Foodborne Infectious Diseases Research Articles

Development and optimization of immunomagnetic bead separation-convective PCR (IMBS-CPCR) for on-site detection of four common Vibrio species in aquaculture

Foodborne infectious diseases, particularly those caused by pathogenic Vibrio species in aquaculture, are a significant concern in the field of seafood safety. They not only hinder the economic development of the industry but also pose a major threat to public health. Traditional detection methods are often too slow, insensitive, or impractical for portable use, highlighting the urgent need for a sensitive, on-site detection method for Vibrio that prioritizes convenience and speed. This study developed a visual IMBS-CPCR method for the detection of four common pathogenic Vibrio species: Vibrio alginolyticus, Vibrio anguillarum, Vibrio fluvialis, and Vibrio harveyi. The method achieved high capture rates for target bacteria (82.6%–83.3%) and low capture rates for non-target bacteria (below 11%), demonstrating good sensitivity by detecting bacteria at concentrations as low as 10 CFU/mL. Optimal amplification conditions were determined for each species, with specificity tests confirming that only target bacteria produced amplification bands. Sensitivity tests revealed detection limits of 101 CFU/mL for V. alginolyticus, V. anguillarum, and V. fluvialis, and 102 CFU/mL for V. harveyi. The combined techniques improved detection sensitivity in simulated fish samples by 10–100 fold compared to direct CPCR or PCR methods.

Machine learning surveillance of foodborne infectious diseases using wastewater microbiome, crowdsourced, and environmental data

Clostridium perfringens (CP) is a common cause of foodborne infection, leading to significant human health risks and a high economic burden. Thus, effective CP disease surveillance is essential for preventive and therapeutic interventions; however, conventional practices often entail complex, resource-intensive, and costly procedures. This study introduced a data-driven machine learning (ML) modeling framework for CP-related disease surveillance. It leveraged an integrated dataset of municipal wastewater microbiome (e.g., CP abundance), crowdsourced (CP-related web search keywords), and environmental data. Various optimization strategies, including data integration, data normalization, model selection, and hyperparameter tuning, were implemented to improve the ML modeling performance, leading to enhanced predictions of CP cases over time. Explainable artificial intelligence methods identified CP abundance as the most reliable predictor of CP disease cases. Multi-omics subsequently revealed the presence of CP and its genotypes/toxinotypes in wastewater, validating the utility of microbiome-data-enabled ML surveillance for foodborne diseases. This ML-based framework thus exhibits significant potential for complementing and reinforcing existing disease surveillance systems.

Complete genome of the Listeria monocytogenes strain AUF, used as a live listeriosis veterinary vaccine

Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is a highly pathogenic bacterium that can cause listeriosis, a relatively rare food-borne infectious disease that affects farm, domestic, wild animals and humans as well. The infected livestock is the frequent sources of Lm. Vaccination is one of the methods of controlling listeriosis in target farm animals to prevent Lm-associated food contamination. Here we report the complete sequence of the Lm strain AUF attenuated from a fully-virulent Lm strain by ultraviolet irradiation, successfully used since the 1960s as a live whole-cell veterinary vaccine. The de novo assembled genome consists of a circular chromosome of 2,942,932 bp length, including more than 2,800 CDSs, 17 pseudogenes, 5 antibiotic resistance genes, and 56/92 virulence genes. Two wild Lm strains, the EGD and the 10403S that is also used in cancer Immunotherapy, were the closest homologs for the Lm strain AUF. Although all three strains belonged to different sequence types (ST), namely ST12, ST85, and ST1538, they were placed in the same genetic lineage II, CC7.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact consumers’ food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices? A multi-country study on the omicron variant

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic is not a foodborne infectious disease, but it has dramatically impacted food safety practices worldwide due to its potential for transmission through contaminated surfaces and food. Accordingly, the Omicron variant seems to have affected food-related activities and behaviours and disturbed food supply networks since its appearance in November 2021. Hence, this paper aims to assess how the Omicron variant impacted food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices amongst adult consumers in five countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro and Russia.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on an online survey. The questionnaire was developed and revised based on previous research on the impact of previous COVID-19 waves on food-related activities in several countries. The questionnaire was distributed through the SurveyMonkey platform from January 15 to February 25, 2022. It consisted of 29 multiple-choice and one-option questions organised into three sections. A total of 6,483 valid responses were received. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 was used to analyse the survey results.FindingsAccording to the survey findings, food safety practices evolved during the Omicron wave in the studied countries. Firstly, less than half of the sample used a face mask whilst purchasing food. Secondly, regarding food safety knowledge, the survey results suggest that there is still a lack of knowledge in the studied countries. Thirdly, the survey indicates a lack of knowledge amongst the respondents regarding food safety attitudes. For instance, more than a third of the sample (34.4%) are unsure whether the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted through food. These results are surprising and alarming, especially considering that our sample has a higher education than the population of the studied countries.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation of this research is the sample bias. Survey participants were randomly chosen, enrolled voluntarily and not rewarded. As a result, the questionnaire was self-administered and completed exclusively by people motivated by an interest in the topic. Consequently, our survey does not represent the general population of the studied countries. People with a high degree of education and women, for example, were overrepresented in our sample.Originality/valueThis study is unique in that it is the first to gather information and analyse people’s perceptions of the effects of the Omicron variant on food safety. As a result, the findings of this survey offer a solid basis for future investigations into the impact of the pandemic on food safety in the Balkan region and Russia. This study can help further understand the changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides crucial insights that can be used to guide future decision-making and policy development regarding improving food safety practices. This and other future studies will be a foundation for organisational and government readiness for future shocks, crises and pandemics. The effects of the present Ukrainian conflict on agricultural systems and supply chains throughout the globe (e.g. increased food prices) show that this is timely, urgent and highly required.

Levels of Regional Inequality of Health Infrastructure and Morbidity Pattern in West Bengal

This article examines the differences in health infrastructural availability in West Bengal. Furthermore, the study looks at the pattern of communicable and non-communicable diseases in the six different regions of the state. It measures and analyses the disparities through the lens of demand and supply gaps in healthcare. The trends, patterns and distribution of various diseases were captured through the NSS unit-level data from 60th and 71st rounds. The study shows that inter-regional and inter-district differences in health infrastructure are striking in West Bengal. The state’s health infrastructure lags behind the national average. The average population served per rural health facility in North Bengal as well as West Bengal is quite high compared to national figures. Similarly, the population served per hospital bed in North Bengal is also substantially higher in comparison to other regions. The inadequacy of hospital beds is one of the major obstacles in reducing the burden of disease in the region. The results for the distribution of diseases of inpatient cases show that the burden of communicable diseases in North Bengal is relatively higher than the other regions in both rounds of NSS. The inpatient cases of water- and food-borne infectious diseases like gastrointestinal diseases are considerably high in North Bengal.

A mathematical model to provide insights into food-borne Nipah virus infectious disease transmission dynamics

A mathematical model to provide insights into food-borne Nipah virus infectious disease transmission dynamics

Characteristics and related factors of waterborne and foodborne infectious disease outbreaks before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (2017-2021) in the Republic of Korea: a descriptive study.

The incidence of waterborne and foodborne infectious diseases (WFIDs) continues to increase annually, attracting significant global attention. This study examined trends in WFID outbreaks in the Republic of Korea over the 5-year period before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and provided foundational data to establish measures for the prevention and control of WFID outbreaks. We analyzed 2,541 WFID outbreaks from 2017 to 2021 (42,805 cases) that were reported through the Integrated Disease Surveillance System of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Outbreaks were defined as the occurrence of gastrointestinal symptoms in ≥2 individuals within a group with temporal and regional epidemiological associations. The related factors associated with WFID outbreaks during the observation period were statistically analyzed. The total number of WFID outbreaks significantly decreased in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and increased to the pre-pandemic level in 2021. Different patterns were observed for each pathogen. The incidence of Salmonella outbreaks more than doubled, while norovirus outbreaks decreased significantly. WFID outbreaks in the Republic of Korea showed different patterns before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, influenced by infection control measures and changes in dietary consumption patterns. Outbreaks of some diseases increased, but the infection control measures applied during the pandemic resulted in a significant decrease in the overall number of WFID outbreaks. This highlights the importance of strengthening the management strategies for outbreak prevention through hygiene inspections, long-term monitoring, education, and promotion by conducting multidimensional analyses to understand the complex related factors.

Dynamical analysis of an age-structured cholera transmission model on complex networks

Cholera is a water- and food-borne infectious disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. In this paper, we present a novel modeling framework to investigate the effect of infection age on cholera transmission in a heterogeneous population. Our model is constructed on a system with infection age on complex networks, including both direct and indirect transmission routes and demographics. The basic reproduction number R0 is derived as the spectral radius of the next generation operator, and it is verified that R0 is a sharp threshold that determines whether cholera becomes extinct or not. Numerical simulations are performed to confirm the theoretical results. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis of the basic reproduction number to the parameters suggests that the implementation of effective drug treatment for infected individuals and the timely removal of pathogens from contaminated water are beneficial to control the spread of cholera.

Bacteriological Quality and Antimicrobial Resistant Patterns of Foodborne Pathogens Isolated from Commonly Vended Street Foods in Arba Minch Town, Southern Ethiopia.

Ready-to-eat foods sold by street vendors act as potential sources for the spread of various foodborne infectious diseases. Thus, local determination of the level of foodborne bacterial pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance pattern is essential. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 5th, 2022 to December 31th, 2022. The required data were collected by a structured questionnaire and observation checklist. Randomly selected street-vended foods were aseptically collected, and the bacteriological quality was assessed by using culture techniques. Different biochemical tests were used to identify and characterize bacterial isolates. The antimicrobial-resistant test for isolated foodborne bacterial pathogens was carried out by using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. A total of 34.2% (113/330) with a 95% CI of 29.1-39.4 of commonly consumed street-vended foods were identified as having unsatisfactory total mean aerobic bacterial counts (>105 CFU/g; 4.3 × 105 CFU/g). The mean total Enterobacteriaceae, coliform, and staphylococcal counts were found to be 1.4 × 105 CFU/g, 2.4 × 104 CFU/g, and 3.4 × 104 CFU/g, respectively. A total of 12.7% (42/330) of foodborne pathogens were recovered attributed to Staphylococcus aureus (31, 9.4%), Salmonella species (6, 1.8%), and E. coli O157:H7 (5, 1.5%). 6.5% and 16.1% of isolated S. aureus were found to be methicillin-resistant and multidrug-resistant (MDR), respectively. Additionally, 33.3% of Salmonella isolates and 40% of E. coli O157:H7 isolates were found to be MDR. Street-vended foods in this setting have a considerable number of unsatisfactory bacterial qualities, along with drug-resistant foodborne pathogens. Thus, more effective health education and training for vendors, regular inspections of vending sites, and regular surveillance of drug resistance patterns of foodborne pathogens are all essential.

Serotype Distribution and Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Salmonella Isolated from Traditional Chicken Doner Kebabs in Türkiye

This study aimed to investigate the presence of Salmonella spp. in chicken doner samples, both ready for consumption and sold in packages in a modified atmosphere, using classical culture technique and the MALDI-TOF method by determining the antibiotic resistance profile structure through the disc diffusion method by determining the serotypes of the isolates through mPCR. Between September and November 2019, 150 ready-to-eat chicken doner samples (75 of them ready to consume, the other 75 packed in a modified atmosphere) were analyzed. It was found that 23 of the 150 (15.3%) samples analyzed were contaminated with Salmonella spp. 73 isolates were obtained from 23 positive samples. Of these 73 isolates, 33 were found to be Salmonella spp. positive. In serotyping, all 33 isolates were determined to be S. infantis. In the antibiotic resistance profile, 30 of theisolates were resistant to chloramphenicol, 24 to gentamicin, 21 to ampicillin, 20 to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin, 18 to tetracycline and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and 13 to cefoxitin. As a result, the isolation of Salmonella spp. from the samples and their resistance to different antibiotics were evaluated as potential sources of problems in the context of foodborne infectious diseases.

A Marked Decline in Taenia solium Taeniasis and Cysticercosis Infections in China: Possible Reasons from the Ecological Determinants Perspective

Taenia solium taeniasis/cysticercosis is an important global food-borne infectious disease transmitted between humans and pigs. According to both national surveys and field investigations, the prevalence of the disease in China has significantly decreased in recent decades. The primary disease control measures are health education and promotion, meat inspection, and chemotherapy. Other factors that influence or fundamentally affect human and pig T. solium taeniasis/cysticercosis have been identified, such as pig farming patterns shift and a revolution in sanitary toilets, which block T. solium transmission routes. Pig farming practices have shifted from backyard to large-scale intensive farming, thus decreasing pig contact with, and consumption of, human excreta. The increased in the use of sanitary toilets has facilitated hygiene by preventing of human excreta from contacting humans, or polluting the environment, feed, or water. The occurrence of human T. solium infections has markedly decreased as a result of these social changes. The objective of this review is to describe the ecological determinants of the cysticercosis decline in China.

Temperature related infectious disease mortality among infants and seasonality in Sweden, 1868-1892

Abstract Background Climate conditions, such as ambient temperature, are crucial to infants’ vulnerability to infectious diseases. However, little is known about how climate conditions, such as temperature and seasonality, affects infectious disease mortality among infants in high mortality settings. The aim was to investigate the association between ambient temperature, seasonality and cause-specific infant mortality. Methods We applied a retrospective study design using parish register data from Sweden covering the period 1868-1892 in combination with daily temperature data. Population data and temperature data were combined in a time-series dataset, accounting the number of deaths per day by age group. Mortality due to water- and foodborn diseases, airborne infectious diseases, and other causes were modelled as a function of temperature exposure in the previous 14 days using distributed lagged non-linear models. Results We found that airborne infectious disease mortality was not related to cold temperatures but rather to seasonality. At the 1st of february IIR was 2.98 (CI 1.30 - 6.85). The summer mortality peak due to water- and foodborne infections were associated with high temperatures and not with seasonality. At + 20 °C (the 99th percentile temperature exposure) IRR was 5.52 (CI 3.13-9.74). Conclusions The increased vulnerability to infectious diseases of infants at high temperatures is a significant future risk, given the expected global warming in the coming decades. Key messages • Airborne infectious disease mortality was related to seasonality while water- and foodborne infectious diseases were related to high temperatures. • The increased vulnerability to infectious diseases of infants at high temperatures is a significant future risk, given the expected global warming in the coming decades.

Prediction of the Impacts of Climate Change on the Geographical Distribution of Dysentery in Iran

Dysentery is a water- and food-borne infectious disease and its incidence is sensitive to climate change. Although the impact of climate change on dysentery is being studied in specific areas, a study in Iran is lacking. In this study, RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios were used to predict the prevalence of dysentery in Iran between 2050 and 2070. This study is a secondary analysis using Geographically Weighted Regression, and 273 cities of Iran were analyzed between March 2011 and March 2017. Bioclimate variables were used as independent variables. Ecological data about the prevalence and incidence of dysentery, which were collected between 2011 and 2017, were used as the dependent variables. The result shows the incidence of dysentery is significantly associated with bioclimate change exposure, in 2050 and 2070, based on RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. Our findings showed that in the absence of adaptation of the population, an increase in the risk of bioclimate-related diseases is expected by around 95.6% in the mid-century compared with the beginning of the century with regional variations. Based on these findings, the geographical distribution of the disease will also change. In 2050, the pattern of disease distribution would be changed, and the north of Iran will be included in the vulnerable regions. In 2070, the southeastern and northern parts of Iran will have the most vulnerability to climate change. Our study contributes important knowledge to this perspective by providing insightful findings and pieces of evidence for climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Antimicrobial activity of the mint extract against campylobacter jejueni isolated from chicken sample

Foodborne infectious diseases are seen around the world. One of the most common contaminants found in chicken meat products is Campylobacter jejuni. This study tries to: To assess the utilization of Mint extract in various concentrations as natural antimicrobial against C. jejueni, 100 chicken samples were collected From the city center of AL- Diwaniyah, 50 samples of fresh poultry meat and 50 samples of frozen poultry meat, and the evaluation was done on them after preparation.The antimicrobial activity of methanolic, ethanolic, and aqueous extracts of mint was evaluated in multi-well micro-titer plates using the well diffusion method. Mint extract was evaluated for antimicrobial property against C. jejuni at different concentrations (80%, 40%, and 20%), and the highest inhibitory effect was observed in the ethanolic extract of mint, followed by the methanolic extract, while the aqueous extract was active only at a high concentration of 80% using the well diffusion method. Due to the biologically active properties of the compounds in mint, which are antimicrobial, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, and antifungal, mint extracts exhibit biological activity against C. jejueni.

Transitory inequalities: how individual-level cause-specific death data can unravel socioeconomic inequalities in infant mortality in Maastricht, the Netherlands, 1864–1955

ABSTRACT The decline in infant mortality played a crucial role in the health transition in the Western World. This decline among the vulnerable new-borns was however not an evenly dispersed process. Inequalities as a result of regional differences, cultural influences or socioeconomic status shaped the paths towards low mortality rates. The role of socioeconomic status in levels of infant mortality and its decline remain highly debated. In this article, we study the development of socioeconomic disparities in infant mortality in the Dutch town of Maastricht in the period 1864–1955. This study uses unique individual-level cause of death data in order to see when changes in disease patterns took place for different socioeconomic groups. The aim is to identify socioeconomic inequalities by mapping changing epidemiological patterns over time, according to age within the first year of life. By deploying a multinomial logistic regression analysis we can trace the different timing of changes in the epidemiological regime. The results reveal that for most infants the change in mortality patterns from water- and foodborne infectious diseases towards a predominance of airborne infectious diseases occurred simultaneously with the massive decline in infant mortality from the start of the First World War onwards. Infants from the upper classes, however, appeared to have gained an earlier advantage, followed by infants from unskilled workers. Finally, from qualitative data it becomes clear that the awareness of the problematic nature of infant mortality, knowledge on infant care, hygienic practices, breastfeeding practices and the economic situation of World War I were factors aiding to the uneven decline in infant mortality.

A reaction-advection-diffusion model of cholera epidemics with seasonality and human behavior change

Cholera is a water- and food-borne infectious disease caused by V. cholerae. To investigate multiple effects of human behavior change, seasonality and spatial heterogeneity on cholera spread, we propose a reaction-advection-diffusion model that incorporates human hosts and aquatic reservoir of V. cholerae. We derive the basic reproduction number [Formula: see text] for this system and then establish a threshold type result on its global dynamics in terms of [Formula: see text]. Further, we show that the bacterial loss at the downstream end of the river due to water flux can reduce the disease risk, and describe the asymptotic behavior of [Formula: see text] for small and large diffusion in a special case (where the diffusion rates of infected human and the pathogen are constant). We also study the transmission dynamics at the early stage of cholera outbreak numerically, and find that human behavior change may lower the infection level and delay the disease peak. Moreover, the relative rate of bacterial loss, together with convection rate, plays an important role in identifying the severely infected areas. Meanwhile spatial heterogeneity may dilute or amplify cholera infection, which in turn would increase the complexity of disease spread.

Immunocapture Magnetic Beads Enhanced the LAMP-CRISPR/Cas12a Method for the Sensitive, Specific, and Visual Detection of Campylobacter jejuni.

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most important causes of food-borne infectious disease, and poses challenges to food safety and public health. Establishing a rapid, accurate, sensitive, and simple detection method for C. jejuni enables early diagnosis, early intervention, and prevention of pathogen transmission. In this study, an immunocapture magnetic bead (ICB)-enhanced loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) CRISPR/Cas12a method (ICB-LAMP-CRISPR/Cas12a) was developed for the rapid and visual detection of C. jejuni. Using the ICB-LAMP-CRISPR/Cas12a method, C. jejuni was first captured by ICB, and the bacterial genomic DNA was then released by heating and used in the LAMP reaction. After the LAMP reaction, LAMP products were mixed and detected by the CRISPR/Cas12a cleavage mixture. This ICB-LAMP-CRISPR/Cas12a method could detect a minimum of 8 CFU/mL of C. jejuni within 70 min. Additionally, the method was performed in a closed tube in addition to ICB capture, which eliminates the need to separate preamplification and transfer of amplified products to avoid aerosol pollution. The ICB-LAMP-CRISPR/Cas12a method was further validated by testing 31 C. jejuni-positive fecal samples from different layer farms. This method is an all-in-one, simple, rapid, ultrasensitive, ultraspecific, visual detection method for instrument-free diagnosis of C. jejuni, and has wide application potential in future work.

A Novel Fluorescence Aptasensor Based on Magnetic Beads/Gold Nanoparticles/DNA-Stabilized Silver Nanoclusters for Detection of Salmonella Typhimurium.

Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is a globally distributed foodborne pathogen, which can lead to outbreaks of foodborne infectious diseases. It is essential to guarantee food safety by timely and correct detection of S. Typhimurium. In this investigation, an original fluorescence aptasensor was constructed to detect S. Typhimurium rapidly and sensitively. Through the coupling of magnetic beads, aptamer, and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), a fluorescence quenching system with a “sandwich structure” was established. The aptamer acted as a link, and its specific binding to S. Typhimurium could release AuNPs from the system. Meanwhile, fluorescent DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters (DNA-AgNCs) were synthesized. The fluorescence intensity changes caused by the fluorescence resonance energy transfer between DNA-AgNCs and AuNPs were utilized to detect S. Typhimurium. The purposed aptasensor exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity with a linear response to S. Typhimurium, ranging from 3.7 × 102 to 3.7 × 105 cfu/mL. The limit of detection (LOD) was estimated to be 98 cfu/mL within 2 h 10 min. In addition, this method showed excellent application for detection of S. Typhimurium in artificially contaminated milk, with LOD reaching 3.4 × 102 cfu/mL. Therefore, the developed fluorescence aptasensor has great potential to identify S. Typhimurium in foodstuffs.

Intestinal Organoids: New Tools to Comprehend the Virulence of Bacterial Foodborne Pathogens.

Foodborne diseases cause high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Understanding the relationships between bacteria and epithelial cells throughout the infection process is essential to setting up preventive and therapeutic solutions. The extensive study of their pathophysiology has mostly been performed on transformed cell cultures that do not fully mirror the complex cell populations, the in vivo architectures, and the genetic profiles of native tissues. Following advances in primary cell culture techniques, organoids have been developed. Such technological breakthroughs have opened a new path in the study of microbial infectious diseases, and thus opened onto new strategies to control foodborne hazards. This review sheds new light on cellular messages from the host–foodborne pathogen crosstalk during in vitro organoid infection by the foodborne pathogenic bacteria with the highest health burden. Finally, future perspectives and current challenges are discussed to provide a better understanding of the potential applications of organoids in the investigation of foodborne infectious diseases.

Photoactivated Carbon Dots for Inactivation of Foodborne Pathogens Listeria and Salmonella.

Foodborne pathogens have long been recognized as major challenges for the food industry and repeatedly implicated in food product recalls and outbreaks of foodborne diseases. This study demonstrated the application of a recently discovered class of visible-light-activated carbon-based nanoparticles, namely, carbon dots (CDots), for photodynamic inactivation of foodborne pathogens. The results demonstrated that CDots were highly effective in the photoinactivation of Listeria monocytogenes in suspensions and on stainless steel surfaces. However, it was much less effective for Salmonella cells, but treatments with higher CDot concentrations and longer times were still able to inactivate Salmonella cells. The mechanistic implications of the observed different antibacterial effects on the two types of cells were assessed, and the associated generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), the resulting lipid peroxidation, and the leakage of nucleic acid and proteins from the treated cells were analyzed, with the results collectively suggesting CDots as a class of promising photodynamic inactivation agents for foodborne pathogens. IMPORTANCE Foodborne infectious diseases have long been recognized as major challenges in public health. Contaminations of food processing facilities and equipment with foodborne pathogens occur often. There is a critical need for new tools/approaches to control the pathogens and prevent such contaminations in food processing facilities and other settings. This study reports a newly established antimicrobial nanomaterials platform, CDots coupled with visible/natural light, for effective and efficient inactivation of representative foodborne bacterial pathogens. The study will contribute to promoting the practical application of CDots as a new class of promising nanomaterial-based photodynamic inactivation agents for foodborne pathogens.