Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.4
4.7
Journals
Foods
Special Issues
Novel Detection Approaches of Biological and Non-biological Risk Factors in...
share announcement

Novel Detection Approaches of Biological and Non-biological Risk Factors in Foods

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Analytical Methods".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 March 2025) | Viewed by 10945

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xiangfeng Zheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Food Science and Engineering, Yangzhou university, Yangzhou 225127, China
Interests: agricultural pathogens; mycotoxins; biocontrol
Dr. Bo Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Food Science and Engineering, Yangzhou university, Yangzhou 225127, China
Interests: food safety; rapid detection technology; animal-derived food; veterinary residues; foodborne pathogens

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Food contaminants include biological and non-biological risk factors, such as foodborne pathogens, mycotoxins, heavy metals, pesticides, veterinary drugs, and illegal additives, which pose serious threats to public health and food safety. Developing quick and sensitive detection methods to determine food contaminants is necessary. Instrumental techniques, such as liquid chromatography (LC), gas chromatography (GC), LC–tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), and GC–MS/MS, have been well-established for food analysis.  In addition, instrument analysis usually requires a combination of sample preparation methods, including solid-phase extraction, QuEChERS, and accelerated solvent extraction. Meanwhile, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and biosensors supplement the instruments, providing new methods for rapidly detecting food contaminants. Establishing a novel, quick, and sensitive detection method provides new technical support and theoretical basis for detecting food contaminants, which is significant in ensuring food safety. Therefore, this Special Issue aims to publish the latest research on the novel detection approaches of biological and non-biological risk factors in foods, which involve instrument methods, PCR, ELISA, and biosensors to detect food contaminants.  Additionally, reviews on different detection methods for food contaminants are welcomed.

Dr. Xiangfeng Zheng
Dr. Bo Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Foods is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • pesticides
  • veterinary drugs
  • mycotoxins
  • foodborne pathogens
  • illegal additives
  • instrumental analysis methods
  • biosensor
  • ELISA
  • PCR

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (9 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

12 pages, 2319 KiB  
Article
Dual-Mode Quantitative Immunochromatographic Assay for Highly Sensitive On-Site Detection of Ciprofloxacin in Fish Products
by Junqi Shen, Zhengyi Cai, Cheng Zhang, Xinyue Feng, Chenzhi Zhang, Huan Zhao, Chuanlin Yin, Bo Wang, Xiaoping Yu and Biao Zhang
Foods 2025, 14(7), 1132; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14071132 - 25 Mar 2025
Viewed by 276
Abstract
Ciprofloxacin has been extensively utilized in aquaculture due to its remarkable efficacy in preventing and treating bacterial infections in fish animals. However, the widespread application of ciprofloxacin has led to significant residue accumulation, necessitating the development of rapid, sensitive and specific detection methods. [...] Read more.
Ciprofloxacin has been extensively utilized in aquaculture due to its remarkable efficacy in preventing and treating bacterial infections in fish animals. However, the widespread application of ciprofloxacin has led to significant residue accumulation, necessitating the development of rapid, sensitive and specific detection methods. In this study, we developed a novel dual-mode quantitative immunochromatographic assay based on a portable reader and a photothermal instrument, enabling on-site ciprofloxacin detection. Under optimized conditions, the portable reader mode (Mode 1) achieved a detection range of 0.1–100.0 ng/L with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.1 ng/mL. The photothermal instrument mode (Mode 2) achieved a detection range of 0.1–500.0 ng/mL with an LOD of 0.1 ng/mL. The sensitivity and accuracy of the method were validated using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. This developed method successfully detected ciprofloxacin residues in samples of Parabramis pekinensis, Larimichthys crocea, Channa argus, Carassius auratus and Micropterus salmoides, with satisfactory recovery rates. The results demonstrated excellent specificity and applicability across various fish product matrices, offering a reliable and efficient solution for the on-site monitoring of ciprofloxacin residues in fish products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Detection Approaches of Biological and Non-biological Risk Factors in Foods)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 17326 KiB  
Article
γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Metabolic Bypass Plays a Crucial Role in Stress Tolerance and Biofilm Formation in C. sakazakii ATCC 29544
by Jiangchao Wu, Yigang Yu, Fengsong Liu, Yifang Cao, Jiahao Ren, Yiting Fan and Xinglong Xiao
Foods 2025, 14(2), 171; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14020171 - 8 Jan 2025
Viewed by 890
Abstract
Cronobacter sakazakii is a foodborne pathogen characterized by its robust stress tolerance and ability to form biofilms, which facilitates its survival in powdered infant formula (PIF) processing environments for prolonged periods. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a kind of non-protein amino acid that acts [...] Read more.
Cronobacter sakazakii is a foodborne pathogen characterized by its robust stress tolerance and ability to form biofilms, which facilitates its survival in powdered infant formula (PIF) processing environments for prolonged periods. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a kind of non-protein amino acid that acts as an osmoprotectant. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of the gabT gene on the survival of C. sakazakii, GABA accumulation, and biofilm formation under desiccation, osmotic stress, and acid exposure. A gabT knockout strain of C. sakazakii was developed using gene recombination techniques. The GABA content and survival rates of both the wild-type and knockout strains were compared under various stress conditions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe cellular damage and biofilm formation. Statistical analysis was performed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The deletion of gabT resulted in enhanced GABA accumulation under different stress conditions, improving the bacterium’s tolerance to desiccation, osmotic pressure, and acid treatment. SEM images revealed that under identical stress conditions, the gabT knockout strain exhibited less cellular damage compared to the wild-type strain. Both strains were capable of biofilm formation under low osmotic pressure stress, but the gabT knockout strain showed higher GABA content, denser biofilm formation, and increased biofilm quantity. Similar trends were observed under acid stress conditions. The gabT gene plays a key role in modulating GABA accumulation, which enhances the stress tolerance and biofilm formation of C. sakazakii. These findings provide new insights into the role of GABA in bacterial survival mechanisms and highlight the potential for targeting GABA pathways to control C. sakazakii in food processing environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Detection Approaches of Biological and Non-biological Risk Factors in Foods)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 5477 KiB  
Article
Control of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Seafood Using the Combination of Lytic Phages and Citric Acid
by Xiaoshuang Zheng, Lu Gao, Lei Yuan, Caowei Chen and Zhenquan Yang
Foods 2025, 14(1), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14010037 - 26 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 998
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a key foodborne pathogen in seafood that poses health risks to consumers. The application of phages and organic acids is considered an alternative strategy for controlling bacterial contamination in foods. In the present study, the genome features of five previously [...] Read more.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a key foodborne pathogen in seafood that poses health risks to consumers. The application of phages and organic acids is considered an alternative strategy for controlling bacterial contamination in foods. In the present study, the genome features of five previously isolated virulent V. parahaemolyticus phages (VPpYZU64, VPpYZU68, VPpYZU81, VPpYZU92, and VPpYZU110) were characterized, and their bacteriostatic effects in combination with citric acid were analyzed. Genome sequencing of the five phages showed a total genome length of 76,153–144,768 bp. No virulent or drug-resistant genes were detected in the five phages. Bacterial inhibition testing of salmon fillets stored at 25 °C for 12 h showed that the number of V. parahaemolyticus decreased by 2.02 and 3.84 log CFU/g after treatment with a phage mixture, VPpMIx, and the combination of phage mixture VPpMIx and citric acid. In addition, phage VPpYZU64 combined with 600 μg/mL citric acid exhibited the highest biofilm reduction rate for V. parahaemolyticus. Collectively, our results show that combining phages and citric acid is a natural and efficient method of controlling V. parahaemolyticus growth in seafood. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Detection Approaches of Biological and Non-biological Risk Factors in Foods)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1075 KiB  
Article
Detection and Characterization of Visceral Anisakid Nematodes in Blue Whiting from Portuguese Waters
by Athanasia Rigkou, Mahima Hemnani, Ana Luísa Martins and João R. Mesquita
Foods 2024, 13(23), 3802; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13233802 - 26 Nov 2024
Viewed by 935
Abstract
This study employs molecular detection techniques, including conventional PCR and Sanger sequencing, to investigate the prevalence, species composition and public health implications of Anisakid nematodes in blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) caught off the Portuguese coast. With Portugal’s high fish consumption rates [...] Read more.
This study employs molecular detection techniques, including conventional PCR and Sanger sequencing, to investigate the prevalence, species composition and public health implications of Anisakid nematodes in blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) caught off the Portuguese coast. With Portugal’s high fish consumption rates and increasing preference for raw or undercooked seafood, the risk of parasitic infections, particularly anisakidosis, is rising. Fifty blue whiting fish were examined, showing a 100% infection rate with Anisakid larvae. Molecular analysis identified 68.1% of the larvae as Anisakis simplex, 18.1% as Anisakis pegreffii, and 13.8% as Hysterothylacium aduncum, marking the first report of H. aduncum in blue whiting in Portugal. Phylogenetic analysis based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1, 5.8S ribosomal RNA and ITS-2 confirmed the species classification. Notably, 42.9% of the fish were infected with multiple Anisakid species, increasing the risk of allergenic sensitization. Statistical analysis showed no significant correlation between fish width and parasitic load, and a weak negative correlation was found between fish length and parasitic load. The study contributes to food safety by integrating molecular tools that enable rapid and accurate species identification, offering new insights into the detection of biological contaminants in seafood. These findings are significant considering the rising trend in raw seafood consumption, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced detection strategies and broader parasite monitoring programs to mitigate public health risks. The high prevalence of parasitized fish highlights the necessity for the implementation of safe cooking practices to reduce the risk of anisakidosis. Further research into the allergenic potential of Hysterothylacium spp. and the ecological factors influencing this nematode distribution is recommended. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Detection Approaches of Biological and Non-biological Risk Factors in Foods)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 2418 KiB  
Article
Integrating Bacteriophage onto the Magnetic Nanozyme for Effective Enrichment and Colorimetric Detection of Cronobacter sakazakii in Powdered Infant Formula
by Xuechao Xu, Yuansong Zhang, Lu Gao, Juanli Yang and Zhenquan Yang
Foods 2024, 13(23), 3788; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13233788 - 25 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 726
Abstract
Cronobacter sakazakii is a dangerous pathogen easily found in powdered infant formula (PIF), causing severe infections and even death in infants. Herein, a bacteriophage-immobilized magnetic nanozyme (Fe3O4@EspYZU13) was prepared for C. sakazakii detection. Bacteriophage EspYZU13 isolated and identified by [...] Read more.
Cronobacter sakazakii is a dangerous pathogen easily found in powdered infant formula (PIF), causing severe infections and even death in infants. Herein, a bacteriophage-immobilized magnetic nanozyme (Fe3O4@EspYZU13) was prepared for C. sakazakii detection. Bacteriophage EspYZU13 isolated and identified by our group exhibits specific lytic capacity. Fe3O4@EspYZU13 possesses remarkable enrichment capacity towards C. sakazakii, efficiently enriching different concentrations of C. sakazakii from a mixed bacterial solution. Furthermore, Fe3O4@EspYZU13 shows peroxidase-like activity, which can catalyze the 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) chromogenic reaction in the presence of H2O2. Upon introduction of C. sakazakii, it can be specifically captured by Fe3O4@EspYZU13, inhibiting its peroxidase-like activity. Based on it, C. sakazakii ranging from 3.2 × 101 to 3.2 × 107 CFU mL−1 can be determined, offering a detection limit (LOD) of 26 CFU mL−1. Moreover, this reaction system keeps high specificity towards C. sakazakii, which can resist interferences of other possible coexisting bacteria. C. sakazakii in the artificially contaminated PIF can be detected, offering good recoveries (96.76% to 103.13%). These results indicate that our proposed reaction system demonstrates its practical application potential for efficient enrichment of C. sakazakii from complex samples and accurate determination of C. sakazakii in PIF. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Detection Approaches of Biological and Non-biological Risk Factors in Foods)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 5619 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Fungal and Contamination of Ochratoxin A and Patulin in Foods Susceptible to Contamination in the Yangzhou Market, China
by Qinghua Gong, Zihan Zhang, Peiwen Huang, Bo Wang and Xiangfeng Zheng
Foods 2024, 13(19), 3205; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13193205 - 9 Oct 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1338
Abstract
The conducive conditions of warm and humid climates can facilitate mold proliferation and subsequent mycotoxin production during food processing and distribution, thereby posing a potential risk to consumer health. However, there exists a significant lack of research regarding the diversity of molds and [...] Read more.
The conducive conditions of warm and humid climates can facilitate mold proliferation and subsequent mycotoxin production during food processing and distribution, thereby posing a potential risk to consumer health. However, there exists a significant lack of research regarding the diversity of molds and the presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) and patulin (PAT) in food products available in the Yangzhou market. This study was conducted to assess OTA contamination levels and fungal presence in 57 cereal-based food samples, as well as PAT contamination levels and fungal presence in 50 types of foods, including apples, hawthorn berries, pears, and their derivatives. Ochratoxin A (OTA) was detected in 17 out of 57 cereal-based food samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.93 to 32.69 μg/kg. The contamination rate was determined to be 31.48%, and no samples exceeded the established regulatory limits. Furthermore, seven apple products were identified as contaminated with patulin (PAT), exhibiting concentrations between 26.85 and 192.78 μg/kg. Additionally, three food samples derived from hawthorn showed PAT contamination levels ranging from 29.83 to 88.56 μg/kg. Through purification on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium, observation of colony morphology, and analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences, a total of 35 fungal strains belonging to 13 genera were identified in cereal-based foods. The predominant genera in cereals included Talaromyces, Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium. Additionally, twelve fungal strains from five genera (Penicillium, Cladosporium, Aureobasidium, Curvularia, and Alternaria) were isolated and identified in fruits and their derivatives. The findings indicate that OTA and PAT toxins are one of the important risk factors that threaten consumer health. Furthermore, the contamination of some other toxigenic strains is also a matter of substantial concern, with potential implications for consumer health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Detection Approaches of Biological and Non-biological Risk Factors in Foods)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 1794 KiB  
Communication
Rolling Circle Amplification-Enabled Ultrasensitive Point-of-Care Test Method for Aflatoxin B1 in the Environment and Food
by Hongyu Duan, Yuan Zhao, Xiaofeng Hu, Meijuan Liang, Xianglong Yang, Li Yu, Behrouz Tajdar Oranj, Valentin Romanovski, Peiwu Li and Zhaowei Zhang
Foods 2024, 13(19), 3188; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13193188 - 7 Oct 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1330
Abstract
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination poses a fatal risk to human beings and urgently needs highly sensitive detection for environmental monitoring and food safety. However, the existing challenges are the unsatisfied sensitivity of the immunoassay methods and the complex matrix effect. Rolling circle amplification [...] Read more.
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination poses a fatal risk to human beings and urgently needs highly sensitive detection for environmental monitoring and food safety. However, the existing challenges are the unsatisfied sensitivity of the immunoassay methods and the complex matrix effect. Rolling circle amplification (RCA) is a promising method for nucleic acid isothermal amplification due to its high specificity and sensitivity. Herein, we constructed a general RCA-based point-of-care test method (RCA−POCT). With biotinylated antibodies, streptavidin, and biotinylated RCA primers, we realized the signal transduction and preliminary signal amplification. In this way, the fluorescent signal of the immunocomplex on the microwells was greatly enhanced. Under optimal conditions, we recorded sensitive detection limits for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) of 1.94, 16.3, and 37.7 fg/mL (femtogram per microliter), and wide linear ranges with 5 × 10−6 to 5, 5 × 10−5 to 5, and 5 × 10−5 to 5 ng/mL in the irrigation water, field soil, and peanut samples, respectively. Satisfactory recovery, specificity, repeatability, and reproducibility were observed. The RCA−POCT was validated by comparing it to the HPLC method. This work provides a general RCA-assisted detection method for AFB1 in the environment and food. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Detection Approaches of Biological and Non-biological Risk Factors in Foods)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 3936 KiB  
Article
Dispersive Solid-Phase Extraction and Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry—A Rapid and Accurate Method for Detecting 10 Macrolide Residues in Aquatic Products
by Jinyu Chen, Guangming Mei, Xiaojun Zhang, Daoxiang Huang, Pengfei He and Dan Xu
Foods 2024, 13(6), 866; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13060866 - 13 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2176
Abstract
The amount of macrolide (MAL) residues in aquatic products, including oleandomycin (OLD), erythromycin (ERM), clarithromycin (CLA), azithromycin (AZI), kitasamycin (KIT), josamycin (JOS), spiramycin (SPI), tilmicosin (TIL), tylosin (TYL), and roxithromycin (ROX), was determined using solid-phase extraction and ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). [...] Read more.
The amount of macrolide (MAL) residues in aquatic products, including oleandomycin (OLD), erythromycin (ERM), clarithromycin (CLA), azithromycin (AZI), kitasamycin (KIT), josamycin (JOS), spiramycin (SPI), tilmicosin (TIL), tylosin (TYL), and roxithromycin (ROX), was determined using solid-phase extraction and ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The residues were extracted with 1% ammonia acetonitrile solution and purified by neutral alumina adsorption. Chromatographic separation was completed on an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column with acetonitrile–0.1% formic acid aqueous solution as the mobile phase, and mass spectrometry detection was performed by multiple reaction monitoring scanning with the positive mode in an electrospray ion source (ESI+). Five isotopically labeled compounds were used as internal standards for quality control purposes. The findings indicated that across the mass concentration span of 1.0–100 μg/L, there was a strong linear correlation (R2 > 0.99) between the concentration and instrumental response for the 10 MALs. The limit of detection of UPLC-MS/MS was 0.25–0.50 μg/kg, and the limit of quantitation was 0.5–1.0 μg/kg. The added recovery of blank matrix samples at standard gradient levels (1.0, 5.0, and 50.0 μg/kg) was 83.1–116.6%, and the intra-day precision and inter-day precisions were 3.7 and 13.8%, respectively. The method is simple and fast, with high accuracy and good repeatability, in line with the requirements for accurate qualitative and quantitative analysis of the residues for 10 MALs in aquatic products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Detection Approaches of Biological and Non-biological Risk Factors in Foods)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1445 KiB  
Article
Quantitative Analysis of Decoquinate Residues in Hen Eggs through Derivatization-Gas Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry
by Yali Zhu, Lan Chen, Yawen Guo, Pengfei Gao, Shuyu Liu, Tao Zhang, Genxi Zhang and Kaizhou Xie
Foods 2024, 13(1), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13010119 - 29 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1276
Abstract
A novel precolumn derivatization-gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) method was developed to detect and confirm the presence of decoquinate residues in eggs (whole egg, albumen and yolk). Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and solid phase extraction (SPE) were used to extract and purify samples. [...] Read more.
A novel precolumn derivatization-gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) method was developed to detect and confirm the presence of decoquinate residues in eggs (whole egg, albumen and yolk). Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and solid phase extraction (SPE) were used to extract and purify samples. The derivatization reagents were pyridine and acetic anhydride, and the derivatives were subjected to GC-MS/MS detection. After the experimental conditions were optimized, satisfactory sensitivity was obtained. The limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) for the decoquinate in eggs (whole egg, albumen and yolk) were 1.4–2.4 μg/kg and 2.1–4.9 μg/kg, respectively. At four spiked concentration levels, the average recoveries were 74.3–89.8%, the intraday RSDs ranged from 1.22% to 4.78%, and the inter-day RSDs ranged from 1.61% to 7.54%. The feasibility and practicality of the method were confirmed by testing egg samples from a local supermarket. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Detection Approaches of Biological and Non-biological Risk Factors in Foods)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-9
Back to TopTop