Article
Food Science & Technology
Joshua B. Gurtler, Kristen E. Gibson
Summary: This article presents recent scientific research on irrigation water contamination of fresh produce and the corresponding treatments. It also highlights multidisciplinary studies on the risks associated with bacterial pathogen contamination of produce through irrigation water and various approaches to mitigate these risks. Additionally, proposed changes to the Microbial Water Quality Profile requirement outlined in the Food Safety Modernization Act, Produce Safety Rule, are discussed.
CURRENT OPINION IN FOOD SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Seungjun Lee, Chulkyoon Mok, Jiyoung Lee
Summary: Foodborne pathogenic bacteria can internalize into plant tissues, with varying levels depending on the nature of each plant. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) combined with UV enhances the efficiency of inactivating internalized pathogens, making it applicable for removing foodborne pathogens to ensure food safety.
JOURNAL OF FOOD PROTECTION
(2021)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Anna Townsend, Laura K. Strawn, Benjamin J. Chapman, Laurel L. Dunn
Summary: Listeria species and L. monocytogenes were detected in every stage of the fresh produce supply chain, with the highest prevalence observed in natural environments and outdoor production. Data gaps were identified for future research on produce safety, particularly in the transportation and distribution center environment.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yingshu He, Ruixi Chen, Yan Qi, Joelle K. Salazar, Shimei Zhang, Mary Lou Tortorello, Xiangyu Deng, Wei Zhang
Summary: Salmonella enterica, especially serotypes Newport and Typhimurium, are frequently associated with foodborne disease outbreaks linked to fresh-cut fruits. Despite strong survivability on various fresh-cut fruits under refrigeration, S. enterica displays variable survival behaviors, potentially regulated by differential gene expression related to carbon utilization and metabolic pathways. This study highlights the importance of understanding S. enterica survival mechanisms on fresh-cut produce and their potential implications for food safety and human health.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Seth Commichaux, Hugh Rand, Kiran Javkar, Erin K. Molloy, James B. Pettengill, Arthur Pightling, Maria Hoffmann, Mihai Pop, Victor Jayeola, Steven Foley, Yan Luo
Summary: The Salmonella enterica serovar Newport red onion outbreak in 2020 was the largest in over a decade. The epidemiological investigation identified two farms as potential sources, but SNP analysis showed no link between farm and clinical isolates. However, analysis of plasmids in the clinical isolates provided evidence for a connection to the farms, highlighting the potential of this method for source tracking investigations.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Madeleine Blondin-Brosseau, Jennifer Harlow, Tanushka Doctor, Neda Nasheri
Summary: Highly pathogenic human coronaviruses, such as SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV, may infect the gastrointestinal tract and be shed in fecal matter. The survival of these viruses on fresh produce varies, with cucumbers and lettuce potentially retaining infectious virus for up to 72 hours.
Article
Microbiology
Alexa R. Cohn, Renato H. Orsi, Laura M. Carroll, Ruixi Chen, Martin Wiedmann, Rachel A. Cheng
Summary: Through transcriptomic comparisons using RNA-seq, this study revealed differences in gene transcription abundance and expression levels of pathogenic islands among NTS serovars, highlighting potential transcriptional mechanisms that facilitate the survival and adaptation of S. Cerro and S. Javiana in their respective hosts, impacting their disease-causing abilities in others. The study also demonstrated the utility of omics approaches in understanding the diversity of metabolic and virulence mechanisms among different NTS serovars.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Alexis M. Hamilton, David J. Paulsen, Rebecca T. Trout Fryxell, Valerie E. Orta, Stuart J. Gorman, Dara M. Smith, John R. Buchanan, Annette L. Wszelaki, Faith J. Critzer
Summary: Pooled fly samples (1.2%) tested positive for Salmonella. Flies of Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Sarcophagidae, and Tachinidae families were Salmonella positive. Flies were not as abundant as studies conducted close to concentrated animal feeding operations.
JOURNAL OF FOOD PROTECTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mikhail V. Belousov, Anastasiia O. Kosolapova, Haidar Fayoud, Maksim I. Sulatsky, Anna I. Sulatskaya, Maria N. Romanenko, Alexander G. Bobylev, Kirill S. Antonets, Anton A. Nizhnikov
Summary: This study investigated the amyloid properties of outer membrane proteins (Omps) in Gram-negative bacteria and found that they can form toxic fibrillar aggregates. The aggregates exhibit specific characteristics and are resistant to different influences. These findings are important for understanding the mechanism of bacterial virulence.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Saad Asadullah Sharief, Oznur Caliskan-Aydogan, Evangelyn C. Alocilja
Summary: This study used carbohydrate-coated magnetic and gold nanoparticles to successfully extract and detect Salmonella Enteritidis from artificially contaminated cucumbers and melons. The extraction of bacterial cells and the detection of genomic DNA were confirmed using different techniques. A colorimetric biosensor utilizing gold nanoparticles was developed and showed a high specificity towards Salmonella.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Marwa Fawzy ElMetwaly Ahmed, Bussarakam Chuppava, Jan Berend Lingens, Julia Hankel, Amr Abd El-Wahab, Pia Muenster, Ali Antakli, Dimitri Radko, Christian Visscher
Summary: Broiler meat is the main source of Salmonella as a foodborne pathogen. This study investigates the survival of Salmonella in feeding lines and its role in reinfection in broiler flocks. The study found that Salmonella can persist in different matrices despite cleaning and disinfection processes, which may contribute to reinfection in poultry houses.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Changchang Li, Raphael Nyaruaba, Xiaowei Zhao, Heng Xue, Hang Yang, Yuhong Li, Hongping Wei
Summary: Salmonella is a zoonotic pathogen commonly associated with foodborne disease outbreaks. A newly identified lysin, LysP53, was found to have good activity against various types of Salmonella, including Salmonella Newington, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Salmonella Dublin. LysP53 demonstrated high thermostability and was safe for oral administration, making it a potential biocontrol agent for reducing bacterial loads in fresh vegetable food.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Lin Yu, Hui Shi
Summary: Bacterial adhesion is crucial for biofilm formation, which can lead to cross contamination and pathogen growth on food surfaces. Plant extracts have been studied as green alternatives for anti-adhesion, effectively inhibiting the attachment of foodborne pathogens. Understanding the anti-adhesion mechanisms is essential for enhancing the efficiency and application of natural antimicrobial agents in the fresh produce industry.
CURRENT OPINION IN FOOD SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Jessica S. Pizzo, Jesui V. Visentainer, Andre L. B. R. da Silva, Camila Rodrigues
Summary: Growers commonly use chemical sanitizers to wash fresh produce during postharvest handling, but this poses risks to both the washing systems and workers' health. Essential oils such as thyme, oregano, cinnamon, and clove have been studied as potential alternatives to chemical sanitizers for produce washing. The combination of essential oils and surfactants can enhance the antimicrobial activity of emulsions, but further research is needed to evaluate the effect of different chemical components of essential oils and preparations. Overcoming challenges such as high levels of essential oils needed, unwanted impact on produce quality, and poor solubility in aqueous solutions should also be addressed.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
M. A. Etheves, N. Choisis, S. Alvarez, F. Dalleau, J. Hascoat, V Gallard, E. Cardinale
Summary: The study identified main risk factors for Salmonella spp. persistence in broiler flocks on Reunion Island. Improved cleaning-disinfection and pest control in the poultry sector are crucial to prevent the pathogen's persistence. Pests infected with Salmonella spp., such as mealworms in poultry litter, contribute to the risk of pathogen persistence.
Article
Plant Sciences
W. E. L. Pereira, C. B. Ferreira, R. Caserta, M. Melotto, A. A. de Souza
Article
Agronomy
Debanjana Roy, Maeli Melotto
POSTHARVEST BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Microbiology
Paula Rodrigues Oblessuc, Mariana Vaz Bisneta, Maeli Melotto
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS
(2019)
Article
Plant Sciences
Paula R. Oblessuc, Nisita Obulareddy, Logan DeMott, Cleverson C. Matiolli, Blaine K. Thompson, Maeli Melotto
Article
Plant Sciences
Paula Rodrigues Oblessuc, Cleverson Carlos Matiolli, Maeli Melotto
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Willian Pereira, Marco Takita, Maeli Melotto, Alessandra de Souza
MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Jeanine Montano, Gabrielle Rossidivito, Joseph Torreano, Steffen Porwollik, Shlomo Sela Saldinger, Michael McClelland, Maeli Melotto
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2020)
Review
Plant Sciences
Maeli Melotto, Maria T. Brandl, Cristian Jacob, Michele T. Jay-Russell, Shirley A. Micallef, Marilyn L. Warburton, Allen Van Deynze
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
M. C. Goncalves-Vidigal, T. A. S. Gilio, G. Valentini, M. Vaz-Bisneta, P. S. Vidigal Filho, Q. Song, P. R. Oblessuc, M. Melotto
Article
Plant Sciences
Logan DeMott, Paula R. Oblessuc, Alice Pierce, Joseph Student, Maeli Melotto
Summary: JAZ4 plays a crucial role in plant growth, development, and defense, with two natural splice variants identified. It functions differently in ethylene and auxin signaling pathways within root development zones, acting as a negative regulator above the apex but a positive regulator at the root apex for auxin signaling independently possibly of ethylene. The complexity of spatiotemporal regulation of JAZ4 impacts hormone signaling specificity and diversity in Arabidopsis roots.
Article
Microbiology
Madhvi Chahar, Yulia Kroupitski, Rachel Gollop, Eduard Belausov, Maeli Melotto, Shlomo Sela-Saldinger
Summary: The study compared the internalization of different Salmonella strains in various leaves with different surface sterilization methods, highlighting the importance of specific disinfection protocols in determining bacterial localization. Confocal microscopy was used to observe the localization of Green-fluorescent protein-labeled Salmonella in tomato, lettuce, and Arabidopsis leaves, showing variations in internalization levels due to different sterilization conditions. Confocal microscopy was emphasized as a crucial tool in validating surface sterilization protocols for studying bacterial localization.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Maeli Melotto, Wei Zhang, Max Teplitski
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Paula Rodrigues Oblessuc, David F. Bridges, Maeli Melotto
Summary: In this study, an RNA sequencing analysis was conducted to investigate the response of common bean to halo blight caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola (Pph). The results revealed differentially expressed genes that are involved in plant immune responses and mapped to known Pph resistance loci or quantitative trait loci. These findings suggest that the identified genes may play a role in conferring resistance to halo blight in common bean.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jorge L. Mazza Rodrigues, Maeli Melotto
Summary: Nature-designed plant microbiomes may provide solutions for improving crop production and ecosystem restoration in challenging environments. A previously unknown microbial diversity in stress-adapted plants was found to enhance nutrient mobilization.
TRENDS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)