Food microbiology最新文献

{"title":"TrveA affects the pathogenicity to apples by regulating the sporulation, reactive oxygen species and trichothecenes metabolic pathways in Trichothecium roseum","authors":"Qili Liu ,&nbsp;Xiaobin Xu ,&nbsp;Yangyang Yang ,&nbsp;Xiao Li ,&nbsp;Pengfei Sun ,&nbsp;Pengdong Xie ,&nbsp;Yuanyuan Zong ,&nbsp;Huali Xue ,&nbsp;Yang Bi","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104943","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104943","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Trichothecium roseum</em>, the causative agent of core rot of apple fruit, is one of the most important postharvest pathogenic fungi. In addition to quality degradation and economic influence, apple fruits infected by <em>T</em>. <em>roseum</em> can metabolize trichothecene that pose a potential threat to human health. <em>VeA</em> is a pivotal regulator of growth, development, pathogenicity and secondary metabolism for fungi. However, the function and regulatory mechanism of <em>TrveA</em> in <em>T. roseum</em> infecting apple are still unclear. In this study, the <em>TrveA</em> mutant was constructed by Split-marker PCR technology, and the effects of <em>TrveA</em> on the pathogenicity and toxin accumulation of <em>T. roseum</em> infecting apple and tomato were analyzed. The regulation of spore formation, oxidative stress tolerance, reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism and T-2 toxin biosynthesis was explored to elucidate the potential mechanism of <em>TrveA</em> regulating the pathogenicity of <em>T. roseum</em>. The results suggested that the deletion of <em>TrveA</em> inhibited the growth and development of the mutant, down-regulated the expression of key regulatory genes <em>fluG</em>, <em>flbA</em>, <em>abaA</em> and <em>wetA</em> in the sporulation pathway, and interfered with trehalose biosynthesis, resulting in a decrease in sporulation. <em>TrveA</em> deletion reduced the level of ROS accumulation and weakened the capacity of ROS scavenging, which cut down its tolerance to oxidative stress. At the same time, the expression of key genes <em>tri6</em>, <em>tri5</em> and <em>tri4</em> involved in the T-2 toxin biosynthesis pathway was down-regulated to inhibit the biosynthesis of T-2 toxin, which eventually led to the decrease of pathogenicity to apple and tomato. This study reveals the important role of <em>TrveA</em> in <em>T. roseum</em> infecting apple fruits, which is conductive to better elucidate the regulatory mechanism of <em>TrveA</em>. These results will provide potential precise targets for curbing apple postharvest diseases caused by <em>T. roseum</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104943"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145216579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Probing the repair mechanism of ohmic heating-induced sublethal injury in Staphylococcus aureus: Multi-omics analysis uncovers the remodeling patterns of proteins and lipids and applications in simulated food systems","authors":"Han Wang ,&nbsp;Bo Zou ,&nbsp;Yana Liu ,&nbsp;Yingying Sun ,&nbsp;Yan Zhao ,&nbsp;Yi Liu ,&nbsp;Xingmin Li ,&nbsp;Ruitong Dai","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104944","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104944","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ohmic heating (OH), a novel food processing technology, has been shown to effectively inactivate <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> (<em>S. aureus</em>). However, the molecular repair mechanisms of OH-induced sublethal injury in <em>S. aureus</em> remain unclear. In this study, four experimental groups were established: intact cells (UT), OH-injured cells without repair (R0), and injured cells repaired in NB medium for either 15 min (R1, early repair stage) or 2 h (R2, mid-repair stage). Atomic force microscopy revealed that cell morphology was disrupted by OH treatment (R0) but progressively restored during repair (R0–R2). Integrated proteomic and lipidomic analyses demonstrated that OH treatment suppressed proteins and lipids involved in membrane integrity, energy metabolism, and amino acid metabolism, reflecting an adaptive stress response. During the early repair stage, upregulation of these molecules indicated activation of recovery pathways, whereas their downregulation in the mid-repair stage suggested stabilization of cellular functions. Intracellular ion concentrations and enzyme activities were consistent with proteomic trends, while lipidomics highlighted dynamic remodeling of key membrane lipids such as phosphatidylglycerol and cardiolipin. In conclusion, this study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying OH-induced injury and repair in <em>S. aureus</em>, advancing the understanding of bacterial stress adaptation and offering guidance for optimizing OH technology in food safety applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104944"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145216581","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Persistence and localization of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Javiana and Listeria monocytogenes during recirculating hydroponic cultivation of leaf lettuce","authors":"Gayatri Rajashekhar Dhulappanavar ,&nbsp;Zeynal Topalcengiz ,&nbsp;Ryan W. Dickson ,&nbsp;Kristen E. Gibson","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104950","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104950","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The persistence and localization of <em>Salmonella</em> Javiana and <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> in recirculating deep water culture (DWC) hydroponic systems during lettuce production were investigated. Recirculating DWC systems containing modified Hoagland's nutrient solution (NS) were utilized. The NS reservoirs of DWC systems containing 25-day old butterhead lettuce (cv. Rex) seedlings were inoculated separately with 6 log CFU/mL of <em>S.</em> Javiana or rifampicin resistant <em>L. monocytogenes.</em> Pathogens were enumerated in NS, rockwool + roots, roots, and leaves post inoculation from day 0 (lettuce seedling) to day 21 (mature lettuce head) via culture on selective media. Four experimental trials were completed for each pathogen with 2 treated and 2 control systems in each trial. Temperature, pH, and electrical conductivity data were collected and considered covariates during Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The data were analyzed using a mixed model to compare mean log bacteria concentration by pathogen type based on sample type and sampling day followed by calculation of least-squares means where values were compared with Tukey-Kramer honest significant difference test at <em>P</em> = 0.05. A two-way interaction between sampling day and sample type (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.0001) had a significant effect on <em>S.</em> Javiana and <em>L.</em> <em>monocytogenes</em> concentrations. The ANCOVA indicated that the interaction effect of NS pH and sample type had a significant effect on <em>S.</em> Javiana (<em>P</em> = 0.0054) and <em>L. monocytogenes</em> (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.0001) concentrations. <em>Salmonella</em> Javiana and <em>L.</em> <em>monocytogenes</em> persisted in roots, rockwool + roots, and NS throughout the 21-day sampling period. No pathogens were detected in the edible portion of the lettuce. This study indicates that human pathogens can survive until harvest in DWC hydroponics systems used for lettuce production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104950"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145332598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Receptor-specific phage resistance induced phenotypic and gene expression shifts in Salmonella Typhimurium impacting biofilm formation on food contact surfaces","authors":"Soo-Jin Jung ,&nbsp;Md Ashrafudoulla ,&nbsp;Jaewoo Bai ,&nbsp;Sang-Do Ha","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104937","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104937","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bacteriophages are gaining increasing attention as targeted biological control agents against multidrug-resistant (MDR) foodborne pathogens. However, repeated exposure to bacteriophages can induce the emergence of bacteriophage-resistant mutant (BIM) strains, which may exhibit altered physiological characteristics that impair therapeutic efficacy. This study investigated the phenotypic and molecular adaptive mechanisms of multidrug-resistant <em>Salmonella</em> Typhimurium BIMs that acquired resistance to receptor-specific bacteriophages (STP-1 and STP-2) targeting O-antigen and flagella. Two representative BIM strains—MO-4 (O-antigen mutant) and MF-6 (flagella mutant)—were analyzed using phenotypic microarray, motility and biofilm experiments, confocal microscopy, and qRT-PCR. MO-4 exhibited extensive metabolic changes, including 10 alterations in carbon source utilization and increased resistance to 11 antibiotics, while MF-6 showed changes in sensitivity to osmotic and pH stress and increased susceptibility to 5 antibiotics. Both BIM strains exhibited reduced motility but maintained similar or enhanced biofilm formation ability on food contact surfaces. Confocal microscopy analysis revealed structurally distinct biofilms with reduced thickness and increased density. qRT-PCR analysis showed receptor-specific transcriptional changes: MO-4 lost <em>rfaL</em> expression, supporting O-antigen deficiency, while MF-6 showed increased <em>fljB</em> expression and decreased <em>fliK</em> expression, indicating changes in flagellar regulation. Both BIMs showed differences in the expression of <em>tolC</em>, <em>rpoS</em>, and <em>luxS</em>, suggesting changes in efflux, stress response, and quorum sensing. These results highlight receptor-dependent adaptation of phage-resistant <em>Salmonella</em> variants and emphasise the need to evaluate both genetic and phenotypic outcomes when designing effective phage-based control strategies for food safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104937"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145216583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Food-related factors influencing phage efficacy in reducing Campylobacter jejuni counts","authors":"Sebastian Henz ,&nbsp;Ramona Nitzsche ,&nbsp;Lena Stukenborg ,&nbsp;Kemal Aganovic ,&nbsp;Christian Hertel","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104930","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104930","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Campylobacter jejuni</em> is a global major foodborne pathogen and the leading cause for gastrointestinal infections in the European Union, often associated with the consumption of contaminated chicken meat. Physical and chemical decontamination measures can negatively affect the organoleptic properties of raw chicken meat while bacteriophages, as biological approach, can specifically combat pathogenic bacteria and have virtually no impact on the sensory attributes of the food matrix. However, their mode of action usually requires the growth of the target pathogen. This study aimed to systematically investigate the impact of the conditions prevailing in packaged raw chicken meat, compared to the host's optimal growth conditions, on the antibacterial efficacy of a <em>Campylobacter</em>-specific phage. The flagellotropic bacteriophage B14 and its bacterial host <em>Campylobacter jejuni</em> PT14 were used to develop a liquid model system based on Mueller-Hinton broth, in which the parameters pH, atmosphere composition, temperature, and chicken meat juice concentration, as well as metal cations were adjusted and the effect on host growth as well as on the antibacterial efficacy of the phage was evaluated based on log ratios of <em>C. jejuni</em> PT14 counts. In general, the effectiveness of phage B14 treatment was significantly reduced when pH, atmosphere and temperature differed from optimum growth conditions of <em>C. jejuni</em> PT14 (pH 7 to 9; microaerobic; 42 °C). However, the influence on growth alone could not explain all effects on the antibacterial efficacy of the phage. The results show that conditions relevant for raw chicken meat storage are disadvantageous for the inactivation of <em>C. jejuni</em> PT14 by phage B14. These findings contribute to the understanding of the phage-host interaction and can support the optimization of the application concept of <em>Campylobacter</em> phages in poultry meat production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104930"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145105650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of BioFire® FilmArray® Gastrointestinal panel for the detection of norovirus in complex food matrices","authors":"Stéphanie Watier-Grillot ,&nbsp;Julie Loutreul ,&nbsp;Nicolas Boudaud ,&nbsp;Christian Sauvageot ,&nbsp;Evelyne Thiébaut ,&nbsp;Vincent Pommier de Santi ,&nbsp;Aurélie Chesnay","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104931","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104931","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Noroviruses (NoVs) are a leading cause of foodborne diseases (FBDs). Detecting infectious NoV in food is not possible because cell culture approaches are not sensitive enough and compatible with such complex matrices. For this reason, the available standard methods that can be used in routine screening only enable the detection of NoV genome in food, without distinguishing between infectious and non-infectious viruses. Moreover, NoV FBDs commonly involve other microorganisms (viruses, bacteria), which complicates diagnosis and investigation, hence the advantage of using sensitive multiplex PCR-based methods. The BioFire® FilmArray® Gastrointestinal Panel (BF-GIP) was evaluated as an alternative method for detecting NoV genome in food, compared to the ISO 15216-2 standard method and in compliance with ISO standard 16140–2. A total of 60 vegetable-based food samples were tested. BF-GIP sensitivity (62.7 %) was close to that of the standard method (64.4 %). BF-GIP generated a false positive rate of 10 %. For the overall level of detection, no significant difference was shown between BF-GIP and the standard method. Food sample processing methods that generate high virus recovery rates are essential to improving NoV detection with BF-GIP.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104931"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145045782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reduction of acetic acid in Cabernet Sauvignon wine fermented by atmospheric and room temperature plasma-mutagenized Saccharomyces cerevisiae","authors":"Nan Wu ,&nbsp;Xiaoqing Zhang ,&nbsp;Erhu Li","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104951","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104951","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Acetic acid, a major byproduct of <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> alcoholic fermentation, hinder fermentation efficiency and wine quality. This study improved wine yeast strains through ARTP mutagenesis, resulting in mutant DC-3 with enhanced fermentation performance and reduced acetic acid production. Analysis of DC-3 showed improved oenological properties, including a 25.84 % decrease in acetic acid production compared to wild-type strain RV002 in synthetic grape juice. The study identified a regulatory mechanism in DC-3 that reduces acetate production by suppressing pyruvate decarboxylase, enhancing alcohol dehydrogenase, and inhibiting acetaldehyde dehydrogenase activities, while redirecting metabolism towards glycerol biosynthesis. Transcriptomic analysis confirmed this metabolic shift. DC-3 consistently produced lower acetic acid levels and exhibited a unique volatile profile with higher alcohols and lower esters, specifically reducing acetate esters compared to RV002 in Cabernet Sauvignon wine. This study introduces a novel approach to breeding low-acetate-producing <em>S. cerevisiae</em> strains in Cabernet Sauvignon wine fermentation using ARTP mutagenesis. It lays the groundwork for enhancing wine fermentation processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104951"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145266423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Redefining LuxI as a metabolic gatekeeper in bacterial spoilage of refrigerated turbot by Hafnia alvei H4","authors":"Xue Li ,&nbsp;Hongman Hou","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104949","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104949","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Refrigerated seafood spoilage, a major threat to food safety and quality, is primarily driven by specific spoilage organisms whose molecular mechanisms remain insufficiently elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that <em>Hafnia alvei</em> H4, a dominant spoiler in turbot, accelerates spoilage by deploying a LuxI-mediated metabolic override to disrupt putrescine homeostasis. Genetic knockout studies showed that <em>luxI</em> deletion (Δ<em>luxI</em>), but not <em>luxR</em>, most effectively suppressed spoilage, reducing putrescine and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) by 58 % and 52 %, respectively, compared to the wild type. Regression analysis established putrescine and cadaverine as an indicator of spoilage in aquatic products, strongly correlated with TVB-N (R² &gt; 0.966, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). Subsequent induction assays with ornithine/putrescine uncovered a &gt;110 mg/L feedback inhibition threshold, while genomic analysis mapped PotE as the primary efflux transporter. Real-time transport monitoring revealed that LuxI sustains extracellular putrescine at levels exceeding 500 mg/L—far above the inhibition threshold—effectively activating proteolytic pathways. This work position LuxI as a metabolic gatekeeper and offer a mechanistic basis for novel quorum sensing-targeted strategies to mitigate seafood spoilage.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104949"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145265617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Conditional synergy: Impact of nutrient abundance on multispecies biofilm formation and sanitizer tolerance","authors":"Krisha Pant,&nbsp;Jon Palmer,&nbsp;Steve Flint","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104952","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104952","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bacteria exist in varying nutrient conditions and complex microbial consortia. <em>Pseudomonas fluorescens</em>, <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, and <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> are commonly occurring biofilm-formers, share a similar nutritional niche, and have been isolated from common surfaces in multispecies environments. Biofilm properties, including biomass (O.D₅₉₀ nm), cell concentration (log CFU/cm²), exopolysaccharide content (μg/cm²), structure, and sanitizer tolerance (sodium hypochlorite), were observed under varying nutrient (full-strength TSB and 10 % TSB) conditions on polystyrene surfaces for single and multispecies biofilm. The synergistic interactions between the bacteria in multispecies biofilm were found to be nutrient-dependent, with significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05) biofilm formation, exopolysaccharide content, and sanitizer tolerance in high nutrient conditions (TSB) compared with low nutrient conditions (10 % TSB). The cell concentrations in the biofilm (single and multispecies) were found to be comparable between TSB and 10 % TSB. All three bacteria involved showed increased tolerance against sanitizers in the multispecies arrangement compared to their single-species counterparts, with significantly higher survival for <em>L. monocytogenes</em> (5.3 log CFU/cm²) in a multispecies biofilm compared to its single-species counterpart (2.3 log CFU/cm²). A positive correlation was observed between exopolysaccharide concentration and sanitizer tolerance. This study highlights the importance of taking multiple bacteria and their growth environment into account when understanding sanitizer response, as it varies in multispecies biofilm setups and according to nutrient availability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104952"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145332595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bacillus velezensis G-1 lipopeptides and genomics reveal biocontrol and probiotic traits against postharvest rot caused by Alternaria solani and Alternaria alternata","authors":"Zhenfeng Gao ,&nbsp;Jia Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104928","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104928","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Postharvest fungal infections significantly reduce the quality and shelf life of fruits and vegetables, with <em>Alternaria</em> species causing major losses in crops such as tomatoes, pears, and jujubes. This study investigated the antifungal potential of <em>Bacillus velezensis</em> G-1 and its secondary metabolites against <em>Alternaria solani</em> and <em>Alternaria alternata</em>. <em>In vitro</em> assays showed that <em>B. velezensis</em> G-1 inhibited fungal mycelial growth by over 80 %, with lipopeptides forming inhibition zones greater than 25 mm. <em>In vivo</em> tests at 0 and 4 °C confirmed strong antifungal activity. In addition, <em>B. velezensis</em> G-1 and its metabolites suppressed the production of four fungal toxins: alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), tentoxin (TEN), and tenuazonic acid (TeA), with inhibition rates exceeding 60.61 %, particularly against AME and TEN. LC-ESI-MS analysis identified fengycin as the primary antifungal compound. Genomic analysis confirmed <em>B. velezensis</em> G-1 as a distinct strain, revealing 73 key genes and two gene clusters involved in lipopeptide biosynthesis. A comparative analysis with <em>B. velezensis</em> FZB42 identified 15 genetic differences among 73 key genes involved in lipopeptide biosynthesis. Quorum sensing and polyketide biosynthesis were identified as the key regulatory pathways. These findings highlight <em>B. velezensis</em> G-1 as a promising biocontrol agent for managing postharvest fungal diseases in economically important crops.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104928"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145045779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}