FAYETTEVILLE — Even with all of our sanitization technology, we shouldn’t underestimate foodborne pathogens, says food microbiologist Yuan Fang.
Fang joined the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s food science department in January as an assistant professor in food microbiology.
“Yuan is a valuable addition to our team, as she has extensive knowledge of molecular microbiology and red meat safety,” said Jeyam Subbiah, professor and head of the food science department. “Her skills complement our existing strengths in virology, low-moisture food safety, and poultry safety. She will play a key role in advancing the Center for Food Safety’s mission."
Fang’s research through the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the Division of Agriculture, includes investigating microbial resistance to sanitizers used in food processing facilities such as high heat, pressure, acids, chlorine and hydrogen peroxide.
“Microbes are survivors, and they have the ability to adapt to the environment,” Fang said. “It’s the same for us. If we live in a harsh environment, we can develop strategies to live.”
Her background in molecular biology and functional genomics helps her look at things from a different perspective regarding food safety. As a Ph.D. student at the University of Alberta, Fang developed a single-cell quantification technology that her team used to investigate Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli at the single-cell level instead of the population level. It was a first in the food safety research sector. Fang was the lead author of the study “Induction of Shiga-Toxin Encoding Prophage by Abiotic Stress in Food” published in 2017 by the American Society for Microbiology. This type of E. coli infection can produce bloody diarrhea in humans and in some cases, lead to kidney failure.
Fang said microbes have diverse strategies to cope with various types of stress, including competition with other microorganisms, lack of nutrients and water and even predator microbes. She said it calls for investigations on the cellular level.