Algal shift from Chlorella vulgaris to Microcystis aeruginosa influenced the bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in plankton food chain.

Toxic metal contamination in vegetables: A case study from Roopnagar district with comprehensive elemental analysis using WD-XRF and implications for human health

Studies estimate that there are 500 million osteoporotic patients worldwide. Osteoporosis leads to 2.7 million hip fractures annually. These fractures usually require synthetic implants known as total hip replacement. Orthopedic implant development is an ongoing process, which requires numerous tests to evaluate their feasibility, in addition to the International Standards Organization regulatory tests. These tests require human cadaveric bones and animal in vivo experiments, which are associated with high costs, are time-consuming and limited through regulations, which poses a challenge. Following the replacement, reduction and refinement principle in animal testing (3Rs), this study aims to develop and evaluate a protocol where osteoporotic samples are prepared through ex vivo procedure using sheep bones from the food chain, given their availability and size, which is considerably similar to human cadaveric bones. Sheep femurs were demineralized using hydrochloric acid at different time intervals, resulting in changes in the bone architecture, mineral density, and mechanical properties. Demineralized specimens exhibited progressive reductions in mechanical performance and trabecular integrity with increasing demineralization time. Young's modulus decreased from 110.7 ± 28.8MPa in Control group to 88.7 ± 16.0MPa and 57.7 ± 6.0MPa in the 48H and 96H groups, respectively, accompanied by corresponding reductions in failure load. Trabecular microstructure was significantly altered, with trabecular thickness decreasing and trabecular separation and porosity increasing, reaching an approximately 30% higher porosity in the 96H group compared with Control group. Volumetric BMD (vBMD) was significantly reduced by both demineralization treatments (33% relative decrease). Despite the limited sample size, consistent trends indicate meaningful changes with demineralization. The observed structural and mechanical properties fall within reported ranges for human osteoporotic trabecular bone, supporting the use of demineralized sheep bone as a cost-effective ex vivo model for osteoporotic studies and preliminary orthopedic device evaluation.

• Evolved resistant variants of L. monocytogenes EGD-e emerged under antibiotic stress • Ciprofloxacin resistant variants displayed cross-protection to heat in skimmed milk • Mutations in genes related to antibiotic target and efflux pumps are involved • Mutation in stress response genes seems to be related to oxytetracycline resistance • Mutations in cell wall-related genes are suggested to increase thermoresistance The extensive use of antibiotics in primary production has promoted the emergence of resistant bacteria. Due to cross-protection phenomena, these antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria may also withstand food preservation treatments applied in the food industry. This study aimed to evaluate the emergence of resistant variants (RVs) of Listeria monocytogenes EGD-e after prolonged exposure to antibiotics (amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin and oxytetracycline) based on adaptive laboratory evolution assays. RVs were selected by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration, then characterized phenotypically against heat treatments (58 °C/ 20 min) and genotypically to identify mutations responsible for changes in thermoresistance. Five ciprofloxacin RVs (Lm Cip1-5 ) and one oxytetracycline RV (Lm Oxy ) were obtained. Several ciprofloxacin RVs showed greater thermoresistance in McIlvaine buffer (pH 7.0) than the parental strain, also observed in skimmed milk (pH 6.8). Mutations identified in codY (Lm Oxy ) and fepR and parC (ciprofloxacin RVs) are likely responsible for the antibiotic resistance. Moreover, mutations in genes linked to cell wall biosynthesis ( rml ), metabolism and RNA or energy processing (e.g., cshA, atpA2, lmo2794 ) may contribute to increased thermoresistance. These findings highlight the interaction between AMR and cross-protections mechanisms, and the potential risk posed by AMR bacteria in the food chain, which could compromise the traditional preservation methods.

The increase in pharmaceutical residues and environmental contaminants, including heavy metals and biotoxins, in coastal ecosystems represents a critical threat to global health. Mussels (Mytilus spp.), as sessile filter feeders, serve as primary bioaccumulators and biological indicators of this chemical pressure, yet their toxicological role in human health is often underestimated. This review explores the physiological and toxicological effects of the accumulation of complex contaminants and pharmaceutical residues, specifically including veterinary drugs that reach the marine environment through livestock runoff and aquaculture practices. Mussels' reduced metabolic capacity, combined with the interference of multixenobiotic resistance (MXR) efflux systems, leads to the prolonged accumulation of these substances within their tissues. Particular attention is given to mixture toxicity and the role of microplastics as vectors that amplify the bioavailability of contaminants, triggering significant oxidative stress and epigenetic alterations that compromise the reproduction and resilience of the mollusk. The implications for public health involve the potential facilitation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), driven by the bioaccumulation of both human and veterinary antibiotics. dietary exposure to chemical residues; however, the actual risk of poisoning depends on whether tissue concentrations exceed established regulatory safety thresholds. Due to their high filtration capacity, mussels act as ecological hotspots, facilitating the transfer of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites into the food chain. We conclude that effective risk management requires a proactive approach at the source. The urgent integration of surveillance protocols with molecular ecotoxicology, alongside the adoption of advanced technological solutions, such as tertiary wastewater treatment and the monitoring of watersheds adjacent to livestock farming areas, are essential to harmonize residue limits and ensure food security and the sustainability of marine resources for future generations.

Latitudinal patterns of food source assimilation and food-chain length in estuarine food webs.

Mechanism of neuroinflammation and cardiovascular toxicity induced by tributyltin: Evidence from zebrafish (Danio rerio) models and network toxicology studies.

Characteristics of Escherichia coli co-harboring bla NDM and mcr-1 genes from market chicken meat.

• Valorization of lemon peel as refined oils aromatization matrix through ultrasound. • DoE optimization enabled mild, efficient extraction conditions for flavored oils. • Flavoured oils showed higher polyphenols and antioxidant activity vs controls. • Off-flavours in base oils were masked, improving sensory and commercial value. The growing challenge of food waste highlights the need for strategies that reintroduce discarded materials into the food chain with added value. Sorrento lemon peels and grape seed oil are by-products of the citrus and wine industries that are often underutilized despite their potential, while the refined olive oils are obtained from low-quality virgin oils. In this study, these three materials were jointly valorized through ultrasound-assisted extraction to produce lemon-flavored oils with improved functional and sensory properties. A Design of Experiments approach was applied, and experimental data were fitted to second-order polynomial models to optimize the aromatization process based on peroxide value. Oil quality was further evaluated through free acidity, UV spectrophotometric indices, total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity (DPPH), and volatile profiling (HS-SPME-GC–MS). Optimal conditions were identified as 3 min, 0.15 g/g matrix-to-oil ratio, 15 °C for olive oil, and 16.5 min, 0.25 g/g, 15 °C for grape seed oil. Under these conditions, the flavored olive oil showed the highest citral percentage and a threefold increase in TPC (from 54.24 ± 8.04 to 179.06±6.87 mg GAE/kg), while the flavored grape seed oil exhibited a fourfold increase compared to controls (from 42.41±8.29 to 168.22±1.10 mg GAE/kg) . Moreover, off-flavors present in the base oils were not detected. This approach provides a sustainable and scalable method to convert multiple low-value by-products into higher-value flavored oils.

• MPs detected in foods and water across 10 Arab countries, raising health concerns • Bottled water, salt, seafood, meat, and poultry found contaminated with MPs • Marine plastic pollution is a major source of MPs in fish, mollusks, and crustaceans • High plastic use and poor waste systems drive dietary MP exposure in the Arab region • Urgent need for monitoring and policy to reduce MP risks to food safety and health : The widespread presence of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) emerged as a global health concern. These particles have been detected in different components of the food chain, raising increasing concern regarding their potential effects on human health. This narrative review examines the existing body of literature on dietary exposure to MPs and NPs within the Arab region. Despite the growing use of plastics and escalating environmental pollution, research on dietary exposure to MPs and NPs in this region remains limited. : This narrative review screened multiple databases and identified 30 published research articles related to the presence of MPs and NPs in food and drinking water across the Arab countries. These articles were analyzed to examine key parameters, including particle type, size, shape, color, and the specific food or water sources affected. : MPs are prevalent across the Arab region, including Lebanon, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Algeria, Sudan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Tunisia. Numerous food products, including bottled water, salt, meat and poultry have been reported to be heavily contaminated. Marine ecosystems, particularly in the Mediterranean and Red Seas, have shown substantial plastic pollution, contributing to the presence of MPs in marine species such as fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. These contaminated products enter the human food chain, leading to adverse health effects. : The presence of MPs and potential NP infiltration is due to the region’s high rates of plastic waste mismanagement, limited wastewater treatment infrastructure, and increasing plastic consumption. The findings underscore the need for comprehensive monitoring efforts and policy interventions to mitigate plastic pollution and its impact on food safety and public health in the Arab world.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen that infects both humans and domestic animals. Although HEV has been detected in sheep, the risks of transmission along the food chain via the mutton industry chain remain poorly characterized. This study aimed to assess the occupational risk of HEV infection among sheep industry workers. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among sheep workers in various settings, including smallholder farms, slaughterhouses, and retail markets. Serum samples from these workers, as well as from individuals in the general population, were collected and tested for anti-HEV IgM and IgG antibodies using commercial ELISA kits. Risk factors for HEV seropositivity across different occupational environments were analyzed using logistic regression. The seropositivity rate among sheep industry workers was 53.0% (132/249), significantly higher than that in the general population (13.3%, 33/249). Multi-variable analysis revealed a markedly increased risk of HEV infection among smallholder sheep farmers (adjusted OR=10.1, 95% CI: 6.3-16.3). In contrast, there was no significantly elevated risk among people working in retail markets or slaughterhouses. The results indicate that occupational exposure to sheep is associated with a heightened risk of HEV infection, particularly in smallholder farm settings. Strengthening HEV control measures for HEV in high-risk occupational environments is essential for long-term public health prevention and elimination efforts.

Systemic crosstalk between liver and brain is associated with microplastic-induced neurobehavioral toxicity in zebrafish.

Direct adverse effects of fipronil sulfone, diisopentyl phthalate and disperse red 60 on zebrafish hepatocytes.

A framework for the recursive risk-ranking of foodborne zoonotic threats along food supply chains.

Deep-pelagic crustaceans are integral to ocean functioning, yet their ecological roles remain critically understudied, increasingly vulnerable, and often oversimplified in global models. Here, we investigate the vertical distribution, migratory behaviour, and trophic ecology of deep-pelagic macrocrustaceans (> 2cm; from the surface to 1200 m depth) across two ecologically contrasting regions of the western tropical Atlantic: an oligotrophic northeastern sector off Brazil and a more productive northern sector influenced by the Amazon River plume. Based on net sampling and stable isotope analyses (δ 13 C and δ 15 N), we observed distinct trophic positions and vertical niche occupation among the studied taxa, reflecting clear patterns of functional and spatial differentiation. Our results also reveal strong regional contrasts in food web structure: the oligotrophic region exhibited broader trophic ranges and greater isotopic segregation, likely reflecting a longer, microbially-mediated food chain fuelled by limited surface production. In contrast, the more productive region showed a more compressed trophic structure and increased resource overlap, consistent with more direct energy transfer from surface phytoplankton to higher trophic levels. These findings highlight the presence of multidimensional niche partitioning among deep-pelagic crustaceans and underscore the importance of incorporating this ecological heterogeneity into models. As climate-driven shifts in ocean productivity accelerate, recognising these dynamics will be essential for predicting ecosystem responses and informing the sustainable management of deep ocean communities. • Integrative ecological assessment of deep-pelagic crustaceans (DPC) • Ocean productivity structures trophic organization in DPC • DPC are distributed across multiple trophic levels • Distinct vertical migration and distribution patterns in DPC • DPC show high ecological complexity

Microplastics ingestion in zooplankton in tropical estuarine fronts of Terengganu, Malaysia.

• Novel model structure with diverse producers/microbes reveals complex energy pathways. • Food web displays characteristics typical of a highly disturbed ecosystem. • Inedible mixotrophs disrupt food web via direct and indirect effects. • Detrital pathway is most efficient and dominates energy flow to upper trophic levels. • Lower trophic level aggregation alters interpretation of ecosystem properties. Food-web models often simplify producer and microbial pathways while omitting complex feeding strategies, hindering understanding of basal energy flow in ecosystems where such characteristics are important. We developed an Ecopath food-web model for Gaoyang Lake — a tributary backwater of China’s Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) — incorporating multiple producer and microbial groups, including mixotrophy. The model includes multiple phytoplankton groups (edible taxa, cyanobacteria, and mixotrophic dinoflagellate Ceratium hirundinella ), bacterial groups, a detrital pool (allochthonous and autochthonous inputs), and key consumers (zooplankton, zoobenthos and fish). We identified three primary energy pathways: detrital (efficient transfer), grazing, and microbial (channeling energy from phytoplankton and detritus to consumers and linking inedible mixotrophic dinoflagellates to higher trophic levels). The detrital pathway most strongly supported upper trophic levels, while the grazing pathway was limited by low zooplankton abundance. Ecosystem indices indicated early developmental stability, a simplified food chain, and invasive species dominance, consistent with a highly disturbed ecosystem. Simplifying the food web by aggregating lower trophic levels altered ecosystem indices and energy transfer, underscoring the value of including complex producer and microbial pathways for realistic representation of basal energy flow. Modifying the food web to represent bloom conditions increased cycling but reduced lower trophic level transfer efficiency, showing how severe blooms intensify bottlenecks and shift energy among grazing, detrital, and microbial pathways. Including C. hirundinella provided insights, demonstrating that mixotrophy, when coupled with low edibility, may adversely affect the entire food web. Overall, our novel model structure offers a framework to holistically capture complex energy pathways and cycling.

Topology-engineered dopamine-mediated flower-like gold nanoparticle adjuvants: Boosting immune responses and enabling sensitive immunoassays for albendazole residue detection.

From farm to fork: a multiscale investigation of TBP contamination in rye, unraveling detoxification mechanisms and food safety risks.

In sub-Saharan Africa, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacterial infections pose significant public health risks. The importance of ESBL transmission within the food chain, as well as the role of urban marketplaces in this relationship, is becoming increasingly recognized. ESBL Escherichia coli also represents a key indicator organism within global antimicrobial resistance surveillance strategies, including the World Health Organization Tricycle protocol. Therefore, evaluating simple, cost-effective, and scalable detection methods for ESBL-producing E. coli is crucial. In 2021, a modified Colilert-18 method and a conventional ChromAgar ESBL culture method were assessed for the detection of ESBL E. coli in water samples from four urban marketplaces in Blantyre, Malawi. ESBL E. coli were detected in water samples obtained from urban marketplaces using both ChromAgar ESBL culture (39% [n = 65/167]) and IDEXX Colilert-18 methods (76% [n = 127/167]). Using ChromAgar ESBL as a reference standard, the modified Colilert-18 method showed a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 30%. Agreement between the methods was low (Cohen's kappa = 0.141, P < 0.001). The cost per test was lower for Colilert than for ChromAgar, indicating potential cost-effectiveness in primary ESBL E. coli detection. At the time of sampling, water collected from urban marketplaces was contaminated with ESBL E. coli, posing possible public health risks. Both the ChromAgar method and the modified IDEXX method offer valuable tools for microbiological surveillance of ESBL E. coli in urban markets. However, further studies must be conducted to optimize their use and determine additional considerations to factor into cost-effectiveness.IMPORTANCEThis study highlights the role of urban marketplaces as hotspots for potential transmission of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) bacteria. The findings suggest that markets are critical sites that warrant for environmental surveillance, particularly in settings with limited water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure. We investigated the differences in detection performance and the cost-effectiveness of a modified IDEXX Colilert-18 method compared to conventional culture using ChromAgar. We found that the higher detection rate and lower cost of the Colilert-18 method point to its potential as a viable alternative for surveillance of ESBLs in water samples. These findings are particularly relevant for low-income settings, where routine environmental monitoring is constrained due to poor laboratory capacity and limited resources. Our study contributes to the evidence on cost-effective methods for environmental surveillance of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and emphasizes the need for locally appropriate, scalable tools to support public health responses to antimicrobial resistance.