Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Bailey C. Buchanan, Babak Safavinia, Lillian Wu, Jeong-Yeol Yoon
Summary: This study developed a method to detect bacteria on laboratory surfaces using low-cost components and a smartphone, without the need for culturing or staining. The presence of Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus was successfully detected, and the method could also distinguish from tap water, protein, and NaCl solutions.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Hani El Kadri, Katherine M. Costello, Phillip Thomas, Thomas Wantock, Gavin Sandison, Thomas Harle, Andrea Lucca Fabris, Jorge Gutierrez-Merino, Eirini G. Velliou
Summary: Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a mild food processing technology that can maintain food quality, but its impact on biofilms and mechanisms of action are not well studied, with limited research on real food applications.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luis A. Estrella, Elizabeth A. Yates, Kenan P. Fears, Janna N. Schultzhaus, Heonjune Ryou, Dagmar H. Leary, Christopher R. So
Summary: Barnacles integrate protein components into nanofibers for permanent underwater attachment, the design principles and chemistry of which remain to be fully understood. The use of engineered bacterial biofilms to display a library of amyloid materials outside of the cell sheds light on the evolution of adhesive nanomaterials.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Heidi Leonard, Xin Jiang, Sofia Arshavsky-Graham, Liran Holtzman, Yuri Haimov, Daniel Weizman, Sarel Halachmi, Ester Segal
Summary: This research uses a special measurement method of silicon diffraction gratings to observe the interaction between bacterial cells and inorganic microstructured surfaces in real-time. The results indicate that specific material characteristics and bacterial cell characteristics are the driving factors for bacterial adherence to specific surfaces and biofilm formation. This study can be applied to predict antibiotic efficacy and biofilm formation, as well as the design of surface-based biosensors and anti-biofouling strategies.
NANOSCALE HORIZONS
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
E. Manville, E. C. Kaya, U. Yucel, D. Boyle, V. Trinetta
Summary: Listeria monocytogenes can adapt, persist, and form biofilms on food premises surfaces, posing challenges for food safety. Material, incubation, and solvent significantly affect the hydrophobicity and wetting properties of L. monocytogenes biofilms.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Justin E. Silpe, Joel W. H. Wong, Sian Owen, Michael Baym, Emily P. Balskus
Summary: Colibactin is a chemically unstable small-molecule genotoxin produced by various bacteria, and it induces bacterial cell death by targeting bacteria containing prophages. Exogenous DNA or expression of Colibactin resistance protein can protect bacteria from the toxic effects of Colibactin. This study reveals the potential impact of Colibactin production on microbiomes and highlights the role of microbial natural products in influencing population-level events.
Article
Biology
Yamal Al-ramahi, Akos Nyerges, Yago Margolles, Lidia Cerdan, Gyorgyi Ferenc, Csaba Pal, Luis Angel Fernandez, Victor de Lorenzo
Summary: The study utilized ssDNA recombineering and bacterial surface display to evolve a nanobody recognizing the EHEC antigen TirM towards the EPEC antigen TirM by targeting the CDRs of the VHH gene sequence. This method demonstrated the power of combining bacterial evolutionary properties with oligonucleotide synthesis to focus diversification on specific gene segments of interest, bypassing the need for laborious cloning and mutagenesis procedures.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Hidehiro Ishizawa, Masashi Kuroda, Daisuke Inoue, Michihiko Ike
Summary: Genome-wide transposon sequencing was used to identify genes involved in bacterial colonization and overall fitness on duckweed. The study found that the efficiency of initial colonization is mainly determined by the motility and cell surface structure of the bacteria, while overall fitness is associated with diverse metabolic and regulatory functions. Genes involved in the synthesis of lipopolysaccharides and type-IV pili showed different contributions to colonization and fitness, reflecting their metabolic cost and important roles in host association.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Svajus J. Asadauskas, Giedrius Stalnionis, Gedvidas Bikulcius, Sigitas Jankauskas, Laurynas Staisiunas, Tadas Matijosius
Summary: The study compared the performance of different elements coated on anodic alumina, showing that elements of IVB group were more effective than Cu, Cr or Hf, with layers of 15-75 nm thickness being effective while 180 nm or thicker layers did not significantly reduce friction. Material properties within nanometric layers appeared to contribute much more to friction reduction.
MATERIALS TODAY COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Gil Azulay, Anna Pasechnek, Olga Stadnyuk, Shai Ran-Sapir, Ana Mejia Fleisacher, Ilya Borovok, Nadejda Sigal, Anat A. Herskovits
Summary: A study has identified AriS as a phage regulator in Listeria monocytogenes strain 10403S. AriS controls the induction of two phage elements in the chromosome, inhibiting their lytic induction under SOS conditions. The protein possesses two distinct activities, one regulating phage genes and the other downregulating the bacterial SOS response. The presence of a conserved domain in AriS-like proteins suggests that temperate phages acquired dual-function regulators to align their response with other phage elements.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nicolas Waisbord, Amin Dehkharghani, Jeffrey S. Guasto
Summary: Through microfluidic experiments, it was found that individual magnetotactic bacteria display three distinct regimes when directed upstream through pores, resembling the electrical conductivity of a diode. This diode-like behavior persists at the pore scale, impacting flow conductivity in higher dimensional geometries. The study has implications for magnetotactic bacteria survival strategies in sediments and potential drug delivery applications in vascular networks.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sultan Ali, Abdullah F. F. Alsayeqh
Summary: The importance of meat-borne pathogens to global disease transmission and food safety is significant, with bacteria being the main pathogens. Consuming contaminated meat or meat products can lead to various diseases.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Kento Nakamura, Tetsuya J. Kobayashi
Summary: The study revealed the optimality of E. coli's chemotactic network in inferring information, demonstrating the equivalence between biochemical network and information-theoretically optimal dynamics, and reproducing experimentally observed non-linear response relation.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Asmaa N. Mohammed
Summary: The study evaluated the current practices of poultry waste management and the efficacy of disinfectants, with Ca(OCl)(2)-Ag NPs showing lethal effects on all pathogenic bacteria isolated from waste.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Pei Yee Woh, May Pui Shan Yeung, William Bernard Goggins
Summary: This study aimed to determine the multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) of Salmonella isolated from children hospitalized for gastroenteritis in Hong Kong. The results showed that Salmonella had the highest resistance to ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, and tetracycline, while MDR strains had high resistance towards ampicillin, tetracycline, cotrimoxazole, chloramphenicol, and ciprofloxacin. MARI revealed that 80.2% of Salmonella, including all MDR strains, had indexes greater than 0.2.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Joseph Dumpler, Carmen I. Moraru
Summary: This study establishes a correlation between dielectric properties, drying parameters, drying rate and energy demand for microwave vacuum drying (MVD) of concentrated skim milk (CSM). The study found that energy consumption is lower when the drying rate is higher and increases when the drying rate is lower.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Daniela T. Mengarda Buosi, Jaqueline O. de Moraes, Yifan Cheng, Rachel A. Cheng, Carmem Moraru, Bruno A. M. Carciofi
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of pulsed light (PL) treatment on different serotypes of Salmonella enterica. The results showed that PL was highly effective in killing Salmonella. The right combination of pulse width and voltage can enhance the effectiveness of the treatment.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yupawadee Galasong, Jonathan H. Sogin, Randy W. Worobo
Summary: The demand for clean-label products has increased due to public health concerns regarding artificial preservatives in food and beverage. Natural glycolipids (NG), derived from Dacryopinax spathularia, have been shown to be a highly effective preservative against spoilage yeasts, Gram-positive bacteria, and molds. In this study, NG was added to acidified beverages and its inhibitory effects against major spoilage microorganisms were compared to sodium benzoate (SB) over a 12-week period. The results demonstrated that NG can effectively protect beverages from microbial spoilage, especially against lactic acid bacteria and yeasts, either alone or in combination with dimethyl dicarbonate (DMDC).
Review
Food Science & Technology
Yifan Cheng, Xiaojing Ma, Trevor Franklin, Rong Yang, Carmen Moraru
Summary: In this review, the authors discuss the ability of Mechano-bactericidal (MB) nanopatterns to inactivate bacterial cells by rupturing cellular envelopes. These biocide-free, physicomechanical mechanisms have the potential to mitigate biofilms on various materials in food processing, packaging, and food preparation environments. The review also highlights recent progress in understanding MB mechanisms, property-activity relationships, and the development of cost-effective nanofabrication technologies. The potential challenges and research needs for the adoption of MB surfaces in the food industry are also evaluated.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Zhihao Feng, Yifan Cheng, Alexandra Khlyustova, Aasim Wani, Trevor Franklin, Jeffrey D. Varner, Andrew L. Hook, Rong Yang
Summary: Amphiphilic copolymers (AP) are a class of antibiofouling materials that can be optimized by tuning their chemistry and composition. However, the large design space associated with AP makes optimization laborious. To address this, a machine learning approach is used to accurately predict biofilm formation on a library of AP, expanding the accessible design space and identifying best-performing candidates for experimental validation.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Hanyu Chen, Carmen Moraru
Summary: This study explores the potential of using sequential treatments with different wavelengths to enhance the disinfection performance of individual treatments against foodborne pathogens. The results show that pre-treatments with 280 and 222 nm can increase the effectiveness of follow-up 405 nm treatments by inducing higher levels of cellular membrane damage and oxidative stress. These findings provide useful information for light equipment manufacturers, food processors, and healthcare users, and have the potential to improve germicidal light technologies and enhance food safety and public health.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ahmer Bin Hafeez, Karolina Pelka, Kamila Buzun, Randy Worobo, Piotr Szweda
Summary: This study aimed to analyze the whole genome and assess the antimicrobial potential of bacterial isolates from honey in northern Poland. A total of 132 strains were obtained from three honey samples, and the antimicrobial activity of CFAM was used to select strains for detailed genomic investigation. Two isolates were classified as Bacillus paralicheniformis and one isolate as Bacillus subtilis, and all three isolates showed potential as producers of antimicrobial compounds.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Shiying Chen, Alexandra E. Hall, Carmen I. Moraru
Summary: This study evaluates the effect of reconstitution conditions on the structure and functionality of pea protein isolate (PPI). The results demonstrate that reconstitution temperature and hydration time have a significant impact on protein hydration and functionality. Mild heating and longer hydration time can increase the solubility and viscosity of PPI. These findings are important for food formulators to develop high-quality food products utilizing PPI as a functional ingredient.
JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Isaya Kijpatanasilp, Khursheed Ahmad Shiekh, Saeid Jafari, Randy W. Worobo, Kitipong Assatarakul
Summary: This study evaluated the efficacy of UV radiation and nisin, alone and in combination, in comparison with thermal pasteurization on the microbial inhibition kinetics and physicochemical properties of tangerine juice. UV-149.76 J/cm(2) + nisin (200 ppm) combination showed the highest reduction in spoilage and pathogenic microbes. UV and nisin had no significant effect on pH, TSS, and TA values, but showed notable differences in color analysis and antioxidant activity. UV radiation and nisin combination could be a viable alternative to heat pasteurization during cold storage of fruit juice.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Rebecca M. Cheng, Jessie Usaga, Randy W. Worobo
Summary: The effects of juice pH, type of acidulant, and post-treatment refrigeration on the high-pressure processing (HPP) inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica, and Listeria monocytogenes in acid beverages were evaluated. The results showed that HPP can effectively inactivate Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica, and Listeria monocytogenes in acid beverages, and the pH of the juice and post-treatment refrigeration have significant effects on the effectiveness of HPP.
FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hanyu Chen, Yifan Cheng, Carmen I. Moraru
Summary: This study investigates the antimicrobial effectiveness of 405 nm LEDs against various pathogens and evaluates the impact of different surfaces and packaging materials. The results demonstrate the significant potential of 405 nm LEDs for antimicrobial applications in food processing and healthcare industry.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
C. I. Moraru
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
J. Dumpler, C. I. Moraru
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
B. Gong, J. Dumpler, C. Moraru
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Alexandra E. Hall, Carmen Moraru
Summary: The effects of high-pressure processing (HPP) and heat treatment on the digestibility of protein and starch in pea protein concentrate (PPC) were investigated. HPP treatment enhanced gastric proteolysis, but had little effect on the overall digestibility of protein and starch.
NPJ SCIENCE OF FOOD
(2022)