Botulism in waterbirds: Mortality rates and new insights into how it spreads

Botulism in waterbirds: Mortality rates and new insights into how it spreads: Outbreaks of botulism killed large percentages of waterbirds inhabiting a wetland in Spain. The botulinum toxin's spread may have been abetted by an invasive species of water snail which frequently carries the toxin-producing bacterium, Clostridium botulinum, and which is well adapted to wetlands polluted by sewage. Global warming will likely increase outbreaks, say experts.

What bacteria sense in their surroundings: Knowing how environmental signals modulate bacterial behavior could help combat biofouling and antibiotic resistance

What bacteria sense in their surroundings: Knowing how environmental signals modulate bacterial behavior could help combat biofouling and antibiotic resistance: A new, rapid method is helping detect how bacteria sense and respond to changes in their environment. The food-poisoning pathogen, Salmonella, for example is adept at picking up cues to adjust to different locations and surrounding conditions. Researchers are trying to learn how external signals trigger some of its survival strategies, such as biofilm formation. Their new method could be tested in other bacterial species to increase knowledge about microbial sensing, and to develop practical medical, agricultural and industrial applications.

Food processors beware: Salmonella biofilms incredibly resistant to powerful disinfectants

Food processors beware: Salmonella biofilms incredibly resistant to powerful disinfectants: Once Salmonella bacteria get into a food processing facility and have an opportunity to form a biofilm on surfaces, it is likely to be extraordinarily difficult, if not impossible, to kill it, according to research published.

Detecting Salmonella in pork meat processing: New methods

Detecting Salmonella in pork meat processing: New methods: Infections caused by foodborne microorganisms are an increasing public health burden. In a PhD project, new methods of characterizing and dectecting foodborne illness-causing Salmonella in pork meat processing and in bacteria in water, feed and food samples were studied.

Physicians can play key role in preventing foodborne illness

Physicians can play key role in preventing foodborne illness: Food safety awareness is key to understanding the food safety issues on the horizon, and clinicians at hospitals and doctors' offices play a key role in ensuring consumers are aware of the threats of foodborne illness, says an expert.

Microscopic structures of vegetable surfaces contribute to foodborne illness

Microscopic structures of vegetable surfaces contribute to foodborne illness: Foodborne illness outbreaks do more than make us sick. Not only can the U.S. economy suffer as a result of reduced worker productivity, particular sectors of the farming industry can experience negative consumer perception, potentially leading to sustained profit losses. In an effort to understand and eventually reduce the incidence of foodborne illnesses, researchers studied the ability of pathogenic viruses to adhere to fresh produce surfaces.

Improved Tilapia: The GIFT that keeps giving

Improved Tilapia: The GIFT that keeps giving: Genetically Imporved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) has been developed for nearly 30 years to have fast growth, benefiting millions across the world