Publications

@article{https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2020.e181107,

title = {Identification of risk factors and hotspots of antibiotic resistance along the food chain using next-generation sequencing},

author = {I. Bergšpica and G. Kaprou and E. A. Alexa and M. Prieto-Maradona and A. Alvarez-Ordóñez},

url = {https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.2903/j.efsa.2020.e181107},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2020.e181107},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {EFSA Journal},

volume = {18},

number = {S1},

pages = {e181107},

abstract = {Abstract Bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is considered to be very alarming following an upward trend and thus posing a primary threat to public health. AMR has tremendous adverse effects on humans, farm animals, healthcare, the environment, agriculture and, thus, on national economies. Several tools have been proposed and adopted by numerous countries after comprehending the need for antimicrobial stewardship and for a rational use of antibiotics. These tools include diagnostics for infections or AMR detection, for measuring and monitoring antibiotic consumption (e.g. surveillance tools) and for guiding medical doctors and veterinarians in selecting suitable antibiotics. In addition, it has been known that the food chain represents a leading vector for the transmission of pathogens to humans via various routes (direct or indirect). Considerable efforts have been made and are still in progress both at international and national levels in order to control and mitigate the spread of pathogens and thus ensure food safety. During the last decades, a new concern has risen regarding the food chain playing a potential major role in the transmission of resistant bacteria as well as resistance genes from the animal kingdom to humans. Several recent studies highlight the role of food processing environments as potential AMR hotspots contributing to this spread phenomenon. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies are becoming broadly used in the AMR field, since they allow the surveillance of resistant microorganisms, AMR determinants and mobile genetic elements. Moreover, NGS is capable of providing information on the mechanisms driving and spreading AMR throughout the food chain. In the current work programme, the aim was to acquire knowledge and skills to track AMR genes and mobile genetic elements in the food chain through NGS methodologies in order to implement a quantitative risk assessment and identify hotspots and routes of transmission of AMR along the food chain.},

keywords = {Antimicrobial resistance, food chain, next-generation sequencing, risk assessment},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2020.e181111,

title = {Livestock Health and Food Chain Risk Assessment},

author = {Juan M Martínez and Catherine McCarthy and Rachel A Taylor},

url = {https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.2903/j.efsa.2020.e181111},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2020.e181111},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {EFSA Journal},

volume = {18},

number = {S1},

pages = {e181111},

abstract = {Abstract The EUropean FOod Risk Assessment (EU-FORA) Fellowship work programme ‘Livestock Health and Food Chain Risk Assessment’, funded by EFSA was proposed by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), UK. A scientist with a PhD in Food Science was selected to work within the Biomathematics and Risk Research group, under the guidance of a senior risk assessor. The programme consisted of four different modules that covered a wide range of aspects related to risk assessment (RA). The aims, activities and conclusions obtained during the year are described in this article. The learning-by-doing approach in RA allowed the fellow to discover a broad pool of methodologies, tools and applications while developing his own knowledge in RA, as well as gaining scientific network for future collaborations in the field.},

keywords = {food chain, livestock health, risk assessment, risk ranking},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2019.e170912,

title = {Livestock, food chain and public health risk assessment},

author = {Irina Smeu and Rachel A Taylor},

url = {https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.2903/j.efsa.2019.e170912},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2019.e170912},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-01-01},

journal = {EFSA Journal},

volume = {17},

number = {S2},

pages = {e170912},

abstract = {Abstract The EUropean FOod Risk Assessment (EU-FORA) Fellowship work programme ‘Livestock, food chain and public health risk assessment’, founded by EFSA was proposed by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), United Kingdom (UK). A scientist working in the field of food safety was selected to work within the Department of Epidemiological Sciences, under the guidance of an experienced risk assessor. The programme was structured in four different modules that covered a wide range of aspects related to risk assessment (RA). Taken together, all modules ensured a broad overview of the various methodologies, tools and applications of RA. Thus, the learning-by-doing working programme in RA allowed the fellow to develop her knowledge in RA, to diversify her competencies and to extend her scientific network for future collaborations in the field of RA.},

keywords = {food chain, livestock health, risk assessment, risk ranking},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.e160812,

title = {Livestock Health and Food Chain Risk Assessment},

author = {R Condoleo and P Gale and A Adkin and H Roberts and R Simons},

url = {https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.e160812},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.e160812},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-01-01},

journal = {EFSA Journal},

volume = {16},

number = {S1},

pages = {e160812},

abstract = {Abstract The EUFORA fellowship programme ‘Livestock Health and Food Chain Risk Assessment’ was proposed by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), a British governmental institution responsible for safeguarding animal and plant health in the UK. The working programme, which was organised into four different modules, covered a wide range of aspects related to risk assessment including identification of emerging risks, risk prioritisation methods, scanning surveillance, food production exposure assessment and import risk assessment of animal and human infectious diseases. Over the course of the year, the Fellow had the opportunity to work for international projects with experts in these disciplines. This allowed for significant opportunities to ‘learn-by-doing’ the methods and the techniques that are employed to assess animal health and food safety risks. Moreover, he consolidated his knowledge by attending several training courses and academic lessons, submitting scientific papers to peer-reviewed journals and conferences, giving presentations and using modelling software.},

keywords = {food chain, livestock health, risk assessment},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}