Advancements in Food Microbiology: Antimicrobial Compounds and Microbiome Dynamics

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 1119

Special Issue Editors

Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Interests: food safety; food microbiology; foodborne pathogen; stress response; antimicrobial agent
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue presents an opportunity to explore advanced research in the field of food microbiology, with a particular focus on antimicrobial innovation and microbiome science aimed at enhancing food safety, preservation, and functionality. We invite submissions that address novel antimicrobial agents, including but not limited to plant extracts, bacteriocins, and nanomaterials, along with their mechanisms and applications in inhibiting pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms. Furthermore, we welcome studies that investigate food microbiome interactions, fermentation dynamics, probiotics, and metagenomic approaches. Relevant areas of interest include microbial community resilience, antimicrobial resistance mitigation, and biotechnological innovations that promote sustainable food systems. We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions towards advancing knowledge that will improve food safety and quality on a global scale.

Dr. Shoukui He
Prof. Dr. Joanna Trafiałek
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Foods is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • next-generation antimicrobials
  • antibacterial activity and mechanism
  • microbiome-driven solutions
  • microbial food safety
  • food microbiome interactions
  • sustainable food systems

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 2152 KB  
Article
Maize-Derived Lactic Acid Bacteria with Probiotic Traits and Antifungal Activity: Candidate Functional Starter Cultures and Bio-Preservatives
by Adeola O. Aasa, Samkelo Malgas and Mapitsi Silvester Thantsha
Foods 2026, 15(2), 209; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15020209 - 7 Jan 2026
Viewed by 729
Abstract
Contamination of agricultural products such as maize by fungi is a significant concern worldwide, as it can compromise food safety and quality. In recent years, the use of microorganisms as natural food preservatives has gained interest. Probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and their [...] Read more.
Contamination of agricultural products such as maize by fungi is a significant concern worldwide, as it can compromise food safety and quality. In recent years, the use of microorganisms as natural food preservatives has gained interest. Probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and their metabolites are considered a promising strategy to reduce fungal growth and limit other food contaminants. This study aimed to characterize, screen and compare the probiotic properties and antifungal activity of LAB of maize origin. A total of 23 LAB isolates obtained from untreated maize grains were identified through 16S rRNA gene sequencing as Weissella viridenscens (34.7%), Pediococcus pentosaceus (34.7%), Enterococcus durans (17.4%), Leuconostoc citreum (9%), and Enterococcus faecium (4.3%). All isolates demonstrated acid, phenol, and bile salt tolerance; surface hydrophobicity; and antagonistic activity against selected bacterial foodborne pathogens. Notably, Enterococcus sp. showed the strongest inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli ATCC 5211 (21 mm inhibition zone) and Staphylococcus aureus (17 mm inhibition zone), whereas Pediococcus sp. exhibited the highest antagonistic effect against Listeria monocytogenes (18.7 mm inhibition zone). Furthermore, E. durans and P. pentosaceus demonstrated the strongest antifungal activity, effectively inhibiting the growth of Alternaria tenuissima (F22FR) and Fusarium oxysporum (F44FR), respectively. Overall, all the LAB strains isolated from this study showed considerable potential for use in the food industry as probiotics, starter cultures for functional food fermentations, bio-preservatives and biocontrol agents against toxigenic fungi and pathogenic bacteria, with E. durans standing out for its exceptional performance. Future research will explore the ability of these isolates and/or their enzymes to degrade mycotoxins commonly found in maize, a staple food in many African countries. Full article
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