In today's world, microbes are taking on increasingly important roles in areas like food, medicine, and agriculture. They offer numerous conveniences and innovations, but they also pose potential risks. Without thorough safety evaluations, these microbes could lead to health problems or diminish product quality. This is why we have introduced our microbial safety assessment services. Our aim is to provide clients with comprehensive microbial safety evaluations, ensuring that the microbes in use don't harm human health or compromise product quality. We specialize in assessing the pathogenicity and toxicity of these microbes, and our rigorous testing processes help safeguard your product's safety.
The importance of microbial safety assessments is becoming more evident. In recent years, there have been multiple incidents related to microbial safety, from diseases caused by food contamination to microbial overgrowth in pharmaceutical production. Such events remind us that microbial safety cannot be overlooked. Our services are designed specifically to address these concerns, not only helping customers identify potential risks early but also ensuring compliance with stringent regulatory standards. Choosing our services means selecting a reliable partner. Our professional team and advanced technology provide precise and trustworthy testing results, supporting your stable and secure development into the future.
Fig. 1. Steps involved in foodborne pathogen detection from processed food matrices using genome sequencing-based approaches. (Cho, et al., 2019)
Applications and Industries Served
Food Industry
Microbial safety isn't just a checkbox in the food industry-it's about caring for the people who enjoy your products. Our service is here to help preserve that love and care by ensuring everything you make is free from harmful microbes. We specialize in quality testing that keeps your food not only safe but also at the highest standard for your loyal customers.
Pharmaceuticals
In the world of pharmaceuticals, safety and precision aren't just goals-they're deeply personal commitments. We understand the responsibility you bear in developing treatments that patients rely on. Our rigorous microbial safety evaluations are tailored to help you meet those exacting standards, ensuring that your products are not only compliant but also instill trust and hope in those who need them most.
Agriculture
Agriculture relies heavily on the use of biofertilizers and biopesticides to promote healthy crop growth and protect against pests. Our service helps agricultural producers by providing thorough evaluations of microbial safety, ensuring that the biofertilizers and biopesticides they use are free from harmful pathogens. By focusing on high-quality testing, we help you maintain the integrity of your products and protect the health of your crops and the environment.
Other Relevant Industries
Whether you're crafting a new cosmetic line or perfecting a fermentation process, we know the heart and effort you pour into your creations. Microbial safety is key to maintaining the integrity and trustworthiness of your products. Our service partners with you, offering precise, reliable evaluations that support your dedication to quality and commitment to your customers' well-being.
Our state-of-the-art laboratory is equipped with advanced instruments to support our Microbial Safety Evaluation Service, including PCR machines for genetic analysis and microbial strain identification, HPLC systems for accurate toxin detection and quantification, flow cytometers for cell analysis and sorting in in vitro studies for controlled in vivo pathogenicity studies.
Services Details
We've put together our Microbial Safety Evaluation Service to take a close look at how safe different microorganisms are. We're really focused on two big things: whether they can cause disease and if they produce any toxins. We run a bunch of detailed tests to figure out the risks involved, so you can feel good about using these strains in your projects.
Pathogenicity Testing
In our microbial safety evaluation, we assess how prone these microorganisms are to causing issues by using in vivo pathogenicity studies. These tests are conducted in both controlled lab environments and real-world situations to provide a comprehensive analysis.
Toxigenicity Assessment
Our pathogenicity and toxigenicity evaluation digs into whether these strains have the ability to produce toxins. If they do, we conduct a detailed toxin production analysis to identify the type and quantify the amount.
Microbial Toxin Detection
Utilizing precise toxin detection and analysis techniques, we search for any toxins that might be produced by the microbes and measure them accurately, ensuring reliable results.
Microbial Virulence Testing
Our virulence testing services dissect the elements that make these strains potentially hazardous, offering you a clear microbial safety analysis of how they might lead to disease.
Table 1. Service Duration (reference)
Project Name
Service Duration (reference)
Pathogenicity of bacterial animal
30 days
Pathogenicity of filamentous fungi
30 days
Animal pathogenicity of yeast
30 days
Toxic production (aflatoxin B group, aflatoxin M group, fumonitoxin, citricillin, ochratoxin A, tricillin, fusulin, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, T-2 toxin, etc.)
Expertise and Experience: Our team is comprised of professionals who really know their stuff when it comes to microbial physiology and safety. With years of experience under their belts, they're experts at what they do.
Comprehensive and Accurate Results: You can count on us for evaluations that are both thorough and precise. We understand just how essential this accuracy is for keeping your products safe.
Customized Solutions: We don't believe in one-size-fits-all. Our services are designed to fit the unique needs of every client and industry we work with.
Compliance with Standards: We stick to all the necessary international and industry-specific standards and guidelines, so you know everything's done by the book.
Case Study
Case Study 1: An Efficient Inoculation Technique to Assess the Pathogenicity of Pantoea Species Associated with Bacterial Blight of Rice
Bacterial blight poses a serious challenge to rice production globally, particularly due to pathogens such as Pantoea spp. that inflict considerable harm. Yet, there's a notable absence of uniform methods for evaluating the pathogenicity of Pantoea. This study introduces a new inoculation technique using a needleless syringe to inject bacterial suspensions into rice leaves, providing a more consistent and reliable method for pathogenicity assessment. The technique enables accurate evaluation of germplasm resistance, helping identify resistant rice varieties. This approach fills the gap in standardized protocols and offers a practical solution for managing bacterial blight.
Fig. 2. Scale developed and used to score symptom severity. (Kini, et al., 2020)
Case Study 2: Development of a Wide Scope Pathogenicity Classifier for Bacterial Genomes
Pathogenic bacteria can cause disease, while commensal non-pathogenic bacteria are essential for human health. Distinguishing between these types is crucial for detecting emerging pathogens and developing new treatments. Previous methods using protein families for classification showed promise but had limitations in accuracy. This study introduces the Wide Scope Pathogenicity Classifier (WSPC), a new machine-learning model based on protein content. Trained on 641 diverse bacterial genomes, WSPC outperforms existing models in identifying pathogenicity. The study found that the most discriminative protein families are related to bacterial survival and replication during infection, rather than direct host damage.
Fig. 3. Classification performance comparison of WSPC, BacPaCS, and PathogenFinder (protein-content-based classifiers) on the WSPC test set. (Naor-Hoffmann, et al., 2022)
Case Study 3: Microbial Food Safety Assessment in School Foodservices
In this study, researchers checked the cleanliness of food in five schools by looking at water, utensils, and other areas. They took samples in summer and winter to see if there were any bad germs. They found that some places had too many germs, especially in summer. They also found a few dangerous germs like Salmonella and E. coli, but not in the air. The study shows that schools need to clean better to keep food safe.
Fig. 4. Aerobic plate counts and cell counts of S. aureus of airborne on dining tables, counter tops in kitchens, and serving counters collected from 5 school foodservices in summer (A and C) and winter (B and D). (Yoon, et al., 2008)
FAQs
Q: How can I be sure my sample's good to send?
A: No worries! We'll guide you on how to handle and pack your samples safely. If you're unsure about anything, just give us a shout. We're here to keep things smooth!
Q: Can you check for specific pathogens I'm worried about?
A: Definitely! We can zero in on the particular germs that concern you. Just tell us what you're thinking, and we'll make sure it's part of our check.
Q: What types of samples can your Microbial Safety Evaluation Service look at?
A: We can handle a wide range-water, food, swabs, and even stuff from surfaces or equipment. Got something specific in mind? Just reach out. We're here to help!
Q: How long does it usually take to get the evaluation done?
A: It varies with the sample and tests, but generally, it wraps up in about 14-30 days from when we receive your samples. We'll keep you posted throughout the process!
References:
Kini K.; et al. An Efficient Inoculation Technique to Assess the Pathogenicity of Pantoea Species Associated to Bacterial Blight of Rice. Bio Protoc. 2020;10(17):e3740.
Naor-Hoffmann S.; et al. Predicting the pathogenicity of bacterial genomes using widely spread protein families. BMC Bioinformatics. 2022;23(1):253.
Yoon Y.; et al. Microbial assessment in school foodservices and recommendations for food safety improvement. J Food Sci. 2008;73(6):M304-M313.
Cho TJ, Rhee MS. Health Functionality and Quality Control of Laver (Porphyra, Pyropia): Current Issues and Future Perspectives as an Edible Seaweed. Mar Drugs. 2019;18(1):14.
We are here to help you further your development in the microbiology field.
Fig. 1. Steps involved in foodborne pathogen detection from processed food matrices using genome sequencing-based approaches. (Cho, et al., 2019)
Fig. 2. Scale developed and used to score symptom severity. (Kini, et al., 2020)
Fig. 3. Classification performance comparison of WSPC, BacPaCS, and PathogenFinder (protein-content-based classifiers) on the WSPC test set. (Naor-Hoffmann, et al., 2022)
Fig. 4. Aerobic plate counts and cell counts of S. aureus of airborne on dining tables, counter tops in kitchens, and serving counters collected from 5 school foodservices in summer (A and C) and winter (B and D). (Yoon, et al., 2008)
