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PubMed2026

Insights into the fate and dynamics of antibiotic resistance in multidrug-resistant Bacillus cereus during in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion.

Bacillus cereus, an important pathogen responsible for causing foodborne diseases worldwide, releases pore-forming enterotoxins, which target host epithelial cells, leading to osmotic lysis and ultimately manifesting as diarrheal syndrome. Moreover, some B. cereus strains carry antimicrobial resistance genes that confer multidrug resistance against a spectrum of antibiotics. Characterizing the survival traits of multidrug-resistant (MDR) B. cereus strains in the intestinal microenvironment is essential for developing targeted strategies to effectively manage diarrheal foodborne diseases caused by this pathogen. This study used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to evaluate the pre- and post-digestion toxigenic potential, antimicrobial resistance profiles, and genetic diversity of MDR B. cereus strains isolated from food samples in Guangdong Province, China. The four B. cereus isolates investigated in this study exhibited a genetic diversity, as determined by multilocus sequence typing analysis of WGS data. All four isolates produced the diarrheal toxins Hbl, Nhe, and CytK to varying levels, indicative of their potential to cause outbreaks of foodborne diseases. Each of the four isolates exhibited resistance to more than three classes of antibiotics, fulfilling the criterion for multidrug resistance. At an initial concentration of 9 log colony-forming units (CFU)/mL, the intestinal concentration of these four isolates crossed the threshold required to induce widespread diarrhea in the general population. Under rice slurry protection, all tested isolates maintained intestinal concentration beyond the threshold when the initial concentration was increased to ≥8 log CFU/mL. Moreover, the upregulations of genes associated with acid tolerance, bile tolerance and stress response were observed in the surviving MDR B. cereus isolates. Digestion markedly altered the antibiotic resistance profiles of the MDR B. cereus isolates. In the absence of a food matrix, the MDR isolates lost their resistance to imipenem, meropenem, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole post-digestion and was influenced by the initial concentration of the strains. In the presence of food matrix rice slurry, the effects of digestion on the antibiotic resistance of MDR B. cereus isolates can be mitigated, enabling them to maintain their antibiotic resistance to the greatest extent. Most remarkably, after digestion, the isolates Bce055 and Bce166 exhibited newly emergent resistance to cefotetan and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, respectively. Our findings clarify the fate of MDR B. cereus isolates in the gastrointestinal tract and inform the development of prevention and control strategies for foodborne diseases caused by this pathogen.

Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial↗

PubMed2026

Ribotyping for Accurate Identification of Infectious Bacteria in Animal-Derived Foods and Laboratory Samples: Implications for Human Health.

Ribotyping is a molecular typing approach based on ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences for the identification and characterization of bacterial strains. This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of ribotyping in the identification of infectious bacteria in animal-derived foods and veterinary samples. A narrative literature review was conducted using major scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, covering studies published to 2025. Relevant articles were selected based on their focus on ribotyping methodologies (e.g., RFLP-, PCR-, and automated ribotyping) and their applications in food safety, veterinary microbiology, and zoonotic disease investigations. The findings indicate that ribotyping has been widely applied for epidemiological investigations, source tracking, and characterization of foodborne and zoonotic pathogens. These approaches have contributed to understanding bacterial diversity and monitoring antibiotic resistance patterns in animal populations and related food products. However, compared with high-resolution molecular techniques such as whole genome sequencing (WGS), ribotyping demonstrates lower discriminatory power and limited resolution for fine-scale epidemiological analysis. Despite these limitations, ribotyping remains a useful, accessible, and cost-effective tool in certain laboratory and surveillance settings, particularly where advanced genomic technologies are not readily available. Overall, integrating ribotyping with newer genomic approaches can enhance the monitoring and control of infectious bacteria, thereby supporting animal health, food safety, and public health outcomes.

animal-derived foods↗

PubMed2026

Design of an innovative framework based hybrid catalyst for simultaneous and sensitive monitoring of food additive and preservative of vanillin and nitrite in direct samples.

As vanillin (VAN) and nitrite (NIT) contamination in the food chain poses substantial threats to environmental and public health, rapid and portable detection is essential. The present study presents the first electrochemical sensor report based on a hybrid composite of Ni-TPA-MOF and MoS2/Co3O4. The oxidation of VAN and NIT exhibited sharp peaks and less over-potential on Ni-TPA-MOF/MoS2/Co3O4/GCE than on control electrode surfaces. On modified composite electrode surfaces, pH and scan rate were investigated for VAN and NIT. Further, the oxidation current exhibited high linearity at VAN and NIT concentrations of 5 nM-1000 μM and 3 nM-1250 μM, with detection limits of 0.102 nM and 0.073 nM (S/N = 3). We also applied anti-interfering ability (five/ten-fold excess of co-interfering compounds) and practical tests to various food-based real samples, with high recoveries of 98.85-102.41%. This study highlights the catalytic properties of Ni-TPA-MOF/MoS2/Co3O4 and demonstrates the sensor as a promising tool for food safety.

Benzaldehydes↗

PubMed2026

Wildlife as a reservoir of OXA-48-like carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales.

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPEs) have globally emerged and spread beyond human compartments. However, data in wild animals, especially from low- and middle-income countries, such as Algeria, are still very scarce. Here, we investigated CPEs recovered from feces samples collected between October 2021 and June 2023 from wild terrestrial and aquatic mammals, wild migratory/nesters/sedentary birds, and zoo animals, including their environment (water, food, and fecal samples of animal care workers) distributed over six Algerian provinces. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales were characterized using MALDI-TOF-MS, Carba NP, immunochromatographic assay NG-Test CARBA 5, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and whole-genome sequencing. Thirty CPEs were identified out of the 1,899 samples collected (1.6%). The carriage rate was higher in captive animals (3.2%) than in wild animals (1.2%). Twenty-six produced OXA-48, three OXA-244, and one OXA-181, along with CTX-M-15 ESBL. Clonal expansion of Enterobacter hormaechei hoffmannii ST145 and Klebsiella pneumoniae ST13 was evidenced. Plasmid analysis confirmed that 24/30 isolates harbored a transferable 62 kb IncL pOXA-48 plasmid. Five/six E. coli isolates belonged to high-risk clones with chromosome-mediated blaOXA-244 gene in three isolates, blaOXA-48 in two isolates, and blaOXA-181 gene encoded on an IncFII-ColKP3 hybrid plasmid in one isolate. This study showed widespread dissemination of OXA-48-like producing Enterobacterales in free and captive wild animals, largely driven by epidemic plasmids and clones. It underscores the role of wild animals as a reservoir of CPEs, particularly species living close to humans, such as gulls and pigeons, and occasionally food-producing animals, increasing the risk of bidirectional dissemination between animal, environmental, and human sectors.IMPORTANCEThe global rise of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPEs) harboring blaOXA-48-like has been increasingly documented in clinical settings. However, their emergence and transmission in wild and captive animals are less documented. This study provides a high-resolution genomic characterization of CPEs isolated from the feces of wild animals, especially migratory birds, and from captive wild animals, to evaluate the potential risk of dissemination through these animals. Whole-genome sequencing data, genetic investigations, and antimicrobial susceptibility results highlighted the spread of multidrug-resistant CPEs in both animals and humans. The widespread detection of blaOXA-48 across multiple niches suggests sustained circulation beyond hospital settings in Algeria. Human-associated lineages, such as E. coli ST131, ST38, and ST540, were identified with a clear link with humans. This study demonstrates carriage of CPEs in multiple bird species living in areas commonly inhabited by humans and provides further evidence for an effective dissemination of resistance in wildlife, facilitated by feeding habits.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Molecular surveillance of foodborne bacterial pathogens and resistome in food products from Hong Kong.

Foodborne infections pose an increasing public health challenge worldwide. The problem has been aggravated by the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes among zoonotic pathogens, which results in a sharp increase in antibiotic resistance rate recorded among the major foodborne pathogens. To obtain an overview of the extent to which food products purchased in the markets in Hong Kong were contaminated by foodborne pathogens, we collected 95 raw meat samples from wet markets and isolated 236 bacterial strains of various species, with Escherichia coli being the most dominant species (131 strains). Contamination of food products by multiple foodborne pathogens was commonly observed. These include both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria that exhibit various levels of resistance, with some possessing multiple clinically important antibiotic resistance genes. Seventeen bacterial strains of various species isolated from three food samples were comprehensively analysed by the Oxford Nanopore R10.4 technology. Novel conjugative plasmids carrying antimicrobial resistance gene-bearing mobile genetic elements were commonly detectable in the test strains. Some of the plasmids were shown to have originated from other environmental sources or other bacterial species, indicating that raw foods in the local market may serve as a reservoir of resistance-encoding genetic elements from which such elements are disseminated to various microbial pathogens. These findings suggest a need to perform periodic but comprehensive surveillance of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens and the major antimicrobial resistance genes in common food products, so as to disrupt the transmission routes of such organisms and the resistance-encoding genetic elements that they harbour.

Hong Kong↗

PubMed2026

Portable metagenomics for preventive surveillance and outbreak control in livestock and poultry: Pathogen detection, resistome profiling, and antimicrobial stewardship.

Conventional diagnostics for livestock and poultry outbreaks commonly rely on culture or targeted PCR panels, which may be too slow or too narrow to guide early control decisions. Portable metagenomics, particularly real-time nanopore sequencing, offers a route to broad pathogen detection, antimicrobial-resistance gene profiling, and outbreak investigation within an integrated workflow. This implementation-focused review evaluates how near-point-of-care metagenomics may support preventive veterinary medicine through earlier detection, surveillance, cohorting, biosecurity decisions, and antimicrobial stewardship. We synthesize sample-to-answer workflows for enteric and respiratory disease in food-producing animals, including sampling, nucleic-acid extraction, host depletion or target enrichment, library preparation, sequencing, bioinformatics, quality control, and interpretation. Applications in calf diarrhea, bovine respiratory disease, poultry outbreaks, mastitis, and resistome monitoring are considered alongside the central limitation that detection alone does not establish causation. Pathogen and resistance-gene signals must therefore be interpreted with clinical signs, lesions, epidemiology, controls, and confirmatory testing. We also propose a minimum reporting checklist, intended as a practical framework rather than a validated consensus standard. Portable metagenomics is not a replacement for conventional diagnostics, but appropriately validated workflows can reduce uncertainty during time-sensitive outbreaks and support more judicious antimicrobial use.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Transmission of extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and antimicrobial resistance gene flow across One Health compartments in eastern Africa: a whole-genome sequence analysis from a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The One Health paradigm considers interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health. However, there is little evidence from high-income countries to support the importance of a One Health approach to addressing spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Given AMR is a global threat, understanding how the close interactions of humans with animals and the environment in low-income settings affect the spread of AMR is important. We aimed to investigate diversity and transmission of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli across household-linked One Health compartments using genomic data. METHODS: We sequenced whole genomes of ESBL-producing E coli isolates from humans, animals, and the environment from a prospective, longitudinal cohort study conducted in Malawi (April 29, 2019, to Dec 3, 2020) and Uganda (July 16, 2020, to Aug 6, 2021). In the cohort study, 259 households were enrolled at baseline in Malawi and 92 in Uganda from a mix of urban, peri-urban, and rural areas. Households were followed up at months 1, 3, and 6 in Malawi and at months 1, 2, and 4 in Uganda. Samples collected at each visit included human and animal stool, environmental samples from hand-contact areas, food, and water, and broader environmental samples such as river water. Samples were cultured in buffered peptone water and then ESBL chromogenic agar to isolate ESBL-producing E coli. ESBL-producing E coli isolates underwent whole-genome sequencing. We performed phylogenetic analyses, and in-silico multi-locus sequence typing, characterised AMR determinants and linked genotypes with sample location, ecological source, and other covariates. We performed fine-scale single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and network analysis to infer strain and plasmid transmission across ecological compartments. The primary outcome was colonisation with ESBL-producing E coli. Secondary outcomes were genomic clusters and ESBL genomic determinants within and between One Health compartments. FINDINGS: We found high diversity of ESBL-producing E coli, with 170 sequence types and 166 genomic clusters identified from 2344 genomes, including 1814 genomes from Malawi (907 human, 221 animal, and 686 environmental) and 530 genomes from Uganda (380 human, 147 animal, and three environmental). Sequence type (ST)131 dominated in Malawi (209 [11·5%] of 1814 genomes), and ST10 dominated in Uganda (45 [8·5%] of 530 genomes). Common ESBL genes blaCTX-M-15 (1604 [68·4%] of 2344 genomes) and blaCTX-M-27 (336 [14·3%] of 2344 genomes) were carried on a complex network of 55 and 30 different plasmids. This diversity of plasmids presented multiple pathways for dissemination and revealed high force of selection. Phylogenetic analyses revealed common intermixing of isolates between humans, animals, and the environment. SNP transmission analysis revealed ecologically overlapping clusters, suggesting ESBL-producing E coli co-circulation both within and between compartments with frequent spillover events. Applying a five-SNP threshold, we inferred 463 human-environment transmission events, 146 human-animal events, and 142 animal-environment events. INTERPRETATION: Our work suggests that a One Health approach is crucial to addressing AMR in eastern Africa. Improving water, sanitation, and hygiene systems will create a safer environment, reduce spillovers of AMR bacteria between compartments, and eventually reduce AMR reservoirs in the environment and in animals. FUNDING: Medical Research Council, National Institute for Health and Care Research, and Wellcome Trust.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Gut bacteria associated with an atherogenic TMAO-dietary pattern and choline-rich foods among aging women.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Choline can be metabolized by gut bacteria with a choline utilization gene, CutC, as identified through genome sequencing studies. This metabolism produces trimethylamine, the precursor to the atherosclerotic metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). Bacterial species involved in trimethylamine production in free-living humans have been under-investigated. We previously developed the TMAO dietary pattern (TMAO-DP), which is predictive of plasma TMAO and choline. We evaluated associations between the TMAO-DP, dietary choline, and choline-rich foods (fish, red meat, eggs) with the abundance of species with CutC. We also explored associations between the TMAO-DP and microbiome diversity. METHODS AND RESULTS: This cross-sectional analysis included 287 women (mean age = 79.6 years) from the Women's Health Initiative. Diet was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Stool samples were collected and the V3-V4 regions of the 16S ribosomal RNA were sequenced. Adjusted linear regression models evaluated associations between the TMAO-DP with the CLR-transformed abundance of species with CutC and with alpha-diversity indices. For beta-diversity, PERMANOVA examined measures of Aitchison distance within and between quartiles of the TMAO-DP. Associations between dietary choline and choline-rich foods with the abundance of species were evaluated using linear regression. The TMAO-DP was associated with Acidaminococcus intestini [Beta (SE): 0.23 (0.09), p-value = 0.035] and Desulfovibrio desulfuricans [Beta (SE): 0.16 (0.6), p = 0.035]. The TMAO-DP was not associated with alpha- or beta-diversity. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that Desulfovibrio desulfuricans and Acidaminococcus intestini, two species identified as having CutC by gene sequencing, may produce trimethylamine from diet in free-living women.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Trends in the Prevalence of Foods High in Saturated Fats, Sodium, and Added Sugars among U.S. adults, NHANES 2007-2018.

BACKGROUND: Foods and beverages high in saturated fats, sodium, and added sugars (HFSS) are often ultra-processed and linked to poor health outcomes, but few studies have investigated their intake. OBJECTIVE: To describe the trends in the intake of HFSS foods and beverages between 2007 and 2018 in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults, by sociodemographic characteristics and What We Eat in America food groups. DESIGN: This is a secondary, cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2007 and 2018. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: The final sample included 27,984 adults 19 years of age or older from NHANES with at least one complete dietary recall. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes are the percentage of total energy intake from foods classified as HFSS according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Nutrient Profile Model. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: To estimate the percentage of energy intake from foods and beverages HFSS, linear regression models with interaction terms between cycles and covariates were used. RESULTS: The overall intake of foods and beverages HFSS did not change, representing over 60% of the total energy intake between 2007-2010 and 2015-2018. The intake of foods and beverages high in sodium increased by 2.0 percentage points (95% CI: 0.5, 3.5) and 3.5 percentage points (95% CI: 1.1, 5.8), respectively. The intake of foods and beverages high in saturated fats increased by 6.1 percentage points (95% CI: 4.5, 7.6) and 6.1 percentage points (95% CI: 3.9, 8.2), respectively. The intake of foods and beverages high in added sugars did not change. CONCLUSION: In the U.S., intake of HFSS foods and beverages is high. Future research should focus on whether public health interventions and policies might reduce the intake of foods high in nutrients of concern.

Added sugars↗

PubMed2026

Ecological momentary assessment studies on food craving among healthy adults: A systematic review.

Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) can capture the dynamic nature of food craving in free-living conditions, addressing limitations of laboratory and retrospective reporting methods. This systematic review synthesized findings from EMA studies to characterize 1) methodological features, 2) the temporal dynamics of food craving, and 3) the relationship between craving and eating behaviors. A systematic search of PubMed and PsycINFO databases was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. The review included 23 studies that utilized EMA designs to assess food craving repeatedly in daily life among healthy adults. Most studies employed EMA protocols that prompted participants to respond at pre-specified time points and utilized single-item craving measures. Most craving measures (71%) lacked specificity regarding the type of food craved. Results revealed a consistent positive within-person association between hunger and food craving. Conversely, associations between stress/negative affect and craving were inconsistent, varying by individual traits and context. Momentary food craving appeared to predict subsequent eating outcomes. Evidence suggested food craving may be a dynamic, transient state that co-fluctuates with hunger, functioning as a proximal antecedent to food intake. However, reliance on non-specific food craving measures and EMA protocols prompting at fixed schedules limits the granular understanding of craving mechanisms. Future research requires refining food craving measurement and incorporating randomized prompting within predefined windows, or participant-initiated sampling triggered by specific events (e.g., eating occasion), to better characterize food craving dynamics in relation to eating behaviors.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Temporal Patterns in the Occurrence of Principal Salmonella Serotypes for Raw Meat and Poultry Products in the United States: 1998-2024.

Microbial foodborne pathogens, such as Salmonella, have the characteristic that only some subgroups of these bacteria are highly pathogenic to humans. For the Salmonella species enterica, there are more than 2,600 serotypes. These serotypes can be host-adapted so that for any animal reservoir, such as a particular food animal species, fewer than 10 serotypes make up more than fifty percent of isolates found in the reservoir. The highly concentrated nature of serotypes within a reservoir is a key to the findings of many studies and the cornerstone of some food safety programs. Nevertheless, a key limitation is that the dominant serotypes for a reservoir are likely to change over time. This is problematic because the risk of illness associated with a reservoir can increase dramatically if a more pathogenic serotype replaces one or more less pathogenic serotypes, and vice versa. In the United States, meat and poultry have been sampled continuously by the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) for nearly 30 years. For this study, these data are used to describe how the occurrence of the most common serotypes for each sampled commodity has changed over time. Insight into how often and how rapidly the most common serotypes change is important for designing effective mitigation strategies. To aid the development of such a mitigation strategy, we developed a classification system to categorize serotypes based on the direction and magnitude of change in each serotype over time. This information is combined with a ranking system that describes the relative virulence of each serotype using genomic and epidemiological virulence patterns. We then developed a heuristic system to support risk management decisions regarding the potential risks and benefits of applying serotype-specific interventions.

Compositional data↗

PubMed2026

Prevalence and Genomic Characterization of mcr-Positive Enterobacteriaceae in Retail Meat in Thailand Following the Colistin Ban.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of mcr-positive Enterobacteriaceae in retail meat in Thailand following the national ban on prophylactic colistin use in food producing animals. A total of 152 meat samples (103 chicken and 49 pork) were collected from supermarkets and open markets between July and September 2023. Samples were screened for mcr-1 to mcr-5 using multiplex PCR. None of the samples from supermarkets tested positive, whereas mcr genes were detected in 15.4% (6/39) and 13.3% (4/30) of chicken and pork samples, respectively, from open markets, with mcr-1 and/or mcr-3 identified. A total of 21 isolates were recovered from PCR-positive samples (11 from chicken and 10 from pork). Escherichia coli was the predominant species (n = 19), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 2). All mcr-positive isolates exhibited multidrug resistance. Whole-genome sequencing was performed for 19 non-clonal isolates. One K. pneumoniae strain from a pork sample co-harbored mcr-1 and mcr-8, representing the first report of this combination in the animal sector in Thailand. In addition, virulence-associated genes, including adhesion factors, toxins, and iron acquisition systems, were identified in selected isolates. Core genome SNP-based phylogenetic analysis revealed substantial genomic diversity among the isolates, suggesting relatedness to strains reported prior to the colistin ban. These findings indicate that retail meat from open markets may serve as an important route for the transmission of mcr-positive bacteria in Thailand and highlight the urgent need to incorporate systematic retail meat surveillance into national antimicrobial resistance monitoring programs.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Prevalence, genomic characterization, and biofilm-forming capacity of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli from faecal samples of broiler chickens in Jinan City, China.

The emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli in food animals threatens both veterinary and human medicine by compromising critically important antimicrobials. This study characterized the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance profiles, molecular epidemiology, and virulence attributes of ESBL-producing E. coli isolated from broiler farms in Jinan City, China. From 600 faecal samples, 537 E. coli isolates were recovered (89.5 % isolation rate), with 71 (13.2 %) identified as ESBL producers. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed markedly more severe resistance among ESBL-producing isolates, with complete ampicillin resistance (100 %) and high-level resistance to sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (94.37 %), streptomycin (87.32 %), chloramphenicol (78.87 %), and tetracycline (70.42 %). Resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins cefuroxime and ceftriaxone reached 43.66 % and 36.62 %, respectively, while amoxicillin/clavulanic acid susceptibility declined to 61.97 %. Whole-genome sequencing identified blaCTX-M-55 (29.58 %) as the predominant ESBL genotype, followed by blaCTX-M-64 (23.94 %), blaCTX-M-15 (19.71 %), blaCTX-M-14 (12.68 %), and blaCTX-M-65 (9.86 %). The plasmid-mediated colistin resistance gene mcr-1 was detected in 25.35 % of ESBL-producing isolates, indicating a substantial reservoir of last-resort antibiotic resistance determinants, though physical linkage between mcr-1 and ESBL-encoding genes remains undetermined due to short-read sequencing limitations. Multilocus sequence typing revealed ST117 (18.3 %) as the predominant sequence type, associated mainly with serogroup O78 (25.4 %). Virulence gene profiling demonstrated high prevalence of the serum survival gene iss (85.9 %), commonly associated with avian pathogenic E. coli, though avian pathogenicity was not experimentally confirmed. Notably, 90.14 % of ESBL-producing isolates demonstrated biofilm-forming capacity, with 16.90 % classified as strong biofilm producers forming mature, mushroom-shaped microcolonies. These findings demonstrate that broiler chickens in the sampled Jinan farms constitute a significant reservoir of multidrug-resistant, biofilm-forming ESBL-producing E. coli harboring clinically relevant genotypes, including mcr-1. The predominance of ST117, reported in both poultry and human clinical settings, along with extensive co-resistance profiles, underscores the value of integrated surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship in poultry production, though direct zoonotic transmission evidence requires further comparative genomic and epidemiological investigation.

Antimicrobial resistance↗

PubMed2025

Multicenter Evaluation of a New Strip-Based Blood Glucose System for Point-of-Care Testing in Critical and Non-Critical Care Settings.

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of the performance of Cobas® Pulse (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany), a new blood glucose (BG) monitoring system (BGMS; referred to here as BGMSA) intended for point-of-care testing using samples from patients in diverse clinical settings by intended point-of-care test operators. METHODS: Arterial, capillary, venous, or heel stick whole blood (WB) samples from patients in non-critical and critical care settings were collected and analyzed using BGMSA and the Nova StatStrip® BGMS (Nova Biomedical, Waltham, MA; referred to here as BGMSB), and a hexokinase comparator (Cobas 6000 Analyzer Series; Roche Diagnostics GmbH). The blood glucose measurement accuracy was assessed by the Food and Drug Administration guidance criteria. RESULTS: Two studies are presented. In the first, 2678 samples (622 arterial, 706 capillary, 1203 venous, 147 heel stick) were collected from 1577 patients in 14 US and three European sites. All accuracy criteria were met for arterial and venous samples considering all data combined. BGMSA showed better accuracy than BGMSB for arterial, venous, and heel stick, and similar results to BGMSB for capillary WB vs venous comparator. No endogenous interference from pO2, hematocrit, and sodium was identified. BGMSA was also accurate when analyzing contrived samples used to show accuracy over a wide range of glucose concentrations, alone and when combined with extreme hematocrit. In the second study, 117 capillary fingerstick samples collected at one US site were measured on both BGMSA and the comparator, and all accuracy criteria were met. No clinically significant medical risks were observed via Diabetes Technology Society Error Grids. CONCLUSIONS: BGMSA was effective for determining blood glucose in venous, arterial, neonatal arterial, neonatal heel stick, and capillary WB samples.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Fungal drivers of mycotoxin contamination in wheat: Early warning and plasma-based control.

Mycotoxin contamination in wheat is a major food safety concern; however, quantitative evidence linking fungal community signals, mycotoxin exceedance risk, and wheat quality traits in naturally contaminated wheat remains limited. In this study, wheat samples were collected from mycotoxin-prone monitoring sites under unusually rainy conditions in 2022 to explore early-warning indicators and post-harvest mitigation strategies. According to the National Food Safety Standard of China GB 2761-2017, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON), and zearalenone (ZEN) exceeded the maximum limits in 52.24, 47.76, and 23.88% of samples, respectively; 38.81% exceeded the reference EU threshold for T-2 toxin, and 46.27% showed co-contamination with at least two mycotoxins above their respective thresholds. Although Alternaria, Cladosporium, and Epicoccum dominated the fungal community, Fusarium abundance was significantly associated with DON contamination and Fusarium-damaged kernels (FDKs). Mediation analysis identified DON as a significant mediator linking Fusarium abundance to FDKs, accounting for 68.41% of the total effect. In addition, Fusarium abundance above 3.70% showed strong predictive performance for DON exceedance, with an area under the curve of 0.906, indicating its potential as an early-warning indicator. Culture-based assays confirmed the toxigenic potential of Aspergillus and Fusarium isolates under simulated temperature and moisture conditions. After optimization using a toxin-spiked wheat flour model, dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma degraded AFB1, DON, and ZEN by 29.30-35.68%, disrupted the morphology of toxigenic fungi, and did not significantly affect wheat quality. This study provides practical insights into mycotoxin risk warning and post-harvest mitigation in wheat.

Triticum↗

PubMed2026

A single-case foodborne botulism outbreak caused by Clostridium botulinum type A1(B5) in diced garlic in Newfoundland and Labrador, 2024.

Foodborne botulism is a severe neuroparalytic disease caused by ingestion of foods containing botulinum neurotoxins, produced by Clostridium botulinum. In 2024, a 74-year-old woman from Newfoundland and Labrador with complete bilateral flaccid paralysis and respiratory distress was hospitalized and required intubation. From the broader differential diagnosis list, botulism was favoured prior to laboratory confirmation. Serum and feces samples initially tested negative for botulinum neurotoxins by mouse bioassay, yet viable C. botulinum type A was recovered from the feces. Food history investigation included some diced garlic in a repurposed coffee container that tested negative for botulinum neurotoxins by mouse bioassay, but viable C. botulinum type A was recovered from the sample. Both the fecal and garlic enrichment cultures were positive for bont/A and bont/B genes by real-time PCR. Whole genome sequencing revealed that both fecal and garlic isolates were highly similar with conserved gene synteny, including an intact bont/A1 gene and a disrupted (silent) bont/B5 gene encoded on the chromosome. This single-case foodborne botulism outbreak from Newfoundland and Labrador in 2024 was caused by C. botulinum type A1(B5) in diced garlic.

Aged↗

PubMed2026

Isolation, identification, and genomic characterization of Staphylococcus aureus phage vB_SauL_202595 and its bacteriostatic application in dairy products.

Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen associated with bovine mastitis and dairy product contamination, posing economic and public health risks through the food chain. In this study, a temperate phage, vB_SauL_202595, was isolated from a dairy farm environmental sample using S. aureus SHZ-0127 as the host, and its biological characteristics, genomic features, and antibacterial activity in dairy matrices were evaluated. vB_SauL_202595 lysed 18 of 66 tested S. aureus strains, with a lysis susceptibility rate of 27.3%, including 5 highly susceptible strains, indicating a relatively limited host range. The optimal multiplicity of infection was 0.01, the latent period was approximately 30 min, and the burst size was approximately 316 PFU/cell. The phage remained stable at 4°C-37°C and pH 6-10. Genome analysis showed that vB_SauL_202595 belongs to the class Caudoviricetes, has a genome of 44,503 bp with 33.59% GC content, and encodes 63 predicted proteins. No typical antibiotic resistance genes or major virulence factors were detected; however, integrase and repressor genes were identified, supporting its temperate nature. vB_SauL_202595 inhibited S. aureus SHZ-0127 growth, reduced mature biofilm biomass, and decreased viable bacterial counts in milk and yogurt, with reductions of 1.23 and 1.42 log10 CFU/mL under representative conditions, respectively. From a One Health perspective, these findings provide foundational evidence for reducing S. aureus contamination and related antimicrobial resistance risks along the dairy chain. Overall, vB_SauL_202595 represents a candidate phage resource for dairy-associated S. aureus biocontrol research, but its limited host range and lysogeny-related genes require further safety assessment before food-related applications.IMPORTANCEStaphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen associated with bovine mastitis and a common contaminant in dairy products, causing economic losses and public health risks through the food chain. Although phage-based biocontrol has emerged as a promising strategy for controlling S. aureus contamination in dairy products, systematic evidence regarding phage activity in actual dairy matrices remains limited. In this study, we isolated and characterized a dairy farm environment-derived temperate phage, vB_SauL_202595, and evaluated its biological characteristics, genomic features, host range, stability, biofilm removal ability, and antibacterial performance in milk and yogurt. These findings provide foundational experimental evidence for phage-based dairy biocontrol against S. aureus. However, due to its limited host range and lysogeny-related genomic features, vB_SauL_202595 should be considered a candidate phage resource for further study. Broader validation, including phage-cocktail testing, long-term storage assays, product quality assessment, and regulatory safety evaluation, is needed before practical application.

Staphylococcus aureus↗

PubMed2025

A study of the link between food-water insecurities and self-reported psychotic experiences among young adults in Gaza Strip: What role does social support play under conditions of war and extreme suffering?

BACKGROUND: The war in Gaza, coupled with severe restrictions on humanitarian access and assistance, have led to a rapid and large-scale exacerbation of food insecurity (FI) and water insecurity (WI) in Gaza, which can cause a myriad of deleterious effects on both physical and mental health. Previous evidence suggests that environmental stressors (such as FI and WI), coupled with lack of support, can compromise coping ability and trigger psychosis. Elucidation of these pathways can inform efforts to reduce the incidence of psychosis in war settings in particular, and in global communities more generally. This study aimed to assess the mediating role of social support on the association between food-water insecurities and psychotic experiences (PEs). METHODS: This study was carried-out over a period of one month (September 2024) by using a free online form builder. Data were collected at a single time point using snowball sampling. A total of 476 adults aged 18–35 years and living in Gaza at the time of the survey took part in this study. The Prodromal Questionnaire- Brief, the Food Insecurity Experience Scale, the Four-Item Household Water Insecurity Experiences Scale, and the Single Item Measure of Social Supports have been administered to participants. RESULTS: A total of 110 participants (23.1%) reported low tangible social support (i.e., having no or 1 person in the social support network), 27.3% were classified as moderately-to-severely food insecure and 41% were categorized as water-insecure. The mediation analysis was adjusted for the following covariates: marital status, living arrangement and age. Higher food-water insecurity experiences were significantly associated with lower social support. Higher food-water insecurity experiences were also significantly associated with higher PEs. Higher social support was significantly associated with lower PEs. The results of the mediation analysis showed that social support mediated the link of FI (indirect effect: Beta = 0.06; Boot SE = 0.03; Boot CI 0.01; 0.12) and WI (indirect effect: Beta = 0.04; Boot SE = 0.02; Boot CI 0.01; 0.08) to PEs. CONCLUSION: Our findings support the case for bolstering social support networks in war-affected communities facing survival challenges such as FI and WI. This study points to the urgent need for increased food aid and improved water supplies in the short term, and sustainable food and water systems in the long term, to support mental health. In times of war, mental health prevention and interventions strategies might do well to increase social support and resources in order to help buffer such intense environmental stressors and prevent the emergence of psychosis. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Humans↗