Listeria monocytogenes (LM) is found in various environmental sources, including animal intestinal tracts, soil, and sewage. LM can contaminate various food products, including meat, seafood, cheese, fruits, and vegetables. Individuals with underlying medical conditions, the elderly, pregnant women, and infants, may develop meningitis and sepsis upon consuming LM-contaminated food. A rapid and standardized quantification method for evaluating initial contamination levels of LM in food remains to be established. This study aimed to develop a rapid quantification method to monitor LM contamination in food handling facilities. A regression equation was developed to determine the concentrations of LM cells before and after enrichment. Regression equations developed to estimate LM cell concentrations in food samples (ground poultry and green salad) were evaluated. The concentrations of LM cells in ground poultry and green salad before enrichment were 2.44 and 2.92 log10 CFU/g, respectively, and the concentrations obtained using a rapid qPCR-based detection and quantification method were 2.05 and 3.27 log10 CFU/g, respectively. The proposed method can semi-quantitatively estimate LM contamination at approximately 102 CFU/g of food, which is the maximum allowable level of LM contamination in foods. This study may serve as a basis for establishing and improving hygiene management systems and preventing listeriosis.
Enterobacteriaceae represent a large family of Gram-negative bacteria including both commensal and pathogenic species such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Shigella spp. Among these, E. coli is a common inhabitant of the intestinal tract of humans and warm-blooded animals. However, specific strains such as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) are recognized as major foodborne pathogens responsible for severe illnesses, such as haemolytic uremic syndrome. Contaminated foods, particularly raw or undercooked meat and dairy products, as well as vegetables irrigated with contaminated water, represent the main sources of human infection. This study analyses data from official food control activities conducted in the Piedmont Region (northwestern Italy) between 2022 and 2024. A total of 3,370 food samples were analysed, yielding 3,769 microbiological tests performed at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta for the enumeration of Enterobacteriaceae, β-glucuronidase-positive E. coli and for the detection of STEC. Overall, Enterobacteriaceae showed the highest prevalence, followed by E. coli and STEC. A bimodal seasonal pattern was observed, with peaks in August and December. Higher positivity rates were associated with samples collected at the production stage compared with retail. Butter and cream showed the highest risk, while curdled milk/yogurt and ready-to-eat foods showed elevated non-compliance in descriptive analyses. These findings highlight the combined role of production-stage factors, food matrix characteristics, and seasonal dynamics in shaping microbiological risk. The results support the importance of risk-based control strategies, with targeted interventions in high-risk sectors and during critical periods, in line with the EU farm-to-fork approach.
Bacteriophage-based products are gaining attention as effective tools to reduce harmful germs in food and combat antimicrobial resistance throughout the food production process. However, in South America, their use is still limited because of complicated regulations and inconsistent evidence requirements. This review aims to (i) explore the current scientific and technological landscape of using bacteriophages in South American food systems, (ii) identify main regulatory challenges that impact their classification, approval, and use, and (iii) highlight the need for consistent international guidelines, especially from Codex Alimentarius, to help safely and effectively incorporate phage-based products in food. Research on phage-based products is growing, but it is not consistent across different regions. There are more patents and advancements in biotechnology, but they are limited to certain areas. Although progress is being made, the regulatory frameworks are still unclear, especially when it comes to how these products are classified, labeled, and monitored for safety. To address these gaps, risk-based guidelines are needed. These should define product categories and claims, set safety standards, and include rules for tracking products and monitoring them after they hit the market. Creating a new Codex Alimentarius project on phage-based products could help establish global guidelines that promote safe use, reduce uncertainty in regulations, and improve trade in food markets around the world.
Clostridium perfringens is a significant zoonotic foodborne pathogen. To systematically assess the potential risks associated with food-producing animals as a reservoir of C. perfringens in the early stages of the food production chain, we conducted whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and phenotypic analysis of 91 clinical C. perfringens isolates collected from pigs, chickens, cows, ducks, and geese across different regions of China. The results revealed that the isolates harbored a rich repertoire of toxin genes, with 71.43% (65/91) carrying greater than or equal to 10 toxin genes. Besides the classic type A, type C, which causes animal enterotoxemia, was most prevalent in pigs (45.76%). Notably, the and necrotic B-like (NetB) toxin, typically associated with avian necrotic enteritis, was also detected in isolates from cows and geese, suggesting potential cross-host transmission of toxin types. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed a severe resistance situation, particularly among porcine isolates, which showed the highest resistance rates to clindamycin, penicillin, and tetracycline, with widespread multidrug resistance (MDR). Genomic analysis further identified 14 types of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. The tetracycline resistance gene tetA(P) had an extremely high carriage rate of 94.51%, and AMR genes were most enriched in porcine isolates. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) identified 59 sequence types (STs), 42 of which were newly discovered, demonstrating high genetic diversity. Major clonal complexes (CCs) showed certain host and geographic clustering. Furthermore, while the restriction-modification (RM) system was present in all isolates, the distribution of other defense systems like CRISPR-Cas was strain-specific. This study revealed that C. perfringens from Chinese food-producing animals is characterized by high virulence, extensive antimicrobial resistance, and high genetic diversity. It highlighted that pigs may serve as a crucial reservoir and evolutionary hub for virulent MDR isolates, posing a continuous threat to food safety and public health, and underscored the necessity for enhanced monitoring at the farm level.
This work introduces a novel, cost-effective, and sustainable ionic liquid-assisted cloud point extraction (IL-CPE) technique for the enrichment and spectrophotometric quantification of trace copper(II) at 436 nm. The method employs the complexation of Cu(II) with (Z)-4-bromo-2-(((2-hydroxyphenyl)imino)methyl)phenol at pH 6.5, succeeded by extraction with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate and Triton X-114. Under optimal circumstances, the approach exhibited remarkable linearity (2.0-300 µg L⁻¹, R2 = 0.9997), substantial sensitivity with a preconcentration and enrichment factors 100 and 12.5, respectively, and a minimal detection limit of 0.6 µg L⁻¹. Precision and reliability of the novel IL-CPE method was validated by low relative standard deviation for 100 and 200 µg L⁻¹ (n = 10) was 1.6% and 2.0%, respectively, and accuracy was substantiated by the use of certified reference materials and actual environmental samples, encompassing water and food matrices. Moreover, the method's environmental effect was meticulously assessed utilizing several Green Analytical Chemistry metrics (AGREE, AGREEprep, ComplexMoGAPI, AGSA) and practical indices (BAGI, CACI). The evaluation via the RGB algorithm and Carbon Footprint Reduction Index (CaFRI) verifies that this method is a sustainable, eco-friendly, and very dependable option for regular trace metal detection.
Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis, an important zoonotic pathogen with increasing prevalence in the poultry industry, often persists despite rigorous disinfection. This study characterized the transcriptomic response of the multidrug-resistant Salmonella Infantis strain SE016, isolated from a poultry plant, to osmotic stress, a condition frequently induced by the use of industrial disinfectants. Phenotypic assays demonstrated that stress induced by 15% sucrose simulated osmotic stress, producing a drastic reduction in flagellar motility and a significant increase in biofilm formation in SE016, compared with a susceptible control strain. RNA-seq analysis indicated that SE016 undergoes coordinated transcriptional changes consistent with altered metabolic activity under osmotic stress. Key mechanisms include metabolic braking through repression of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle genes (icd, mdh) and induction of anaerobic nitrate respiration (narGHI, narZWV) as an energy contingency. Furthermore, SE016 showed increased expression of genes involved in osmoprotectant uptake, including the proU transport system and endogenous trehalose synthesis (ostAB) while repressing proline degradation (putA). Furthermore, robust biofilm formation was observed despite repression of the master regulator csgD. This was mediated by the CsgD-independent induction of the diguanylate cyclase adrA, activating cellulose synthesis (bcs). These results suggest that pathways associated with the OmpR/EnvZ two-component system may contribute to energy balance and persistence-related phenotypes under industrial-like stress conditions.
Listeria monocytogenes is a major foodborne pathogen whose persistence and pathogenicity are largely driven by biofilm formation and virulence factor formation. 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (HMB), a phenolic aldehyde derived from the root of Hemidesmus indicus, exhibits diverse biological activities. However, its antivirulence potential against L. monocytogenes remains unexplored. In this study, we systematically evaluated the antibiofilm and antivirulence potential of HMB against L. monocytogenes and its food-derived isolates. HMB exhibited a minimum inhibitory concentration of 512 μg/mL, while sub-inhibitory concentrations significantly inhibited biofilm formation without affecting planktonic growth. HMB treatment markedly impaired biofilm development on abiotic surfaces and key virulence-associated phenotypes, including cell surface hydrophobicity, listeriolysin, and flagellar motility. Comparative proteomic analysis revealed extensive remodelling of the L. monocytogenes proteome, with 62 downregulated and 43 upregulated proteins, notably affecting pathways related to motility, virulence, and biofilm regulation. These findings were further corroborated by qPCR validation and molecular docking studies, which demonstrated stable interactions between HMB and key virulence-associated proteins, supporting a multi-target mode of action. The in vivo anti-infective potential of HMB was validated using a Galleria mellonella infection model, where HMB treatment exhibited no host toxicity, significantly improved larval survival, and reduced bacterial burden following L. monocytogenes infection. Collectively, this integrated in vitro, proteomic, in silico, and in vivo investigation highlights HMB as a promising natural antivirulence and antibiofilm agent with potential application in mitigating L. monocytogenes contamination and infection in the food safety context.
Polylactic acid (PLA) plastics are increasingly used in food packaging as biodegradable substitute to petroleum-based plastics. However, the high temperatures used to reconstitute powdered foods, which often contain silica nanoparticles (SiNPs), readily induce PLA degradation, generating large amounts of PLA nanoplastics (PLA NPs). Due to the high affinity of PLA NPs to contaminants, this study investigated the interactions between PLA NPs and SiNPs, and their gut-liver adverse effects. Following the oral administration of PLA NPs and SiNPs to C57BL/6J male mice for 90 days, liver, colon, blood, and fecal samples were collected to assess liver damage, gut function and microbiota composition. The results showed that PLA NPs and SiNPs formed heterogeneous aggregates complexes (HAC), resulting in different hydrodynamic size and zeta potential. Compared with PLA NPs or SiNPs, HAC induced more severe hepatic and intestinal injuries and further disrupted gut microbial homeostasis. In the fecal microbiota transplantation and key bacteria supplementation experiments, liver oxidative stress induced by HAC was partly attributed to gut dysbiosis and the reduced abundance of Lactobacillus. In conclusion, HAC exhibited different physicochemical and toxicological properties than single contaminant, and oxidative stress is the key factor in gut-liver adverse effects. These findings uncover the potential interactions among contaminants and their combined adverse effects, and provided a new perspective for risk assessment process related to food contaminant exposure.
Background/Objectives:Helicobacter pylori infection is traditionally associated with gastrointestinal diseases; however, increasing evidence suggests that it may have systemic effects involving inflammatory, metabolic, and hematological pathways. Despite this, integrated evaluations of these domains remain limited, particularly in Middle Eastern populations. This study aimed to assess the impact of H. pylori infection on inflammatory, metabolic, and hematological parameters among adults. Methods: A case-control study was conducted including 100 participants (50 H. pylori-positive patients and 50 healthy controls) recruited from Qassim Health Cluster, Saudi Arabia. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and blood samples were analyzed for random blood sugar (RBS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hemoglobin, ferritin, and white blood cell count (WBC). Statistical analyses included group comparisons, Spearman correlation, logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: The infected group showed significantly higher levels of RBS and HbA1c, indicating impaired glycemic control. Inflammatory markers (CRP and ESR) were also significantly elevated compared to controls (p < 0.001). Hemoglobin and ferritin levels were significantly lower in the infected group (p < 0.001), suggesting disturbed iron metabolism. Correlation analysis revealed positive associations between inflammatory markers and glycemic indices, and negative associations with hemoglobin and ferritin. Multivariable logistic regression identified CRP (adjusted OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.04-1.71) and ESR (adjusted OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02-1.16) as independent predictors of H. pylori infection after adjustment for smoking status and fast-food consumption. The combined model demonstrated acceptable discriminatory performance with an AUC of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.74-0.90). Conclusions:Helicobacter pylori infection was associated with significant inflammatory, metabolic, and hematological alterations, supporting its potential role as a systemic condition beyond the gastrointestinal tract. These associations remained significant after adjustment for major lifestyle-related confounders, including smoking status and fast-food consumption. Although the combined inflammatory model demonstrated acceptable discriminatory performance, it should currently be considered mainly for research or preliminary screening purposes and not as a replacement for established diagnostic methods for active H. pylori infection. Further large-scale longitudinal and interventional studies are warranted to clarify causality and evaluate the impact of eradication therapy on systemic outcomes.
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a globally important cereal crop which provides ∼20% calories in human diet. Identifying genes and elucidating their functions is still challenging in wheat due to its large genome (∼16 Gb) with significant amount of repetitive elements. However, the gene cloning and functional characterization efforts are gradually picking up over the last decade. In this review article, we discussed the recent advances in wheat functional genomics including strategies (beyond the map-based cloning) based on next-generation sequencing, association analysis, and bulk segregant analysis along with its modifications. We also discussed how functional genomics approaches including conventional, genetic engineering, genome editing, and transient gene expression can be utilized in wheat improvement. Besides recent developments, we discussed the possible opportunities available for improving the field of gene cloning and functional genomics in wheat. Introducing the innovative and advanced functional genomics tools helps in identification and functional validation of target genes in wheat for faster genetic gain. Wheat is an important cereal crop supplying food for ∼30%–40% of the global population. Therefore, genetic improvement of wheat is important to ensure global food security. The large and complex wheat genome hinders the identification and validation of genes associated with key agronomic and stress related traits. However, recent advances in next‐generation sequencing and gene editing technologies have made it easier to identify and study gene functions. In this article, we discuss the latest functional genomics tools and techniques, as well as future opportunities for advancing gene cloning and functional genomics in wheat.
Plant essential oils exhibit potent antibacterial activity against food spoilage-associated bacteria; however, the anti-spoilage mechanism of cinnamon essential oil (CEO) at sublethal concentrations against Psychrobacter faecalis (P. faecalis), a dominant spoilage bacterium isolated from refrigerated squid, is still unclear. Our results demonstrated the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CEO was 0.72 mg/mL (cinnamaldehyde equivalent). Notably, at a sublethal concentration (1/2 MIC), CEO exerted no significant effect on bacterial growth, however, markedly inhibited biofilm formation and extracellular protease secretion. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes (DGEs) were predominantly enriched in amino acid metabolism, nitrogen utilization, and nicotinate/nicotinamide metabolism pathways; real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction validation confirmed significant downregulation (P < 0.05) of key DEGs (pta, GDH2, ggt, glnA, argH, gabD, OTC) implicated in amino acid and nitrogen catabolism. Metabolomic profiling further demonstrated attenuated generation of spoilage-related odorant precursors (L-tyrosine, phenylpyruvate, N6,N6-dimethyllysine), depletion of biofilm matrix phospholipid precursors (phosphoethanolamine, sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine), and accumulation of phospholipase-mediated membrane degradation products (LysoPC 15:0/0:0). Exhaustion of antioxidant reserves (l-ascorbic acid) concomitant with upregulation of lipid peroxidation biomarkers [9(S)-HODE, (7S,8S)-DiHODE, 9,10-DiHOME] confirmed severe intracellular oxidative stress. Metabolic flux redirection toward fatty acid β-oxidation indicated compensatory energy metabolism. Integrative multi-omics analysis established strong negative correlations between downregulated metabolic genes and oxidative stress markers, positioning CEO-induced oxidative stress as the initiating and orchestrating force of metabolic dysregulation. This oxidative stress-driven synergism, encompassing resource reallocation toward stress repair, systematic metabolic network suppression, and structural biofilm degradation, functionally incapacitated spoilage potential despite bacterial viability. Our findings suggest CEO's promise as a targeted anti-spoilage agent for refrigerated seafood preservation.
Cheese, a widely consumed dairy product, can be contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), a pathogen capable of producing toxins harmful to humans. Of particular concern is Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus (MRSA), which harbors antimicrobial resistance genes and secretes super-antigenic toxins. Present investigation aimed at determining the occurrence and characterizing MRSA in commercial cheese, to evaluate its potential public health risks. 120 cheese samples representing twelve commercial brands were collected in ten different batches over a six-month period in Sylhet, Bangladesh. The quality of the cheeses was evaluated and compared against the standards of Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA), European Union (EU), and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The occurrence of MRSA and its virulence factors were determined using standard microbiological and molecular techniques. Results revealed that 65% samples were positive for S. aureus, with staphylococcal load surpassing safety thresholds according to the above-mentioned standards. MRSA was detected in 30% of the samples, exhibiting resistance to multiple antibiotics. All the isolates showed resistance against penicillin, tetracycline, doxycycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and azithromycin, whereas ceftaroline, norfloxacin, and levofloxacin exhibited intermediate level of sensitivity. Enterotoxin genes SEa and SEc were prevalent in 16.67% and 8.97% of isolates, respectively, while TSST-1 gene was identified in 25.64% among the exfoliative toxin genes. Notably, 85.90% and 80.77% of the isolates exhibited biofilm formation based on the Congo Red and microtiter plate techniques, respectively, with significant percentages of biofilm associated regulatory genes icaA (73.08%), icaD (53.85%), clfA (78.21%), clfB (61.54%), and fnbA (69.23%). The substantial prevalence of blaCTX-M-2a (88.46%) and blaTEM (25.64%) highlights the significant public health risks associated with MRSA contamination in cheese. The high occurrence of S. aureus and the detection of multiple toxin-encoding genes further emphasize the need for strengthened monitoring and stricter control measures across the production and distribution chain to reduce contamination and ensure product safety.
Understanding the gelation behavior of novel plant protein under varying pH and temperature conditions is crucial for designing food systems with tailored texture, stability, and functional properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of pH and temperature on the aggregation behavior and heat-induced gelation of TGNP. The results showed that TGNP gelation was strongly influenced by both pH and heating temperature. Near the isoelectric point (pH 4), the protein exhibited minimal solubility (8%) and large particle size (>3000 nm) due to extensive aggregation, conditions that were unfavorable for the formation of a well-developed gel network. In contrast, strongly acidic (pH 2), neutral (pH 7), and alkaline (pH 10) conditions improved protein solubility (62%, 81% and 89%, respectively) and reduced particle sizes (400-900 nm), promoting better molecular dispersion and facilitating heat-induced gelation. Alkaline conditions particularly enhanced protein unfolding, exposing buried hydrophobic residues and sulfhydryl groups, which promoted hydrophobic interactions and disulfide cross-linking. These interactions resulted in the formation of the strongest and most stable heat-induced gels. Rheological analysis further revealed that stable elastic gels with higher viscosity, gel strength, and water-holding capacity were predominantly formed at neutral and alkaline pH, especially after heating at 95 °C. Disulfide bonds and hydrophobic interactions were identified as the primary forces governing TGNP gel network formation, although their relative contributions varied with pH and temperature. Overall, these findings provide new insights into the gelation mechanism of TGNP and highlight its potential as a novel functional protein ingredient for food systems requiring low gelation concentrations.
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS) and plays a vital role in maintaining neural balance, regulating mood, and reducing stress responses. Recent metagenomic studies of the gut microbiome have shown that various bacterial species, especially those in the genera Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Bacteroides, isolated from the human gut and environmental sources such as fermented foods, contain glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) systems that enable GABA production. Microbially produced GABA can influence the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis by activating neural, endocrine, and immune signalling pathways that are crucial for maintaining gut and brain homeostasis. Emerging evidence suggests that supplementation with GABA-producing bacteria, known as psychobiotics, may improve neurotransmitter balance, modulate cytokine production, strengthen the integrity of the intestinal barrier, and alleviate anxiety- and depression-related behaviours. This review summarises current knowledge of GABA-producing bacterial strains derived from the human gut and food environments and explores their potential as emerging psychobiotics in modulating gut-brain communication and mental health.
Due to the increased anthropogenic load, crops are polluted with heavy metals, including nickel (Ni). This is a serious environmental problem, as Ni penetrates barrier-free into cereal crops and accumulates in the grains used by humans and animals for food. Wheat is one of the main staple crops, cultivated in many countries. This study suggested that plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) with varying enzymatic activities could help wheat plants to cope with Ni stress by reducing Ni toxicity and regulating the metal's homeostasis. PGPB Bacillus megaterium AFI1 has a strong phosphate-solubilizing activity and produces siderophores, while Paenibacillus nicotianae AFI2 has nitrogen-fixing and silicate-solubilizing activities. Both strains produce indole and polysaccharides and have 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity. PGPB under Ni exposure (100 mg/kg of soil) significantly increased grain yield (by 34-42%) and decreased (by 20-33%) Ni content in wheat grains. PGPB also decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 levels in wheat plants under Ni stress. The contents of iron (Fe), boron (B), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) decreased significantly and potassium (K) and zinc (Zn) oppositely increased significantly in all plant organs under Ni exposure. The inoculation with AFI1 mainly increased P and Fe, and the inoculation with AFI2 increased N and silica (Si) in wheat grains under Ni stress. In our experiments, under nickel exposure PGPB Bacillus megaterium AFI1 and Paenibacillus nicotianae AFI2 increased antioxidant protection of plants by decreasing the level of stress ethylene and regulating the homeostasis of nutrients in wheat plants. These PGPB can be considered as promising candidates for the development of biologicals to be used for growing plants in soils with low levels of nickel contamination.
Background: The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®) is a commonly used tool to assess diet-related inflammation. Higher DII scores have been associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk in observational studies. However, evidence examining cardiovascular outcomes across DII levels in controlled settings remains limited. This secondary analysis examined cross-sectional differences and longitudinal associations between dietary inflammatory potential and cardiovascular outcomes in healthy Australian adults. Methods: This study used data from a double-blind randomised crossover trial, in which 50 participants consumed 60 mL/day of either extra virgin high-polyphenol olive oil (HPOO; 320 mg/kg) or low-polyphenol olive oil (LPOO; 86 mg/kg) across two 3-week intervention periods, separated by a 2-week washout. Anthropometric measures (weight, height, waist circumference, and BMI) and cardiovascular outcomes (i.e., blood pressure, lipids, oxidised LDL, and HDL cholesterol efflux capacity) were assessed at four timepoints. DII and energy-adjusted DII (E-DIITM) scores were derived from 3-day food diaries. Linear mixed-effects models were used to compare cardiovascular outcomes across repeated-measures DII tertiles (low, medium, and high), adjusting for intervention, period, sequence, age, sex and waist circumference. Results: Forty-three participants completed this study. At baseline, BMI, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and LDL differed significantly across DII tertiles (p < 0.05). However, over time, cardiovascular outcomes did not differ between medium or high versus low DII tertiles, and no significant time-by-tertile interactions were observed (all p > 0.05). DII values remained stable, while E-DII showed modest within-person reductions during both intervention periods (mean reduction: 0.886 units vs. 0.596 units). Conclusions: In this healthy cohort, there was no evidence of a consistent association between DII and short-term differences in cardiovascular outcomes across the intervention period. These findings should be interpreted cautiously, given the observational nature of DII groupings. Longer-duration studies with greater variation in dietary inflammatory potential are warranted to clarify the relationship between DII and cardiovascular health.
Infectious diseases remain a major global health concern, with a growing burden of antimicrobial resistance and consequent higher mortality in the human population. Accurate bacterial identification is fundamental across clinical, veterinary, agricultural, and research settings, supporting effective diagnosis, antimicrobial stewardship, infection control, food safety, and environmental monitoring; however, conventional approaches are limited by time constraints, reduced sensitivity, and challenges in detecting fastidious or uncultivable organisms. This review provides a comprehensive overview of classical and advanced methods, including microscopy, culture, biochemical testing, immunological and serological assays, proteomic and spectroscopy-based techniques, and molecular approaches, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), digital PCR, DNA hybridization, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, whole-genome sequencing, and metagenomics. The integration of artificial intelligence has further enhanced analytical performance. Nevertheless, harmonization of bioinformatics frameworks remains essential, as variability in algorithm-defined cut-off values limits standardized implementation of whole-genome sequencing in routine laboratories. Emerging technologies, including CRISPR-based diagnostics and phage- and nanomaterial-based detection systems, offer promising alternatives. Overall, the integration of these approaches is expected to improve the accuracy, speed, and applicability of bacterial identification across diverse settings; however, these advances should be implemented cautiously, with standardization remaining a key priority alongside technological modernization.
Rice, a staple food for more than half of the global population, undergoes multiple processing stages-such as harvesting, dehulling, milling, and polishing-before it reaches consumers. However, these processes not only alter the physical and nutritional characteristics of rice but may also affect the distribution and concentration of contaminants, thereby posing potential safety and quality risks. In this study, a total of 231 unhusked rice samples were collected from three provinces(Jiangsu, Anhui, and Fujian)in China between 2016 and 2018, along with 11 white rice samples purchased from supermarkets in 2018, and analyzed for the presence of ustiloxin A and D. After dehulling, 31.6% and 5.6% of the brown rice samples were found to be contaminated with ustiloxin A and D, respectively, while neither toxin was detected in the 11 white rice samples obtained from the market. The occurrence of ustiloxin A and D was higher in middle-late rice ecotypes than in the early rice ecotype, with the highest frequency observed in japonica-type rice. Geographically, Jiangsu Province had the highest incidence of ustiloxin A, whereas Anhui Province showed the highest occurrence of ustiloxin D. Importantly, the concentrations of both ustiloxins were higher in unhusked rice than in brown rice and white rice, underscoring that processing can significantly reduce, though not completely eliminate, contamination risks. These findings highlight the importance of continuous monitoring and further investigation into the transfer dynamics of contaminants during rice processing to ensure the safety of the final product.
Camel milk is widely consumed in the world's arid and semi-arid regions because of its favorable nutritional profile and associated human health benefits. The indigenous microbiota of raw camel milk is diverse and composed of different bacterial and fungal groups. This community drives spontaneous milk fermentation, resulting in a variety of traditional products, including Gariss, Shubat, Chal, Dhanaan, Lfrik, and Suusac (or Suusa), depending on geographic region and cultural practice. This fermented milk has improved sensory, nutritional, and health profiles, as well as an extended shelf life, compared to raw milk. Fermentation alters the microbial community structure, with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) consistently becoming dominant, while yeasts and molds are also detected in some products. These patterns have been identified using both culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches, including 16S rRNA gene sequencing and whole-genome shotgun metagenomics. However, the milk's microbial composition is highly variable and is influenced by the original composition, geographical location, fermentation and hygiene practices. The detection of opportunistic pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria in some traditional products raises important food safety concerns. This review presents current knowledge on fermented camel milk microbiology using a cross-regional approach, identifying key gaps in microbial safety and process standardization to support wider acceptance and potential commercialization.
Gut microbiota dysregulation has been increasingly implicated in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet clinical responses to standardized probiotic interventions remain inconsistent, likely reflecting substantial inter-individual variability in baseline microbiome composition, host-microbe interactions, immune tone, and metabolic function. Here, we present a pilot implementation of a metagenomics-guided, personalized synbiotic intervention in children with ASD using the Systematic Microbiome Assessment and Reconstruction Therapy (SMART) framework. Seven children (aged 5-12 years) underwent longitudinal fecal shotgun metagenomic profiling, and dietary habits, food sensitivities, and regional dietary background were recorded as contextual factors potentially influencing microbiome composition and response to intervention. Individualized synbiotic formulations were constructed based on microbial taxonomic composition and inferred functional capacity and iteratively refined over time. Gastrointestinal outcomes were assessed through caregiver-reported clinical observations, whereas behavioral changes were evaluated using standardized instruments. Several participants demonstrated improvements in gastrointestinal symptoms and selected behavioral domains. Notably, in a subset of participants, improvements in gastrointestinal function preceded measurable behavioral changes. Although limited by a small sample size and lack of a control group, these findings provide preliminary evidence supporting the feasibility of implementing a metagenomics-guided personalized synbiotic framework in ASD and generate hypotheses for future investigation. This work presents a preliminary conceptual framework for integrating microbial composition and inferred functional profiling into individualized intervention design and highlights the potential value of microbiome-informed stratification in future studies of treatment response. Larger controlled studies with objective outcome measures are warranted to further evaluate feasibility, reproducibility, and potential clinical utility.