Overall, the Kiowa blackberry reigned supreme over the Prime-Jan blackberry in the majority of functionality assays, more specifically alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase, total soluble phenolics and DPPH free radical scavenging activity.

In an attempt to incorporate anti-hypertensive properties into this study, we chose to integrate the Bartlett pear, known as the most widely consumed pear in the United States and recognized for its moderate ACE inhibition.

Our results indicated a combination of 70% pear to 30% blackberry as the most beneficial ratio for exhibiting high alpha-amylase (96.5%) and alpha-glucosidase inhibition (95.6%). Additionally, the 70/30 combination exhibited high DPPH free radical scavenging activity (80.7%), total soluble phenolics (1.9 mg/g FW), while also maintaining moderately high ACE inhibition (25.2%). Therefore, there is vast potential for a combination of 70% pear to 30% blackberry to serve as a beneficial alternative in the diet of patients suffering from type 2 diabetes.

This new method was simple, rapid, and more sensitive compared to other detection methods used to analyze resveratrol and pterostilbene. Linear range, limit of detection (LOD), precision and recovery were used to validate this new analytical method. There was a significant increase in intracellular uptake and stronger growth inhibitory of pterostilbene in human cancer cells lines in comparison to resveratrol. Resveratrol exhibited a higher and more rapid rate of transport than pterostilbene across the Caco-2 monolayer regardless of the concentration tested and direction. Pterostiblene exhibited little difference in the rate of transport from either direction. The HCT-116 colon cells had intracellular uptake of each of the polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) tested. Transport was observed by all the PMFs and each had different rates of transport. Overall, location and amount of methyl groups had an effect on bioavailablity of a compound and these compounds show promise as chemopreventative agents.

Pathogens have been used as biological warfare for centuries. A brief review of common biowarfare agents is included. Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of the Plague, and Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of Anthrax, are the focus.

Additional work using gold nanoparticles as reporter in a sandwich assay is also included. The novel dye covered reporter was compared to the control, which was a single dye molecule linked to the reporter sequence. Repeated testing showed the novel reporter had a lower limit of detection and higher sensitivity due to increased ability to bind target.

The antibiofilm effect of curcumin against the strain LM21 (wild type) and s22-11G (sortase A defective mutant) was studied using the microtiter plate assay. No significant differences between the growth of the wild type and the sortase A defective mutant were observed at sub-inhibitory concentrations of curcumin. However, a greater biofilm reduction was observed in the strain s22-11G. The effect of curcumin from two different manufacturers on the wild type was also compared by the microtiter plate assay. Both curcumin did not exhibit statistically different effect on the growth of the wild type. However, a greater biofilm inhibitory effect was observed in one curcumin. The HPLC results suggested that curcumin with the greater antibiofilm activity contained higher amount of curcumin which was reported to be the most potent curcuminoid compound in curcumin.

Three different protein extraction methods were evaluated and the most efficient method was used for 2D-GE. When cells were grown in the presence of curcumin, 5 proteins, 16 proteins and 4 proteins were up-regulated, down-regulated and absent, respectively in L. monocytogenes LM21. The influence of the enzyme sortase A upon surface protein expression was evaluated by comparing proteins expressed by wildtype L. monocytogenes LM21 to that of the sortase A mutant, s22-11G. In strain s22-11G, 2 proteins, 8 proteins and 3 proteins were up-regulated, down-regulated and absent in comparison to wildype LM21. The exact information of these differentially expressed proteins still need to be identified by mass spectrometry.

Hummus is of Mediterranean origin but is currently eaten globally. This challenge study evaluates a variety of industrial hummus formulations (four in total, differing in pH and/or addition of a preservative (natamycin). Two batches were setup: batch 1; aseptically inoculated hummus with 100 CFU/g fungal isolates and batch 2; uninoculated hummus. Samples of both hummus batches were stored at both 20^oC (10 days accelerated testing) and 4^oC (84 days recommended temperature testing). Inoculated samples were analyzed for fungus, whiles both fungi and bacteria (standard plate count (SPC) and Lactococci) counts were done for uninoculated samples. Results indicate that accelerated testing inaccurately predicts fungal growth at 4^oC in hummus, also fungal growth inhibition requires a pH ≤ 4.0 ± 0.2 and refrigeration.

Limited studies have specifically evaluated the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in domestic kitchens in the U.S, for this reason we assessed the microbial safety of 6 RCCI locations in MA. Fifteen key food contact surfaces and dish washing sponges, if available at each RCCI facility were assessed for SPC, yeast and molds, total coliform and E. coli, Listeria sp and Salmonella sp. Microbiological assessments were conducted preceding and after a hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) food safety training and implementation at each location. Microbial growth varied by surface for each type of microorganism, wet surfaces had higher most probable number (MPN) counts. Compared to dry surfaces, wet surfaces had significantly higher mean total coliform counts. For both E. coli and total coliform, microbial load differed significantly by surfaces sampled (P = 0.0323 and 0.014) respectively. The surface and training interaction effect was highly significant for only E. coli (P = 0.0089). Training overall had no significant effect on reducing the microbial load on kitchen surfaces.

Bacteriocins have been used for thousands of years for food preservation unknowingly to man, they are considered advantageous not only to the producing bacteria, but it's now been used by the food industry as a tool to control both spoilage and pathogenic bacteria in food, in a natural manner which is acceptable to the consumer.

With a lot of research been carried out on bacteriocins produced by Gram positive bacteria, antagonist to Gram positive food borne pathogens, little is known about bacteriocins produced by Gram negative bacteria which would be active against Gram negative food borne pathogens that predominate in produce.

The objective of my research therefore is to screen for antimicrobial antagonist to Gram negative food borne pathogens (Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Enteritidis) from produce, to determine an appropriate screening method, to carry out a preliminary characterization of antagonist discovered and also to determine antimicrobial spectrum of antagonist found. Lettuce was screened for antimicrobial antagonist against Gram negative pathogen (Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Enteritidis) which were used as indicator strains With over 5000 colonies screen, 1 colony (Serratia plymuthica) was discovered to be antagonistic against these indicator strain. Further screening of cell free extract using the spot test method showed that extract from Serratia plymuthica grown alone in TSBYE showed antagonist activity against indicator strain with a little clearing on the spot of extract dropped. But extract of a co-culture of Serratia plymuthica and either Escherichia coli O157:H7 or Salmonella Enteritidis showed a more obvious clearing around spotted zone, which further indicates antagonism against indicator strains. Preliminary heat test indicates antagonist compound to be heat stable at 60oC for 30mins, 100oC for 30minutes and 60mins and 121oC for 20minites, and antagonist compound possessed antagonist activity against other strains of Escherichia coli when tested.