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The article discusses the first meeting of the Pre-Harvest Food Safety PDG took place on 1 August, 2010 at the IAFP Annual Meeting held in Anaheim, California.

The article reports on transcriptome analysis of Campylobacter jejuni polyphosphate kinase (ppk1 and ppk2) mutants. Topics discussed include Campylobacter jejuni being the cause of bacterial food-borne diarrhoea, role of PPK1 and PPK2 in the survival, adaptation, and virulence of bacterial pathogens, impact of deletion of ppk1 and ppk2 on the genes involved in C. jejuni, and the importance of poly-P metabolism in the survival and adaptation of C. jejuni.

Because biogas bubbles can influence cap integrity, the effect of capping and cap material on the ebullition potential in sediments must be studied. The goal of this comprehensive study was to determine the short-term effect of capping regime on the activity, metabolic potential, and community structure of sediment microorganisms. To evaluate the effect of capping (sand, synthetic aggregate, and no cap) on microbial communities (i.e., nitrifiers and methanogens), sediments were collected from the Anacostia River (Washington, D.C.). Microbial communities in sand-capped sediments exhibited the highest activity (tetrazolium redox dye, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis assay, and biogas production), while communities in uncapped sediments exhibited the highest metabolic diversity. Substantial changes in microbial community structure (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) did not occur as a result of capping. Our data showed that the nature and magnitude of the effect that capping can have on microbial activity (biogas production) will likely be dependent on the capping materials chosen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our understanding of the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2, singly and in combination with other environmental changes, on plant-soil interactions is incomplete. Elevated CO2 effects on C4 plants, though smaller than on C3 species, are mediated mostly via decreased stomatal conductance and thus water loss. Therefore, we characterized the interactive effect of elevated CO2 and drought on soil microbial communities associated with a dominant C4 prairie grass, Andropogon gerardii Vitman. Elevated CO2 and drought both affected resources available to the soil microbial community. For example, elevated CO2 increased the soil C:N ratio and water content during drought, whereas drought alone decreased both. Drought significantly decreased soil microbial biomass. In contrast, elevated CO2 increased biomass while ameliorating biomass decreases that were induced under drought. Total and active direct bacterial counts and carbon substrate use (overall use and number of used sources) increased significantly under elevated CO2. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that drought and elevated CO2, singly and combined, did not affect the soil bacteria community structure. We conclude that elevated CO2 alone increased bacterial abundance and microbial activity and carbon use, probably in response to increased root exudation. Elevated CO2 also limited drought-related impacts on microbial activity and biomass, which likely resulted from decreased plant water use under elevated CO2. These are among the first results showing that elevated CO2 and drought work in opposition to modulate plant-associated soil-bacteria responses, which should then influence soil resources and plant and ecosystem function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Introduction Methods Results Conclusions Consumer demand for pasture raised, antibiotic‐free poultry products has led to an increase in pastured poultry operations within the United States. Given the level of environmental interaction and the potential increase in exposure to foodborne pathogens in these settings, a greater understanding of the prevalence and diversity of Campylobacter populations inherent within pastured poultry flocks is needed.To achieve this, 40 pastured poultry flocks from nine farms were sampled using a farm‐to‐fork strategy, and Campylobacter was isolated and characterised from preharvest (faeces, soil) through postharvest (caeca, whole carcass rinse) to the final product the consumer would purchase (whole carcass rinse).Campylobacter was isolated from 872 of 1820 samples, showing an overall prevalence of 47.91%. The caeca showed the highest (p < 0.05) Campylobacter load (4.64 log10 CFU/mL) and prevalence (95.5%), while the final product whole carcass rinses had the lowest (p < 0.05) Campylobacter load (0.32 log10 CFU/mL) and prevalence (15.45%), suggesting that the Campylobacter load in the caeca may not be indicative of the Campylobacter load on the final product. Of the 872 positive samples, 337 Campylobacter isolates were selected for further characterisation. Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli comprised 74.18% (250/337) and 21.95% (74/337) of the selected isolates respectively. While the Campylobacter isolates displayed resistance to several antibiotics, the most common resistance for both C. jejuni and C. coli was against tetracycline (55.86% and 70.31% respectively). Multidrug resistance phenotypes (≥ 3 antibiotic classes) were relatively low for both C. jejuni (2.80%) and C. coli (9.45%).Campylobacter load, prevalence and diversity were more affected by farm location than by the type of sample from which the Campylobacter was isolated. Overall, these results indicated a need for farm‐specific Campylobacter mitigation strategies to ensure the safety of these increasingly in‐demand poultry products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistance to last resort antibiotics has been increasing, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Lebanon, which has well established challenges in antimicrobial stewardship and other public health and environmental issues. However, data on the emergence of antibiotic resistance in the community in Lebanon are limited. In this study, we assessed resistance to last resort antibiotics in the fecal samples of 111 otherwise healthy university students in north Lebanon. The results showed that 47.7% of the samples harbored extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant isolates, while 2.7% of the samples yielded colistin-resistant isolates. Furthermore, molecular analyses showed that the β-lactamase gene group, blaCTX-M-1 group, was detected in the majority (93%) of screened extended-spectrum β-lactamase isolates. In addition, the colistin-resistant Escherichia coli isolates carried mcr-1, including the novel mcr-1.26 variant, which was previously reported in clinical samples as well as in domesticated animals and the environment in Lebanon. Taken together, these findings highlight the occurrence of resistance to important antibiotics in the community, perhaps suggesting diffuse sources, including clinical and environmental settings, and multiple factors driving the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria and resistance determinants. There is a pressing need for comprehensive antimicrobial stewardship programs and the implementation of evidence-based practices in clinical and community settings to mitigate the increasing spread of antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Campylobacter species are commonly transmitted to humans through consumption of contaminated foods such as milk and meat. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, and genetic determinants of resistance of Campylobacter isolated from raw milk and beef carcasses in Tanzania. The antimicrobial resistance genes tested included blaOXA-61 (ampicillin), aph-3-1 (aminoglycoside), tet(O) (tetracycline), and cmeB (multi-drug efflux pump). The prevalence of Campylobacter was 9.5% in beef carcasses and 13.4% in raw milk, respectively. Using multiplex-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we identified 58.1% of the isolates as Campylobacter jejuni, 30.7% as Campylobacter coli, and 9.7% as other Campylobacter spp. One isolate (1.6%) was positive for both C. jejuni and C. coli specific PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the disk diffusion assay and the broth microdilution method showed resistance to: ampicillin (63% and 94.1%), ciprofloxacin (9.3% and 11.8%), erythromycin (53.7% and 70.6%), gentamicin (0% and 15.7%), streptomycin (35.2% and 84.3%), and tetracycline (18.5% and 17.7%), respectively. Resistance to azithromycin (42.6%), nalidixic acid (64.8%), and chloramphenicol (13%) was determined using the disk diffusion assay only, while resistance to tylosin (90.2%) was quantified using the broth microdilution method. The blaOXA-61 (52.6% and 28.1%), cmeB (26.3% and 31.3%), tet(O) (26.3% and 31.3%), and aph-3-1 (5.3% and 3.0%) were detected in C. coli and C. jejuni. These findings highlight the extent of antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter occurring in important foods in Tanzania. The potential risks to consumers emphasize the need for adequate control approaches, including the prudent use of antimicrobials to minimize the spread of antimicrobial-resistant Campylobacter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa are being increasingly described worldwide. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying carbapenem resistance in an extremely drug-resistant P. aeruginosa isolate from a neonatal intensive care unit in Morocco., Materials and Methods: P. aeruginosa strain O82J1 was identified using MALDI-TOF-MS. Carba NP, immunochromatographic assay NG Carba5 and antimicrobial susceptibility testing using disc diffusion and microbroth were performed. Whole-genome sequencing using the Illumina and MinION technologies and different software packages available at the Center of Genomic Epidemiology were used to predict the resistome, sequence type and plasmid types., Results: P. aeruginosa O82J1 co-expressed two metallo-β-lactamases, blaNDM-1 and blaVIM-2, and was susceptible to colistin and apramycin only. It belonged to ST773 that is frequently reported worldwide as a high-risk P. aeruginosa clone. The blaVIM-2 gene was integron-borne on a IncP-2 465-kb plasmid, whereas the blaNDM-1 gene was chromosomally encoded and embedded in an integrative conjugative element, probably at the origin of its acquisition. A total of 23 antimicrobial resistance genes were detected including a blaPER-1 ESBL gene, and an 16S-rRNA methyltransferase gene rmtB., Conclusions: The isolation of XDR P. aeruginosa isolates expressing several carbapenemases in a neonatal intensive care unit is of great concern due to the reduced treatment options, relying only on colistin, but not recommended in neonates, and apramycin, not yet approved for human therapy. Concerns were further elevated due to the resistance to cefiderocol and ATM/AVI, two novel and last-resort antibiotics recommended to treat infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, particularly XDR P. aeruginosa in adults., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Imported foods play an essential role in food security and in fulfilling consumer demand. However, these foods can also carry antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which might be introduced into the country of importation. Here, we report the draft genomes of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that were isolated from imported fresh produce in Georgia, USA., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Objectives: The contamination of fresh surface waters poses a significant burden on human health and prosperity, especially in marginalized communities with limited resources and inadequate infrastructure. Here, we performed in-depth genomic analyses of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR-B) isolated from Al-Oueik river water that is used for irrigation of agricultural fields in a disenfranchised area that also hosts a makeshift Syrian refugee camp., Methods: A composite freshwater sample was filtered. Faecal coliforms were counted and extended spectrum cephalosporins and/or ertapenem resistant bacteria were screened. Isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF-MS and analysed using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to identify the resistome, sequence types, plasmid types, and virulence genes., Results: Approximately 10 6 CFU/100 mL of faecal coliforms were detected in the water. Four drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria were identified, namely Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter hormaechei, and Pseudomonas otitidis. Notably, the E. coli isolate harboured bla NDM-5 and a YRIN-inserted PBP3, representing an emerging public health challenge. The K. pneumoniae isolate carried bla SHV-187 as well as mutations in the gene encoding the OmpK37 porin. Enterobacter hormaechei and P. otitidis harboured bla ACT-16 and bla POM-1 , respectively., Conclusion: This report provides comprehensive genomic analyses of MDR-B in irrigation water in Lebanon. Our results further support that irrigation water contaminated with faecal material can be a reservoir of important MDR-B, which can spread to adjacent agricultural fields and other water bodies, posing both public health and food safety issues. Therefore, there is an urgent need to implement effective water quality monitoring and management programs to control the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant pathogens in irrigation water in Lebanon., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: In-depth phenotypic and genomic analyses on a carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli isolate, recovered from the faeces of a farm dog in Lebanon, focusing on its antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns and the underlying resistome., Methods: E. coli strain EC-106 was identified using MALDI-TOF-MS. Analyses using Carba NP, immunochromatographic assay NG Carba5, and other antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) using the Illumina technology and different software available at the Center of Genomic Epidemiology wwere used to predict the resistome, sequence type (ST), plasmid types, and virulence genes., Results: Susceptibility testing revealed that E. coli EC-106 was multi-drug resistant, including against newer antimicrobials such as imipenem-relebactam (MIC = 16 µg/mL), meropenem-vaborbactam (MIC = 16 µg/mL), and ceftazidime-avibactam (MIC > 32 µg/mL), but remained susceptible to aztreonam (MIC = 0.12 µg/mL), aztreonam-avibactam (MIC = 0.06 µg/mL), and cefiderocol (MIC = 0.5 µg/mL). WGS analyses showed that E. coli EC-106 carried 13 acquired resistance genes associated with resistance to β-lactams (bla NDM-5 and bla TEM-1B ), aminoglycosides (aac(3)-IId, aph(3')-Ia, aadA1, and aadA2), tetracyclines (tetA), amphenicols (partial catA1), macrolides (mphA), sulphonamides (sul1 and sul3), trimethoprim (dfrA12), and quaternary ammonium compounds (partial qacE). The bla NDM-5 was located on an IncX3 plasmid. The isolate was predicted to be a human pathogen (92.9%) and belonged to ST1011., Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first report of the detection of an IncX3 plasmid carrying the bla NDM-5 gene in animals in Lebanon, highlighting the severe AMR challenges in the country. Taken together, our current and previous findings suggest that bla NDM-5 might be spreading in different hosts and genetic backgrounds across clinical and non-clinical settings., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Recent cholera outbreaks in many countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have raised public health concerns and focused attention on the genus Vibrio . However, the epidemiology of Vibrio species in humans, water, and seafood is often anecdotal in this region. In this review, we screened the literature and provided a comprehensive assessment of the distribution and antibiotic resistance properties of Vibrio species in different clinical and environmental samples in the region. This review will contribute to understanding closely the real burden of Vibrio species and the spread of antibiotic-resistant strains in the MENA region. The overall objective is to engage epidemiologists, sanitarians and public health stakeholders to address this problem under the One-health ethos.

A key contributor to foodborne illnesses is consuming contaminated ready-to-eat foods, including raw meats. The latter is a common practice in Lebanon, a country that suffers from widespread pollution and food safety challenges. However, studies on the safety of raw meat consumption in Lebanon are limited. In this study, an attempt was made to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of the Lebanese population toward the potential risk associated with the consumption of raw meats, and to identify factors that affect KAP levels. An online survey ( n = 577) was administered to Lebanese adults aged 18 years and above to assess their KAPs. The results showed that 74.5% of the participants consumed raw meat, 44% had good food safety knowledge, and 30.7% exhibited good practices. However, more than half of the participants (61.9%) showed a positive attitude toward food safety. There was a significant association between knowledge and attitude ( p < 0.001), attitude and practices ( p < 0.001), and knowledge and practices ( p < 0.001), thereby indicating that an increase in food safety education could translate into better practices in this population. Accordingly, efforts to enhance education on food safety are warranted to reduce the potential risk of food poisoning associated with raw meat consumption in Lebanon.

Background: Carbapenem- and extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales (CR-E and ESCR-E, respectively) are increasingly isolated worldwide. Information about these bacteria is sporadic in Lebanon and generally relies on conventional diagnostic methods, which is detrimental for a country that is struggling with an unprecedented economic crisis and a collapsing public health system. Here, CR-E isolates from different Lebanese hospitals were characterized., Materials and Methods: Non-duplicate clinical ESCR-E or CR-E isolates ( N  = 188) were collected from three hospitals from June 2019 to December 2020. Isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF, and their antibiotic susceptibility by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assay. CR-E isolates ( n  = 33/188) were further analyzed using Illumina-based WGS to identify resistome, MLST, and plasmid types. Additionally, the genetic relatedness of the CR-E isolates was evaluated using an Infrared Biotyper system and compared to WGS., Results: Using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assay, only 90 isolates out of the 188 isolates that were collected based on their initial routine susceptibility profile by the three participating hospitals could be confirmed as ESCR-E or CR-E isolates and were included in this study. This collection comprised E. coli ( n  = 70; 77.8%), K. pneumoniae ( n  = 13; 14.4%), Enterobacter spp. ( n  = 6; 6.7%), and Proteus mirabilis ( n  = 1; 1.1%). While 57 were only ESBL producers the remaining 33 isolates (i.e., 26 E. coli , five K. pneumoniae , one E. cloacae , and one Enterobacter hormaechei ) were resistant to at least one carbapenem, of which 20 were also ESBL-producers. Among the 33 CR-E, five different carbapenemase determinants were identified: bla NDM-5 (14/33), bla OXA-244 (10/33), bla OXA-48 (5/33), bla NDM-1 (3/33), and bla OXA-181 (1/33) genes. Notably, 20 CR-E isolates were also ESBL-producers. The analysis of the genetic relatedness revealed a substantial genetic diversity among CR-E isolates, suggesting evolution and transmission from various sources., Conclusion: This study highlighted the emergence and broad dissemination of bla NDM-5 and bla OXA-244 genes in Lebanese clinical settings. The weak AMR awareness in the Lebanese community and the ongoing economic and healthcare challenges have spurred self-medication practices. Our findings highlight an urgent need for transformative approaches to combat antimicrobial resistance in both community and hospital settings., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Daaboul, Oueslati, Rima, Kassem, Mallat, Birer, Girlich, Hamze, Dabboussi, Osman and Naas.)