• Title/Summary/Keyword: fresh produce

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Transcriptomic Approach for Understanding the Adaptation of Salmonella enterica to Contaminated Produce

  • Park, Sojung;Nam, Eun woo;Kim, Yeeun;Lee, Seohyeon;Kim, Seul I;Yoon, Hyunjin
    • Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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    • v.30 no.11
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    • pp.1729-1738
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    • 2020
  • Salmonellosis is a form of gastroenteritis caused by Salmonella infection. The main transmission route of salmonellosis has been identified as poorly cooked meat and poultry products contaminated with Salmonella. However, in recent years, the number of outbreaks attributed to contaminated raw produce has increased dramatically. To understand how Salmonella adapts to produce, transcriptomic analysis was conducted on Salmonella enterica serovar Virchow exposed to fresh-cut radish greens. Considering the different Salmonella lifestyles in contact with fresh produce, such as motile and sessile lifestyles, total RNA was extracted from planktonic and epiphytic cells separately. Transcriptomic analysis of S. Virchow cells revealed different transcription profiles between lifestyles. During bacterial adaptation to fresh-cut radish greens, planktonic cells were likely to shift toward anaerobic metabolism, exploiting nitrate as an electron acceptor of anaerobic respiration, and utilizing cobalamin as a cofactor for coupled metabolic pathways. Meanwhile, Salmonella cells adhering to plant surfaces showed coordinated upregulation in genes associated with translation and ribosomal biogenesis, indicating dramatic cellular reprogramming in response to environmental changes. In accordance with the extensive translational response, epiphytic cells showed an increase in the transcription of genes that are important for bacterial motility, nucleotide transporter/metabolism, cell envelope biogenesis, and defense mechanisms. Intriguingly, Salmonella pathogenicity island (SPI)-1 and SPI-2 displayed up- and downregulation, respectively, regardless of lifestyles in contact with the radish greens, suggesting altered Salmonella virulence during adaptation to plant environments. This study provides molecular insights into Salmonella adaptation to plants as an alternative environmental reservoir.

Microbiological Quality of Fresh-Cut Produce and Organic Vegetables (신선편의 샐러드와 유기농 채소류의 미생물학적 품질 및 식중독 미생물 오염도)

  • Jo, Mi-Jin;Jeong, A-Ram;Kim, Hyun-Jung;Lee, Na-Ri;Oh, Se-Wook;Kim, Yun-Ji;Chun, Hyang-Sook;Koo, Min-Seon
    • Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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    • v.43 no.1
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    • pp.91-97
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    • 2011
  • This study was performed to assess the microbiological quality and potential health risk of fresh-cut produce and organic vegetables sampled from supermarkets and department stores in Korea. A total of 96 samples comprised three types of fresh-cut produce (sprouts, mixed-vegetables, fruit) and three types of organic vegetables (lettuce, perilla leaf, green pepper). The samples were analyzed for total viable cell counts, coliforms, Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus. The microbiological counts of fruit were very low. Sprouts were highly contaminated by total viable cell counts ($8.3{\pm}0.57$ log CFU/g), Enterobacteriaceae ($7.1{\pm}0.76$ log CFU/g), and coliforms ($4.9{\pm}0.40$ log MPN/g), and showed a high incidence level of B. cereus ($2.9{\pm}0.48$ log CFU/g). Of the fresh-cut produce analyzed, six (13.6%) mixed-vegetable salads were E. coli positive. S. aureus was detected in only one sprout sample and one mixed-vegetable salad, and its contamination levels were under 2 log CFU/g, which is appropriate for Korean standards (<3 log CFU/g) of fresh-cut produce. Of the organic vegetables, lettuces were highly contaminated by total viable cell counts ($6.4{\pm}0.74$ log CFU/g), Enterobacteriaceae ($5.7{\pm}0.98$ log CFU/g), and coliforms ($3.7{\pm}1.72$ log MPN/g). Two (13.6%) organic lettuce and one (7.1%) perillar leaf sample were E. coli positive, and S. aureus was detected in one lettuce and two perilla leaf samples. Salmonella spp., Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Listeria monocytogenes were not detected in any of the fresh-cut produce or organic vegetables analyzed.

Changes in Quality Characteristics of Fresh-cut Produce during Refrigerated Storage (냉장 저장 중 신선편이 농산물의 품질특성 변화)

  • Sun, Shih-Hui;Kim, Su-Jin;Kim, Gi-Chang;Kim, Haeng-Ran;Yoon, Ki-Sun
    • Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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    • v.43 no.4
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    • pp.495-503
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    • 2011
  • We evaluated the quality characteristics of fresh-cut produce (potato, sweet potato, carrot, radish, zucchini, cucumber, and green bell pepper) washed with sodium hypochlorite, which were vacuum packaged, and stored at 4 and 10$^{\circ}C$. The L-values of the fresh-cut potato and sweet potato decreased during storage. Lower PPO activities of potato and sweet potato were observed at 4$^{\circ}C$ than those at 10$^{\circ}C$ and development of potato and sweet potato browning was delayed at 4$^{\circ}C$. Total aerobic count and coliform increased continuously at 10$^{\circ}C$ during storage. Diced zucchini and shredded sweet potato had the greatest reduction in hardness among the fresh-cut produce during storage. Differences in the rate of quality change were observed according to the kinds and cut types of produce. Thus, a quality maintenance period for each type of fresh-cut produce must be determined, which will lead to the safe use of fresh cut produce in foodservice establishments.