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Prymnesin toxins were probably the direct cause of the environmental catastrophe in the Oder river in 2022. They belong to the so‐called ladder polyethers, which are among the most toxic non‐proteinogenic substances and have caused a whole series of food poisoning in humans and numerous other incidents of fish deaths. Despite massive efforts, the enzymatic machinery has remained enigmatic. In a recent study, researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the University of California, San Diego, have uncovered the initial mechanisms by which algae produce these toxins. Crucial to the breakthrough was the methodological advance in sequencing and assembly that allowed the identification and analysis of the largest polyketide synthase (PKS) known to date, named PKZILLA‐1 and PKZILLA‐2, which enabled, among other things, the confirmation and elucidation of stereocenters. Thus, further investigations into the biosynthesis and other aspects of these highly toxic substances are made possible, which could perhaps make these ′biblical plagues′ predictable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Staphylococcus aureus can cause food poisoning and human infections and CC5 and CC398 are relevant lineages in the animal‐human interface. The objective was to determine the S. aureus prevalence in chicken‐derived food, and to study the diversity of lineages, and their antimicrobial resistance and virulence genotypes. Sixty poultry‐food samples were processed, and the S. aureus isolates obtained were characterised. Antibiotic susceptibility was performed and the presence of resistance/virulence genes, and avian mobile genetic elements (MGEs) was studied. Forty‐four non‐repetitive S. aureus isolates were obtained of 28/60 samples (46.7%), and 43 methicillin‐susceptible (MSSA) and one methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates were detected. Five S. aureus isolates were multidrug‐resistant and 50% of isolates showed susceptibility to all tested antibiotics. Eighteen spa‐types, 11 sequence‐types and 8 clonal‐complexes were identified in the S. aureus collection. Three CC398 isolates (2 MSSA/1 MRSA) of spa‐type‐t1451 were detected, and MSSA‐CC398 isolates harboured the scn‐gene (absent in MRSA‐CC398). CC5 was the most frequent lineage identified (56.8%), all MSSA, and 56.7% of them contained avian‐MGEs. A high prevalence of avian‐adapted MSSA‐CC5 isolates was detected. Poultry meat has been shown to be a vehicle for CC398‐t1451 isolates, both MRSA and MSSA, showing characteristics of the animal and human clades, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus cereus is a spore-forming foodborne pathogen that causes emetic and diarrheal food poisoning. An emetic strain of B. cereus produces spores and an emetic toxin called cereulide, which exhibits high heat resistance. In this study, we investigated the effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), theaflavin-3'-gallate (TF2b), and theaflavin-3,3'-gallate (TF3), polyphenolic components of tea extracts, on the survivability, spores, and toxin of B. cereus. Among them, EGCg at 62.5 μg/mL and 250 μg/mL showed bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects on B. cereus by damaging the cellular membrane, causing leakage of cellular nucleic acid related substances, and thus inhibiting the growth of B. cereus. However, no significant effects were shown on spore germination by EGCg, TF2b, or TF3 at a concentration of 250 μg/mL in this investigation. Their inhibitory effects were primarily confined to the outgrowth of daughter cells after spore germination. Furthermore, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) showed that they suppressed the activity of cesA, a gene associated with cereulide production. At concentrations of 125 µg/mL for TF2b and 62.5 µg/mL for TF3, a discernible attenuation of cytotoxic effects induced by cereulide on HEp-2 cells was evident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ready-to-eat (RTE) street-vended meat in Nsukka and its environs were investigated for the presence of staphylococci. The samples were pre-enriched in peptone water for 24 hours at 37oC and subsequently streaked on mannitol salt agar plates and incubated at 37o C for 24 hours. The staphylococcal isolates were identified to species level by sequencing of sodA and 16S rDNA genes. Genes coding for TSST-1 (tst), ETA (eta), ETB (etb), and ETD (etd) were investigated by PCR. Phenotypic determination of resistance to 17 antimicrobial agents was carried out using the disc diffusion method, while genes coding for resistance to methicillin (mecA), aminoglycosides (aph(2)-aac(6), ant(4), aph(3)-III), erythromycin (ermA, ermB, ermC, ermT, mphC, msrA, and msrB) and tetracycline (tet(M), tet(O), tet(K), and tet(L) were determined by PCR amplification using their specific primers. Twenty-eight (11.0%) of the R-T-E meat samples contained staphylococci. Twenty-four of the Staphylococcus strains were identified to species level and they belonged to 6 species, namely S. scuiri (54.1%), S. lentus (16.6%), S. saprophyticus (12.5%), S. carnosus (8.4%), S. piscifermentans (4.2%) and S. epidermidis (4.2%). Four (16.7%) of the Staphylococcus species harboured the eta gene. Resistance genes detected in the Staphylococcus species were: mecA (25%), tetK (25%), mphC (12.5%), ermT (8.3%), and ermC (4.2%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses Richard Powers's novel "Gain" in the context of environmental awareness and narrative techniques. It contrasts the reception of Powers's environmental themes in "Gain" with his more acclaimed work "The Overstory." The article explores how the omniscient narration in "Gain" may hinder readers' understanding of environmental risks and the complexities of corporate capitalism. It delves into the novel's portrayal of the inseparability of humans and the environment, as well as the limitations of awareness in addressing environmental issues. The article ultimately questions the efficacy of awareness in prompting meaningful action and ethical responses to environmental challenges. [Extracted from the article]

Staying and climbing in high mountains (>2,500 m) involves changes in diet due to poor access to fresh food, lack of appetite, food poisoning, environmental conditions and physiological changes. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the principles of nutrition, hydration and supplementation in high-altitude conditions and to propose practical recommendations/solutions based on scientific literature data. Databases such as Pubmed, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar were searched to find studies published from 2000 to 2023 considering articles that were randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, narrative review articles, systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The manuscript provides recommendations for energy supply, dietary macronutrients and micronutrients, hydration, as well as supplementation recommendations and practical tips for mountaineers. In view of the difficulties of being in high mountains and practicing alpine climbing, as described in the review, it is important to increase athletes' awareness of nutrition and supplementation in order to improve well-being, physical performance and increase the chance of achieving a mountain goal, and to provide the appropriate dietary care necessary to educate mountaineers and personalize recommendations to the needs of the individual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole-genome sequencing of bacterial pathogens is used by public health agencies to link cases of food poisoning caused by the same source of contamination. The vast majority of these appear to be sporadic cases associated with small contamination episodes and do not trigger investigations. A "contamination episode" refers to one or more contamination events from a single source over a period of time. We examine clusters of sequenced clinical isolates of Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, and Listeria that differ by only a small number of mutations (SNPs) to identify features of the underlying contamination episodes. These analyses provide additional evidence that the youngest age groups have greater susceptibility to infection by Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter than older age groups. This age bias is weaker for the common Salmonella serovar Enteritidis than Salmonella in general. A large fraction of the contamination episodes causing sickness appear to have a long duration. For example, 50% of the Salmonella cases are in clusters that persist for almost 3 y. For all four pathogen species, the majority of the cases were part of genetic clusters with illnesses in multiple states and likely to be caused by contaminated commercially distributed foods. Salmonella infections in infants under 3 mo are predominantly acquired from the same contaminated food, pet food, or environmental sources as older individuals, rather than infant formula contaminated during production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridium perfringens is a causative agent of various human and animal enteric diseases including food poisoning. In this study, we describe an interesting case of a persistent food poisoning outbreak among Finnish peacekeepers in Eritrea, possibly caused by Clostridium perfringens carrying a new variant of the chromosomally encoded enterotoxin gene. C. perfringens strains causing food poisoning carry the enterotoxin gene, cpe , in its chromosome (c- cpe) or on a plasmid (p- cpe). PCR assays are widely used for toxinotype C. perfringens strains. The integration sites for the cpe gene are highly conserved, and PCR assays targeting the cpe gene and the adjacent IS elements (the IS 1470 in c- cpe and the IS 1470 -like or IS 1151 in p- cpe strains) are used to further determine the genetic location of the cpe gene. We sequenced nine enteropathogenic C. perfringens strains related to a persistent food poisoning outbreak among Finnish peacekeepers in Eritrea. Six of these strains produced non-typeable cpe results in the standard PCR assay due to divergence in the enterotoxin integration site. The gene order of the new variant of the chromosomal cpe insertion site with an additional IS1470 element impairing genotyping PCR assay for the location of cpe is described. In addition, variant c- cpe strains carried 58–81 copies of IS1470 in their genomes, compared to 9–23 copies found in previously described c- cpe strains. Thus, the present study represents an untraditional type of C. perfringens food poisoning caused by variant c- cpe strains, and the sequenced strains bring geographic variation to the existing strain collection of sequenced C. perfringens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blighia sapida oil, a substance with a rich history of use for its nutritional, therapeutic, traditional, and cosmetic benefits, was the focus of our study. We investigated the impact of consuming edible oil from B. sapida arils on Wistar rats. The crude oil from unripe arils was extracted using cold pressing and then administered to the rats. The toxicity was evaluated according to the OECD method. Notably, there were no signs of food poisoning or adverse effects on the weight and behavior of the rats treated with B. sapida oils. The LD50 of the oil was more significant than 5000 mg/kg of body weight, and hematological and biochemical parameters did not differ significantly from the control group. Rats fed with an oil‐supplemented diet showed an increase in weight compared to the negative control group. No fatty deposits were found in vital organs, and consuming the oil did not affect the immune system or biochemical biomarkers. However, excessive intake of fat may have harmful effects on tissues. Our findings strongly suggest that B. sapida oil is safe for consumption within reasonable limits. The data we present here reveal that the oil derived from B. sapida is suitable for moderate consumption and may offer various health advantages, a potential that warrants further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Acute poisoning poses a major health challenge, and understanding the patterns of death from such poisoning is crucial for developing effective preventive and remedial measures. This study aimed to assess the patterns of acute poisoning fatalities at a tertiary care center. Material and method: The study was carried out after taking permission from institutional ethical committee and patients ready to give inform consent form. This study was carried on 328 patients over 2 years of time. Poison patients was admitted in emergency department of tertiary care hospital. The patient sociodemographic status, physical examination and postmortem was done. Results: The study found that most patients were male, with the majority aged 31-40 years (37.50%). Excessive intake of substances often leads to poisoning. According to the data, food poisoning was the most common cause, affecting 92 patients (28.04%). Among the 298 unintentional cases and 30 suicides, most suicides involved sleeping pills (17 cases, or 56.66%). Excessive intake of sleeping pills led to 6 deaths (20.00%), with 5 of these (83.33%) due to sleeping pills. Symptoms were present in 130 patients (39.63%), with nausea and vomiting being the most common (31 cases, or 23.84%). External examination revealed stains around the lips and nostrils in 173 patients (52.74%), while 155 patients (47.25%) had no observable signs. Postmortem examinations showed oral cavity perforation, stomach, and intestinal damage in all cases (100%), with oral cavity corrosion and stomach content damage observed in 5 patients (83.33%). Inflammation was noted in 142 patients (43.29%). Conclusion: The patient having poisoning due to sleeping pills, with the symptom of nausea and vomiting, stains around the lips and nostrils. After postmortem showing different set of inflammation and ulceration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of public health emergencies in Yunnan Province border areas in recent years, providing a scientific basis for effective prevention and control measures. Methods Data on public healtli emergencies reported in 25 border counties (cities) of Yunnan Province from 2012 to 2022 were collected through the "China Disease Prevention and Control Information System -Public Health Emergency Reporting Management System", Descriptive epidemiological methods were employed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics. Results From 2012 to 2022, a total of 452 public health emergencies were reported in Yunnan ProvinceJ s border areas, with 31 020 cases and 110 deaths, resulting in an overall incidence rate of 0.94% and a case fatality rate of 035%. The primary types of events were infectious disease outbreaks (75.2%) and food poisoning (22.1%). The peak periods for infectious disease outbreaks were June and November, while food poisoning peaked from May to July. The leading causes of events were chickenpox (21.0%》COVID-19 (17.7%), and wild mushroom poisoning (9,5%》with wild mushroom poisoning accounting for the most deaths (53 cases, 48.2%). Schools (47.7%) and communities/villages (27.7%) were the main locations for infectious disease outbreaks. Dehong Prefecture reported 192 events, constituting 42.7% of the total, with 13 644 cases, representing 44.0% of the total cases. Twelve (48.0%) border counties (cities) reported 16 public health emergencies caused by imported infectious diseases, primarily from Myanmar (93.7%) and Laos (63%). Main diseases included dengue fever (313%), COVID-19 (313%), and chikungunya (18.8%), with a peak period for imported infectious disease -related events from July to September. Conclusion The reported public health emergencies in Yunnan Province s border areas are mainly due to infectious disease outbreaks and food poisoning, with peak seasons in summer and winter. Major causes include chickenpox, CO VID-19, and dengue fever, while the leading cause of death is wild mushroom poisoning. Schools and communities are critical locations for the prevention and control of infectious disease outbreaks. It is recommended that border areas strengthen monitoring, early warning, and risk assessment for key diseases and vectors, with particular attention to cross-border disease prevention and control in regions adjacent to Myanmar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkaloids are naturally occurring compounds with complex structures found in natural plants. To further improve the understanding of plant alkaloids, this review focuses on the classification, toxicity and mechanisms of action, providing insight into the occurrence of alkaloid-poisoning events and guiding the safe use of alkaloids in food, supplements and clinical applications. Based on their chemical structure, alkaloids can be divided into organic amines, diterpenoids, pyridines, isoquinolines, indoles, pyrrolidines, steroids, imidazoles and purines. The mechanisms of toxicity of alkaloids, including neurotoxicity, hepatoxicity, nephrotoxicity, cardiotoxicity and cytotoxicity, have also been reviewed. Some cases of alkaloid poisoning have been introduced when used as food or clinically, including accidental food poisoning, excessive consumption, and poisoning caused by the improper use of alkaloids in a clinical setting, and the importance of safety evaluation was illustrated. This review summarizes the toxicity and mechanism of action of alkaloids and provides evidence for the need for the safe use of alkaloids in food, supplements and clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored how social media users' mocking of a public health campaign can affect other users' emotions, cognitions, and behavioral intentions. Inspired by public mocking of the CDC's "Say No to Raw Dough" campaign aiming to prevent food poisoning caused by eating raw flour-based products, this experiment (N = 681) employed a 2 (Public responses to a PSA: Mocking or serious) x 3 (Organizational response to public responses: Self-mocking, serious, or none) + 1 (control condition) design. Statistical tests revealed that user-generated mocking can lower intentions to avoid the health risk by decreasing perceptions of injunctive norms (that is, seeing others mock a public health campaign resulted in weaker perceptions that others think you should avoid the risky behavior). Mockery of a public health campaign also engender anger at the CDC and at other users, with the target of the anger having differential effects on intentions to avoid eating raw dough. Implications for theory and the practice of social media-based health promotion are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breaks or cracks in eggshells offer substantial food safety issues. Bacteria and viruses, in particular, are more likely to enter the egg through breaks and cracks, increasing the risk of food poisoning. Furthermore, deformations in the shell may compromise the integrity of the protective shell, exposing the egg to more external variables and causing it to lose freshness and decay faster. To reduce such hazards, this research created an innovative crack detection system based on an autoencoder (AE) that uses acoustic signals from eggshells. A system that creates an acoustic effect by hitting the eggshell without damaging it was designed, and these effects were recorded through a microphone. Acoustic signal data of size 1 × 1000 was fed into k nearest neighbor (kNN), decision tree (DT), and support vector machine (SVM) classifiers. AE was employed to reduce data size in order to accommodate the raw data's unique features. This AE model, which reduces data size, was used with many classifiers and was able to accurately distinguish between intact and cracked eggs. The built AE‐based classifier model completed the classification procedure with 100% accuracy, including microcracks that are invisible to the naked eye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food safety is crucial to attaining food security and sustainability. Unsafe foods for human and animal consumption lead to product recalls and rejection, negatively impacting the global economy and trade. Similarly, climate change can adversely affect the availability of safe and nutritious food at the table. The changing climatic conditions and global food trade and transport can make the movement of toxic plants possible, resulting in food crops being increasingly invaded by some species of plants that produce toxic secondary metabolites, such as tropane alkaloids (TAs). Datura stramonium from the Solanaceae plant family is an invasive and virulent plant that produces high amounts of two TAs, atropine and scopolamine. Various food poisoning events following accidental or deliberate ingestion of foods contaminated by atropine and scopolamine from seeds of D. stramonium have been recorded in different locations globally. Due to these incidents, regulatory agencies require the development of plant toxin detection methods that can be used in the food chain as early as possible. This systematic review thus focuses on the TA determination techniques in food and feeds published between 2013 and 2023. A particular focus was given to the sample preparation methods, the improvements of each technique claimed, and data to support the performance of each method, especially the ability to measure at or below the maximum level. The review concludes with other technological advancements, including rapid spectroscopy, electrophoresis, and colorimetric methods, as well as the possibility of coupling with smartphones for use in on‐farm detection and the challenges in applying them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Endophytic fungi are microorganisms that, exhibiting within the plant tissues without causing any apparent harm to the host, establish a symbiotic relationship with plants. Host plants provide endophytic fungi with essential nutrients and a protected environment. In exchange, the fungi can enhance the plant's ability to acquire nutrients. They can also play a crucial role in increasing the host plant's tolerance to various abiotic and biotic stresses. Endophytic fungi can produce a wide range of bioactive compounds, some similar to those found in the host plant. In Iraq's Duhok province of the Kurdistan region, the plant species Vitis vinifera has been explored as a habitat for diverse endophytic microorganisms across various ecological environments. During the period from 2021 to 2022, a total of 600 samples were collected from four distinct locations: Bagera, Besfke, Barebhar, and Atrush. From these samples, twelve endophytic fungal species were isolated, including Aspergillus flavipes, Botryosphaeria dothidea, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium ruscicol, Fusarium venenatum, Chaetomium globosum, Clonostachys rosea, Mucor racemosus, Penicillium glabrum, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus nidulans, and Aspergillus niger, Alternaria alternata, Paecilomyces maximus, Curvularia buchloes. These fungi were introduced for their potential as biocontrol agents against grapevine trunk diseases and grape rotting fungi, which pose significant risks to grapevine health and productivity. Penicilium radiatolobatum, Botrysphaeria dothidea, Fusarium ruscicola, Fusarium venenatum, and Paecilomyces maximus represented the first record as endophytes on grapevine in Iraq. Based on ITS and SSU sequencing, molecular identification confirmed these fungi's presence with sequence identities ranging from 99% to 100%. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these endophytes could be categorized into five main clusters (A, B, C, D, and E), showing high intra-group similarity. Utilizing the Dual Culture method, the endophyte Paecilomyces maximus demonstrated a 70.83% inhibition rate against Ilyonectria destructans. In the Food Poisoning method, A. flavipes and P. maximus emerged as the most effective inhibitors of Ilyonectria destructans, whereas A. terreus, M. racemosus, and P. maximus achieved complete inhibition (100%) of Botrytis cinerea. Additionally, M. racemosus was identified as the most effective biocontrol agent against Neoscytalidium dimidiatum. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the potential of endophytic fungi from Vitis vinifera as effective biocontrol agents against grapevine diseases, highlighting their role in sustainable vineyard management. These findings lead to further exploration and implementation of these fungi-inserted pest management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus cereus sensu lato can contaminate food and cause food poisoning by producing toxins such as cereulide, toxin BL, and cytotoxin K. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed B. cereus sensu lato from retail food products and food poisoning cases using PCR methods to determine their virulence profiles. A new toxin profile, encoding all four toxins (hbl, nhe, cytK, ces), was found in 0.4% of isolates. The toxin profiles, classified into A-J, revealed that 91.8% harbored nhe genes, while hbl, cytK, and ces were detected in 43.8%, 46.9%, and 4.2% of isolates, respectively. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) identified four distinct species within the B. cereus group, with 21 isolates closely related to B. cereus sensu stricte, 25 to B. mosaicus, 2 to B. toyonensis, and 1 to B. mycoides. Three novel sequence types (STs 3297, 3298, 3299) were discovered. Antibiotic resistance genes were common, with 100% of isolates carrying beta-lactam resistance genes. Fosfomycin (80%), vancomycin (8%), streptothricin (6%), tetracycline (4%), and macrolide resistance (2%) genes were also detected. These results highlight the genetic diversity and antibiotic resistance potential of B. cereus sensu lato strains in Polish food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Characteristics of non-clinical strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) especially from fishery environment are poorly understood. This research, in addition to comprehensive characterisation, sought to delineate the genetic relatedness between the MRSA strains originating from clinical as well as non-clinical settings. Out of 39 methicillin-resistant staphylococcal isolates from 197 fish samples, 6 (Three each of methicillin-resistant S. haemolyticus (MRSH) and MRSA) with distinct resistance profiles were selected for whole-genome sequencing. Using respective bioinformatics tools, MRSA genomes were comprehensively characterized for resistome, virulomes, molecular epidemiology and phylogenetic analysis. Simultaneously, MRSH genomes were specifically examined to characterize antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), owing to the fact that MRSH is often recognized as a reservoir for resistance determinants. Results: Three MRSA clones identified in this study include ST672-IVd/t13599 (sequence type-SCCmec type/spa type), ST88-V/t2526, and ST672-IVa/t1309. Though, the isolates were phenotypically vancomycin-sensitive, five of the six genomes carried vancomycin resistance genes including the VanT (VanG cluster) or VanY (VanM cluster). Among the three MRSA, only one harbored the gene encoding Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) toxin, while staphylococcal enterotoxin (SEs) genes such as sea and seb, associated with staphylococcal food poisoning were identified in two other MRSA. Genomes of MRSH carried a composite of type V staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) elements (5C2 & 5). This finding may be explained by the inversion and recombination events that may facilitate the integration of type V elements to the SCC elements of S. aureus with a methicillin-susceptible phenotype. Phylogenetically, MRSA from a non-clinical setting displayed a considerable relatedness to that from clinical settings. Conclusion: This study highlights the genetic diversity and resistance profiles of MRSA and MRSH, with non-clinical MRSA showing notable relatedness to clinical strains. Future research should explore resistance gene transfer mechanisms and environmental reservoirs to better manage MRSA spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This retrospective study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and toxicological spectrum of acute poisoning in children treated at our pediatric intensive care unit. The findings provide a basis for the treatment and prevention of acute poisoning in children. Methods: Clinical data of hospitalized children aged 0 to14 years with acute poisoning, treated between January 2015 and December 2023, were collected and analyzed. The analysis included the types of poisoning, sex and age distribution of children, routes and causes of poisoning, time from poisoning to medical consultation, length of hospital stays, and treatment outcomes. Results: Among the 493 cases of acute poisoning in children, pesticide poisoning (n = 252, 51.1%) was the most common type, followed by medication poisoning (n = 182, 36.9%). Chemical poisoning accounted for 7.7% (n = 38), while food poisoning and inhalation of harmful gases accounted for 3.0% (n = 15) and 1.2% (n = 6), respectively. The main route of poisoning was oral ingestion (n = 477, 96.8%), while accidental ingestion accounted for a large proportion (n = 379, 79.4%), and adolescents aged 11 to 14 years accounted for 20.6% (n = 98).Apart from the predominance of girls attempting suicide by self-administering antipsychotic medications (n = 88, 75.9%) due to depression, there was no significant difference in sex distribution among other types of poisoning children. The highest incidence of poisoning except children who self-administer antipsychotic drugs occurred in children aged 1–3 years (n = 267, 54.2%) and 8–14 years (n = 135, 27.4%), with the highest proportion in the preschool age group. The average time from poisoning to medical consultation was 33.4 ± 54.9 h, and majority of children received treatment within 48 h after poisoning (n = 423, 85.8%). The overall effective treatment rate was 96.8%. Conclusion: Acute poisoning in children has complex and diverse causes, with accidental ingestion being the main route. Prevention should be emphasized, including strengthening child safety education and improving parental supervision. Moreover, psychological health education is crucial for adolescents during their puberty. In the event of acute poisoning, prompt medical consultation and appropriate treatment are necessary to mitigate adverse outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classification of pathogenic E. coli has been focused either in mammalian host or infection site, which offers limited resolution. This review presents a comprehensive framework for classifying all E. coli branches within a single, unifying figure. This approach integrates established methods based on virulence factors, serotypes and clinical syndromes, offering a more nuanced and informative perspective on E. coli pathogenicity. The presence of the LEE island in pathogenic E. coli is a key genetic marker differentiating EHEC from STEC strains. The coexistence of stx and eae genes within the bacterial genome is a primary characteristic used to distinguish STEC from other pathogenic E. coli strains. The presence of the inv plasmid, Afa/Dr adhesins, CFA-CS-LT-ST and EAST1 are key distinguishing features for identifying pathogenic E. coli strains belonging to EIEC, DAEC, ETEC and EAEC pathotypes respectively. Food microbiological criteria differentiate pathogenic E. coli in food matrices. 'Zero-tolerance' applies to most ready-to-eat (RTE) foods due to high illness risk. Non-RTE foods' roles may allow limited E. coli presence, which expose consumers to potential risk; particularly from the concerning Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) strains, which can lead to life-threatening complications in humans, including haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and even death in susceptible individuals. These findings suggest that decision-makers should consider incorporating the separate detection of STEC serotypes into food microbiological criteria, in addition to existing enumeration methods. Contamination of STEC is mainly linked to food consumption, therefore, outbreaks of E. coli STEC has been reviewed here and showed a link also to water as a potential contamination route. Since their discovery in 1982, over 39,787 STEC cases associated with 1,343 outbreaks have been documented. The majority of these outbreaks occurred in the Americas, followed by Europe, Asia and Africa. The most common serotypes identified among the outbreaks were O157, the 'Big Six' (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145), and other serotypes such as O55, O80, O101, O104, O116, O165, O174 and O183. This review provides valuable insights into the most prevalent serotypes implicated in STEC outbreaks and identifies gaps in microbiological criteria, particularly for E. coli non-O157 and non-Big Six serotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a major foodborne pathogen that poses a significant threat to food safety and human health. Rapid and sensitive detection of viable Escherichia coli O157:H7 can effectively prevent food poisoning. Here, we developed a microwell-confined and propidium monoazide-assisted digital CRISPR microfluidic platform for rapid and sensitive detection of viable Escherichia coli O157:H7 in food samples. The reaction time is significantly reduced by minimizing the microwell volume, yielding qualitative results in 5 min and absolute quantitative results in 15 min. With the assistance of propidium monoazide, this platform can eliminate the interference from 99% of dead Escherichia coli O157:H7. The direct lysis method obviates the need for a complex nucleic acid extraction process, offering a limit of detection of 3.6 × 101 CFU mL−1 within 30 min. Our results demonstrated that the platform provides a powerful tool for rapid detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and provides reliable guidance for food safety testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus can produce numerous toxins, including staphylococcal enterotoxins, namely, SEs, SEA to SEE, SEG to SEI, and SER to SET. They have demonstrated emetic activity and can cause food poisoning outbreaks (FBOs). Here, we report a multidisciplinary investigation conducted by authorities competent in food safety in collaboration with veterinary and health and hygiene services. The issue was foodborne intoxication which involved eight members (aged 12–74 years) of the same family. Notification reported that time to symptom onset was about 3 hours after lunch, which suggests that the food contained preformed toxins. Ham and cheese used for the preparation of sandwiches consumed by all symptomatic relatives were suspected to be the source of FBO. The day after symptoms appeared, samples were collected at the restaurant and delivered to the food safety laboratory. All analyses performed on official food samples are validated according to ISO 17025:2017 and accredited. The cheese subsamples were all positive for coagulase-positive staphylococci CPS (range: 1.1*103 CFU/g to 8.1*103 CFU/g). The pooled sample tested positive for staphylococcal enterotoxin D (SED) at 0.649 ng/g. This concentration can cause symptoms of FBO. Following the notification of suspected food poisoning, a rapid response by the district food safety agency is necessary. In the case described here, the multidisciplinary collaboration facilitated the collection of samples at the food business plant aimed at identifying a suspected source of intoxication and to withdraw unsafe food from the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridium perfringens type F isolates utilize C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) to cause food poisoning (FP) and nonfoodborne gastrointestinal diseases. The enterotoxin gene (cpe) can be located on either the chromosome or plasmids, but most FP isolates carry a chromosomal cpe (c-cpe) gene. Our 2000 article in Applied and Environmental Microbiology (66:3234-3240, 2000, https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.66.8.3234-3240.2000https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.66.8.3234-3240.2000) determined that vegetative cells and spores of c-cpe isolates are more heat resistant than those of plasmid cpe (p-cpe) isolates, which is favorable for their survival in improperly cooked or held food. However, that 2000 article was recently retracted (90:e00249-24, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00249-24). To our knowledge, the 2000 article remains the only study reporting that heat resistance differences are common between both vegetative cells and spores of type F c-cpe isolates vs type F p-cpe isolates. To confirm and preserve this information in the literature, the heat resistance portion of the 2000 study has been repeated. The 2024 results reproduced the 2000 results by indicating that, relative to the surveyed type F p-cpe isolates, the vegetative cells of surveyed type F c-cpe isolates are ~2-fold more heat resistant and the spores of most surveyed c-cpe isolates are ~30-fold more heat resistant. However, consistent with several reports since our 2000 paper, one surveyed type F c-cpe isolate (which did not appreciably sporulate in 2000 but sporulated in 2024) produced spores with intermediate heat sensitivity, confirming that spores of some type F c-cpe isolates lack exceptional heat resistance. IMPORTANCE Clostridium perfringens type F food poisoning (FP), which is the second most common bacterial cause of FP, involves the production of C. perfringens enterotoxin. While the enterotoxin gene (cpe) can be located on either the chromosome or plasmids in type F isolates, most FP cases are caused by chromosomal cpe isolates. The current results support the conclusion that the vegetative cells and spores of type F chromosomal cpe isolates are often more heat resistant than vegetative cells and spores of type F plasmid cpe isolates. Greater heat resistance should favor the survival of the spores and vegetative cells of those chromosomal cpe isolates in temperature-abused food, which may help explain the strong association of type F chromosomal cpe strains with FP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La ciguatéra est une intoxication alimentaire par organismes marins dont la clinique est polymorphe et doit faire éliminer des diagnostics différentiels. Un patient était hospitalisé pour un syndrome fébrile quelques jours après l'apparition de signes cliniques évocateurs d'une ciguatéra après avoir consommé un poisson du lagon. Il présentait également des signes neurologiques centraux et l'IRM cérébrale mettait en évidence une lésion du corps calleux. Une infection cutanée liée aux lésions de grattage était la cause de cet état fébrile et un diagnostic de CLOCCS était porté devant les lésions à l'IRM. Une atteinte neurologique centrale dans la ciguatéra est possible mais rare, un CLOCCS pouvant faire partie de ces atteintes. Un syndrome fébrile doit en revanche faire envisager un diagnostic alternatif ou une complication. Ciguatera is a food poisoning caused by marine organisms and has a polymoprhic clinic. Differential diagnoses need to be eliminated. A patient was hospitalized for a febrile syndrome a few days after the appearance of clinical signs suggestive of ciguatera after consuming lagoon fish. He also presented with central neurological signs and brain MRI revealed a lesion of the corpus callosum. A skin infection linked to the scratching lesions was the cause of this febrile state and a diagnosis of CLOCCS was made based on the lesions on MRI. A central neurological involvement in ciguatera is possible but rare, CLOCCS may be one of them. On the other hand, a febrile syndrome should lead to consider an differential diagnosis or a complication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses adult food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES), a non-IgE mediated food allergy. It highlights that adult-onset FPIES may present differently than pediatric FPIES, with vomiting being absent in up to 40% of adults. The article proposes an algorithm for the diagnosis and management of adult FPIES, which includes a thorough clinical history, oral food challenges (OFCs), and symptom-directed treatment. It also emphasizes the importance of ruling out other conditions and recommends personalized avoidance diets for patients with confirmed FPIES. The article aims to provide guidance on recognizing and managing adult FPIES. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a ubiquitous organism that normally colonizes the human body and causes food poisoning. This study aimed to determine the rate of nasal carriage of S. aureus among food handlers in Sana'a restaurants in, Yemen and performed an antibacterial susceptibility test. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among healthy food handlers from November 2022 to March 2023. Approximately 024 nasal swabs were collected and S. aureus was isolated and identified according to standard bacteriological procedures. Moreover, the antibacterial susceptibility pattern was determined using the disc diffusion method. Additionally, the required data were obtained by using the pretested questionnaire. Results: Of 420 nasal swabs, 78 (18.6%) food handlers were S. aureus nasal carriers. The prevalence rate of S. aureus was significantly higher among subjects aged >30 years (23.1%), males (18.8%), and uneducated subjects (25%). Additionally, a higher rate of S. aureus nasal carriers was observed among food handlers who worked as cooks (19.4%), had less than 2 years of experience (20.5%), and had low hygiene (29%). The S. aureus isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin (71.8%), vancomycin (76.9%), and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (61%). Conversely, the isolated S. aureus was resistant to oxacillin (69.2%) and methicillin (66.7%). Conclusion: These data stress that food handlers with a high S. aureus nasal carrier rate may pose significant risks to consumers. Therefore, creating restaurant policies and rules is necessary to provide safe and healthy food to consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waterborne and foodborne illnesses caused by bacterial pathogens are major public health concerns, especially in developing countries like Nigeria—waterborne pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. and Klebsiella spp. Contribute to the spread of health challenges, primarily due to poor sanitation, contaminated drinking water, and inadequate hygiene. Similarly, foodborne pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp., are major causes of human illness, with animal-based foods often acting as transmission vectors. This review examines the current state of diagnosis, highlighting that most household water sources in Nigeria are vulnerable to contamination, with significant microbial loads exceeding WHO standards. It raises the need for effective interventions such as improved hygiene practices, water supply, sanitation and food safety management systems. Furthermore, this review discusses the impact of these pathogens on public health, noting that waterborne and foodborne diseases result in substantial mortality and economic burdens. Also, implementing good hygienic practices, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems, and public health education are essential strategies for reducing the incidence of these diseases. This review concludes by calling for a collaborative effort among governments, policymakers, stakeholders, and researchers to develop and implement multifaceted interventions to combat these pervasive health threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of chitooligosaccharide-EGCG conjugate (CEC) at different concentrations (0, 1, and 2%; w/v) and depuration times (DT; 3, and 6 h) on the total viable count and Vibrio spp. count of Asian green mussels (AGMs) was studied. Depurated samples showed a reduction in both microbial counts as compared to fresh AGMs (without depuration) and AGMs depurated using water (CON). A similar TVC was noticed at both DTs; however, a lower VC was attained at a DT of 3, irrespective of CEC concentrations (p < 0.05). AGMs were depurated for 3 h using 1 and 2% CEC (CE1 and CE2, respectively) solutions and stored for 6 days at 4 °C. The CE2 sample showed the lowest microbial counts as compared to fresh AGMs, CON, and CE1 throughout the storage (p < 0.05). CE2 extended the shelf-life of AGMs by 4 days, which was also supported by the lower peroxide value (0.48 mg cumene hydroperoxide/kg sample) and TBARS (0.94 mmol MDA eqv/kg sample) when compared with other samples. Moreover, CE2 had a lower total volatile nitrogen base (TVB; 4.72 mg N/100 g) and trimethylamine (TMA; 3.59 mg N/100 g) on day 4. Furthermore, 2% CEC was able to maintain the DHA content; however, a slightly lower EPA was noticed as compared to the CON. Next-generation sequencing suggested that the CON had a larger microbial community, especially Vibrio sp., than the CE2. All the treated samples showed similar likeness scores to the cooked CE2 and CON on day 0. However, slightly lower likeness was attained when CE2 was stored for 4 days, but the likeness score was higher than the acceptable limit (5). No difference in cooking loss was noticed between CON and CE2 samples on day 0. Nevertheless, cooking loss was increased on day 4. Thus, depuration using CEC solution enhanced the shelf-life of AGMs by 4 days without having negative impact on consumer acceptability and textural properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible mushroom products, encompassing both cultivated and wild varieties, are highly favored by consumers due to their rich nutritional profiles, including significant levels of proteins and amino acids. These mushrooms have extensive applications across the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, making the edible mushroom industry a vital component of global poverty alleviation efforts. Taking China as an example, the country produces over 45 million tons of edible mushrooms annually, accounting for 94.01% of the world's total production, thereby establishing itself as the leading global producer of edible mushrooms. However, alongside the rapid expansion of this industry, concerns have emerged regarding counterfeit products and incidents of poisoning resulting from the consumption of toxic wild mushrooms. As follows, to advance the development and integrity of the mushroom production and processing industry: (1) This study presents the situation of counterfeit edible mushrooms and elucidates the factors contributing to the production of fraudulent products from both subjective and non-subjective perspectives. (2) We provide a detailed introduction to 22 varieties of freshly cultivated edible mushrooms and commonly encountered wild edible mushrooms in the Chinese consumer market, proposing the application of DNA barcoding, environmental DNA analysis, and other technologies for the future authentication of counterfeit mushroom products. (3) Concurrently, we present an overview of mushroom poisoning incidents in China from 2010 to 2023, emphasizing the challenges in mitigating the risks associated with wild mushroom consumption and preventing food poisoning, thereby necessitating heightened consumer caution. (4) Finally, we offer four recommendations aimed at ensuring the healthy, stable, and sustainable growth of the edible mushroom industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of the B. cereus group are spore-forming organisms commonly associated with spoilage of milk and dairy products. We have determined the genetic identity and growth characteristics of 57 B. cereus isolates collected from a Norwegian ice cream production plant. Our findings revealed persistence of B. cereus spp. strains for up to 19 months, suggesting the plant's susceptibility to long-term colonization. One of the mesophilic isolates, NVH-YM303, carried a complete cereulide synthetase operon. To assess the potential food poisoning risk associated with the presence of cereulide-producing strains in the production line, we examined the production of cereulide in ice cream and milk at different temperatures by NVH-YM303 and by the emetic psychrotrophic B. weihenstephanensis strain BtB2-4. Our findings revealed that NVH-YM303 produced higher levels of cereulide in ice cream as compared to milk. Furthermore, it was observed that NVH-YM303 produced more cereulide in ice cream at 25 °C compared to 15 °C. Conversely, BtB2-4 produced more cereulide in ice cream at 15 °C than at 25 °C. The results obtained in this study contribute to knowledge important for risk assessment of the potential hazards posed by the presence of B. cereus within ice cream production facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food is an important element in maintaining human health, so food safety must be free from contamination caused by bacteria and other harmful materials. The principles of food hygiene and sanitation include the control of premises, equipment, processors, and foodstuffs. One of the sources of food contamination is unclean cutlery, which can cause foodborne diseases and food poisoning. Based on the standard of the Indonesian Minister of Health Regulation No. 1096/Menkes/Per/VI/2011, the cutlery used must be free from germs and E. coli. However, the results of a study in Kelun Village, Madiun City, show that many food vendors do not meet these hygiene standards, with the number of germs on tableware exceeding safe limits. This study aims to examine the cleanliness level of food vendors' tableware based on the washing techniques used, as well as provide recommendations on more effective washing methods in reducing germ rates. The results of this study are expected to increase the awareness of traders and the public on the importance of cleanliness of tableware to prevent the spread of disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia coli is a gram-negative commensal bacterium living in human and animal intestines. Its pathogenic strains lead to high morbidity and mortality, which can adversely affect people by causing urinary tract infections, food poisoning, septic shock, or meningitis. Humans can contract E. coli by eating contaminated food—such as raw or undercooked raw milk, meat products, and fresh produce sold in open markets—as well as by coming into contact with contaminated settings like wastewater, municipal water, soil, and faeces. Some pathogenic strains identified in Nigeria, include Enterohemorrhagic (Verotoxigenic), Enterotoxigenic, Enteropathogenic, Enteroinvasive, and Enteroaggregative E. coli. This causes acute watery or bloody diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and vomiting. Apart from the virulence profile of E. coli, antibiotic resistance mechanisms such as the presence of blaCTX-M found in humans, animals, and environmental isolates are of great importance and require surveillance and monitoring for emerging threats in resource-limited countries. This review is aimed at understanding the underlying mechanisms of evolution and antibiotic resistance in E. coli in Nigeria and highlights the use of improving One Health approaches to combat the problem of emerging infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus is ubiquitous in tropical and temperate waters throughout the world and causes infections in humans resulting from water exposure and from ingestion of contaminated raw or undercooked seafood, such as oysters. We describe a nationwide outbreak of enteric infections caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Australia during September 2021–January 2022. A total of 268 persons were linked with the outbreak, 97% of whom reported consuming Australia-grown oysters. Cases were reported from all states and territories of Australia. The outbreak comprised 2 distinct strains of V. parahaemolyticus, sequence types 417 and 50. We traced oysters with V. parahaemolyticus proliferation back to a common growing region within the state of South Australia. The outbreak prompted a national recall of oysters and subsequent improvements in postharvest processing of the shellfish.

Abstract Classification of pathogenic E. coli has been focused either in mammalian host or infection site, which offers limited resolution. This review presents a comprehensive framework for classifying all E. coli branches within a single, unifying figure. This approach integrates established methods based on virulence factors, serotypes and clinical syndromes, offering a more nuanced and informative perspective on E. coli pathogenicity. The presence of the LEE island in pathogenic E. coli is a key genetic marker differentiating EHEC from STEC strains. The coexistence of stx and eae genes within the bacterial genome is a primary characteristic used to distinguish STEC from other pathogenic E. coli strains. The presence of the inv plasmid, Afa/Dr adhesins, CFA-CS-LT-ST and EAST1 are key distinguishing features for identifying pathogenic E. coli strains belonging to EIEC, DAEC, ETEC and EAEC pathotypes respectively. Food microbiological criteria differentiate pathogenic E. coli in food matrices. ‘Zero-tolerance’ applies to most ready-to-eat (RTE) foods due to high illness risk. Non-RTE foods' roles may allow limited E. coli presence, which expose consumers to potential risk; particularly from the concerning Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) strains, which can lead to life-threatening complications in humans, including haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and even death in susceptible individuals. These findings suggest that decision-makers should consider incorporating the separate detection of STEC serotypes into food microbiological criteria, in addition to existing enumeration methods. Contamination of STEC is mainly linked to food consumption, therefore, outbreaks of E. coli STEC has been reviewed here and showed a link also to water as a potential contamination route. Since their discovery in 1982, over 39,787 STEC cases associated with 1,343 outbreaks have been documented. The majority of these outbreaks occurred in the Americas, followed by Europe, Asia and Africa. The most common serotypes identified among the outbreaks were O157, the ‘Big Six’ (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145), and other serotypes such as O55, O80, O101, O104, O116, O165, O174 and O183. This review provides valuable insights into the most prevalent serotypes implicated in STEC outbreaks and identifies gaps in microbiological criteria, particularly for E. coli non-O157 and non-Big Six serotypes.

There have been report of possible food poisoning in Lithuania following the consumption of raw steaks from a roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Two people experienced symptoms of abdominal pain, watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, and nausea. The parasitological examination of the roe deer revealed macrocysts of Sarcocystis sp. to the naked eye. Microscopic sarcocysts of Sarcocystis spp. were detected in different muscles, and a high sarcocyst load was observed in the roe deer muscles by a light microscope. Based on molecular results, S. capreolicanis, S. gracilis, S. linearis, S. oviformis, and S. silva were identified in meat samples of the roe deer. This is the first report of a possible link between venison poisoning and Sarcocystis spp. infection in Lithuania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The practice of preserving and adding value to food dates back to over 10,000 BCE, when unintentional microbial-driven chemical reactions imparted flavor and extended the shelf life of fermented foods. The process evolved, and with the urbanization of society, significant shifts in dietary habits emerged, accompanied by sporadic food poisoning incidents. The repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic have intensified the search for antibiotic alternatives owing to the rise in antibiotic-resistant pathogens, emphasizing the exploration of probiotic-origin antimicrobial peptides to alleviate human microbiome collateral damage. Often termed 'molecular knives', these peptides outstand as potent antimicrobials due to their compatibility with innate microflora, amenability to bioengineering, target specificity, versatility and rapidity in molecular level mode of action. This review centres on bacteriocins sourced from lactic acid bacteria found in ethnic fermented foods, accentuating their desirable attributes, technological applications as nanobiotics and potential future applications in the modern context of ensuring food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Star anise fruit has been used in spice in Asian cuisine, ingredient for traditional medicines, component for antiviral drugs and as parts of tea and beverage across the globe. Toxicity from these plants has been reported due to adulteration with similar toxic species and from consumption with high toxic dose. Most physician and public are unaware of these adverse effects. Cases: We present two cases of star anise toxicity. Both of the patients presented with gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms after consumption of the said fruit. All of the labs and imaging test was negative for other causes and star anise toxicity diagnosis was made after detailed history, events and related symptoms. They were managed supportively and discharged after 24 h of observation. Conclusion: Emergency department doctors should be vigilant about possible star anise toxicity in patient presenting with suggestive symptoms, negative investigation for other possible cause and in area where these plant species is available. A detailed drug and ingestion history is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Point-of-care testing of pathogens is becoming more and more important for the prevention and control of food poisoning. Herein, a power-free colorimetric biosensor was presented for rapid detection of Salmonella using a microfluidic SlipChip for fluidic control and Au@PtPd nanocatalysts for signal amplification. All the procedures, including solution mixing, immune reaction, magnetic separation, residual washing, mimicking catalysis and colorimetric detection, were integrated on this SlipChip. First, the mixture of the bacterial sample, immune magnetic nanobeads (IMBs) and immune Au@PtPd nanocatalysts (INCs), washing buffer and H2O2–TMB chromogenic substrate were preloaded into the sample, washing and catalysis chambers, respectively. After the top layer of this SlipChip was slid to connect the sample chamber with the separation chamber, the mixture was moved back and forth through the asymmetrical split-and-recombine micromixer by using a disposable syringe to form the IMB–Salmonella–INC sandwich conjugates. Then, the conjugates were captured in the separation chamber using a magnetic field, and the top layer was slid to connect the washing chamber with the separation chamber for washing away excessive INCs. Finally, the top layer was slid to connect the catalysis chamber with the separation chamber, and the colorless substrate was catalyzed by the INCs with peroxidase-mimic activity to generate color change, followed by using a smartphone app to collect and analyze the image to determine the bacterial concentration. This all-in-one microfluidic biosensor enabled simple detection of Salmonella as low as 101.2 CFU mL−1 within 30 min and was featured with low cost, straightforward operation, and compact design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights the career journey of Cynthia M. Stewart, a food microbiologist, detailing her passion for food science and its importance in global health. Topics discussed include the diverse range of microorganisms involved in food microbiology, the impact of microbial interactions on food safety and quality, and the significance of research in reducing food waste and enhancing food security.

Due to their immobile nature and filter-feeding habits, which enable biological particles to accumulate in their tissues, mussels are recognized as vectors of foodborne diseases. Consuming these shellfish uncooked or partly processed might result in food poisoning because of accumulated bacteria originating from the culture environment and unhygienic handling. The present study aimed to assess the presence of Salmonella and Escherichia coli as well as to biochemically and serotypically confirm Salmonella spp. in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) taken from two locations in Morocco: Zenata and Mansouria. A total of 90 mussel samples were collected from October 2022 to August 2023. Two methods were employed in this study: AFNOR NF EN ISO 6579-1 (2017) for the detection of Salmonella spp., and the most probable number method (MPN) using Norm ISO/TS 16649-3 (2017) for E. coli. The number of E. coli varied between 0.2/100 g and 1.7 x 103/100 g of mussels. The percentage of Salmonella spp. detected in mussel samples was 4,4%. Further analysis revealed the identification of two distinct Salmonella serotypes, namely S. kentucky (1 isolate) and S. Typhimurium (3 isolates). This research highlights the potential risks to public health due to the presence of pathogenic bacteria in mussels from two regions of Morocco where shellfish farming and coastal tourism are significant contributors to the local economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species within the Bacillus cereus sensu lato group, known for their spore‐forming ability, are recognized for their significant role in food spoilage and food poisoning. The spores of B. cereus are adorned with numerous pilus‐like appendages, referred to as S‐ENAs and L‐ENAs. These appendages are thought to play vital roles in self‐aggregation, adhesion, and biofilm formation. Our study investigates the role of S‐ENAs and L‐ENAs, as well as the impact of various environmental factors on spore‐to‐spore contacts and the interaction between spores and vegetative cells, using both bulk and single‐cell approaches. Our findings indicate that ENAs, especially their tip fibrillae, play a crucial role in spore self‐aggregation, but not in the adhesion of spores to vegetative cells. The absence of L‐BclA, which forms the L‐ENA tip fibrillum, reduced spore aggregation mediated by both S‐ENAs and L‐ENAs, highlighting the interconnected roles of S‐ENAs and L‐ENAs. We also found that increased salt concentrations in the liquid environment significantly reduced spore aggregation, suggesting a charge dependency of spore‐spore interactions. By shedding light on these complex interactions, our study offers valuable insights into spore dynamics. This knowledge can inform future studies on spore behaviour in environmental settings and assist in developing strategies to manage bacterial aggregation for beneficial purposes, such as controlling biofilms in food production equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]