Browsing by Author "Kumar, Harsh"

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    Detection of bacterial pathogens and antibiotic residues in chicken meat: a review
    (MDPI, 2020-10-20) Kumar, Harsh; Bhardwaj, Kanchan; Kaur, Talwinder; Nepovimova, Eugenie; Kuča, Kamil; Kumar, Vinod; Bhatia, Shashi Kant; Dhanjal, Daljeet Singh; Chopra, Chirag; Singh, Reena; Guleria, Shivani; Bhalla, Tek Chand; Verma, Rachna; Kumar, Dinesh
    Detection of pathogenic microbes as well as antibiotic residues in food animals, especially in chicken, has become a matter of food security worldwide. The association of various pathogenic bacteria in different diseases and selective pressure induced by accumulated antibiotic residue to develop antibiotic resistance is also emerging as the threat to human health. These challenges have made the containment of pathogenic bacteria and early detection of antibiotic residue highly crucial for robust and precise detection. However, the traditional culture-based approaches are well-comprehended for identifying microbes. Nevertheless, because they are inadequate, time-consuming and laborious, these conventional methods are not predominantly used. Therefore, it has become essential to explore alternatives for the easy and robust detection of pathogenic microbes and antibiotic residue in the food source. Presently, different monitoring, as well as detection techniques like PCR-based, assay (nucleic acid)-based, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA)-based, aptamer-based, biosensor-based, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry-based and electronic nose-based methods, have been developed for detecting the presence of bacterial contaminants and antibiotic residues. The current review intends to summarize the different techniques and underline the potential of every method used for the detection of bacterial pathogens and antibiotic residue in chicken meat.
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    Fruit extract mediated green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles: a new avenue in pomology applications
    (MDPI, 2020-11-11) Kumar, Harsh; Bhardwaj, Kanchan; Dhanjal, Daljeet Singh; Nepovimova, Eugenie; Șen, Fatih; Regassa, Hailemeleak; Singh, Reena; Verma, Rachna; Kumar, Vinod; Kumar, Dinesh; Bhatia, Shashi Kant; Kuča, Kamil
    Fruit extracts have natural bioactive molecules that are known to possess significant therapeutic potential. Traditionally, metallic nanoparticles were synthesized via chemical methods, in which the chemical act as the reducing agent. Later, these traditional metallic nanoparticles emerged as the biological risk, which prompted researchers to explore an eco-friendly approach. There are different eco-friendly methods employed for synthesizing these metallic nanoparticles via the usage of microbes and plants, primarily via fruit extract. These explorations have paved the way for using fruit extracts for developing nanoparticles, as they eliminate the usage of reducing and stabilizing agents. Metallic nanoparticles have gained significant attention, and are used for diverse biological applications. The present review discusses the potential activities of phytochemicals, and it intends to summarize the different metallic nanoparticles synthesized using fruit extracts and their associated pharmacological activities like anti-cancerous, antimicrobial, antioxidant and catalytic efficiency
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    Plant prebiotics and their role in the amelioration of diseases
    (MDPI, 2021-03-16) Kaur, Amrit Pal; Bhardwaj, Sonali; Dhanjal, Daljeet Singh; Nepovimova, Eugenie; Cruz-Martins, Natália; Kuča, Kamil; Chopra, Chirag; Singh, Reena; Kumar, Harsh; Șen, Fatih; Kumar, Vinod; Verma, Rachna; Kumar, Dinesh
    Prebiotics are either natural or synthetic non-digestible (non-)carbohydrate substances that boost the proliferation of gut microbes. Undigested fructooligosaccharides in the large intestine are utilised by the beneficial microorganisms for the synthesis of short-chain fatty acids for their own growth. Although various food products are now recognized as having prebiotic properties, several others, such as almonds, artichoke, barley, chia seeds, chicory, dandelion greens, flaxseeds, garlic, and oats, are being explored and used as functional foods. Considering the benefits of these prebiotics in mineral absorption, metabolite production, gut microbiota modulation, and in various diseases such as diabetes, allergy, metabolic disorders, and necrotising enterocolitis, increasing attention has been focused on their applications in both food and pharmaceutical industries, although some of these food products are actually used as food supplements. This review aims to highlight the potential and need of these prebiotics in the diet and also discusses data related to the distinct types, sources, modes of action, and health benefits.
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    Understanding of colistin usage in food animals and available detection techniques: a review
    (MDPI, 2020-10-16) Kumar, Harsh; Chen, Bing-Huei; Kuca, Kamil; Nepovimova, Eugenie; Kaushal, Ankur; Nagraik, Rupak; Bhatia, Shashi Kant; Dhanjal, Daljeet Singh; Kumar, Vinod; Kumar, Anil; Upadhyay, Navneet Kumar; Verma, Rachna; Kumar, Dinesh
    Progress in the medical profession is determined by the achievements and effectiveness of new antibiotics in the treatment of microbial infections. However, the development of multiple-drug resistance in numerous bacteria, especially Gram-negative bacteria, has limited the treatment options. Due to this resistance, the resurgence of cyclic polypeptide drugs like colistin remains the only option. The drug, colistin, is a well-known growth inhibitor of Gram-negative bacteria like Acinetobacter baumanni, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Technological advancements have uncovered the role of the mcr-1(mobilized colistin resistance) gene, which is responsible for the development of resistance in Gram-negative bacteria, which make them distinct from other bacteria without this gene. Additionally, food animals have been determined to be the reservoir for colistin resistance microbes, from which they spread to other hosts. Due to the adverse effects of colistin, many developed countries have prohibited its usage in animal foods, but developing countries are still using colistin in animal food production, thereby imposing a major risk to the public health. Therefore, there is a need for implementation of sustainable measures in livestock farms to prevent microbial infection. This review highlights the negative effects (increased resistance) of colistin consumption and emphasizes the different approaches used for detecting colistin in animal-based foods as well as the challenges associated with its detection