Gene J. Ahlborn

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance among clinically significant pathogens necessitates the discovery of novel antimicrobial agents. This study investigated 29 Bacillus and Paenibacillus isolates from the soil for antimicrobial activity against multidrug‐resistant clinical pathogens, including methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem‐resistant Enterobacterales (CRE). In both agar‐ and broth‐based antimicrobial assays, Paenibacillus profundus strains 7.5 and M4.5 exhibited potent broad‐spectrum activity, including significant inhibition of many CREs. Species identification was performed through 16S rRNA sequencing, and genome mining of three producer strains using antiSMASH revealed biosynthetic gene clusters associated with a variety of nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs), polyketide synthases (PKSs), and ribosomally synthesized and post‐translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). While many of these clusters were not associated with known antimicrobial compounds, several of them displayed high similarity to known compounds such as polymyxin B, paenilan, colistin, and paenibacterin. These findings reinforce numerous previous studies highlighting the potential of soil‐derived Bacillus and Paenibacillus species as valuable sources of novel antimicrobials to address the global antibiotic resistance crisis.

Limited data are currently available characterizing the thermal resistance of foodborne pathogens in semolina flour and intermediate pasta matrices representative of commercial conditions during processing. Pasta producers require these data to be compliant with federal regulations since Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli demonstrate survival in flour and dried pasta products. This study investigated the heat resistance of Salmonella , pathogenic E. coli, and E. faecium NRRL B‐2354 in semolina flour and partially dried pasta intermediates via thermal death time (TDT) studies. The appropriateness of E. faecium NRRL B‐2354 as a surrogate in semolina flour and pasta matrices was determined. Inoculated pasta matrices equilibrated to target water activities of 0.85, 0.88, and 0.91 (at 25°C) underwent isothermal inactivation treatments at 65°C, 70°C, and 75°C. Serial dilution and direct plating methods allowed for the estimation of bacterial survival at each treatment. In representative pasta matrices, the D values for each microorganism increased as water activity decreased from 0.91 to 0.85. Surprisingly, Salmonella and E. coli did not exhibit significantly different thermal resistance in pasta. The greatest heat resistance was seen in semolina flour ( a _w 0.45). E. faecium was significantly more thermal resistant than both pathogens in all treatments when the temperature was ≤ 70°C. The results show that E. faecium strain NRRL B‐2354 is not an ideal proxy for Salmonella and E. coli in semolina and pasta matrices. Analysis of the TDT data also found that a long‐goods pasta drying process can achieve ≥ 7‐log reductions of Salmonella and E. coli when following good manufacturing practices.

Mycotoxins are toxins produced by fungi that contaminate many key food crops as they grow in the field and during storage. Specific mycotoxins are produced by different fungi. Each type of fungus and mycotoxin have their own optimal temperatures and water activities for growth and production. The legislative limits for various mycotoxins in foodstuffs to protect human health vary between countries but all commodities have their levels evaluated based on the concentrations from one aggregated grain sample. This approach assumes that the variation in toxin levels is uniform and random without spatial trends. This study investigates the spatial distribution of four mycotoxins (aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin and zearalenone) in bins of clean and dirty corn when stored in an environmental cabinet for two months under different temperature and humidity conditions. The bins of clean and dirty corn each had 12 CO₂/humidity/temperature sensors installed in three layers, and samples were extracted for mycotoxin analysis from locations close to each sensor following storage. Using Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis H statistical tests, significant differences were found between mycotoxin levels attributable to the different environmental conditions and spatial locations of samples. Variations in aflatoxin and zearalenone concentrations were most pronounced for the range of temperature and humidity conditions chosen. By understanding the patterns of spatial variability in mycotoxin concentrations and identifying zones at high risk of contamination, as well as what conditions are favorable, targeted interventions could be implemented to reduce food waste. This work also has implications for how levels of mycotoxins in foodstuffs are sampled and measured.

The popularity of oats (Avena sativa) continues to increase in the cereal market due to their health benefits. The recent domestication of Avena magna, a Moroccan oat, presents an opportunity to enhance these benefits due to their higher nutritional composition. As the impact of microclimates on A. magna grain composition has not been explored, this study evaluates twelve A. magna ssp. domestica lines across three Moroccan locations, providing new data into microclimate effects on key grain characteristics. Significant variability is observed among lines and sites for nutrients, with mean protein, fat, and dietary fiber contents at 23.1%, 8.38%, and 7.23%, respectively. High protein levels, reaching 27.1% in Alnif and 26.5% in El Kbab, surpass the ‘Avery’ control (21.7% and 24.2%) in these environments. Groats from Bouchane exhibited elevated fat and fiber contents (10.2% and 9.94%) compared to the control (8.83% and 7.36%). While β-glucan levels remain consistent at 2.53%, a negative correlation between protein content, fat, and starch was observed. A. magna lines exhibited higher levels of iron (7.50 × 10⁻³ g/100 g DM) and zinc (3.40 × 10⁻³ g/100 g DM) compared to other cereals. Environmental conditions significantly influence grain quality, with El Kbab yielding higher protein and ash contents, as well as Bouchane having increased fat, fiber, and starch. Stability analysis indicates that fat content was more influenced by the environment, while 25% of protein variability is influenced by genetics. Lines AT3, AT5, AT6, AT13, and AT15 consistently exceeds both the mean for protein and fiber across all sites, emphasizing their potential nutritional value. This study highlights the potential of A. magna ssp. domestica to address nutritional insecurity, particularly for protein, iron, and zinc in domestic settings.

Vegetables are an essential component of a healthy dietary pattern in children; however, their consumption is often insufficient due to lack of preference. To address this, the influence of combining vegetables (mixed peas and carrots—MPACs) with potatoes, a generally liked food, on overall vegetable consumption among children aged 7–13 years was explored. The research involved a cross-over study design with 65 participants who completed five lunchtime meal conditions, each with different combinations of MPACs and potatoes versus a control (MPACs with a wheat roll). The meals were provided in a cafeteria setting, and plate waste was used to measure vegetable consumption. Anthropometric data and other variables were also measured. Notably, self-reported hunger did not significantly differ between conditions. Meal condition was a significant predictor of MPACs (F = 5.20; p = 0.0005), with MPAC consumption highest when combined with shaped potato faces in the same bowl (+8.77 g compared to serving MPACs and shaped potato faces in separate bowls) and lowest when combined with diced potatoes in the same bowl (−2.85 g compared to serving MPACs and diced potatoes in separate bowls). The overall model for MPAC consumption was influenced by age, height z-score, body fat percentage z-score, and condition (likelihood ratio = 49.1; p < 0.0001). Age had the strongest correlation with vegetable consumption (r = 0.38), followed by male gender, height z-score (r = 0.30), and body fat z-score (r = −0.15). The results highlight the positive impact of combining potatoes with vegetables in school meals, particularly when using shaped potato faces. These findings emphasize the potential of potatoes as a valuable vegetable option in promoting healthier eating habits among children. Additionally, future research could explore the impact of different potato combinations and investigate other factors influencing meal consumption in school settings.

Mycotoxin contamination on food and feed can have deleterious effect on human and animal health. Agricultural crops may contain one or more mycotoxin compounds; therefore, a good multiplex detection method is desirable to ensure food safety. In this study, we developed a rapid method using label-free surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to simultaneously detect three common types of mycotoxins found on corn, namely aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (ZEN), and ochratoxin A (OTA). The intrinsic chemical fingerprint from each mycotoxin was characterized by their unique Raman spectra, enabling clear discrimination between them. The limit of detection (LOD) of AFB1, ZEN, and OTA on corn were 10 ppb (32 nM), 20 ppb (64 nM), and 100 ppb (248 nM), respectively. Multivariate statistical analysis was used to predict concentrations of AFB1, ZEN, and OTA up to 1.5 ppm (4.8 µM) based on the SERS spectra of known concentrations, resulting in a correlation coefficient of 0.74, 0.89, and 0.72, respectively. The sampling time was less than 30 min per sample. The application of label-free SERS and multivariate analysis is a promising method for rapid and simultaneous detection of mycotoxins in corn and may be extended to other types of mycotoxins and crops.