Pathogen Inactivation Research Articles

Pathogens inactivation and preservation of Pacific white shrimp by atmospheric cold plasma treatment

Atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) efficacy in inactivating Listeria monocytogenes and Vibrio parahaemolyticus was investigated on fresh and frozen shrimp. ACP inactivation efficacy increased with treatment time (5–20 min) and treatment voltages (60–80 kV) due to increased reactive gas species. ACP yielded stronger pathogen inactivation on frozen versus fresh shrimp. ACP treatment at 80 kV for 30 min maximally reduced L. monocytogenes and V. parahaemolyticus by 0.94 and 1.26 log CFU/g on fresh shrimp and by 1.68 and 2.0 log CFU/g on frozen shrimp. During storage at 4 °C, ACP-treated shrimp exhibited slightly higher thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels but overall improved quality attributes, including lower total viable count, total volatile basic nitrogen, and pH, as well as higher sensory scores compared to the controls. ACP also extended shrimp shelf-life by 2 days. Therefore, ACP holds significant potential for seafood disinfection and preservation. Industrial relevanceACP effectively reduced levels of Listeria monocytogenes and Vibrio parahaemolyticus on both fresh and frozen shrimp with greater inactivation effects on frozen shrimp. In addition to enhancing microbial safety, ACP also improved shrimp quality and extended shelf-life. ACP could readily be coupled with packaging technology and bio preservatives to enhance its efficacy. This research provides a foundation for the eventual industrial adoption of ACP technology to benefit both consumers through reduced pathogen risks, and seafood processors through improved product safety, quality, and shelf-life.

The Combination of Membrane Disruption and FtsZ Targeting by a Chemotherapeutic Hydrogel Synergistically Combats Pathogens Infections.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria poses a significant challenge to global health. Due to a shortage of antibiotics, alternative therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Unfortunately, colistin, the last-resort antibiotic, has unavoidable nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity, and its single killing mechanism is prone to drug resistance. To address this challenge, a promising combinatorial approach that includes colistin, a membrane-disrupting antimicrobial agent, and chelerythrine (CHE), a FtsZ protein inhibitor is proposed. This approach significantly reduces antibiotic dose and development of resistance, leading to almost complete inactivation of MDR pathogens in vitro. To address solubility issues and ensure transport, the antimicrobial hydrogel system LNP-CHE-CST@hydrogel, which induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis-like cell death by targeting the FtsZ protein, is used. In an in vivo mouse skin infection model, the combination therapy effectively eliminated MDR bacteria within 24 h, as monitored by fluorescence tracking. The findings demonstrate a promising approach for developing multifunctional hydrogels to combat MDR bacterial infections.

Construction of Ag/CdZnS QDs nanocomposite for enhanced visible light photoinactivation of Staphylococcus aureus

With increasing use of antibiotics, the development of antibiotic-resistant pathogens poses a serious threat to human health and the environment. Photocatalytic inactivation of these harmful pathogens is one of the novel and non-antibiotic treatments. The study fabricated Ag NPs decorated CdZnS QDs via a facile and biological co-precipitation method using L. camara plant extract as a green alternative to treat the toxic chemicals. The fabricated Ag/CdZnS QDs (NCs) were prepared for the efficient treatment of antibiotic-resistant pathogens as they raise a major global concern. The fabricated NCs were characterized with various characterization techniques to verify its physicochemical properties. The fabricated NCs have shown excellent photo-sterilization performance of 97 % against S. aureus. The excellent activity was attributed to the decoration of Ag NPs on CdZnS QDs as it helped in shortening band gap, improved visible light absorption ability, increased active sites, and boosted photogenerated electron/hole pairs stability. Radical trapping experiment and ESR analysis indicated the involvement of •OH and h+ in the photoinactivation of bacteria. The photo sterilization reaction of NCs was carried out under different environmental conditions, including light and dark conditions and different pH conditions. The experiment was carried out in sewage-treated water in order to test the real-time application, and the fabricated NCs achieved excellent 95.9 % photo-inactivation of S. aureus cells in sewage treated water and the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) of the system was increased after photo inactivation treatment. The fabricated NCs have also shown excellent reusable efficiency of 95% after six runs and the photostability and anti-corrosive nature of NCs were confirmed. The study provides an insight for the employment of photocatalysis for the sterilization of pathogens in real time aquatic environment across the globe.

Excessive Ozonation Stress Triggers Severe Membrane Biofilm Accumulation and Fouling.

The established benefits of ozone on microbial pathogen inactivation, natural organic matter degradation, and inorganic/organic contaminant oxidation have favored its application in drinking water treatment. However, viable bacteria are still present after the ozonation of raw water, bringing a potential risk to membrane filtration systems in terms of biofilm accumulation and fouling. In this study, we shed light on the role of the specific ozone dose (0.5 mg-O3/mg-C) in biofilm accumulation during long-term membrane ultrafiltration. Results demonstrated that ozonation transformed the molecular structure of influent dissolved organic matter (DOM), producing fractions that were highly bioavailable at a specific ozone dose of 0.5, which was inferred to be a turning point. With the increase of the specific ozone dose, the biofilm microbial consortium was substantially shifted, demonstrating a decrease in richness and diversity. Unexpectedly, the opportunistic pathogen Legionella was stimulated and occurred in approximately 40% relative abundance at the higher specific ozone dose of 1. Accordingly, the membrane filtration system with a specific ozone dose of 0.5 presented a lower biofilm thickness, a weaker fluorescence intensity, smaller concentrations of polysaccharides and proteins, and a lower Raman activity, leading to a lower hydraulic resistance, compared to that with a specific ozone dose of 1. Our findings highlight the interaction mechanism between molecular-level DOM composition, biofilm microbial consortium, and membrane filtration performance, which provides an in-depth understanding of the impact of ozonation on biofilm accumulation.

Evaluating the Safety of Sous-Vide Cooking for Beef Products Inoculated with Single Strains of Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli O157

Sous-videcooking is a growing trend among retailers and consumers. Foodborne pathogens may survive the cooking if nonvalidated parameters are used or if pathogens have enhanced thermalresistance. Pathogen inactivation from sous-vide cooking was determined when introduced directly to beef products or via contaminated spices, and with or without a finishing step. Beef products (ground beef, tenderized, and nontenderized steaks) were inoculated with pathogens (Salmonella Montevideo and Escherichia coli O157:NM) in three ways: 1) directly onto the meat 2) ground black pepper incorporated into the recipe 3) ground pepper equilibrated at 30% RH (4 d) prior to incorporation. Beef samples were vacuum-packaged and submerged in a 62.5°C water bath for 120 min. Samples were sampled at 5, 10, 20, and 120 min (recommended from a partner quality study), and a duplicate was grilled to a specific internal temperature (74°C for ground beef, 57°C for steaks) and sampled. Sous-vide cooking reduced pathogen populations by >5 log CFU/g after most treatment times, but less than grilled counterparts (ca. 1–2 log CFU/g difference; p < 0.05).There were no statistically significant differences between inoculation methods, but the tenderization of steaks resulted in significantly lower reductions of pathogens from sous-vide cooking (p < 0.05). Thisresearch challenged sous-vide cooking parameters (120 min, 62.5°C). It showed sous-vide alone lowered pathogens by >4 log CFU/g after most 20-min treatments, but 120-min sous-vide treatments or grilling would be needed for >5-log reductions.Contaminated pepper led to less consistent reductions during the cooking process, yet 2-h sous-vide still achieved a 5-log reduction. Sous-vide cooking instructions must be validated as more products and recipes are marketed.

Assessing passive thermosyphon solar water heater as low-cost, sustainable water disinfection technology: Leveraging the Germicidal effect of copper and thermal convection loops

This study investigated the passive thermosyphon solar water heater (TSWH) as a domestic size point-of-use water disinfection treatment system for inactivating bacteria by utilizing both the germicidal properties of copper in heat exchanger and the heat generated in thermal convection loops. Additionally, life cycle analysis and manufacturing cost analysis were conducted to reveal its environmental and economic benefits. Initially, the germicidal capacity of copper tube against E. coli and total coliform in rapidly flowing polluted water was tested in laboratory settings with contact times ranging from 1.5 to 94 min. Without any additional heat, the copper tubes achieved 99.9% (log 3.01) removal of E. coli, and 99.24% (log 2.12) removal of total coliform after 94 min of contact. In the presence of heat (50–80 ºC), complete removal of the bacteria was achieved after only 1.5 mins of contact time at 50ºC. A domestic-sized passive TSWH with a copper tube heat exchanger was evaluated for disinfecting 20 L/day of microbiologically polluted tap water and synthetic groundwater in a field study. The average contact time of polluted water in copper tube heat exchanger was 5.58±1.2 min in the morning (with an outlet water temperature of 87.3 ºC), and 11.83±1.41 min in the afternoon (with an outlet water temperature of 78±5.1 ºC). These contact times and temperatures, achieved throughout the year, were sufficient to meet the required minimum for complete bacterial removal in the synthetic groundwater. Importantly, the system achieved complete inactivation of pathogens at pasteurization temperatures below 75 ºC, relying solely on the combined effect of copper and thermal convection loops, without pumps or electricity. Compared to an active TSWH using circulating pumps and controls, the passive system generated 62.2% less green house gas, had 55.5% lower cumulative energy demand and cost 323.3 $ compared to 544.64 $. Highlighting significant economic and environmental benefits, the passive TSWH offers a promising solution for disinfecting water in low-income areas with limited access to safe water.

Leveraging Plasma-Activated Seawater for the Control of Human Norovirus and Bacterial Pathogens in Shellfish Depuration.

Cold plasma is a promising alternative for water treatment owing to pathogen control and a plethora of issues in the agriculture and food sectors. Shellfish pose a serious risk to public health and are linked to large viral and bacterial outbreaks. Hence, current European regulations mandate a depuration step for shellfish on the basis of their geographical growth area. This study investigated the inactivation of relevant viral and bacterial pathogens of three plasma-activated seawaters (PASWs), and their reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) composition, as being primarily responsible for microbial inactivation. Specifically, F-specific (MS2) and somatic (φ174) bacteriophage, cultivable surrogate (murine norovirus, MNV, and Tulane virus, TV), and human norovirus (HuNoV GII.4) inactivation was determined using plaque counts and infectivity assays, including the novel human intestinal enteroid (HIE) model for HuNoV. Moreover, the kinetic decay of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Vibrio parahaemolyticus was characterized. The results showed the complete inactivation of phages (6-8 log), surrogates (5-6 log), HuNoV (6 log), and bacterial (6-7 log) pathogens within 24 h while preventing cytotoxicity effects and preserving mussel viability. Nitrites (NO2-) were found to be mostly correlated with microbial decay. This research shows that PASWs are a suitable option to depurate bivalve mollusks and control the biohazard risk linked to their microbiological contamination, either viral or bacterial.

Polyrotaxanated covalent organic frameworks based on β-cyclodextrin towards high-efficiency synergistic inactivation of bacterial pathogens

As an emerging artificial porous material, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with customizable structure and function, have always been the focus of polymer science. Controllable fabrication of COFs with brand-new structure is the top priority for its development. Here, the ‘supramolecular binding’ strategy is developed as a simple but efficient method to prepare COFs with novel structures and functions. By this means, polymeric rotaxanes threaded COFs, denoted as Por-CD-COF, was facilely prepared via the combination of dynamic covalent imine-bond formation with supramolecular self-assembly, in which the polyrotaxane formed via inclusion of aromatic linker with bactericidal active β-cyclodextrin macrocycle (CD) was condensed with the photosensitive porphyrin via the combination of mechanical grinding and solvothermal synthesis. The formation of polyrotaxane could change the distance between layers, avoiding the quench of photoactivity caused by the severe aggregation of layered structure. Under the same molar amount of reaction monomers, the weight of the Por-CD-COF is approaching five times of the CD-free COF, which could greatly reduce the use of photoactive ingredients. Further experiments demonstrated the introduction of CDs could also significantly improve the biocompatibility. Impressively, this special porphyrin-involved CD-COF, displays excellent photo activity, which could act as an efficient broad spectrum antibacterial agents realizing the combinational action of cyclodextrin enhanced photothermal and photodynamic antimicrobial at an extremely low quality of the effective photosensitizer (Porphyrin). Meanwhile, even at the same dose of fungicide, the bactericidal effect of Por-CD-COF is far exceeding the CD-free therapeutic agent. This novel synthetic strategy allows the incorporation of mechanically interlocked CDs (MIMs) into the porous polymeric materials, providing an easy access to low-cost preparation of COFs for the specific applications.

Modeling of UV-C survival of foodborne pathogens and predicting microbial inactivation on fresh-cut ‘Tommy Atkins’ mango using CFD

Abstract Shortwave ultraviolet light (UV-C) disinfection is an emerging technology used to enhance food safety by reducing the pathogen load. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) served as a numerical simulation tool to calculate the average radiation intensity within a disinfection chamber. The resulting CFD data was employed to estimate the UV-C inactivation kinetic parameters for Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes. Experimental procedures involved irradiating bacterial suspensions with UV-C doses ranging from 0 to 6.028 kJ/m2. The inactivation of S. Typhimurium was described using a log-linear equation, while UV-C survival curves for E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes were best fitted to Weibull model. Subsequently, the integration of CFD simulations and kinetic parameters enabled the estimation of UV-C doses approaching 6 kJ/m2 for the treatment of fresh-cut ‘Tommy Atkins’ mangoes inoculated with the mentioned microorganisms. This integrated approach partially predicted the inactivation of pathogens on the surface of mango spears.

Validating the inactivation of viral pathogens with a focus on SARS-CoV-2 to safely transfer samples from high-containment laboratories.

Pathogen leak from a high-containment laboratory seriously threatens human safety, animal welfare, and environmental security. Transportation of pathogens from a higher (BSL4 or BSL3) to a lower (BSL2) containment laboratory for downstream experimentation requires complete pathogen inactivation. Validation of pathogen inactivation is necessary to ensure safety during transportation. This study established a validation strategy for virus inactivation. SARS-CoV-2 wild type, delta, and omicron variants underwent heat treatment at 95°C for 10 minutes using either a hot water bath or a thermocycler. To validate the inactivation process, heat-treated viruses, and untreated control samples were incubated with A549-hACE2 and Vero E6-TMPRSS2-T2A-ACE2 cells. The cells were monitored for up to 72 hours for any cytopathic effects, visually and under a microscope, and for virus genome replication via RT-qPCR. The quality of post-treated samples was assessed for suitability in downstream molecular testing applications. Heat treatment at 95°C for 10 minutes effectively inactivated SARS-CoV-2 variants. The absence of cytopathic effects, coupled with the inability of virus genome replication, validated the efficacy of the inactivation process. Furthermore, the heat-treated samples proved to be qualified for COVID-19 antigen testing, RT-qPCR, and whole-genome sequencing. By ensuring the safety of sample transportation for downstream experimentation, this validation approach enhances biosecurity measures. Considerations for potential limitations, comparisons with existing inactivation methods, and broader implications of the findings are discussed.

Pathogen reduced red blood cells as an alternative to irradiated and washed components with potential for up to 42 days storage.

The urgency of maintaining a safe and adequate blood supply is increasing. One approach to ensure a sufficient supply is to limit the outdating frequency of blood components. Pathogen inactivation technology was developed primarily to increase safety by preventing transmission of infectious diseases. The Intercept Blood System for pathogen reduction of red blood cells (RBC) has additional benefits such as inactivation of leucocytes and removal of plasma and storage debris through centrifugation. Irradiation and automated washing are detrimental to the RBC membrane and often implicate shortened shelf-life. We aimed to assess whether pathogen inactivation can replace RBC irradiation and washing to avoid shelf-life reduction. RBC concentrates (No.=48) were pooled-and-split into four study arms, which underwent pathogen inactivation treatment, irradiation, automated washing or no treatment (reference). RBC quality was evaluated during 42 days by assessment of storage lesion. Washing efficacy was defined by IgA and albumin reduction. Pathogen reduced RBCs had similar membrane preservation to reference RBCs (hemolysis, microvesicles and extracellular potassium ions), whereas the RBCs were negatively impacted by irradiation or automated washing. ATP increased substantially post-pathogen inactivation, while 2,3-DPG decreased. Pathogen inactivation considerably reduced albumin and IgA, though slightly less efficiently than automated washing. RBCs exhibit superior membrane preservation after pathogen inactivation treatment, compared to both irradiation and automated washing. This suggests that replacement is possible, even though the plasma reduction protocol could be further optimised.Replacement of irradiated and washed RBC concentrates with pathogen reduced RBC concentrates storable up to 42 days would be advantageous for both the blood supply and patient safety.

In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of UV LED 405 NM as Pathogen Inactivation on Human Plasma Contaminated by Pseudomonas Aeroginosa

Abstrak Kontaminasi bakteri dapat berasal dari berbagai sumber, termasuk kulit donor yang tidak aseptik, bakteremia donor, dan proses pengolahan produk darah. Dibandingkan dengan infeksi virus, kasus kontaminasi bakteri memiliki risiko lebih tinggi untuk penularan infeksi melalui transfusi darah. Infeksi Pseudomonas aeruginosa telah didokumentasikan dalam kasus infeksi aliran darah, infeksi saluran kemih, dan infeksi tempat operasi. Beberapa penelitian telah mengkaji potensi penggunaan UV-LED 405 nm (Ultra Violet - Light Emitting Diodes) sebagai pilihan tanpa perlu photosensitizer, dan dapat diterapkan dengan aman pada manusia.Studi ini menggunakan desain eksperimen sejati dan dilakukan pada Agustus hingga September 2023 di Laboratorium Teknologi Bank Darah STIKES Rajekwesi Bojonegoro, Indonesia. Sampel yang digunakan adalah bakteri Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 dan plasma dari donor darah dengan desain kelompok kontrol hanya pada uji pasca.Ketika paparan UV LED diterapkan pada plasma yang terkontaminasi dengan P. aeruginosa, terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan dalam pertumbuhan koloni pada kultur NA. Pertumbuhan bakteri berkurang seiring dengan peningkatan waktu paparan cahaya UV LED, dan ada perbedaan yang signifikan antara kelompok yang terpapar UV LED dan kelompok kontrol (nilai p &lt; 0,05). Setelah 60 menit paparan, terjadi penurunan sebesar 90% dalam pertumbuhan bakteri dibandingkan dengan kelompok kontrol, yang tidak menerima paparan UV LED 405 nm. Kata kunci: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, plasma, pathogen inactivation, UV LED 405nm Abstract Origins of bacterial contamination may arise from non-aseptic donor skin, donor bacteremia, and the processing of blood products. Blood transfusions spread infections more often from cases of bacterial contamination than from viral infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections have previously been connected to surgical site, urinary tract, and bloodstream infections. Without the need for additional photosensitizers, several studies have been able to advance the use of 405 nm UV-LEDs (Ultra Violet Light Emitting Diodes) as a viable option that can be applied to people in a safe manner. The Blood Bank Laboratory of STIKES Rajekwesi Bojonegoro, Indonesia, hosted this study from August to September 2023, employing a true experimental design. The sample was the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Liquid Plasma from Blood Donor using Posttest-Only Control.The exposure of UV LED light on Contaminated Plasma with P. aeruginosa showed different count of colony growth on NA culture. The bacterial growth decreased following the time exposure to UV LED light and showed significant difference between the treated groups and control (p value &lt; 0.05). The reduction in 60 minutes exposure reached 10% when compared to the control group, where the control group was not exposed to 405 nm UV LED. Keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, plasma, pathogen inactivation, UV LED 405nm

Thermodynamics, kinetics, and computational fluid dynamics modeling of Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhi inactivation during the thermosonication process of celery juice

In this study, thermosonication (37 KHz, 300 W; 50, 60, and 70 °C) of celery juice was performed to inactivate Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhi in 6 min. The inactivation of pathogens and the process were modeled using mathematical, thermodynamic, and computational fluid dynamics models. The findings indicated that the distribution of power dissipation density was not uniform across the entire domain, including the beaker area, with a maximum value of 27.8 × 103 W/m3. At lower temperatures, E. coli showed a 9.4 % higher resistance to sonication, while at higher temperatures, S. Typhi had a 5.4 % higher durability than E. coli. Increasing the temperature decreased the maximum inactivation rate of both S. Typhi and E. coli by 15.5 % and 20.5 % respectively, while increasing the thermal level by 20 °C reduced the log time to achieve the maximum inactivation rate by 20.3 % and 34.9 % for S. Typhi and E. coli respectively, highlighting the stronger effect of sonication at higher temperatures. According to the results, the positive magnitudes of ΔG were observed in both E. coli and S. Typhi, indicating a similar range of variations. Additionally, the magnitude of ΔG increased by approximately 5.2 to 5.5 % for both microorganisms which suggested the inactivation process was not spontaneous.

Prediction of transmission routes of respiratory infectious diseases in indoor environment: Based on droplet evaporation and sedimentation analysis

Many respiratory infectious diseases are believed to be transmitted from person to person through droplet nuclei in the air or contact with droplet-contaminated surfaces. Most studies related to droplet evaporation only focus on the evaporation process, without dividing the transmission routes of diseases caused by droplet evaporation. In this paper, the actual size of droplet nuclei was analyzed, and droplet evaporation and the changes in component content were predicted. Especially considering the dynamic effect of evaporation on droplets size change, a more realistic sedimentation model was established, and the probability of pathogen transmission through different routes and the corresponding droplet size distribution range were analyzed. The results showed that the size of droplet nuclei and the rate of the evaporation process together determined the time required for droplet evaporation. The number of droplets still suspended in the air after the end of evaporation is much higher than the number of droplets settling on the ground. In addition, the differences in component content during the evaporation process may affect the inactivation of pathogens in droplets. This study provided a reference for the prevention and control strategies of respiratory infectious diseases in indoor environments.

Graphitic-carbon nitride and polyvinylpyrrolidone capped barium oxide nanocomposites served as dye degrader and bactericidal potential: A molecular docking study

The removal of cationic dyes from wastewater and inactivation of bacterial pathogens in mastitic milk attracted significant attention from researchers to overcome their impact on the environment and ecosystem challenges. In recent research work, the synthesis of BaO nanorods (NRs) capped with 3 wt% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and varying quantities (2 and 4 wt%) of graphitic-carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was carried out using an eco-friendly, low-cost co-precipitation approach. The primary objective of this study is to explore the potential application of a ternary system for the disinfection of contaminated water besides investigating its antibacterial capabilities. Adding g-C3N4 and PVP to BaO enhances morphological and chemical stability, suppresses the population of charge carriers, facilitates dye degradation, and exhibits notable efficacy in antibacterial activity owing to its reduced bandgap energy. The higher concentration of g-C3N4/PVP- BaO ascribed notable results of Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation (19.3–100 %) in a basic medium rather than acidic and neutral media. A high concentration of g-C3N4 nanocatalyst represents the remarkable antimicrobial efficacy (0–3.05 mm) against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The findings from molecular docking investigation indicate g-C3N4/PVP-BaO NRs suppressive effects for DNA gyraseS. aureus, which is comparable with their reported bactericidal efficacy.

Experimental investigation of integrated systems of precooling and plasma‐activated water‐based bacterial inactivation

AbstractPlasma‐activated water (PAW) is produced by treating aqueous solution with cold plasma. PAW is rich in reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, making it a safe and efficient approach for the inactivation of pathogens. In this paper, two types of integrated systems of precooling and PAW‐based bacterial inactivation for fruits and vegetables were proposed. One is cold water precooling (CWP) and PAW, the other is differential pressure precooling (DPP) and PAW. The influencing factors of PAW preparation and the bacterial inactivation effect of PAW suspension were experimentally investigated. The results demonstrated that with the increase in preparation time, the pH decreased, with a concurrent increase in temperature, electrical conductivity, and redox potential. The physicochemical properties of PAW were affected by temperature, with the optimal temperature being about 17°C. As the preparation time and bacterial inactivation time increased, the decontamination effect of PAW against Escherichia coli increased in suspension bacterial inactivation. Conversely, with the decrease in PAW temperature, the bacterial inactivation effect weakened. Furthermore, PAW was applied through CWP and DPP combined with PAW for precooling snow peas. Soaking CWP showed a 2.1 log reduction of background bacteria after 10 days of storage. Spraying CWP showed a 1.1 log reduction of background bacteria after 5 days of storage. DPP showed a 0.8 log reduction of background bacteria after 10 days of storage, and the appearance of snow peas surpassed those of the control group. Integrated systems of precooling and PAW‐based bacterial inactivation indicated promising effects on maintaining the safety and quality of snow peas.Practical applicationsPAW is a sterilization method with the advantage of easy preparation, low cost, minimal chemical residue, and effective sterilization. PAW could be produced simply by discharge on the tap water, which is very practical for its up‐scale application. In this study, different parameters on the physicochemical properties of PAW were evaluated, which was helpful in designing industrial PAW‐producing equipment. Besides, integrated systems of precooling and PAW sterilization for fruits and vegetables were proposed, which showed prominent sterilization and good preservation effects. The integrated systems could maintain the freshness of fruits and vegetables and prevent bacterial contamination during precooling by combining PAW sterilization and precooling, which will help extend the shelf lives of fruits and vegetables. In addition, this combination will prevent agricultural product waste and maintain the safety of fruits and vegetables.

Eco‐friendly materials for next‐generation vaccination: From concept to clinical reality

AbstractThe vaccine is a premier healthcare intervention strategy in the battle against infectious infections. However, the development and production of vaccines present challenges in terms of complexity, cost, and time consumption. Alternative methodologies, such as nonthermal plasma and plant‐based technologies, have emerged as potential alternatives for conventional vaccine manufacturing processes. While plasma‐based approaches offer a rapid and efficient pathogen inactivation method devoid of harsh reagents, plant‐based techniques present a more economically viable and scalable avenue for vaccine production. The imperative urges these approaches to address pressing global health challenges posed by emerging and recurring infectious diseases, surpassing the limitations of traditional vaccine fabrication methods. The primary goal of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current research landscape, covering conceptualization, production, and potential advantages of plasma‐based and plant‐based vaccines. Furthermore, exploring the obstacles and opportunities intrinsic to these strategies is undertaken, elucidating their potential impact on vaccination strategies. This systematic presentation specifies a detailed outline of recent vaccine research and developments, emphasizing the possibility of advanced green approaches to produce effective and secure vaccination programs.

Emerging Food Processing and Preservation Approaches for Nutrition and Health

This comprehensive review critically evaluates contemporary and emergent food processing and preservation technologies with a primary focus on enhancing nutrition and promoting health. The discourse delves into a spectrum of innovative methodologies, encompassing high pressure processing, pulsed electric field processing, oscillating magnetic field processing, nonthermal plasma, ultrasound processing, and avant-garde thermal technologies. A detailed analysis is provided, shedding light on the manifold impacts of these technologies on diverse facets such as food quality, sensory attributes, nutrient preservation, shelf-life augmentation, and the effective inactivation of pathogens. Furthermore, the document accentuates recent applications that exemplify the successful enhancement of nutritional profiles across a gamut of food products. The review not only scrutinizes the advantages but also delineates the challenges associated with the implementation of these cutting-edge technologies. An insightful exploration of potential future opportunities is incorporated, offering a forward-looking perspective on the evolving landscape of food processing and preservation. By expanding the discourse on these pivotal technologies, this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders interested in advancing nutrition and health outcomes through state-of-the-art food processing and preservation approaches.

Combining sulfite and freezing/thawing pretreatment to simultaneously improves methanogenesis, dewaterability, and pathogen inactivation of waste activated sludge: Depicting sulfite migration during ice crystal growth

Harmless treatment of waste activated sludge (WAS) is the primary goal for sludge management while bioresource recovery is raising wide scholarly and industrial interest due to the abundant resource potential in WAS. This study employed sulfite and freezing/thawing to pretreat WAS for its versatility in simultaneously enhancing methane production, improving dewaterability, and inactivating pathogenic microorganisms. The addition of 100 mg S/L of sulfite and subsequent freezing/thawing significantly promoted the release of organics from a low organic-contained WAS (volatile solid/total solid = 0.4), leading to a substantial increase in methane production by 10.99 %. The combined pretreatment significantly reduced the capillary suction time of sludge by 77.24 % and effectively inactivated pathogenic microorganisms to below detectable levels. From a micro level, sulfur aggregation was observed around sludge particles, which can be attributed to the process of ice formation. During this process, sulfite was continuously transferred to the aqueous phase surrounding the particles where were froze even slower. Moreover, the formation of capillary water ice crystals further compromised the protective function of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on sludge cells. Economic, and environmental analyses suggest this combined sulfite and freezing/thawing pretreatment has a potential for efficient sludge treatment towards energy recovery and safe disposal with high environmental and economic value.

Numerical simulation of heat transfer during meat ball cooking and microbial food safety enhancement.

This study was conducted to apply the finite volume method (FVM) to solve the partial differential equation (PDE) governing the heat transfer process during meat cooking with convective surface conditions. For a one-dimensional, round-shaped food, such as meat balls, the domain may be divided into shells of equal thickness, with energy balance established for each adjacent shell using in the finite difference scheme (FDS) to construct a set of finite difference equations, which were then solved simultaneously using the FORTRAN language and the IVPAG subroutine of the International Mathematics and Statistics Library. The FDS is flexible for temperature-dependent physical properties of foods, such as thermal conductivity (k), specific heat (Cp ), thermal diffusivity (α), and boundary conditions, for example, surface heat transfer coefficient (h), to predict the dynamic temperature profiles in beef and chicken meat balls cooked in an oven. Once the FVM model was established and validated, it was used to simulate the dynamic temperature profiles during cooking, which were then used in combination with the general method to evaluate the thermal lethality of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. using D and z values in ground meats during cooking. The method can be applied to design cooking processes that effectively inactivate foodborne pathogens while maintaining the quality of cooked meats and evaluate the adequacy of a cooking process. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The temperature dependences of thermal conductivity (k) and thermal diffusivity (α) of raw ground beef and ground chicken meats were measured. These thermal properties were then used in numerical simulation to predict the dynamic heating temperature profile and thermal lethality of ground beef and chicken meat balls. The numerical simulation method may be used to optimize and evaluate thermal processes and ensure the inactivation of pathogens in meat products during cooking.