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[Display omitted] • First multi-mycotoxin screening in samples randomly collected from an infant food company. • Multiple mycotoxins were detected in processed infant foods and related raw materials. • DON and TeA exhibited notably higher presence in processed infant foods and related raw materials. • Dietary exposure to AME, AOH, and TeA for infants and young children should be concerned. This study evaluated muti-mycotoxins in 199 samples including processed infant foods and raw materials collected randomly from an infant food company and assessed their role in dietary exposure in infants and young children via probabilistic risk assessment. Approximately 79.6 % (74/93) of the processed infant foods and 65.1 % (69/106) of the raw materials were contaminated by mycotoxins, with a mean occurrence level of 3.66–321.8 µg/kg. Deoxynivalenol (DON) and tenuazonic acid (TeA) were the more prevalent mycotoxins detected, based on their higher frequencies and levels across samples. Co-occurrence of more than two mycotoxins was detected in 61.3 % (57/93) of the processed infant foods and 53.8 % (57/106) of the raw materials. Wheat flour and derived products (e.g., infant noodles and infant biscuits) were contaminated with higher contamination levels and a greater variety of mycotoxins than other samples (e.g., infant cereal and rice grains). The estimated daily exposure to OTA, DON, ZEN, and TEN was lower than the corresponding reference health-based guidance values, indicating acceptable health risks. However, the estimated dietary exposure to alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), alternariol (AOH), and tenuazonic acid (TeA) exceeded the corresponding thresholds of toxicological concern values, indicating potential dietary intake risks. Among the various samples, cereals and cereal-based infant foods emerged as the primary contributors to mycotoxin exposure. Further research is advised to address the uncertainties surrounding the toxicity associated with emerging Alternaria mycotoxins and to conduct cumulative risk assessments concerning multiple mycotoxin exposure in infants and young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and cadmium (Cd) are widely co-occurring in natural aquatic environment; however, no study has been conducted on effects of their combined exposure on aquatic organisms. To assess effects of exposure to NaClO and Cd in zebrafish larvae, we designed six treatment groups, as follows: control group, NaClO group (300 μg/L), 1/100 Cd group (48 μg/L), 1/30 Cd group (160 μg/L), NaClO+1/100 Cd group, and NaClO+1/30 Cd group analyzed behavior, neurological function and cardiac function. Results revealed that exposure to 1/30 Cd and NaClO+1/30 Cd caused abnormal embryonic development in larvae by altering body morphology and physiological indicators. Combined exposure to NaClO and 1/30 Cd affected the free-swimming activity and behavior of larvae in response to light-dark transition stimuli. Moreover, exposure to 1/30 Cd or NaClO+1/30 Cd resulted in a significant increase in tyrosine hydroxylase and acetylcholinesterase activities, as well as significant changes of various neurotransmitters. Lastly, exposure to 1/30 Cd or NaClO+1/30 Cd influenced the transcription of cardiac myosin-related genes and disturbed the myocardial contractile function. Altogether, our results suggested that combined exposure to NaClO and Cd induced oxidative damage in larvae, resulting in detrimental effects on nervous system and cardiac function, thus altering their swimming behavior. [Display omitted] • NaClO mixed with Cd exhibited synergistic acute effects on larval zebrafish. • Mixed exposure induced more severe oxidative damage than single exposure. • NaClO mixed with Cd changed key neurotransmitters in larval zebrafish. • NaClO mixed with Cd changed swimming behavior of larval zebrafish. • NaClO mixed with Cd affected heart development of larval zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) are widely distributed in the global environment, entering and accumulating in organisms in various ways and posing health threats. MPs can damage intestine; however, the mechanism by which MPs cause intestinal damage in rats is unclear. Here, rats were exposed to 50 nm PS-NPs or 5 μm PS-MPs for 4 weeks to evaluate the possible effects on intestinal barrier function and exosomal miRNAs expressions. The results showed that PS-NPs or PS-MPs disrupted the gut microbiota and affected gut barrier function at the biological level. In addition, PS-NPs and PS-MPs altered the composition of exosomal miRNAs in the intestinal and serum. Both PS-NPs and PS-MPs decreased the expression of miR-126a-3p in the intestinal and serum exosomes, which is an important signalling molecule involved in MPs induced gut barrier function disorder. More importantly, both in vitro and in vivo experiments indicated that miR-126a-3p was closely related to oxidative damage of intestinal cells through the PI3K-Akt pathway and eventually promote cell apoptosis by regulating the target gene of PIK3R2. Our study suggested that PS-NPs and PS-MPs could affect rat intestinal barrier function through an exosomal miRNA mediated pathway. [Display omitted] • PS-NPs and PS-MPs altered the exosomal miRNAs in the intestine and serum of rats; • MPs produced oxidative damage by regulating the expression of PIK3R2 in the gut; • MPs affected intestinal barrier function via exosomal miR-126a-3p dependent pathway [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate changes in the molecular structures of whey proteins (WPI) caused by heat-induced interaction and reaction with varying concentrations of sugar beet pectin (SBP) in aqueous solution at neutral pH. The resulting complexes were examined using circular dichroism (CD) and steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. Far-UV CD spectroscopy combined with spectral deconvolution revealed noticeable reduction (up to 5%) in the amount of antiparallel β-sheet element of WPI upon interacting with SBP. Analyses from the UV-VIS and steady-state fluorescence spectroscopies showed changes in the molecular electronic states of both WPI and the feruloyl moieties of SBP upon heat-induced interaction and conjugation. The tertiary structural contacts in WPI, studied by the intrinsic Trp fluorescence, were also disrupted in the presence of SBP in the form of FRET (Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer) complexes, most noticeably at a high level of SBP (3%), contrasting to the results from dry-heating. The thermal stability of WPI, at both secondary and tertiary structural levels, did not increase considerably by interacting and conjugating with SBP, especially at an equal concentration of SBP (3%). However, the stability of feruloyl groups of SBP saw moderate improvement and was less pronounced than that of the dry-state reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Maillard type reaction in the dry state was utilized to create conjugates between whey protein isolate (WPI) and sugar beet pectin (SBP) to achieve improved functional properties including solubility, colloidal stability and oil-in-water emulsion stability. To optimize the reaction conditions, mixtures of WPI and SBP at varying weight ratios, 3:1, 2:1 and 1:1, were heated at 60 °C, 79% RH for 72 h. Changes in the physical properties, i.e. solubility, and chemical compositions, i.e. free sulfhydryl and amine contents were assessed using chemical assays. Bradford assay results demonstrated that the protein solubility of WPI increased significantly, ∼20% by reacting with lower levels of SBP (3:1 and 2:1) whereas the total powder solubility was not affected until an equal ratio of SBP was used, and the reduction was only ∼15%. The free sulfhydryl (SH) and primary (NH 2 ) and secondary amine (NH) contents of WPI were also mitigated by conjugating with SBP. The formation of the covalent conjugates between WPI and SBP was confirmed by SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis through staining for both proteins and glycoproteins. The UV–VIS spectroscopy showed significant changes in the molecular electronic transition states of both WPI and the feruloyl moieties of SBP upon interaction and conjugation. Measurements of ζ-potential, particles size distribution and average particle size demonstrated that the WPI-SBP conjugates prepared at the weight ratio of 3:1 were most effective at stabilizing oil-in-water emulsions than other ratios used in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been shown previously that reacting whey protein isolate (WPI) with sugar beet pectin (SBP) through a Maillard type reaction in a dry-state led to noticeable improvement in the physical, chemical and functional properties of the end products. Studies on the changes in the molecular structure of whey protein as a result of the reaction were carried out in this work to provide a molecular understanding of these observed improvements. The effect of interacting and conjugating with SBP on the apparent secondary structure of WPI was examined by far-UV circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and followed by spectral deconvolution. Results showed that the structure of WPI, especially the antiparallel β-sheet element, was preserved by reacting with SBP at the weight ratios of WPI:SBP = 3:1, 2:1, and 1:1. The analysis of difference UV-VIS spectra indicated significant changes occurred in the molecular electronic states of both WPI and the feruloyl moieties of SBP. Initial Maillard reaction products were detected in the form of the FRET complexes with WPI as the donor, and SBP, the acceptor by the studies of the steady-state fluorescence and the lifetime of the excited states. The tertiary structural contacts in WPI, probed by the intrinsic Trp fluorescence, were disrupted significantly upon reacting with SBP at an equal ratio (1:1). The thermal stability of WPI, however, at both secondary and tertiary structural levels, was greatly improved by the dry-heating induced reaction with SBP at all levels. The thermal stability of the feruloyl groups of SBP was also enhanced by reacting with WPI. Furthermore, the fluorescence lifetime studies definitively identified the distinctive advanced Maillard reaction end products (AMREPs) formed between WPI and SBP at varying ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the presence and characteristics of Escherichia coli in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods. A total of 300 RTE foods samples were collected in Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China: 50 samples of cooked meat, 165 samples of vegetable salad, 50 samples of cold noodles, and 35 samples of salted boiled peanuts. All samples were collected during summer (in July to October) 2011 and 2012 and surveyed for the presence of E. coli. E. coli isolates recovered were classified by phylogenetic typing using a PCR assay. The presence of Shiga toxin genes 1 (stx1) and 2 (stx2) was determined for these E. coli isolates by PCR, and all isolates were analyzed for antimicrobial susceptibility and the presence of class 1 integrons. Overall, 267 (89.0%) RTE food samples were positive for E. coli : 49 cold noodle, 46 cooked meat, 150 salad vegetable, and 22 salted boiled peanut samples. Of the 267 E. coli isolates, 73.0% belong to phylogenetic group A, 12.4% to group B1, 6.4% to group B2, and 8.2% to group D. All isolates were negative for both Shiga toxin genes. Among the isolates, 74.2% were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent, and 17.6% were resistant to three or more antimicrobial agents. Resistance to ampicillin (75.6% of isolates) and tetracycline (73.1% of isolates) was most frequently detected; 26.2% of E. coli isolates and 68.8% of multidrug-resistant E. coli isolates were positive for class 1 integrons. All isolates were sensitive to amikacin. Our findings indicate that RTE foods in Shaanxi were commonly contaminated with antibiotic-resistant E. coli , which may pose a risk for consumer health and for transmission of antibiotic resistance. Future research is warranted to track the contamination sources and develop appropriate steps that should be taken by government, industry, and retailers to reduce microbial contamination in RTE foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural occurrence of mycotoxins like Alternaria mycotoxins in food commodities is concerning in terms of health risks for humans. Currently, detailed investigations of Alternaria mycotoxins, such as alternariol (AOH), alternariol methyl ether (AME), tenuazonic acid (TeA), tentoxin (TEN), and altenuene (ALT) in food commodities marketed through e-commerce stores in China remains scarce. In addition, not many studies have focused on the associated dietary risk of these mycotoxins. This study conducted a survey (486 samples) for five Alternaria mycotoxins using ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) methods. Among five Alternaria mycotoxins, TeA had the highest occurrence rate (51.0%) and concentration (average concentration of 40.6 μg/kg) in food commodities, followed by TEN, AOH, AME, and ALT. Millet and tomato products were contaminated with higher levels of TeA than other types of food commodities. The combination of TeA + TEN and AME + TeA + TEN were the predominant two contamination patterns detected in cereal and fruit products. Chronic dietary exposures to Alternaria mycotoxins were performed by the threshold of toxicological concern (TTC) approach. The mean and 95th percentile chronic dietary exposures to AOH and AME indicated different risk levels for consumers in China, with the highest exposure observed in the 2–7 years group, indicating potential dietary health concern. The mean chronic dietary exposures to TeA and ALT did not indicate a risk for the consumers, but the exposure to TeA through cereal product consumption exceeded the TTC value in the 2–12 years group at 95th percentile evaluation. Therefore, strategies should be continuously adopted to decrease or eliminate the occurrence of Alternaria mycotoxins in food commodities in order to reduce the dietary risks for humans. • Alternaria toxins screened in food samples marketed through e-ecommerce stores. • About 60.3% (293/486) of samples were contaminated with Alternaria toxins. • Co-occurrence Alternaria toxins was detected in 36.8% (179/486) of food samples. • Dietary exposures to Alternaria toxins indicated different risk levels for consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decontamination of fresh meats without negatively impact on their sensory quality is a big challenge. In this study, the single or combined effect of antimicrobials (chitosan, carvacrol, tea polyphenols) and low dose gamma irradiation (≤2 kGy) against Salmonella Typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus on fresh pork meat were assessed. The effects of these treatments on the color and lipid oxidization of pork meat were also evaluated. Irradiation at 1 kGy reduced 2.2 logs of S. Typhimurium and 1.6 logs of S. aureus , while the treatments of 1 kGy irradiation combined with chitosan (1%)-carvacrol (0.2%) or chitosan (1%)-tea polyphenols (0.5%) achieved 3.2 log reduction of S. Typhimurium and 5.1 log reductions of S. aureus. Irradiation at 2 kGy in combination with chitosan-carvacrol obtained over 5 log reductions of S. Typhimurium and S. aureus. There was no recovery/regrowth of S. Typhimurium or S. aureus in vacuum packaged meat samples throughout the 14 d storage period. There were no significant differences among all meat samples in color (L*, a*, b* values) after 7 d, while the combined treatments increased the lightness (L*) after 14 d of storage at 4 °C. The treated meat samples had lower content of malondialdehyde, indicating less lipid oxidation in pork meat during storage. This study demonstrates that the combined low dose irradiation with these antimicrobial surface treatments is promising for improving fresh pork safety and quality. • Chitosan enhanced bactericidal effects of irradiation on fresh pork. • Irradiation in combination with chitosan retarded lipid oxidation. • Irradiation combine with chitosan could improving meat safety and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the occurrence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in total mixed rations (TMR) and aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in raw and commercial milk in northern China during winter season. A total of 22 feed samples, as well as the corresponding 84 raw milk and 69 commercial milk samples were randomly collected from northwest, northeast and north areas of China from November 2019 to January 2020. High performance liquid chromatography and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method were applied to detect AFB1 and AFM1. All samples presented AFB1 (30–370 ng/L) and AFM1 (10–430 ng/L) levels under the legal limit of China for raw milk (10 μg/L) and commercial milk (500 ng/L). While 31.8% of TMRs and 34.5% of raw milk samples exceeded the European Union (EU) legal limit for AFM1 in raw milk (5 μg/L) and commercial milk (50 ng/L). Compared with the samples from northeast and north areas of China with the similar AFB1 concentration, samples from northwest area of China exhibited higher AFM1 level (mean = 130 ng/L), thus presenting a higher transfer ratio from AFB1 to AFM1. A Linear relationship was observed between AFB1 in TMRs and AFM1 in raw milk. In conclusion, all samples from northern China presented AFB1 and AFM1 levels under Chinese legal limit and only about 30% of the tested samples exceeded the EU legal limit. However, the aflatoxin contamination in northwest area of China should be paid more attention to due to the high AFM1 levels and high variance in milk samples. • Aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin M1 contamination in northern China is under legal limit of China. • More attention should be paid to aflatoxin contamination in Northwest of China. • Linear regression was obtained between AFB1 of TMRs and AFM1 of raw milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorothalonil (CTL), an organochloride fungicide applied for decades worldwide, has been found to be present in various matrixes and even accumulates in humans or other mammals through the food chain. Its high residue and diffusion in the environment have severely affected food security and public health. More and more research has considered CTL as a possible toxin to environmental non-target organisms, via influencing multiple systems such as metabolic, developmental, endocrine, genetic, and reproductive pathways. Aquatic organisms and amphibians are the most vulnerable species to CTL exposure, especially during the early period of development. Under experimental conditions, CTL can also have toxic effects on rodents and other non-target organisms. As for humans, CTL exposure is most often reported to be relevant to allergic reactions to the skin and eyes. We hope that this review will improve our understanding of the hazards and risks that CTL poses to non-target organisms and find a strategy for rational use. [Display omitted] • Chlorothalonil has high residues in the environment. • Chlorothalonil has multiple potential exposure routes to non-target animals and humans. • Chlorothalonil exposure has multiple toxic targets in vivo and in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An extended car-following model considering the perceived headway errors on gyroidal roads. • The stability condition of proposed model via Hurwitz criterion and the condition for transfer function in terms of H ∞ -norm. • A cooperative control signal based on electronic throttle angle is designed. • The simulation results are in good agreement with theoretical analysis. Gyroidal roads are not uncommon on mountainous freeways. In the provision of complex road information such as visual field and slope, some errors between the perceived headway and the real headway information may exist subject to the accuracy of sensors. With the penetration of automated and autonomous vehicles, there is an increasing need for developing a systematic controlling approach to ensure efficient and safe vehicular motion on gyroidal roads. This study contributes to devising a vehicle-to-vehicle communication-based feedback control method with such considerations. A modified car-following model considering perceived headway errors on gyroidal roads is presented. The neutral stability curves of the new model are derived according to the classical control method, which verifies the significant impact of the error coefficient, slope information, and perception time on the robustness of the model, and that the effect of the error coefficient and slope information is positive while that of the perception time is negative. Given the importance of electronic throttle angle information for vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology, a cooperative control signal is designed for the scenario when the above stability condition is unsatisfied. The numerical simulation example verifies the effectiveness of the controller in alleviating traffic congestion and improving road traffic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Solution heating with SBP at all levels averted the losses of -SH and –NH 2 in WPI. • Changes in chemical composition were indicative of productive conjugation reaction. • Conjugates formed between WPI and SBP were critical for improved emulsion stability. • Electrostatic interaction contributed to the improved emulsion stability at pH 3.2. • Adverse conditions (unbalanced ratios, neutral pH) affected the emulsion negatively. We investigated changes in the chemical composition of WPI as a result of heating (60 °C, 72 h) with SBP in solution (pH 6.75). The concentration of WPI was kept at a constant (3%), whereas the level of SBP was varied at 1, 1.5, and 3%. The reaction products were examined using the Ellman's reagent, ninhydrin assay, and gel electrophoresis. The results demonstrated that the losses of the free sulfhydryl (-SH) and primary amine (–NH 2) contents in WPI were less severe compared to those occurring in the dry-state at similar conditions (mass ratio, temperature, and reaction duration). The mixtures were used as emulsifiers in an O/W emulsion system at pH 3.20 and 6.75 and showed an improved ability to stabilize the average size of the droplets than WPI alone at acidic pH. The mixtures at higher levels of SBP, ≥ 1.5%, however, adversely affected the emulsion stability at neutral pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Distribution of DON, 3-Ac-DON, and15-Ac-DON throughout the wheat product processing chain was investigated. • Quantitative analysis of the amount changes of DON and its derivatives during food processing chain. • Processing factors of DON in wheat-derived products were first studied. • Dietary risk assessment for DON was assessed in various Chinese population groups. The distribution of deoxynivalenol (DON) and its derivatives 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-Ac-DON) and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-Ac-DON) throughout the wheat processing chain were systemically evaluated by one-to-one corresponding studies of the whole processing chain. DON and its derivatives were determined by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) in wheat grains and corresponding wheat bran, wheat flour, and semi-finished and finished wheat flour-based products. This investigation showed that wheat grain processing to wheat flour significantly decreased the levels of DON by approximately 52.7%–68.2%. Wheat flour processing of wheat flour-based products decreased the DON concentration by approximately 7.0%–70.6%. Among the processing methods, biscuit making showed the largest reduction (70.6%). The co-occurrence frequency of DON with low levels of 3-Ac-DON and 15-Ac-DON was significantly greater in wheat grains and wheat bran than in wheat flour. For wheat flour-based products, only the distribution pattern of 3-Ac-DON was observable in processed wheat flour products prepared using grains heavily contaminated with DON. In China, to the best of our knowledge, the processing factors (PFs) of DON in wheat flour and wheat flour-based products were systematically evaluated for the first time. The average PF of DON was 0.35 for wheat flour and the average PFs were 0.37–0.84 for wheat flour-based products, with biscuits having the smallest PF (0.37), indicating DON significantly decreasing in biscuit making. Furthermore, dietary exposure assessment of DON indicated an acceptable overall health risk in Chinese consumers, with the highest exposure being observed in infants and young children. This study provides important references for classified management of DON limits in wheat and its various products in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A tiered method was developed to evaluate health risk of mycotoxins in infant foods. • The tiered method included hazard prioritization and margin of exposure-based risk ranking. • The MOE-based probabilistic risk ranking method was used to rank 19 mycotoxins in infant foods. • Tenuazonic acid, Deoxynivalenol, and Enniatin B1 were top three mycotoxins with highest risk. Chemical hazards in foods, especially naturally occurring food contaminants like mycotoxins, are of serious public health concern. It is important to develop a practical framework to assess and rank health risks of chemical contaminants which can be further utilized by regulatory agencies to prioritize resources for risk assessment and management. In this study, a tiered hazard-prioritization and risk-ranking approach, which included two steps: exposure-based screening and margin of exposure (MOE)-based probabilistic risk ranking; was proposed to efficiently identify and rank chemicals of health concerns. Given the exposure-based hazard prioritization, chemicals with negligible or low health risks were first excluded. The remaining chemicals, imposing a higher health risk, were then ranked to facilitate risk-based decision making. The proposed approach was applied to identify and rank the mycotoxins with substantial health concerns in food commodities randomly sampled in China. A total of 19 mycotoxins were analyzed in 783 food commodities, including infant cookie, noodle, rice flour samples, wheat flour, millet, and rice. Results showed that the mycotoxins in infant foods with the highest health risk were Tenuazonic acid, Deoxynivalenol, and Enniatin B1, but as indicated by the probabilistic MOE estimation, the risks were still in the acceptable range and generally lower than the risks imposed by trace elements (e.g., Arsenic and Cadmium). The health risks of the other 16 mycotoxins were negligible mainly due to their low exposure levels. This study demonstrated that the proposed tiered approach was an efficient and effective tool to quantify and prioritize health risks in support of human health risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternaria species are invasive fungi that infect fruits and vegetables and produce Alternaria toxins resulting in loss of commodity values and harmful effects on human health. To establish a reliable analytical method for Alternaria toxins in fruits, vegetables and their derivatives (e.g., fruit and vegetable juices, purees and jams; dried fruit and vegetables; fruit and vegetable powders), a QuEChERS extraction method was developed and validated for the determination of most reported Alternaria toxins (alternariol monomethyl ether [AME], alternariol [AOH], tentoxin [TEN], tenuazonic acid [TeA], and altenuene [ALT]). The limits of quantitation (LOQ) of the target analytes in food matrices were 1.0–5.0 μg/kg. The extraction recoveries were 73.0%–120%, with good repeatability (<12.9%) and within-laboratory repeatability (<14.7%). The developed method was applied to 270 fruits, vegetables, and their derivatives randomly collected from the market in China. Approximately 45.2% of the samples were contaminated with varying levels of Alternaria toxins. The lowest incidence of contamination by Alternaria toxins was detected in fruits and vegetables (3.6%), and the highest incidence was found in fruit and vegetable powders (60.6%). TeA exhibited the highest detection frequency (22.6%) and the highest level of occurrence level (639 μg/kg) among the tested samples, followed by AOH (14.1%), ALT (11.9%), AME (4.4%), and TEN (3.3%). Furthermore, the simultaneous co-presence of two to five Alternaria toxins was detected in 13.7% of the analyzed samples. The combination of AOH + TeA was the most predominant, accounting for 4.8% of samples. This study developed a reliable and sensitive analytical method and provided representative occurrence data to support the assessment of emerging mycotoxins, especially Alternaria toxins, in fruit and vegetable products. • A QuEChERs extraction method developed for Alternaria toxins determination. • Five Alternaria toxins surveyed in 270 fruit and vegetable products. • High incidence and levels of Alternaria toxins found in fruit and vegetable powders. • Puree and juice samples detected various types of co-occurrences of Alternaria toxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging Alternaria and Fusarium mycotoxins are increasingly becoming a public health concern due to the frequent contamination of various food commodities with these mycotoxins, posing potential health risks to humans. This study developed QuEChERS extraction method coupled with LC–MS/MS for simultaneous quantification of alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), alternariol (AOH), tentoxin (TEN), tenuazonic acid (TeA), altenuene (ALT), enniatins (ENNs) A, A1, B, and B1, and beauvericin (BEA) in tomatoes and derived tomato products. The validated method was successfully applied for a survey of 194 tomatoes and derived tomato products. Overall, one or more mycotoxins were detected in 58.8% of the samples, 100% of tomato powders, 100% of canned tomatoes, 89.6% of tomato sauces, 82.1% of ketchups, 46.7% of tomato juices, and 20% of dried tomatoes, with no mycotoxins detected in fresh tomatoes. Various mycotoxins were detected at relatively higher contamination levels in tomato powders than in other tomato products. TeA, the most predominant mycotoxin, was detected in 56.7% of the samples with an occurrence level of up to 7,985 μg/kg. Approximately 39.2% of positive samples presented the co-occurrence of more than one mycotoxins, and AME + AOH + TeA was the most frequently detected combination. This study is the first to perform the deterministic risk assessment for children and adults on Alternaria and Fusarium mycotoxins that are present in tomatoes and derived tomato products in China. The results showed that the average and 95th percentile dietary exposures to these mycotoxins, especially to AME and AOH, in children might be higher than those in adults by a factor of approximately 2. The estimation of exposure to either Alternaria mycotoxins or Fusarium mycotoxins indicated that the presence of Alternaria and Fusarium mycotoxins in derived tomato products might be a health concern, especially among children and the populations consuming a high amount of these products. However, no firm conclusion could be drawn due to the lack of relevant in vivo toxicity data. This study serves as a useful reference for individuals and food safety authorities concerning mycotoxin contamination in food commodities. • Methods for emerging toxins determination in various tomato products were developed. • About 58.8% (114/194) of tomato-based products were contaminated with emerging toxins. • Co-occurrence of various emerging toxins was evident in 39.2% (76/194) of samples. • Dietary exposures to Alternaria and Fusarium toxins varied among children and adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A nanoflares biosensor was designed for multi-target mycotoxin analysis. • EEM data of nanoflares biosensor was resolved by ATLD algorithm. • Spectral overlaps and unknown background can be solved by mathematical resolution. • Mycotoxins can be quantified at extremely low levels with the LOD of 0.02 μg kg−1. • The accuracy of this proposed strategy is far superior to current routine methods. A multi-functional nanoflares biosensor of spherical gold nanoparticle (Au NP) modified by fluorophore-labeled oligonucleotides (ONS) was designed for ultra-sensitive multi-target mycotoxin analysis in food. Au NP was densely modified with multiplex highly oriented hairpins of oligonucleotides (ONS), each ONS was hybridized to a reporter with a distinct fluorophore label and specifically affiliative to its corresponding mycotoxin target. The fluorescent signals of reporters were pre-quenched by Au NP based on ONS hairpin structures and recovered when exposed to ONS's targets. Excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence detection was performed in EX and EM wavelength of 200–800 nm. Heavily overlapping spectra of fluorophores, mycotoxins and backgrounds were resolved by alternative trilinear decomposition (ATLD) algorithm, pure spectra of specific fluorophore responding to mycotoxin target can be extracted out for quantitative analysis. Four mycotoxins (Aflatoxin B1, zearalenone, Fumonisins B1, ochratoxin A) were simultaneously quantified at extremely low level with limit of detection <0.02 μg kg−1, the average recovery accuracies were higher than 91.7 % in various matrices of cereals, nuts, edible oils. This study realized an important breakthrough of the application of nanoflares biosensor and maybe promising to be as an alternative strategy for onsite mycotoxins monitoring of food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • DON-induced gut toxicity is partly mediated by gut microbiota. • L. murinus is a potential probiotic against DON. • L. murinus and its EVs effectively alleviated DON-induced intestinal barrier disorder. • LmEVs upregulate TLR2 to promote M2 macrophage polarization to protect the gut barrier. Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a common environmental pollutant that poses a serious health risk to humans worldwide. This study was aim to explore whether gut microbiota is involved in DON-induced intestinal toxicity as well as to reveal effect of probiotics derived from gut microbiota in protecting intestinal barrier and to elucidate mechanism. We found that DON caused disturbed gut microbiota, particularly Lactobacillus murinus (L. murinus) deficiency. DON enhanced M1 macrophage polarization and decreased tight junction protein expression. Microbiota transplantation experiments showed that transfer of DON-disrupted microbiota to healthy mice resulted in delivery of DON-induced intestinal toxicity. Besides, DON lost its damaging effect on macrophage and intestinal barrier in antibiotic-treated mice. Further intervention experiments revealed that L. murinus induce macrophage conversion from M1 to M2 phenotype through secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) to alleviate DON-induced intestinal barrier disruption. Mechanistically, EVs activate TLR2 to promote M2 macrophage polarization and release IL-10, which in turn enhances intestinal barrier function. Upon successful translation of its efficacy into clinical practice, EVs created from L. murinus could be a novel possible treatment strategy for DON-induced gut disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive fructose corn syrup (FCS) intake brings a series of health problems. The aim of the present study was to explore the mechanism of FCS-induced metabolic disorders from the perspective of gut microbiota. Mice were fed for 16 weeks with normal or 30% FCS drinking water. Compared to the control group, FCS caused significantly higher fat deposition, hepatic steatosis, liver and intestinal inflammatory damages (P <.05). FCS increased the abundance of Muribaculaceae in vivo and in vitro , which was positively correlated with the indices of metabolic disorders (P <.05). In vivo and in vitro data indicated that FCS enhanced the microbial function involved in pentose phosphate pathway and arachidonic acid metabolism, metabolomics further demonstrated that FCS led to an increase in prostaglandins (the catabolites of arachidonic acid) (P <.05). Our study confirmed that FCS can directly promote gut microbiota to synthesize inflammatory factor prostaglandins, which provides new insights and directions for the treatment of FCS-induced metabolic disorders and inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Three feijoa peel pectins were extracted using different methods. • Extraction methods had significant effects on the structure of feijoa peel pectins. • Structure of feijoa peel pectins affected their thermal and rheological properties. • Feijoa peel pectins had excellent antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities. The structure characteristics, functional properties, antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities of pectins extracted from feijoa peel with water (FP-W), acid (FP-A) and alkali (FP-B) were investigated. Results showed that the feijoa peel pectins (FPs) were mainly composed of galacturonic acid, arabinose, galactose and rhamnose. FP-W and FP-A had higher proportion of homogalacturonan domain, degree of esterification and molecular weight (for main component) than FP-B; FP-B owned the highest yield, protein and polyphenol contents. FP-W had a compact and smooth surface morphology unlike FP-A and FP-B. FP-W and FP-A had better thermal stability than FP-B. The rheological analysis suggested that the FPs exhibited pseudoplastic fluid behavior, and the elastic characteristics were dominant. Results showed that FP-W and FP-B had superior antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities than FP-A. According to correlation analysis, monosaccharide composition, sugar ratios and degree of acetylation were chief factors affecting the functional properties, antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities of the FPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The liver is an important organ that has pivotal functions in the synthesis of several vital proteins, the metabolism of various biologically useful materials, the detoxification of toxic substances, and immune defense. Most liver functions are not mature at a young age and many changes happen during postnatal liver development, which lead to differential functions of the liver at different developmental stages. However, the transcriptome details of what changes occur in the liver after birth and the molecular mechanisms for the regulation of the developmental process are not clearly known in chickens. Here, we used RNA-sequencing to analyze the transcriptome of chicken liver from the prenatal (at an embryonic day of 13) to the postnatal stages (at 5 wk and 42 wk of age). A total of approximately 161.17 Gb of raw data were obtained, with 4,127 putative and 539 differentially expressed lncRNAs, and with 13,949 putative and 6,370 differentially expressed mRNAs. Coexpression of lncRNAs-mRNAs in hepatic transcriptome analysis showed that the liver plays important roles in providing energy for organisms through the mitochondrial respiratory chain in chickens, meanwhile, acting as a crucial part of antioxidant stress. The developmental transcriptome date revealed that antioxidant defenses are likely to act on chicken embryo development and that significant functional changes during postnatal liver development are associated with the liver maturation of chickens. These results provide a timeline for the functional transcriptome transition from the prenatal to adult stages in chickens and will be helpful to reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms of liver development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive fructose intake is associated with the rising prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The gut microbiome (GM) and bile acids (BAs) are involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, but the impact of fructose on their cross-talk is unclear. In this study, adult male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet with tap water (ND) or with 4% fructose in the drinking water (Fru), 60% high-fat diet with tap water (HF) or with 4% fructose solution (HFF) for 12 weeks. Targeted BA analysis was performed in five anatomical sites including the liver, ileum contents, portal serum, cecum contents, and feces. Metagenomic sequencing was performed to explore gut dysbiosis. Within 12 weeks, the 4% fructose diet could initially stimulate gut dysbiosis and BA upregulation in the ileum, portal serum, and cecum when the intestinal and hepatic transport system remained stable without hepatic lipid accumulation. However, the chronic consumption of fructose promoted HF-induced NAFLD, with significantly increased body weight, impaired glucose tolerance, and advanced liver steatosis. BA transporters were inhibited in HFF, causing the block of internal BA circulation and increased BA secretion via cecum contents and feces. Notably, lithocholic acid (LCA) and its taurine conjugates were elevated within the enterohepatic circulation. Meanwhile, the Clostridium species were significantly altered in both Fru and HFF groups and were closely associated with fructose and BA metabolism. In summary, excessive fructose caused gut dysbiosis and BA alterations, promoting HF-induced NAFLD. The crosstalk between Clostridium sp. and LCA species were potential targets in fructose-mediated NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin produced by various Fusarium species, was analyzed in 200 cereal-based food products collected from e-commerce stores in China. Optimized methods using immunoaffinity column (IAC) clean-up coupled with UV detection were applied. DON was detected in 87.5% (12.5–1920.4 μg/kg) of samples, and 10.5% of tested samples exceeded the legal limit for DON in China (1000 μg/kg). DON was found in 100% of whole wheat flour (51.6–1308.9 μg/kg), Chinese steamed bread (54.5–845.4 μg/kg), and biscuit (40.9–1920.4 μg/kg), samples, and in 85.3% of all-purpose flour (12.5–1285.4 μg/kg), 73.3% of maize flour (26.4–138.2 μg/kg), and 60.0% of oat flake samples (16.8–243.6 μg/kg), with 426.0, 293.0, 419.2, 455.7, 55.4, and 44.0 μg/kg, respectively, representing the mean levels in these products. A chronic intake assessment indicated that estimated daily intake (EDI) of DON through the consumption of wheat flour was 1.0–3.8 and 3.1–11.3 times that of the Provisional Maximum Tolerable Daily Intake (PMTDI) of 1.0 μg/kg body weight/day for adults and children, respectively, at different levels. The EDIs of DON consumed through wheat flour-derived products (Chinese steamed bread and biscuits) for children was 1.7–12.7 times those of the PMTDI at different levels, whereas the EDIs obtained through consumption of maize flour and oat flakes were 0.2 times lower than those of the PMTDI for both adults and children. In a dietary exposure assessment, the acute hazard indexes (aHI) for adults and children were above 100% of Acute Reference Dose (ARfD) of 8.0 μg/kg body weight/day) through the consumption of wheat flour, Chinese steamed bread, and biscuits, and the aHIs were only 16.4% (31.2%) and 5.1% (8.3%) of ARfD for adults (children). Among the cereal-based food products analyzed, both chronic (long-term) and acute (short-term) dietary exposure assessments for DON consumption by adults and children indicated that wheat flour (all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour), Chinese steamed bread, and biscuits have become sources of potential health hazards in the human diet in China. The risk associated with DON contamination in maize flour and oat flakes should also not be ignored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) has been demonstrated to be a potential piezocatalyst in environmental remediation. The common piezoelectric materials synthesized by GCN are often designed to have a larger specific surface area to increase the adsorption and degradation performance of environmental pollutants. However, these process will also decrease the particle size of two-dimensional GCN, which thus affect the in-plane polarization intensity and inhibit the piezoelectric catalytic performance. Herein, we proposed an NH 4 Cl assistant synthesis to obtain ultrathin Cl-doped GCN (Cl-GCN) with large surface area and developed porosity. The introduced Cl with strong electronegativity can better change the electron cloud density distribution in GCN. From the experiment measurements and the theoretical calculation, Cl dopant in GCN skeleton resulted in partially destroyed crystal symmetry, and increased the structural polarity. As a result, the Cl-GCN simultaneously possessing large surface area and high piezoelectric polarization contributed enhanced piezocatalytic activity for degradation of antibiotics compared to the pristine GCN. Within 30 min, the degradation efficiency of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl) reached to ca. 94%. Besides, the effects of antibiotic concentration as well as the piezocatalytic durability for eliminating different antibiotics were investigated. Finally, based on determinations of mainly active species and the intermediate products during the piezocatalytic process, a plausible piezocatalytic degradation mechanism was proposed. This study implies that enhancing the piezoelectric polarization of piezocatalyst by heteroatomic doping and meanwhile improving its surface area are promising strategies to promoting piezocatalytic performance both for environmental application and for clean energy production. Piezocatalytic degradation of TC-HCl over a morphologic modified GCN nanosheet. [Display omitted] • The ultrathin structure of Cl-doped GCN was conducive to piezoelectric reaction. • Destruction of crystal symmetry by Cl promoted piezoelectric polarization. • The oxidizing groups and electrochemical mechanism were determined. • The degradation route of TC-HCl by piezoelectric catalysis was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysis technology has been proved to be a promising strategy to eliminate antibiotic pollution from wastewater, in spite of arduous challenges such as insufficient utilization of sunlight, high recombination of photogenerated charges, low efficiency of high-concentration antibiotics, and infrequent investigation on new antibiotics. Herein, we synthesized a visible-light-driven (VLD) photocatalyst by modifying dodecyl benzene sulfonate (DBS) onto graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet (CNNS), and studied its photocatalytic performance for removing high-concentration moxifloxacin (MOX), a fourth-generation quinolone antibiotic. Compared with other studies (Table S1), this catalyst broke through the bottleneck of degradation of high concentration MOX, which could remove 100 mg L−1 MOX under 30 min of irradiation. The hydrophobic dodecyl benzene group and the formed sulfonyl group with strong electron-withdrawing property were beneficial to boost the MOX enrichment from the bulk solution and suppress the recombination of photogenerated charges. The effect of pH value, MOX concentration and photocatalyst dosage was also studied in order to explore the best photocatalytic reaction condition. The superior photocatalytic durability and practical application prospects of DBS/CNNS were also demonstrated. By revealing the band structure of the DBS/CNNS hybrid, as well as the active species and the intermediate products generated in the photocatalytic process, a plausible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed. This study indicates that the DBS/CNNS hybrid is a potential VLD photocatalyst for efficient elimination of high-concentration antibiotics in wastewater. • Dodecyl benzene sulfonate was firstly grafted onto g-C 3 N 4 nanosheet. • Electron-withdrawing effect was promoted by sulfonyl. • Pollutants enriched by hydrophobic dodecyl benzene group. • Photocatalytic degradation of high-concentration moxifloxacin. • Excellent photocatalytic stability for multiple uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quantitative method with broad applicability was developed and validated for patulin determination in fruit products by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection. Sample pretreatment was optimized for patulin extraction. 4.0 g of fruit products was extracted for patulin determination with acetonitrile and purified with a mixture of 1.0 g PSA and 3 g MgSO 4 plus a multifunctional cartridge to remove interferences. Under optimized conditions, the recoveries ranging from 75.6% to 118.5% were obtained at different spiking concentrations in various fruit products. The correlation coefficient of patulin from 5 to 1000 μg/L was approximately 1.00. The limits of detection (LODs) were from 2.6 to 7.5 μg/kg, and the limits of quantification (LOQs) were from 8.0 to 15.0 μg/kg for patulin in various fruit products. A total of 137 fruit products (97 dried fruits, 20 fruit juice and 20 jams) marketed and consumed in China were investigated. The incidence of patulin in fruit products was 30.7% (42/137) with a concentration ranging from 10.0 to 276.9 μg/kg. This study revealed that the dried figs, dried longans (seedless) and dried hawthorn products showed an average of patulin contamination of 87.6 μg/kg, 68.4 μg/kg and 5.1 μg/kg, respectively; the fruit juice of 5.4 μg/kg; the fruit jams of 5.0 μg/kg. The highest levels of patulin were found mostly in dried longans (seedless) and dried figs. Overall, 17.5% of total samples exceeded the maximum limit of 50 μg/kg set by the EU regulation. Chronic intake assessment indicated that only 0.29% (Hazard Quotient) acceptable daily intake (PMTDI, 0.4 μg/kg bw/day) was consumed through dried fruits, fruit juice and jams. Individual dietary risk assessment indicated patulin contamination in fruit products doesn't pose public health risks, but combined additive or synergistic toxic effects caused by multiple mycotoxin contaminations should not be ignored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs)-producing Salmonella is considered a serious concern to public health worldwide. However, limited information is available on ESBLs-producing Salmonella in retail chicken products in China. The objective of this study was to characterize ESBLs-producing Salmonella isolates from retail chickens in China. A total of 890 Salmonella isolates from retail chicken carcasses collected from 4 provinces were firstly screened for ESBLs-production phenotype via the double-disk synergy test method. A total of 96 (10.8%, n = 890) ESBLs-producing Salmonella were identified and subjected to PFGE analysis, characterization for the presence of ESBLs encoding genes, transposons, carbapenemase and virulence genes. A total of 59 PFGE profiles were detected in these 96 isolates, among which 57.3% were found to harbor bla TEM-1 , whereas 30.2%, 24.0%, 18.8% and 7.3% were carrying bla OXA-1 , bla CTX-M-15 , bla CTX-M-3 and bla PSE-1 genes, respectively. Moreover, 42 (43.8%) isolates co-carried 2 ESBLs-producing genes, and two (2.1%) isolates co-carried 3 genes. Furthermore, 24 (25.0%) ESBLs-producing isolates carried VIM and 10 (10.4%) carried KPC encoding genes that closely associated with carbapenems resistance. Eighty-eight isolates harbored transposons ranging from 4.2% for Tn903 to 76.0% for Tn21. Out of the 88 Salmonella that harbored transposons, 25%, 22.7%, 23.9%, 10.2% and 1.1% of isolates were found to carry 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 transposons, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for cephalosporins (ceftriaxone, cefoperazone and cefoxitin) to ESBLs-producing isolates were from 4 to 1024 μg/mL, for nalidixic acid were from 64 to 512 μg/mL, for fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and gatifloxacin) were from 4 to 256 μg/mL. Twenty-nine virulence genes were detected in the 96 ESBLs-producing isolates with 2.1% harbored spvR (lowest) and 90.6% harbored marT and steB (highest). All isolates carried at least one virulence gene, 83.3% of the isolates co-carried ≥ 10, 17.7% co-carried ≥ 15, and 1.0% co-carried 23 virulence genes. Interestingly, 16.7% of the isolates resistant to > 12 antibiotics tested and shown to carry > 4 transposons and 10 virulence genes. Our findings indicated that ESBLs-producing Salmonella isolated from retail chicken meat in China were highly resistant to antibiotics, frequently harbored transposons, virulence genes, carbapenems hydrolysis enzymes and ESBLs encoding genes. These isolates can pose a significant public health risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation with no cure. The intestine is fundamental in controlling human health. Disruption of the microbial ecosystem in the intestine is considered an important cause of IBD. The interaction between the host and microbiota significantly impacts the intestinal epithelial barrier and immune function. Bacterial membrane vesicles (MVs) are vital participants in bacteria-bacteria and host-microbiota communication. Currently, MVs have been found to exhibit many important regulating effects for intestinal microecology and have excellent application potential in clinical disease therapies. In the present review, we review the current knowledge on MVs, and specifically focus on gut bacterial MVs and their roles in the IBD. In addition, we summarized the potential utility of MVs as a novel therapeutic approach in IBD patients. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have shown the efficacy of phage therapy in reducing intestinal pathogens. However, phage-based probiotic treatment is poorly studied in view of effects on the gut microbiota and intestinal inflammation. In this study, a lytic or a temperate phage (each at 4 ×108 PFU per day) or a streptomycin solution (40 mg per day) were administered to mice via drinking water for 31 days. Subsequently, mice were challenged with Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium). S. Typhimurium does not serve as the host bacterium and is not lysed by both phages. For intestinal inflammation evaluation, mice were given one dose of streptomycin for 24 h before the S. Typhimurium challenge. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that the phylum Firmicutes became the most abundant in mice pretreated with phages. The alpha diversity of gut bacteria was higher in phage treated than in streptomycin treated mice. Moreover, pretreatment with the lytic and the temperate phage before the S. Typhimurium challenge increased two beneficial genera, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. According to the pathological analysis of ileum, cecum, and serum, temperate or lytic gut phage pretreatment of mice markedly reduced intestinal inflammation, concomitant with lower serum concentration of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and diamine oxidase (DAO). The oral pretreatments of mice (ST, Lyt, Lys, SM) generally caused an increased expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-10 compared to the matching control. However, in mice pretreated with the lytic phage, the mRNA expression for the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α was not significantly higher than that of the control group. No significant differences were detected for peripheral blood B lymphocytes, CD3 +T cells, and the CD4 + /CD8 + ratio in mice pretreated with the lytic and lysogenic phage. This study demonstrated that even lytic phages not targeting the pathogenic serovar Salmonella Typhimurium alleviated intestinal dysbiosis and inflammation in challenged mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella is an essential food-borne pathogenic microorganism. Humans could get infected by consuming of Salmonella -contaminated foods, especially contaminated meat. In this study, a total of 580 retail meat samples (280 pork, 240 chicken, and 60 goose) were collected from slaughterhouses in Hangzhou to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Salmonella. Isolates were characterized by serotyping, PFGE (Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis), Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and antibiotic susceptibility testing. The rates of Salmonella -positive pork, chicken, and goose samples were 21.1% (n = 59), 10.4% (n = 25) and 10.0% (n = 6), respectively. The prevalence of Salmonella was 15.5% in slaughterhouses. Thirteen different Salmonella serovars were identified, and 6 isolates could not be identified. The most commonly prevalent serovars are Salmonella Rissen (S. Rissen) (n = 20, 22.2%), S. Derby (n = 16, 17.8%) and S. Typhimurium (n = 12, 13.3%). The detection rate of the remaining serovars ranged from 1.1%–11.11%. All Derby, Corvallis, and Kentucky strains were from pork. Seventy-two isolates (80.0%) showed drug resistance (DR) to at least one antibiotics, 19 (21.1%) were multi-drug resistant strains, 2 (2.2%) showed seven or more. The detection rate of Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole-resistance (70.0%) was highest, followed by Ampicillin (55.6%). Salmonella resistance was found related to serovar and origin. The positive rates of DR gene sul1 , sul2, sul3, class I integrons and bla TEM were 92.2%, 95.6%, 86.7%, 83.3% and 62.2%, respectively. Fifty-seven different PFGE patterns and 7 main clusters were obtained. This study revealed the high positive rates of Salmonella resistance and related DR genes, especially for Sulfamethoxazole-resistance and its related gene. • The prevalence of Salmonella and MDR isolates was 15.5% and 21.1%, respectively. • The positive rates of partial resistance (0–70%) and DR genes (62.2–95.6%) were high. • The resistance of Salmonella isolates was related to serovar and origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlabelled Image • Dynamics of airborne bacterial community during biofiltration were detected by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. • α-diversity of airborne bacteria had no significant change during biofiltration. • β-diversity of airborne bacteria after biofiltration was significantly different from that before biofiltration. • Airborne bacterial structure after biofiltration mainly depended on the airborne bacterial community before biofiltration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]