Researchers at Harvard University are developing a medical device designed to mimic the human spleen in order to fight a variety of deadly pathogens, including everything from E. coli to Ebola, according to The Washington Post. So far, the device — called the biospleen — has proven effective at filtering at least 90 different ailments out of blood, including bacteria and fungi associated with foodborne illness. It works by filtering infected blood using magnetic nanobeads coated with a human protein that has been genetically engineered to be optimized for fighting pathogens. The cleansed blood then gets returned back to the patient. In rats infected with Staphylococcus aureus or E. coli, the device filtered 90 percent of the bacteria out of their blood, reduced pathogen and immune cell infiltration in multiple organs, and decreased inflammation levels. In fact, 89 percent of rats treated with the device survived, while only 14 percent of rats survived who did not receive the treatment. The biospleen could be a major turning point in the treatment of deadly diseases such as E. coli that can overwhelm the immune system.
The News Desk team at Food Safety News covers breaking developments, regulatory updates, recalls, and key topics shaping food safety today. These articles are produced collaboratively by our editorial staff.
Detection of the same type of Campylobacter in several countries has challenged previous beliefs that it is associated with unrelated infections.
Researchers reported the previously unrecognized circulation of a multidrug-
A study in New Zealand has provided an insight into Campylobacter contamination and antimicrobial resistance in fresh chicken.
Campylobacter was detected in 50 percent of 24 samples. Among confirmed isolates,
Scientists have called for toxoplasmosis to be listed as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Toxoplasma parasite can cause ocular toxoplasmosis, an eye infection that
The Food and Drug Administration uses import alerts to enforce U.S. food safety regulations for food from foreign countries. The agency updates and modifies the alerts as needed.
Recent
G. L. Mezzetta Inc. is recalling Mezzetta Golden Greek Peperoncini Medium Heat, 32-ounce because of a consumer complaint about a dead mouse in a jar.
The company has contacted
As part of its enforcement activities, the Food and Drug Administration sends warning letters to entities under its jurisdiction. Some letters are not posted for public view until weeks or
