

Virus Rna ◽

The World ◽

Undercooked Meat

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a waterborne and foodborne pathogen largely spread around the world. HEV is responsible for acute hepatitis in humans and it is also diffused in domestic and wild animals. In particular, domestic pigs represent the main reservoir of the infection and particular attention should be paid to the consumption of raw and undercooked meat as a possible zoonotic vehicle of the pathogen. Several studies have reported the presence of HEV in wild boar circulating in European countries with similar prevalence rates. In this study, we evaluated the occurrence of HEV in wild boar hunted in specific areas of Tuscany. Sampling was performed by collecting liver samples and also by swabbing the carcasses at the slaughterhouses following hunting activities. Our data indicated that 8/67 (12%) of liver samples and 4/67 (6%) of swabs were positive for HEV RNA. The presence of HEV genome on swabs indicates the possible cross-contamination of carcass surfaces during slaughtering procedures. Altogether, our data indicated that it is essential to promote health education programmes for hunters and consumers to limit the diffusion of the pathogen to humans.

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Inactivation of Bacteria Using Bioactive Nanoparticles and Alternating Magnetic Fields

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano11020342 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 342

Author(s):

Vitalij Novickij ◽

Ramunė Stanevičienė ◽

Rūta Gruškienė ◽

Kazimieras Badokas ◽

Juliana Lukša ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Fields ◽

Foodborne Pathogens ◽

Morphological Changes ◽

Foodborne Pathogen ◽

Cellular Damage ◽

Suitable Model ◽

Log Reduction ◽

Invasive Infections ◽

Alternating Magnetic Fields ◽

Inactivation Of Bacteria

Foodborne pathogens are frequently associated with risks and outbreaks of many diseases; therefore, food safety and processing remain a priority to control and minimize these risks. In this work, nisin-loaded magnetic nanoparticles were used and activated by alternating 10 and 125 mT (peak to peak) magnetic fields (AMFs) for biocontrol of bacteria Listeria innocua, a suitable model to study the inactivation of common foodborne pathogen L. monocytogenes. It was shown that L. innocua features high resistance to nisin-based bioactive nanoparticles, however, application of AMFs (15 and 30 min exposure) significantly potentiates the treatment resulting in considerable log reduction of viable cells. The morphological changes and the resulting cellular damage, which was induced by the synergistic treatment, was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy. The thermal effects were also estimated in the study. The results are useful for the development of new methods for treatment of the drug-resistant foodborne pathogens to minimize the risks of invasive infections. The proposed methodology is a contactless alternative to the currently established pulsed-electric field-based treatment in food processing.

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Laws and Emerging Technologies

Laws ◽

10.3390/laws10020046 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 46

Author(s):

Esther Salmerón-Manzano

Keyword(s):

Information Technologies ◽

New Technologies ◽

Legal Issues ◽

The Other ◽

Special Issue ◽

Legal Challenges ◽

The World ◽

Huge Impact ◽

New Challenges ◽

The Way

New technologies and so-called communication and information technologies are transforming our society, the way in which we relate to each other, and the way we understand the world. By a wider extension, they are also influencing the world of law. That is why technologies will have a huge impact on society in the coming years and will bring new challenges and legal challenges to the legal sector worldwide. On the other hand, the new communications era also brings many new legal issues such as those derived from e-commerce and payment services, intellectual property, or the problems derived from the use of new technologies by young people. This will undoubtedly affect the development, evolution, and understanding of law. This Special Issue has become this window into the new challenges of law in relation to new technologies.

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Special Issue “Levering Sustainable Food Systems to Address Climate Change (Pandemics and Other Shocks and Hazards): Possible Transformations”

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13158206 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (15) ◽

pp. 8206

Author(s):

Andrew Spring ◽

Erin Nelson ◽

Irena Knezevic ◽

Patricia Ballamingie ◽

Alison Blay-Palmer

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Food Systems ◽

Special Issue ◽

Sustainable Food Systems ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

Address Climate Change ◽

The World

Since we first conceived of this Special Issue, “Levering Sustainable Food Systems to Address Climate Change—Possible Transformations”, COVID-19 has turned the world upside down [...]

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