Aiming at safe foodstuffs

New processing methods and cold chains have presented new types of food safety and spoilage problems affecting the usability of foodstuffs and cause considerable financial losses to the food industry. The Centre of Excellence in Microbial Food Safety Research led by Professor Airi Palva studies microbiological challenges in the food chain through the entire production chain all the way to the consumer’s gastro-intestinal tract.

“Solutions to food spoilage problems caused by bacteria are likely to be found through our research,” says Palva. 

“Furthermore, the research produces knowledge that can be utilised in the prevention of intestinal infections. It has already been observed that the use of health-promoting microbes shortens the duration of diarrhoea both in animal production and people. Understanding the effect mechanisms of these lactic acid bacteria provides the foundation for the development of target-specific probiotics,” Palva explains. 

A significant part of the research in the unit focuses on the human intestinal microbiota, bacteria causing food-borne diseases, the characteristics of the bacteria and the interaction mechanisms between the host and microbes.  In food-borne pathogens, the Centre focuses particularly on cold-resistant and spore-forming bacteria as well as on bacteria that are infective with a low dose. The research focuses on Campylobacteria and Helicobacteria and the food pathogens Clostridium, Listeria and Yersinia, which are hazardous to humans.

“We are moreover in the process of developing new kinds of vaccinations against certain intestinal infections in production animals with the additional aim of studying the origin and spread of antibiotics resistance,” says Palva. 

“Our research group is unique in Europe in its diversity and multidisciplinarity. Its strength lies in the co-operation between veterinary surgeons, microbiologists, biochemists, molecular biologists and bioinformatics experts.”

Finnish Centre of Excellence in Microbial Food Safety research (MiFoSa)

Text: Arja-Leena Paavola
Photo: Veikko Somerpuro
Translation: Valtasana Oy