The protein kinase Hog1 plays a central role in cellular responses, including cell volume and gene expression regulation during osmoregulation in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Despite sharing the conserved kinase Hog1 for osmotic response, Zygosaccharomyces rouxii and S. cerevisiae exhibit markedly different sugar resistance. Here, we systematically compared the phenotypes, Hog1 phosphorylation kinetics, and transcriptomic profiles of both yeasts under 60 % (w/v) extremely high-glucose stress. Under 60 % (w/v) extremely high-glucose stress, Z. rouxii exhibits prolonged survival with volume recovery post-shrinkage, contrasting S. cerevisiae's irreversible collapse. Additionally, we found that the important Hog1 kinase shows transient activation with Hsp70-coupled recovery in Z. rouxii versus sustained activation in S. cerevisiae. Correspondingly, transcriptome data showed different expression patterns of transmembrane transport differentially expressed genes (DEGs): S. cerevisiae upregulated high-affinity transporter genes (HXT3: 5.2-fold; HXT4: 4.7-fold), whereas Z. rouxii induced low-affinity transporter genes (ZYRO0E10054 (FFZ1): 1.6-fold; ZYRO0F02090 (FFZ2): 25.8-fold) under 60 % (w/v) extremely high-glucose stress. Most transmembrane transport gene expression patterns persist in 60 °brix apple juice stress (complex sugar), except for stress-type-specific induction of ZYRO0F02090 (FFZ2) and ZYRO0E09988 (FLR1). Our work deciphers the evolutionary divergence of sugar osmoadaptation strategies in yeasts, providing actionable targets for engineering microbial sugar tolerance.
{"title":"Dual-phase Hog1 activation and transporter gene reprogramming enable extreme sugar tolerance in food osmophilic yeasts.","authors":"Hong Guo, Qi Wang, Wenxi Lv, Yuxiang Zhang, Fei Wang, Yahong Yuan, Tianli Yue","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104879","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fm.2025.104879","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The protein kinase Hog1 plays a central role in cellular responses, including cell volume and gene expression regulation during osmoregulation in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Despite sharing the conserved kinase Hog1 for osmotic response, Zygosaccharomyces rouxii and S. cerevisiae exhibit markedly different sugar resistance. Here, we systematically compared the phenotypes, Hog1 phosphorylation kinetics, and transcriptomic profiles of both yeasts under 60 % (w/v) extremely high-glucose stress. Under 60 % (w/v) extremely high-glucose stress, Z. rouxii exhibits prolonged survival with volume recovery post-shrinkage, contrasting S. cerevisiae's irreversible collapse. Additionally, we found that the important Hog1 kinase shows transient activation with Hsp70-coupled recovery in Z. rouxii versus sustained activation in S. cerevisiae. Correspondingly, transcriptome data showed different expression patterns of transmembrane transport differentially expressed genes (DEGs): S. cerevisiae upregulated high-affinity transporter genes (HXT3: 5.2-fold; HXT4: 4.7-fold), whereas Z. rouxii induced low-affinity transporter genes (ZYRO0E10054 (FFZ1): 1.6-fold; ZYRO0F02090 (FFZ2): 25.8-fold) under 60 % (w/v) extremely high-glucose stress. Most transmembrane transport gene expression patterns persist in 60 °brix apple juice stress (complex sugar), except for stress-type-specific induction of ZYRO0F02090 (FFZ2) and ZYRO0E09988 (FLR1). Our work deciphers the evolutionary divergence of sugar osmoadaptation strategies in yeasts, providing actionable targets for engineering microbial sugar tolerance.</p>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"133 ","pages":"104879"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144948629","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-07-28DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2025.104885
Yajing Xie, Jiayao Lu, Bin Li, Dandi Li, Xuefei Du, Bochao Fan, Cunzheng Zhang, Xianjin Liu, Stefan Schmidt
Numerous foodborne disease outbreaks have been attributed to the consumption of fresh produce contaminated with foodborne pathogens. Contaminated irrigation water is a well-established source of bacterial and viral contamination during primary production and is frequently responsible for the contamination of fresh produce. However, efficient methods for the simultaneous detection of bacterial and viral pathogens present in irrigation water are still scarce. A new recombined method was developed to recover two foodborne viruses (human norovirus [huNoV, GI and GII] and rotavirus [RV]) and three pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella Enteritidis, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus) from irrigation water for strawberry production. The foodborne viruses and pathogenic bacteria were effectively recovered from spiked water using this method, even at low concentrations. The detection limits of the viruses (huNoV GII, huNoV GI, and RV) were 11, 4.5, and 16 genocopies/mL, while the detection limits of pathogenic bacteria (S. Enteritidis, L. monocytogenes, and S. aureus) were 7, 10, and 4 cells/mL. Using this method, the presence of foodborne pathogens in strawberry irrigation water samples collected from the Jiangsu province (China) was confirmed, with 61 % of samples testing positive for huNoV GII, 38.7 % for huNoV GI, 29.0 % for Salmonella spp., 16.1 % for L. monocytogenes, 9.7 % for S. aureus, and 3.2 % for RV or hepatitis A virus (HAV). HuNoV was also detected in strawberry samples, collected simultaneously from the same farm, when high huNoV detection frequencies and contamination levels were found in irrigation water samples, indicating that huNoV-contaminated irrigation water is a risk when used for strawberry production. This is the first report on the simultaneous detection of selected viral and bacterial pathogens from irrigation water in China, with the new method reported applicable for monitoring other relevant pathogens (e.g., coronavirus) in various water resources.
{"title":"Combined detection of foodborne pathogens in irrigation water in Jiangsu, China.","authors":"Yajing Xie, Jiayao Lu, Bin Li, Dandi Li, Xuefei Du, Bochao Fan, Cunzheng Zhang, Xianjin Liu, Stefan Schmidt","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104885","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fm.2025.104885","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Numerous foodborne disease outbreaks have been attributed to the consumption of fresh produce contaminated with foodborne pathogens. Contaminated irrigation water is a well-established source of bacterial and viral contamination during primary production and is frequently responsible for the contamination of fresh produce. However, efficient methods for the simultaneous detection of bacterial and viral pathogens present in irrigation water are still scarce. A new recombined method was developed to recover two foodborne viruses (human norovirus [huNoV, GI and GII] and rotavirus [RV]) and three pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella Enteritidis, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus) from irrigation water for strawberry production. The foodborne viruses and pathogenic bacteria were effectively recovered from spiked water using this method, even at low concentrations. The detection limits of the viruses (huNoV GII, huNoV GI, and RV) were 11, 4.5, and 16 genocopies/mL, while the detection limits of pathogenic bacteria (S. Enteritidis, L. monocytogenes, and S. aureus) were 7, 10, and 4 cells/mL. Using this method, the presence of foodborne pathogens in strawberry irrigation water samples collected from the Jiangsu province (China) was confirmed, with 61 % of samples testing positive for huNoV GII, 38.7 % for huNoV GI, 29.0 % for Salmonella spp., 16.1 % for L. monocytogenes, 9.7 % for S. aureus, and 3.2 % for RV or hepatitis A virus (HAV). HuNoV was also detected in strawberry samples, collected simultaneously from the same farm, when high huNoV detection frequencies and contamination levels were found in irrigation water samples, indicating that huNoV-contaminated irrigation water is a risk when used for strawberry production. This is the first report on the simultaneous detection of selected viral and bacterial pathogens from irrigation water in China, with the new method reported applicable for monitoring other relevant pathogens (e.g., coronavirus) in various water resources.</p>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"133 ","pages":"104885"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144948521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-08-05DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2025.104894
Lu-Wei Xu, Yan-Cheng Lin, Yi-Ting Shen, Xin Qi, Zi-Xu Zhang, Wang Ma, Xiao-Man Sun
Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), particularly palmitoleic, oleic and nervonic acids, serve essential functions in cardiovascular health, metabolic regulation and neuroprotection. Microbial fermentation has emerged as a sustainable production platform that circumvents the geographical constraints and high costs associated with traditional agricultural systems. This review establishes a holistic framework for sustainable MUFA production, systematically integrating upstream metabolic engineering (Δ9 desaturase pathway optimization and chassis strain design), midstream precision fermentation (artificial intelligence-driven dynamic control of bioreactor parameters), and downstream processing (supercritical fluid extraction and microencapsulation). Key strategies include enhancing precursor flux via enzyme engineering, resolving NADPH cofactor imbalances, implementing artificial intelligence-guided genome-scale metabolic models for real-time bioprocess optimization. This review emphasizes the value of microbial production of MUFAs and its optimization methods, while exploring its potential in nutraceutical and biomedical applications.
{"title":"From genes to products: High-efficiency biosynthesis and holistic optimization strategies for monounsaturated fatty acids.","authors":"Lu-Wei Xu, Yan-Cheng Lin, Yi-Ting Shen, Xin Qi, Zi-Xu Zhang, Wang Ma, Xiao-Man Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104894","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fm.2025.104894","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), particularly palmitoleic, oleic and nervonic acids, serve essential functions in cardiovascular health, metabolic regulation and neuroprotection. Microbial fermentation has emerged as a sustainable production platform that circumvents the geographical constraints and high costs associated with traditional agricultural systems. This review establishes a holistic framework for sustainable MUFA production, systematically integrating upstream metabolic engineering (Δ9 desaturase pathway optimization and chassis strain design), midstream precision fermentation (artificial intelligence-driven dynamic control of bioreactor parameters), and downstream processing (supercritical fluid extraction and microencapsulation). Key strategies include enhancing precursor flux via enzyme engineering, resolving NADPH cofactor imbalances, implementing artificial intelligence-guided genome-scale metabolic models for real-time bioprocess optimization. This review emphasizes the value of microbial production of MUFAs and its optimization methods, while exploring its potential in nutraceutical and biomedical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"133 ","pages":"104894"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144948647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-29DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2025.105031
Yu Zhang , Fangming Lan , Chi Zhao , Jvliang Dai , Dongdong Sun , Lixin Luo
Tetragenococcus halophilus is a halotolerant bacterium widely used in food fermentation, capable of withstanding various environmental stresses. However, the potential contribution of toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems to its stress tolerance remains poorly studied. Addressing this gap, this study identified and characterized a novel GNAT-Helix-Turn-Helix (HTH) TA system, designated RimI-ArsR, in Tetragenococcus halophilus CICC 10469. This study employed electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA), plasmid retention assays, persister cell formation tests, and proteomic analysis to systematically investigate the characteristics and functions of RimI-ArsR. The results demonstrated that this system exhibits canonical type Ⅱ toxin-antitoxin features and associated biological functions. Of these, RimI-ArsR exhibited a plasmid retention rate of over 50 % within the first 72 h. Under fermentation stress, the expression of RimI in T. halophilus was differentially altered, with 3.42-fold and 2.38-fold up-regulation following oxidative and acid stress, respectively. Furthermore, comparative proteomic analysis between RimI toxin-overexpressing strains and wild-type controls revealed a translation-inhibition mechanism mediated by this toxin. This study identifies the RimI acetyltransferase as a type Ⅱ toxin and characterizes the GNAT-HTH toxin-antitoxin system. These findings provide novel insights into the stress adaptation of Tetragenococcus halophilus, with potential implications for controlling fermentation processes.
{"title":"Unraveling the stress regulatory mechanisms and biological roles of the novel RimI-ArsR type Ⅱ toxin-antitoxin system in Tetragenococcus halophilus CICC 10469","authors":"Yu Zhang , Fangming Lan , Chi Zhao , Jvliang Dai , Dongdong Sun , Lixin Luo","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.105031","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.105031","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Tetragenococcus halophilus</em> is a halotolerant bacterium widely used in food fermentation, capable of withstanding various environmental stresses. However, the potential contribution of toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems to its stress tolerance remains poorly studied. Addressing this gap, this study identified and characterized a novel GNAT-Helix-Turn-Helix (HTH) TA system, designated <em>RimI-ArsR</em>, in <em>Tetragenococcus halophilus</em> CICC 10469. This study employed electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA), plasmid retention assays, persister cell formation tests, and proteomic analysis to systematically investigate the characteristics and functions of <em>RimI-ArsR</em>. The results demonstrated that this system exhibits canonical type Ⅱ toxin-antitoxin features and associated biological functions. Of these, <em>RimI-ArsR</em> exhibited a plasmid retention rate of over 50 % within the first 72 h. Under fermentation stress, the expression of <em>RimI</em> in <em>T. halophilus</em> was differentially altered, with 3.42-fold and 2.38-fold up-regulation following oxidative and acid stress, respectively. Furthermore, comparative proteomic analysis between <em>RimI</em> toxin-overexpressing strains and wild-type controls revealed a translation-inhibition mechanism mediated by this toxin. This study identifies the <em>RimI</em> acetyltransferase as a type Ⅱ toxin and characterizes the GNAT-HTH toxin-antitoxin system. These findings provide novel insights into the stress adaptation of <em>Tetragenococcus halophilus</em>, with potential implications for controlling fermentation processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"137 ","pages":"Article 105031"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145882347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-27DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2025.105032
Hang-Bo Xu , Meng-Ru Du , Zhen Jiao , Pan-Feng Guan , Ruo-Nan Ma
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have emerged as novel eco-friendly method for food sterilization. However, the usage of high-concentration ZnO NPs exhibit biological toxicity. To overcome the challenge, this study proposed the dual sterilization strategy coupling cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) with hydrophilic ZnO (H-ZnO) NPs for food decontamination to reduce ZnO NPs potential risk and investigated the synergistic sterilization effects and mechanism of CAP coupled with H-ZnO NPs at different concentration (0.001, 0.01, and 0.1 g/L). Results show that the combined treatment can efficiently inactivate Gram-negative (E. coli and S. enterica) and Gram-positive bacteria (L.monocytogenes and S. aureus) on the surface of blueberries. CAP +0.01 g/L H-ZnO NPs had the most obvious synergistic sterilization, and the bacterial reduction was increased by 0.5 log at least among the four strains. The combined treatment of CAP and 0.01 g/L H-ZnO NPs led to the enhanced generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and Zn2+ release from H-ZnO NPs in the solution. Meanwhile, the released Zn2+ flowed into the cell and accordingly increased the intracellular ROS level (670 %), consequently resulting in the improved bacterial inactivation. The low concentration of H-ZnO NPs (0.001 g/L) could not effectively cause membrane potential depolarization, and thus leading to a poor result of coupled sterilization. The high concentration of H-ZnO NPs (0.1 g/L) attaching on S. aureus cell surface may obstruct the interaction between CAP and S. aureus, which showed the worst synergistic bactericidal efficiency. This study proposed CAP/ZnO synergy offers a scalable, low-chemical alternative to conventional decontamination methods, which will address the emerging challenges in food management.
{"title":"A novel sterilization mechanism of cold plasma coupled with low-dose ZnO nanoparticles for food Decontamination: Synergistic reactive species generation and zinc ion release","authors":"Hang-Bo Xu , Meng-Ru Du , Zhen Jiao , Pan-Feng Guan , Ruo-Nan Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.105032","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.105032","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have emerged as novel eco-friendly method for food sterilization. However, the usage of high-concentration ZnO NPs exhibit biological toxicity. To overcome the challenge, this study proposed the dual sterilization strategy coupling cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) with hydrophilic ZnO (H-ZnO) NPs for food decontamination to reduce ZnO NPs potential risk and investigated the synergistic sterilization effects and mechanism of CAP coupled with H-ZnO NPs at different concentration (0.001, 0.01, and 0.1 g/L). Results show that the combined treatment can efficiently inactivate Gram-negative (<em>E. coli</em> and <em>S. enterica</em>) and Gram-positive bacteria (<em>L.monocytogenes</em> and <em>S. aureus</em>) on the surface of blueberries. CAP +0.01 g/L H-ZnO NPs had the most obvious synergistic sterilization, and the bacterial reduction was increased by 0.5 log at least among the four strains. The combined treatment of CAP and 0.01 g/L H-ZnO NPs led to the enhanced generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and Zn<sup>2+</sup> release from H-ZnO NPs in the solution. Meanwhile, the released Zn<sup>2+</sup> flowed into the cell and accordingly increased the intracellular ROS level (670 %), consequently resulting in the improved bacterial inactivation. The low concentration of H-ZnO NPs (0.001 g/L) could not effectively cause membrane potential depolarization, and thus leading to a poor result of coupled sterilization. The high concentration of H-ZnO NPs (0.1 g/L) attaching on <em>S. aureus</em> cell surface may obstruct the interaction between CAP and <em>S. aureus,</em> which showed the worst synergistic bactericidal efficiency. This study proposed CAP/ZnO synergy offers a scalable, low-chemical alternative to conventional decontamination methods, which will address the emerging challenges in food management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"137 ","pages":"Article 105032"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145882346","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-27DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2025.105023
Richard Park , David Rowlands , Libin Zhu , Victoria Obergh , Martin Porchas , Paul Brierley , Kevin Crosby , Mendel Friedman , Tom Turini , Bhimanagouda Patil , Kerry K. Cooper , Sadhana Ravishankar
In the United States, California and Arizona are the two main cantaloupe melon producing states. However, there have been multiple multistate foodborne outbreaks linked to cantaloupe melons. In this study, a total of 428 cantaloupe melon composites (1284 fruits total) and their respective environmental samples, including 87 soil, 87 rhizosphere, 56 air and 18 water samples, were collected and tested for the prevalence of foodborne pathogens as well as indicator microorganisms from 11 different fields in Arizona and two fields in California. Arizona samples were collected in 2018, 2019 and 2021 and California samples were collected in 2019. Commercial cantaloupe melons grown in Arizona had enterococci and coliform populations ranging between <1 and 6.13 and <1–7.45 Log CFU/melon, respectively. Enterococci populations ranged between <1 and 5.89 Log CFU/sample for Arizona environmental samples. Coliform counts for Arizona field environmental samples ranged between <1 and 7.47 Log CFU/sample. California commercial cantaloupe melons had enterococci and coliform populations ranging between <1–5.70 Log CFU/melon and <1−>8.57 Log CFU/melon, respectively. Coliform and enterococci counts ranged from <1−>7.78 Log CFU/sample and <1–5.29 Log CFU/sample for California field environmental samples, respectively. No Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria species, or Salmonella enterica were detected in any melon, rhizosphere, soil, or air samples from either Arizona or California. This information helps in understanding the risk of contamination from Salmonella, Listeria species and E. coli O157:H7 in commercial melon fields, as well as their environmental samples in Arizona and California.
{"title":"Prevalence of foodborne pathogens and indicator microorganisms on Arizona and California grown commercial cantaloupe melons and in environmental samples","authors":"Richard Park , David Rowlands , Libin Zhu , Victoria Obergh , Martin Porchas , Paul Brierley , Kevin Crosby , Mendel Friedman , Tom Turini , Bhimanagouda Patil , Kerry K. Cooper , Sadhana Ravishankar","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.105023","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.105023","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the United States, California and Arizona are the two main cantaloupe melon producing states. However, there have been multiple multistate foodborne outbreaks linked to cantaloupe melons. In this study, a total of 428 cantaloupe melon composites (1284 fruits total) and their respective environmental samples, including 87 soil, 87 rhizosphere, 56 air and 18 water samples, were collected and tested for the prevalence of foodborne pathogens as well as indicator microorganisms from 11 different fields in Arizona and two fields in California. Arizona samples were collected in 2018, 2019 and 2021 and California samples were collected in 2019. Commercial cantaloupe melons grown in Arizona had enterococci and coliform populations ranging between <1 and 6.13 and <1–7.45 Log CFU/melon, respectively. Enterococci populations ranged between <1 and 5.89 Log CFU/sample for Arizona environmental samples. Coliform counts for Arizona field environmental samples ranged between <1 and 7.47 Log CFU/sample. California commercial cantaloupe melons had enterococci and coliform populations ranging between <1–5.70 Log CFU/melon and <1−>8.57 Log CFU/melon, respectively. Coliform and enterococci counts ranged from <1−>7.78 Log CFU/sample and <1–5.29 Log CFU/sample for California field environmental samples, respectively. No <em>Escherichia coli</em> O157:H7<em>, Listeria</em> species, or <em>Salmonella enterica</em> were detected in any melon, rhizosphere, soil, or air samples from either Arizona or California. This information helps in understanding the risk of contamination from <em>Salmonella</em>, <em>Listeria</em> species and <em>E. coli</em> O157:H7 in commercial melon fields, as well as their environmental samples in Arizona and California.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"137 ","pages":"Article 105023"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145882349","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-26DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2025.105015
T.L. Harrell, A. Shwani, D.L. Suarez
In March 2024, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) clade 2.3.4.4. b H5N1 was detected in dairy cattle. Since detection, the virus has spread across 17 states, infecting more than 1000 dairy herds, causing concern for the dairy industry regarding the effects on dairy cattle, the risk associated with milk quality and production, and ultimately its risk to humans. It has been shown that pasteurization is sufficient to inactivate HPAIV, if present in milk, making it safe for human consumption. However, unpasteurized raw milk that is routinely consumed and used to make cheese, yogurt, and kefir is a public health concern. We acidified raw milk, a process that is analogous to the preliminary phase of generating fermented milk products, with acetic, propionic, lactic, or citric acid to pH 5; or acidified it with acetic acid to pH 6, 5, or 4. Each sample was subsequently spiked with low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) and incubated at room temperature for up to 24 h before being inoculated into 10-day old specific-pathogen-free embryonating chicken eggs. Embryos were assessed daily for viability and hemagglutination assays on the allantoic fluid was used to confirm the presence of viable LPAIV. The reduction of viable virus was significantly correlated with both time and pH but not specific type of acid tested. An acid treatment at pH 4 and 5 progressively reduced viable LPAIV levels over time, with the most pronounced inactivation observed at 24 h. Samples at pH 6 had little reduction in virus viability.
{"title":"The impact of acids, pH, and incubation time on avian influenza virus persistence in raw milk","authors":"T.L. Harrell, A. Shwani, D.L. Suarez","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.105015","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.105015","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In March 2024, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) clade 2.3.4.4. b H5N1 was detected in dairy cattle. Since detection, the virus has spread across 17 states, infecting more than 1000 dairy herds, causing concern for the dairy industry regarding the effects on dairy cattle, the risk associated with milk quality and production, and ultimately its risk to humans. It has been shown that pasteurization is sufficient to inactivate HPAIV, if present in milk, making it safe for human consumption. However, unpasteurized raw milk that is routinely consumed and used to make cheese, yogurt, and kefir is a public health concern. We acidified raw milk, a process that is analogous to the preliminary phase of generating fermented milk products, with acetic, propionic, lactic, or citric acid to pH 5; or acidified it with acetic acid to pH 6, 5, or 4. Each sample was subsequently spiked with low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) and incubated at room temperature for up to 24 h before being inoculated into 10-day old specific-pathogen-free embryonating chicken eggs. Embryos were assessed daily for viability and hemagglutination assays on the allantoic fluid was used to confirm the presence of viable LPAIV. The reduction of viable virus was significantly correlated with both time and pH but not specific type of acid tested. An acid treatment at pH 4 and 5 progressively reduced viable LPAIV levels over time, with the most pronounced inactivation observed at 24 h. Samples at pH 6 had little reduction in virus viability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"137 ","pages":"Article 105015"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973597","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Seafood safety is increasingly threatened by bacterial contamination, biofilm formation, and increasing antimicrobial resistance. Conventional methods such as refrigeration, chemical preservatives, and antibiotics often fail to effectively eliminate resilient pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio spp., and Salmonella spp., necessitating alternative strategies. Bacteriophages have emerged as a promising biocontrol approach due to their high specificity and biofilm penetration, as well as their minimal impact on beneficial microbiota. This review explores the diverse applications of bacteriophages in seafood safety, including direct surface treatments, bacteriophage-embedded packaging, and pre-harvest interventions in aquaculture. Additionally, phage biocontrol in combination with natural antimicrobials, quorum sensing inhibitors, and advanced processing technologies, such as high-pressure processing, cold plasma, and plasma-activated water, is examined for enhanced reduction or elimination of pathogenic bacteria. Advances in genetic engineering have further expanded phage efficacy, enabling host range modification, improved stability, and increased bactericidal activity. The commercialization of phage biocontrol, however, faces challenges related to bacterial resistance, regulatory barriers, and variations in environmental conditions affecting phage stability. Despite these limitations, bacteriophages present a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical preservatives and antibiotics, aligning with consumer demand for natural food safety solutions. Future research should focus on optimizing phage formulations, improving delivery systems, and establishing globally harmonized regulations to facilitate the widespread adoption of bacteriophages in seafood processing. Phage biocontrol hold significant potential to revolutionize seafood safety by mitigating contamination risks and enhancing product shelf life.
{"title":"Revolutionizing seafood safety with bacteriophages: emerging technologies and applications","authors":"Nigar Sultana Meghla , Soo-Jin Jung , Md Furkanur Rahaman Mizan , Syeda Roufun Nesa , IkSoon Kang , Sang-Do Ha","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.105021","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.105021","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Seafood safety is increasingly threatened by bacterial contamination, biofilm formation, and increasing antimicrobial resistance. Conventional methods such as refrigeration, chemical preservatives, and antibiotics often fail to effectively eliminate resilient pathogens, including <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em>, <em>Vibrio</em> spp., and <em>Salmonella</em> spp., necessitating alternative strategies. Bacteriophages have emerged as a promising biocontrol approach due to their high specificity and biofilm penetration, as well as their minimal impact on beneficial microbiota. This review explores the diverse applications of bacteriophages in seafood safety, including direct surface treatments, bacteriophage-embedded packaging, and pre-harvest interventions in aquaculture. Additionally, phage biocontrol in combination with natural antimicrobials, quorum sensing inhibitors, and advanced processing technologies, such as high-pressure processing, cold plasma, and plasma-activated water, is examined for enhanced reduction or elimination of pathogenic bacteria. Advances in genetic engineering have further expanded phage efficacy, enabling host range modification, improved stability, and increased bactericidal activity. The commercialization of phage biocontrol, however, faces challenges related to bacterial resistance, regulatory barriers, and variations in environmental conditions affecting phage stability. Despite these limitations, bacteriophages present a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical preservatives and antibiotics, aligning with consumer demand for natural food safety solutions. Future research should focus on optimizing phage formulations, improving delivery systems, and establishing globally harmonized regulations to facilitate the widespread adoption of bacteriophages in seafood processing. Phage biocontrol hold significant potential to revolutionize seafood safety by mitigating contamination risks and enhancing product shelf life.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"137 ","pages":"Article 105021"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145839563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Campylobacter jejuni is a foodborne pathogen with limited ability to thrive at low temperatures. This study investigated the survival and proteomic responses of C. jejuni NCTC 11168 during prolonged storage at 4 °C, with specific focus on its behavior in chicken juice. An initial rapid decrease of 80–90 % in viable cell counts across various broth media was observed within the first 10 days; however, chicken juice provided the most conducive environment for slowing the decline in cell viability compared to Brain Heart Infusion Broth (BHI) and Mueller Hinton (MH) broths. Electron microscopy revealed morphological transitions from spiral to coccoid forms over time, indicative of a stress adaptation strategy. Proteomic analysis identified 50 upregulated and six downregulated proteins, with key enriched functional categories including translation, ribosomal biogenesis, energy metabolism, cell envelope biogenesis, and motility. KEGG pathway analysis highlighted significant changes in metabolic pathways, flagellar assembly, and bacterial secretion systems. A protein-protein interaction network revealed clusters associated with ribosomal function, cell envelope maintenance, and motility. The acidic periplasmic protein Cj0424 (8.92-fold), previously linked to biofilm formation and oxidative stress response, was the most upregulated protein. Notably, no virulence-associated proteins were detected under cold storage conditions. These findings suggest that C. jejuni employs a multifaceted stress response to low temperatures, enhancing its persistence in food matrices and posing a potential transmission risk.
{"title":"Protein expression and morphological adaptations of Campylobacter jejuni under prolonged cold stress in chicken juice","authors":"Kidon Sung , Miseon Park , Ohgew Kweon , Alena Savenka , Angel Paredes , Saeed Khan","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.105020","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.105020","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Campylobacter jejuni</em> is a foodborne pathogen with limited ability to thrive at low temperatures. This study investigated the survival and proteomic responses of <em>C. jejuni</em> NCTC 11168 during prolonged storage at 4 °C, with specific focus on its behavior in chicken juice. An initial rapid decrease of 80–90 % in viable cell counts across various broth media was observed within the first 10 days; however, chicken juice provided the most conducive environment for slowing the decline in cell viability compared to Brain Heart Infusion Broth (BHI) and Mueller Hinton (MH) broths. Electron microscopy revealed morphological transitions from spiral to coccoid forms over time, indicative of a stress adaptation strategy. Proteomic analysis identified 50 upregulated and six downregulated proteins, with key enriched functional categories including translation, ribosomal biogenesis, energy metabolism, cell envelope biogenesis, and motility. KEGG pathway analysis highlighted significant changes in metabolic pathways, flagellar assembly, and bacterial secretion systems. A protein-protein interaction network revealed clusters associated with ribosomal function, cell envelope maintenance, and motility. The acidic periplasmic protein <em>Cj0424</em> (8.92-fold), previously linked to biofilm formation and oxidative stress response, was the most upregulated protein. Notably, no virulence-associated proteins were detected under cold storage conditions. These findings suggest that <em>C. jejuni</em> employs a multifaceted stress response to low temperatures, enhancing its persistence in food matrices and posing a potential transmission risk.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 105020"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145837124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-24DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2025.105022
Mingyue Ji , Jiangang Gong , Zixian Liu, Xinru Liu, Xiya Wang, Changwei Ao, Jianxin Tan
This study employed an integrated approach of metagenomics and metabolomics to investigate microbial community dynamics during mulberry wine fermentation under varying temperatures (17–29 °C) and pH levels (3.0–4.5). Twenty treatment combinations, spanning 27 days, captured the temporal dynamics of microbial communities and metabolic activity. Environmental stress significantly shaped community assembly, with Saccharomyces cerevisiae acting as the dominant fermentation organism and Lactobacillus spp. associated with organic acids. Core population analysis revealed specialized functions in ethanol production, acid resistance, and flavor biosynthesis. An optimal fermentation efficiency of 82 % and an ethanol content of 9.1 % vol. were achieved with the response surface method, resulting in optimal fermentation conditions of 23 ± 1 °C with a pH of 3.5 ± 0.1. Multi-omics correlation network analysis revealed coordinated associations among gene expression, enzymatic activities, and metabolite profiles, including coordinated expression patterns of flavor compound biosynthesis pathways. This research provides evidence-based optimization strategies for industrial mulberry wine production, enhancing understanding of stress-responsive microbial adaptation mechanisms.
{"title":"Multi-omics investigation of microbial community dynamics and metabolic regulation in mulberry wine fermentation under temperature and acid stress","authors":"Mingyue Ji , Jiangang Gong , Zixian Liu, Xinru Liu, Xiya Wang, Changwei Ao, Jianxin Tan","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.105022","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.105022","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study employed an integrated approach of metagenomics and metabolomics to investigate microbial community dynamics during mulberry wine fermentation under varying temperatures (17–29 °C) and pH levels (3.0–4.5). Twenty treatment combinations, spanning 27 days, captured the temporal dynamics of microbial communities and metabolic activity. Environmental stress significantly shaped community assembly, with <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> acting as the dominant fermentation organism and <em>Lactobacillus</em> spp. associated with organic acids. Core population analysis revealed specialized functions in ethanol production, acid resistance, and flavor biosynthesis. An optimal fermentation efficiency of 82 % and an ethanol content of 9.1 % vol. were achieved with the response surface method, resulting in optimal fermentation conditions of 23 ± 1 °C with a pH of 3.5 ± 0.1. Multi-omics correlation network analysis revealed coordinated associations among gene expression, enzymatic activities, and metabolite profiles, including coordinated expression patterns of flavor compound biosynthesis pathways. This research provides evidence-based optimization strategies for industrial mulberry wine production, enhancing understanding of stress-responsive microbial adaptation mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"137 ","pages":"Article 105022"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145839561","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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