Researchers pioneer nanotechnology to combat E. coli in rice, strengthen food safety

Researchers at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) have made a major breakthrough in agricultural biotechnology, focusing on the use of nanotechnology to combat E. coli contamination in rice crops. This discovery, led by Hamidreza Sharifan and his team, offers promising solutions for improving food safety and addressing bioterrorism threats.

The research centers on the development of advanced methods to detect and mitigate the effects of pathogens, particularly E. coli, which poses a significant threat to global food systems. The team, which includes Daisy Wilson, a Ph.D. student in environmental science and engineering, and Valeria Gonzalez, a senior undergraduate in forensic science, conducted groundbreaking work in biofortification and nanoparticle application to reduce microbial contamination.

“We got an internship with the Department of Homeland Security as a team,” Wilson told The Prospector, UTEP’s student newspaper. “It was led by Dr. Sharifan, and he mentored myself and Valeria for the summer.”

The research focused on the use of zinc oxide and magnesium oxide nanoparticles, which the team found to be highly effective in inhibiting E. coli growth. According to Gonzalez, the nanoparticles disrupted the cell membranes and metabolic processes of the bacteria, outperforming traditional ionic forms like magnesium sulfate and zinc sulfate.

“These nanoparticles significantly inhibited E. coli growth by disrupting the cell membranes and metabolic processes,” Gonzalez said in an interview with The Prospector. “We compared these with ionic forms like magnesium sulfate and zinc sulfate and found that the nanoparticles outperformed the ionic forms in preventing bacterial growth.”

This discovery could have far-reaching implications for the agriculture industry and food safety standards, providing a new layer of protection against microbial contamination. In addition to their work with nanoparticles, the team has been researching the resilience of Mexican brown rice, which showed notable resistance to bacterial growth due to its high content of essential minerals and bioactive compounds.

The team’s study emphasizes how integrating nanotechnology into agricultural practices could revolutionize food safety by reducing contamination risks and enhancing crop resilience. Dr. Sharifan noted the potential policy implications of this work, saying, “Regulatory bodies could consider nanofortification as part of agricultural practices, which could enhance resilience against such threats.”

Though challenges remain, such as optimizing sterilization processes and ensuring the consistent application of nanoparticles, the team is confident their research will have a lasting impact on food safety protocols.

This pioneering work marks UTEP’s first collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security, further establishing the university as a key player in agricultural biotechnology research.

For more details, read The Prospector’s story here.

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