Foodborne pathogens and disease最新文献

{"title":"Mechanisms of Pathogenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> Attachment to Meat.","authors":"Nicolae Corcionivoschi, Igori Balta, David McCleery, Iulia Bundurus, Ioan Pet, Todd Calaway, Ileana Nichita, Lavinia Stef, Sorin Morariu","doi":"10.1089/fpd.2023.0164","DOIUrl":"10.1089/fpd.2023.0164","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Escherichia coli</i> are present in the human and animal microbiome as facultative anaerobes and are viewed as an integral part of the whole gastrointestinal environment. In certain circumstances, some species can also become opportunistic pathogens responsible for severe infections in humans. These infections are caused by the enterotoxinogenic <i>E. coli</i>, enteroinvasive <i>E. coli</i>, enteropathogenic <i>E. coli</i> and the enterohemorrhagic <i>E. coli</i> species, frequently present in food products and on food matrices. Severe human infections can be caused by consumption of meat contaminated upon exposure to animal feces, and as such, farm animals are considered to be a natural reservoir. The mechanisms by which these four major species of <i>E. coli</i> adhere and persist in meat postslaughter are of major interest to public health and food processors given their frequent involvement in foodborne outbreaks. This review aims to structure and provide an update on the mechanistic roles of environmental factors, curli, type I and type IV pili on <i>E. coli</i> adherence/interaction with meat postslaughter. Furthermore, we emphasize on the importance of bacterial surface structures, which can be used in designing interventions to enhance food safety and protect public health by reducing the burden of foodborne illnesses.</p>","PeriodicalId":12333,"journal":{"name":"Foodborne pathogens and disease","volume":" ","pages":"339-349"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140874574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transcontinental Dissemination of Enterobacterales Harboring <i>bla</i>_NDM-1 in Retail Frozen Shrimp.","authors":"Elizabeth M Parker, Dixie F Mollenkopf, Gregory A Ballash, Cong Li, Thomas E Wittum","doi":"10.1089/fpd.2023.0161","DOIUrl":"10.1089/fpd.2023.0161","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The global food trade provides a means of disseminating antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria and genes. Using selective media, carbapenem-resistant species of Enterobacterales (<i>Providencia</i> sp. and <i>Citrobacter</i> sp.), were detected in a single package of imported frozen shrimp purchased from a grocery store in Ohio, USA. Polymerase chain reaction confirmed that both isolates harbored <i>bla</i>_NDM-1 genes. Following PacBio long read sequencing, the sequences were annotated using the NCBI Prokaryotic Genome Annotation Pipeline. The <i>bla</i>_NDM-1 genes were found in IncC plasmids, each with different antimicrobial resistance island configuration. We found that the <i>bla</i>_NDM-1 AMR islands had close relationships with previously reported environmental, food, and clinical isolates detected in Asia and the United States, highlighting the importance of the food chain in the global dissemination of antimicrobial resistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":12333,"journal":{"name":"Foodborne pathogens and disease","volume":" ","pages":"332-338"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140335257","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rectal Perforation Induced by <i>Taenia saginata</i>: A Case Report.","authors":"Nurhilal Kızıltoprak, Ayşe Gökçen Yıldız, Gülçin Ercan","doi":"10.1089/fpd.2025.0008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2025.0008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Taenia saginata</i>, commonly known as the beef tapeworm, is a prevalent zoonotic cestode with an estimated global prevalence of 60-70 million carriers. This parasite is frequently located in the gastrointestinal tract, and previous reports have described complications such as acute appendicitis, Meckel's diverticulitis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, liver abscess, intestinal obstruction, and perforation. Intestinal perforation due to parasitic diseases is a rare complication. Surgical complications associated with <i>T. saginata</i> are uncommon, with few reported cases of bowel perforation. Here, we present the case of a 69-year-old female who was admitted to the emergency department with acute abdominal symptoms. She had experienced abdominal pain and vomiting for 15 days. Her symptoms were accompanied by abdominal distension, reduced bowel movements, and loss of appetite. On physical examination, she had diffuse abdominal tenderness, guarding, and rebound tenderness, raising suspicion of peritonitis. Laboratory tests revealed a white blood cell count of 8,000/mm³ and an elevated C-reactive protein level of 501 mg/L, indicating an ongoing inflammatory response. Imaging revealed free intra-abdominal air and fluid, suggesting gastrointestinal perforation. During emergency surgery, a perforation in the upper rectum was identified and resected. Pathological examination confirmed the presence of <i>T. saginata</i> eggs in the intestinal wall. Postoperatively, the patient recovered well and was discharged on the sixth day. This case underscores the need for heightened awareness of parasitic infections as potential causes of acute abdominal conditions. Proper diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention are crucial in managing complications associated with <i>T. saginata</i>. Preventive measures, including thorough cooking of beef and improved sanitation, are essential to reduce the incidence of such infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":12333,"journal":{"name":"Foodborne pathogens and disease","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144001745","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimization of <i>Salmonella</i> Detection in Garlic Granules Using Neutralizer-Aided Enrichment and PMAxx-qPCR.","authors":"Bingkui Li, Yuxin Zheng, Yawen Huang, Jiahao Ji, Shaoting Li, Hongmei Zhang","doi":"10.1089/fpd.2025.0024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2025.0024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Spices with low water activity (a_w) often contain antibacterial substances that complicate the detection of <i>Salmonella</i> using traditional culture methods. These substances can drive <i>Salmonella</i> into a viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state, rendering it undetectable with culture-based methods. This study aimed to enhance the broth for enriching <i>Salmonella</i> in garlic granules by mitigating the inhibitory effects of antibacterial substances. This study optimized the enrichment broth by using 3× buffered peptone water to increase the buffering capacity of the medium, adding magnesium sulfate and sodium pyruvate to promote the self-repair and recovery of bacteria, and adding DL-dithiothreitol (DTT) and corn oil to neutralize the antimicrobial substances in garlic. Garlic granules were artificially contaminated with <i>Salmonella</i> and subjected to a 2-week desiccation process to simulate low a_w conditions during food storage. The results showed that adding DTT and corn oil as neutralizers in the modified buffered peptone water (mBPW) broth significantly enhanced the detection capability of <i>Salmonella</i> in garlic granules, enabling detection of <i>Salmonella</i> at initial contamination levels as low as 5 CFU/g. In contrast, <i>Salmonella</i> was undetectable without the addition of neutralizers during enrichment. In addition, the optimized mBPW broth was tested on spices other than garlic granules, demonstrating its effectiveness (without neutralizers) in detecting <i>Salmonella</i> in star anise and black pepper. Notably, this study demonstrated that the combination of neutralizer-aided enrichment and PMAxx-qPCR successfully enabled the detection of viable <i>Salmonella</i> in garlic granules. The entire process can be completed in approximately 26 h, demonstrating the method's swiftness and effectiveness in detecting viable cells. This approach provides a fast and sensitive method for the detection of <i>Salmonella</i> in garlic granules, with promising potential for application in similar inhibitory food matrices.</p>","PeriodicalId":12333,"journal":{"name":"Foodborne pathogens and disease","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143965378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rapid Detection of <i>Salmonella</i> and <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> in Fresh Beef Using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification.","authors":"Xiaoran Wang, Kaixiang Jia, Jinrong Ran, Yangyang Du, Xiaoying Yu, Xuefeng Cao, Lianci Peng, Weifeng Chen, Rendong Fang, Zhiwei Li","doi":"10.1089/fpd.2025.0018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2025.0018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study developed and optimized loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays for rapid detection of <i>Salmonella</i> and <i>L. monocytogenes</i> in fresh beef. LAMP primers targeting the <i>invA</i> gene of <i>Salmonella</i> and <i>hly</i> gene of <i>L. monocytogenes</i> were used. Reaction conditions including temperature, dNTP concentration, Mg²⁺ concentration, primer ratio, and Bst DNA polymerase amount were optimized for each pathogen. Differences were observed between the two pathogens in optimal temperature, Mg²⁺ concentration, and Bst DNA polymerase requirements, highlighting the importance of pathogen-specific optimization. The optimized assays demonstrated high sensitivity with detection limits of 120 fg/μL for <i>Salmonella</i> and 130 fg/μL for <i>L. monocytogenes</i>, achieving detection within 40 and 60 min, respectively. Specificity tests confirmed both assays were highly specific for their target pathogens in fresh beef samples with no cross-reactivity observed. Addition of hydroxynaphthol blue enabled simple visual detection of positive results, eliminating the need for specialized equipment. The developed LAMP assays offer rapid, sensitive, and specific detection of these important foodborne pathogens.</p>","PeriodicalId":12333,"journal":{"name":"Foodborne pathogens and disease","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144063040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detection and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Bacterial Pathogens Isolated from Food Cutting Boards in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.","authors":"Bianca de Souza Costa, Katarine Coutinho Silva, Carolaine Totelote Medeiros Pimenta Rodrigues, Ana Carolina Carvalho De Oliveira, Silvia Maria Dos Reis Lopes, Ivano de Filippis","doi":"10.1089/fpd.2024.0182","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2024.0182","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We investigated bacterial pathogens on restaurant cutting boards using phenotypic and molecular methods, and determined their antibiotic susceptibility. A total of 32 samples were collected from polyethylene cutting boards in the kitchens of 16 restaurants in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A total of 29 bacterial strains were isolated and identified, including <i>Salmonella</i> spp. (<i>n</i> = 11), <i>Escherichia coli</i> (<i>n</i> = 10), <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>n</i> = 6), and <i>Listeria</i> spp. (<i>n</i> = 2). Of the 32 cutting boards, 9 (28.1%) harbored at least one bacterial species, 7 (21.9%) had two species, and 2 (6.2%) carried three species. Notably, the detection of two pathogens directly from raw samples using quantitative polymerase chain reaction with high-resolution melting (qPCR-HRM) was significant: <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> was identified in two samples by phenotypic methods but in 18 samples by qPCR-HRM, while <i>E. coli</i> was found in 10 samples by phenotypic methods and in 29 samples by qPCR-HRM. Antibiotic resistance was another concern, especially for <i>L. monocytogenes</i> strains, which exhibited high resistance to all tested antibiotics. Additionally, multidrug-resistant strains were identified, including a <i>S. aureus</i> strain with strong potential to be methicillin-resistant. Our findings underscore the importance of molecular methods for detecting specific pathogens on food-processing surfaces, highlighting the need for improved monitoring and control measures in restaurant kitchens.</p>","PeriodicalId":12333,"journal":{"name":"Foodborne pathogens and disease","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143964314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antimicrobial Resistance and Genomic Insights into <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> Isolates from Broilers and Their Handlers in Punjab, India.","authors":"Neha Parmar, Randhir Singh, Anuj Tyagi, Simranpreet Kaur, Hina Malik, Rabinder Singh Aulakh, Anil Kumar Arora, Jatinder Paul Singh Gill","doi":"10.1089/fpd.2024.0151","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2024.0151","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>, a common constituent of human and animal gut microbiota, has emerged as a significant pathogen due to its antimicrobial resistance (AMR) capabilities. This study investigates AMR profiles, virulence factors, and genetic diversity of <i>E. faecalis</i> isolates from broiler farms in Ludhiana, Punjab, India, to explore transmission dynamics between poultry and handlers. A total of 240 samples were collected from 20 farms, comprising 200 broiler droppings, 34 hand swabs from poultry handlers, and 6 human stool samples. Selective media and standard microbiological techniques were employed to isolate and identify <i>E. faecalis</i>. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on representative isolates to uncover antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factors. <i>E. faecalis</i> was isolated from 47% of broiler droppings and 26.47% of handler hand swabs, whereas no isolates were recovered from stool samples. High resistance was observed for erythromycin (96.11%), tetracycline (78.64%), ciprofloxacin (76.69%), streptomycin (76.69%), and linezolid (65.04%), with 83.49% of isolates exhibiting multidrug resistance (MDR). Vancomycin resistance genes (<i>vanC1</i>-34.95% and <i>vanC2/C3</i>-9.70%) were also detected. WGS analysis of four isolates identified ARGs such as <i>dfrE</i>, <i>efrA</i>, <i>vanT</i> gene in <i>vanG</i> cluster, <i>vanY</i> gene in <i>vanB</i> cluster, <i>ermB</i>, <i>tet45</i>, <i>tetM</i>, <i>tetA</i>, <i>aac(6')-Ie-aph(2″)-Ia</i>, <i>ant(4')-Ib</i>, <i>aph(3')-Ia</i>, <i>sul1</i>, <i>sul3</i>, <i>mphA</i>, <i>qnrS1</i>, and <i>catA8</i>, as well as virulence factors associated with biofilm formation, adherence, capsule formation, and protease production. Sequence typing identified was ST-1866, ST-7317, and ST-403, with ST-7317 common between broiler droppings and handler swab isolates, indicating potential transmission. While these findings highlight poultry environments as reservoirs for MDR <i>E. faecalis</i>, the directionality of transmission (zoonotic vs. reverse zoonotic) remains unclear. This underscores the need for expanded surveillance and molecular studies to better understand transmission dynamics and mitigate risks to farm workers and public health.</p>","PeriodicalId":12333,"journal":{"name":"Foodborne pathogens and disease","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143987345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of Nanoemulsified Benzyl Isothiocyanate and Carvacrol in Reducing <i>Salmonella</i> Contamination in Alfalfa Seeds and Sprouts.","authors":"Sookyung Oh, Jitendra Patel","doi":"10.1089/fpd.2025.0006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2025.0006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study evaluated the efficacy of nanoemulsified benzyl isothiocyanate (NBIT) and carvacrol (NCR) to reduce <i>Salmonella</i> contamination on alfalfa seeds and sprouts. Given the susceptibility of sprouts to microbial contamination during germination, improved interventions were needed to enhance food safety without compromising product quality. NBIT and NCR were applied to <i>Salmonella</i>-inoculated seeds at high (6.3 log CFU/g) and low (2.4 log CFU/g) inoculum levels and their impact on <i>Salmonella</i> populations, seed germination, sprout quality (length and weight), and visual appearance was assessed. Results revealed that both NBIT and NCR significantly reduced <i>Salmonella</i> populations and most treatments did not adversely affect seed germination or sprout quality. Treatment with 2.0% NBIT achieved reductions of up to 2.4 log CFU/g on seeds and 6.4 log CFU/g on sprouts after 4 days at the low inoculum level. However, treatment with 2.0% NBIT resulted in an 18.8% reduction in germination that occurred at the high inoculum level and a 10.7% reduction at the low inoculum level, along with a slight decrease in sprout size. In contrast, treatments with 0.5% and 1.0% NBIT, as well as 2.0% NCR, reduced <i>Salmonella</i> on seeds by 1.5-2.0 log CFU/g, regardless of inoculum level, and achieved reductions of 5.0-6.4 log CFU/g on sprouts at the low inoculum level. In addition, NBIT (0.5% and 1.0%) and NCR (2.0%) preserved seed germination rates and sprout quality metrics, including length, weight, and visual appearance, comparable with untreated controls. These findings highlight the potential of NBIT and NCR as effective antimicrobial agents for improving the microbial safety of alfalfa sprouts without compromising quality.</p>","PeriodicalId":12333,"journal":{"name":"Foodborne pathogens and disease","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143973829","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cold Limonene Vapor and UV Treatment Against <i>Salmonella</i> Enteritidis and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> in Quail Eggs: Potential Mode of Action.","authors":"Narumol Matan, Katthayawan Khunjan","doi":"10.1089/fpd.2025.0035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2025.0035","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to develop a novel, refrigeration-free preservation method to extend quail egg shelf life and enhance consumer safety. The antimicrobial efficacy of limonene vapor against <i>Salmonella</i> Enteritidis and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> was evaluated. Limonene nanoemulsions (0.04%, 0.08%, and 0.12%) were used to generate vapor for coating eggshells. The coating process was performed using an ultrasonic device with a controllable temperature chamber to maintain different temperatures: 4°C (cold), 25°C (medium), and 37°C (high temperature). The antimicrobial efficacy was enhanced by applying UV irradiation for 10 min. The mode of action was analyzed through bacterial morphology, biofilm formation, and cell leakage. Limonene vapor (0.08%) at 4°C with ultraviolet (UV) reduced <i>Salmonella</i> Enteritidis and <i>S. aureus</i> by 6-7 log₁₀ on eggshells, whereas at 25°C and 37°C, the reductions were only 3.5 log₁₀ and 2.8 log₁₀, respectively. <i>Salmonella</i> was not detected, and <i>S. aureus</i> remained within food safety standards when quail eggs were stored at 30 ± 2°C for 10 days, compared with the control, which showed bacterial growth within one day. Possible mechanisms of action suggested that cold-generated limonene formed a thin film on the eggshell surface. This film caused deformation and abnormal morphology in <i>Salmonella</i> Enteritidis cells and induced pore formation in <i>S. aureus</i> cell walls, enhancing bacterial cell injury. UV exposure further exacerbated cellular damage, resulting in a synergistic antimicrobial effect. However, this method did not cause significant membrane damage or lead to substantial leakage of intracellular materials in <i>S. aureus</i>. This method was cost-effective and could be adapted for on-farm application before distribution, ensuring safer eggs for consumers.</p>","PeriodicalId":12333,"journal":{"name":"Foodborne pathogens and disease","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143980907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Protective Effect of <i>Enterococcus faecium</i> Against Alcohol-Induced Acute Liver Injury Via Extracellular Vesicles in Rats.","authors":"Yuanyuan Zhu, Xiaofang Zhang, WenHui Huang, Meiying Luo, Xin Feng, Huihua Zhang, Qien Qi","doi":"10.1089/fpd.2025.0005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2025.0005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The beneficial effects of probiotics on alcohol-induced liver injury have been studied, but the mechanisms by which <i>Enterococcus</i> regulates liver function are still under investigation. In this study, we examined <i>Enterococcus faecium</i> (Efm) and <i>E. faecium</i>-derived extracellular vesicles (EfmEVs) to provide a protective effect against ethanol-induced liver injury in rats. We evaluated the impact of EfmEVs on liver histological lesions, antioxidative function, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, and serum ALT, AST, blood alcohol concentration. The results demonstrated that pretreatment with Efm significantly ameliorated ethanol-induced liver injury. Efm pretreatment mitigated the decline in ethanol-induced liver antioxidant indicators (malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase. Additionally, Efm pretreatment significantly reduced ethanol-induced ALT activities in the liver and serum, potentially by lowering blood ethanol concentration. Further, functional studies on three bioactive components (inactivated Efm, EfmEVs, and EVs-free supernatants) from the bacterial culture revealed that EVs were primarily responsible for the liver-protective effect. Moreover, EVs secretion contributed to the overall liver-protective effect of Efm. In summary, EfmEVs mediated the protective effect of Efm against ethanol-induced liver injury, potentially by improving antioxidative function and lowering blood ethanol concentration. These findings suggest that EfmEVs could serve as a potential antioxidative strategy to alleviate alcohol-induced acute liver injury.</p>","PeriodicalId":12333,"journal":{"name":"Foodborne pathogens and disease","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143991896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}