Research on the inhibitory effect of MEL-A-ZnONPs on common foodborne pathogens

Foodborne pathogens pose a serious threat to food and feed safety. To study the inhibitory effects of MEL-A-modified zinc oxide nanoparticles (MEL-A-ZnONPs) on foodborne pathogens, control groups including unmodified ZnONPs (N-ZnONPs), commercially available ZnONPs (S-ZnONPs), and MEL-A were utilized. The test strains chosen for the study were Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Fusarium graminearum, and Aspergillus flavus,-common foodborne bacteria and fungi. This study measured and compared the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), bacterial cell growth, fungal mycelium growth, and spore germination inhibition rate, and other relevant indicators. When the four antimicrobial agents (MEL-A-ZnONPs, N-ZnONPs, S-ZnONPs, MEL-A) were added at their respective MIC concentrations, the growth of Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus flavus, and Fusarium graminearum was significantly inhibited. Additionally, all four agents effectively suppressed fungal hyphae and spore germination. In a simulated corn storage experiment, N-ZnONPs, S- ZnONPs, and MEL-A effectively suppressed microbial proliferation in maize. The highest antimicrobial efficacy was demonstrated by 0.250MEL-A-ZnONPs at a dosage of 400 mg/kg. These results emphasize the potential of 0.250MEL-A-ZnONPs as a reliable and non-toxic antimicrobial agent for food preservation.