Chapter 15 - A Review on the Implications of Interaction Between Human Pathogenic Bacteria and the Host on Food Quality and Disease

Abstract

In the light of recent research endeavors much emphasis has been on understanding how fresh produce can be an important source of food-borne diseases. In today’s scenario where there is an increasing emphasis on organic produce, the chances of transmission of human pathogenic bacteria into the food chain are increasing, because of the bulk application of organic fertilizers in fields such as manure, which can be a potential source of enteric pathogens. The ability of enteric pathogens to cause human illness via fresh produce as a food matrix has been extensively documented in the last decade; however, research gaps exist especially in understanding the mechanisms of interaction between plants and human pathogenic bacteria. Evolutionary conservation in the cellular hubs of human pathogens exists that allows them to use plants as vectors in ways similar to the one they use for transmission via animal hosts. Reviewing the recent research developments in protein-protein interactions between the pathogen and the plant host, evaluation of human health risk by the presence of cross-domain pathogens and influence of ecological factors on survival and growth of enteric pathogens on fresh produce can lead to a better understanding and unravel the molecular basis of the interactions between human pathogenic bacteria and plant hosts.