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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research » People & Locations » Christina Tam
Christina Tam
Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research
Research Microbiologist

Phone: (510) 559-6020
Fax: (510) 559-6429

USDA, ARS, PWA, WRRC-FTDP
800 BUCHANAN STREET
ALBANY, CA 94710

(Employee information on this page comes from the REE Directory. Please contact your front office staff to update the REE Directory.)

Projects
Technologies for the Detection of Bacterial and Plant Toxins and Allergens that Impact Food Safety and Food Defense
In-House Appropriated (D)
  Accession Number: 438572
Development of Detection Technologies and Therapeutics for Botulinum Neurotoxins
Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement (S)
  Accession Number: 438895

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon Reprint Icon will take you to the publication reprint.)
Development of thermally stable nanobodies for detection and neutralization of Staphylococcal enterotoxin B Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hughes, A.C., Kirkland, M., Du, W.N., Rasooly, R., Hernlem, B.J., Tam, C.C., Zhang, Y., He, X. 2023. Development of thermally stable nanobodies for detection and neutralization of Staphylococcal enterotoxin B. Toxins. 15(6). Article 400. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins15060400.
A three-monoclonal antibody combination potently neutralizes BoNT/G toxin in mice Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Fan, Y., Lou, J., Tam, C.C., Wen, W., Conrad, F., Alves, P., Cheng, L.W., Garcia-Rodriguez, C., Farr-Jones, S., Marks, J.D. 2023. A three-monoclonal antibody combination potently neutralizes BoNT/G toxin in mice. Toxins. 15(5). Article 316. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins15050316.
Health benefits of high protein and dietary fiber dry-fractioned brewery spent grain fines Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Inzunza-Soto, M., Avena Bustillos, R.D., Thai, T.T., Roman, V., Whitehill, L.J., Tam, C.C., Rolston, M.R., Aleman-Hidalgo, D.M., Teran-Cabanillas, E., Yokoyama, W.H., McHugh, T.H. 2022. Health benefits of high protein and dietary fiber dry-fractioned brewery spent grain fines. ACS Food Science and Technology. 2(12):1870-1878. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.2c00255.
Synthesis and in vitro antiprotozoal evaluation of novel metronidazole–schiff base hybrids Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Beteck, R.M., Isaacs, M., Legoabe, L.J., Hoppe, H.C., Tam, C.C., Kim, J., Petzer, J.P., Cheng, L.W., Quiambao, Q., Land, K.M., Khanye, S.D. 2023. Synthesis and in vitro antiprotozoal evaluation of novel metronidazole–schiff base hybrids. Archive of Pharmacy. 356(3). Article 2200409. https://doi.org/10.1002/ardp.202200409.
Antimicrobial efficacy of edible mushroom extracts: assessment of fungal resistance Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Kim, J., Tam, C.C., Chan, K.L., Mahoney, N., Cheng, L.W., Friedman, M., Land, K.M. 2022. Antimicrobial efficacy of edible mushroom extracts: assessment of fungal resistance. Applied Sciences. 12(9). Article 4591. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12094591.
Influence of drying methods on health indicators of brewers spent grain for potential upcycling into food products Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Thai, T.T., Avena Bustillos, R.D., Alves, P., Pan, J., Osorio-Ruiz, A., Miller, J.D., Tam, C.C., Rolston, M.R., Teran-Cabanillas, E., Yokoyama, W.H., McHugh, T.H. 2022. Influence of drying methods on health indicators of brewers spent grain for potential upcycling into food products. Applied Food Research. 2(1). Article 100052. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.afres.2022.100052.
Antifungal activity of Antrodia cinnamomea mushroom extracts: Efficacy and resistance Reprint Icon - (Abstract Only)
Kim, J., Tam, C.C., Chan, K.L., Mahoney, N., Cheng, L.W., Friedman, M., Land, K.M. 2021. Antifungal activity of Antrodia cinnamomea mushroom extracts: Efficacy and resistance. Meeting Abstract. https://doi.org/10.3390/ECMC2021-11384.
Antifungal efficacy of redox-active natamycin against some foodborne fungi—comparison with Aspergillus fumigatus Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Kim, J., Tam, C.C., Chan, K.L., Cheng, L.W., Land, K.M., Friedman, M., Chang, P. 2021. Antifungal efficacy of redox-active natamycin against some foodborne fungi—comparison with Aspergillus fumigatus. Foods. 10(9). Article 2073. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10092073.
Antimicrobial properties of tomato leaves, stems, and fruit and their relationship to chemical composition Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Tam, C.C., Nguyen, K., Nguyen, D., Hamada, S., Kwon, O., Kuang, I., Gong, S., Escobar, S., Liu, M., Kim, J., Hou, T., Tam, J., Cheng, L., Kim, J., Land, K.M., Friedman, M. 2021. Antimicrobial properties of tomato leaves, stems, and fruit and their relationship to chemical composition. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. 21. Article 229. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-021-03391-2.
Quercetin ameliorates insulin resistance and restores gut microbiome in mice on high fat diets Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Tan, Y., Tam, C.C., Rolston, M., Alves, P., Chen, L., Meng, S., Hong, H., Chang, S.K., Yokoyama, W.H. 2021. Quercetin ameliorates insulin resistance and restores gut microbiome in mice on high fat diets. Antioxidants. 10(8). Article 1251. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10081251.
Evaluation of cellular absorption and metabolism of ß-carotene loaded in nano-carriers after in vitro digestion Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Chen, L., Yokoyama, W.H., Tam, C.C., Tan, Y., Alves, P., Bartley, G., Zhong, F. 2021. Evaluation of cellular absorption and metabolism of ß-carotene loaded in nano-carriers after in vitro digestion. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. 69(32):9383-9394. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.1c02431.
Cooked black turtle beans ameliorate insulin resistance and restore gut microbiota in C57BL/6J mice on high-fat diets Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Tan, Y., Tam, C.C., Meng, S., Zhang, Y., Alves, P., Yokoyama, W.H. 2021. Cooked black turtle beans ameliorate insulin resistance and restore gut microbiota in C57BL/6J mice on high-fat diets. Foods. 10(8). Article 1691. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10081691.
Bioactive half-sandwich Rh and Ir bipyridyl complexes containing artemisinin Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Chellan, P., Avery, V.M., Duffy, S., Land, K., Tam, C.C., Kim, J., Cheng, L.W., Romero-Canelón, I., Sadler, P.J. 2021. Bioactive half-sandwich Rh and Ir bipyridyl complexes containing artemisinin. Inorganic Biochemistry. 219. Article 111408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2021.111408.
Anti-parasitic activity of cherry tomato peel powders Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Friedman, M., Tam, C.C., Kim, J., Escobar, S., Gong, S., Liu, M., Yu Mao, X., Do, C., Kuang, I., Boateng, K., Ha, J., Tran, M., Alluri, S., Le, T., Leong, R., Cheng, L.W., Land, K.M. 2021. Anti-parasitic activity of cherry tomato peel powders. Foods. 10(2). Article 230. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10020230.
Antifungal drug repurposing Reprint Icon - (Review Article)
Kim, J., Cheng, L.W., Chan, K.L., Tam, C.C., Mahoney, N.E., Friedman, M., Shilman, M.M., Land, K.M. 2020. Antifungal drug repurposing. Antibiotics. 9(11):812. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9110812.
Crosstalk between the antioxidant and cell wall integrity systems in fungi by 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Kim, J., Chan, K.L., Tam, C.C., Cheng, L.W., Land, K.M. 2020. Crosstalk between the antioxidant and cell wall integrity systems in fungi by 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde. Cogent Food & Agriculture. 6(1). Article 1823593. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2020.1823593.
Anti-trichomonad activities of different compounds from foods, marine products, and medicinal plants: a review Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Friedman, M., Tam, C.C., Cheng, L.W., Land, K.M. 2020. Anti-trichomonad activities of different compounds from foods, marine products, and medicinal plants: a review. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. 20:271. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-03061-9.
Anti-trichomonad activities of different compounds from foods, marine products, and medicinal plants: a review Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Friedman, M., Tam, C.C., Cheng, L.W., Land, K.M. 2020. Anti-trichomonad activities of different compounds from foods, marine products, and medicinal plants: a review. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. 20:271. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-03061-9.
The inhibitory activity of anthraquinones against pathogenic protozoa, bacteria, and fungi and the relationship to structure Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Friedman, M., Xu, A., Lee, R., Nguyen, D.N., Phan, T.A., Hamada, S.M., Panchel, R., Tam, C.C., Kim, J., Cheng, L.W., Land, K.M. 2020. The inhibitory activity of anthraquinones against pathogenic protozoa, bacteria, and fungi and the relationship to structure. Molecules. 25(13):3101. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules25133101.
Investigation of the immunogenicity of Zika glycan loop Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Henderson, E., Tam, C.C., Cheng, L.W., Ngono, A.E., Nguyen, A., Shresta, S., McGee, M., Padgett, H., Gill, L., Martchenko, M. 2020. Investigation of the immunogenicity of Zika glycan loop. Virology Journal. 17:43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-020-01313-1.
The novel Clostridial neurotoxin produced by strain IBCA10-7060 is immunologically equivalent to BoNT/HA Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Fan, Y., Barash, J.R., Conrad, F., Lou, J., Tam, C.C., Cheng, L.W., Arnon, S.S., Marks, J.D. 2019. The novel Clostridial neurotoxin produced by strain IBCA10-7060 is immunologically equivalent to BoNT/HA. Toxins. 12(1):9. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins12010009.
Prebiotics, probiotics, and bacterial infections Reprint Icon - (Book / Chapter)
Tam, C.C., Land, K.M., Cheng, L.W. 2019. Prebiotics, probiotics, and bacterial infections. In: Franco-Robles, E. and Ramírez-Emiliano, J., editors. Prebiotics and Probiotics, Potential Benefits in Nutrition and Health. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89052.
Synthesis and antiprotozoal activity of functionalized 1H-1,2,3-triazole-tethered isatin-ferrocene conjugates Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Singh, A., Zhang, D., Tam, C.C., Cheng, L.W., Land, K.M., Kumar, V. 2019. Synthesis and antiprotozoal activity of functionalized 1H-1,2,3-triazole-tethered isatin-ferrocene conjugates. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters. 896:1-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jorganchem.2019.05.025.
Antiprotozoal activity of palladium (II) salicylaldiminato thiosemicarbazone complexes on metronidazole resistant Trichomonas vaginalis Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Chellan, P., Stringer, T., Shokar, A., Au, A., Tam, C.C., Cheng, L.W., Smith, G.S., Land, K.M. 2019. Antiprotozoal activity of palladium (II) salicylaldiminato thiosemicarbazone complexes on metronidazole resistant Trichomonas vaginalis. Inorganic Chemistry. (102):1-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inoche.2019.01.033.
Influence of food matrices on the stability and bioavailability of abrin Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Tam, C.C., Henderson II, T.D., Stanker, L.H., Cheng, L.W. 2018. Influence of food matrices on the stability and bioavailability of abrin. Toxins. 10(12):52. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins10120502.
A rapid, sensitive, and portable biosensor assay for the detection of botulinum neurotoxin serotype A in complex food matrices Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Tam, C.C., Flannery, A.R., Cheng, L.W. 2018. A rapid, sensitive, and portable biosensor assay for the detection of botulinum neurotoxin serotype A in complex food matrices. Toxins. 10(11):476. https://doi.org/doi:10.3390/toxins10110476.
Highly potent 1H-1,2,3-triazole-tethered isatin-metronidazole conjugates against anaerobic foodborne, waterborne, and sexually-transmitted protozoal parasites Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Kumar, S., Bains, T., Kim, A., Tam, C.C., Kim, J., Cheng, L.W., Land, K.M., Debnath, A., Kumar, V. 2018. Highly potent 1H-1,2,3-triazole-tethered isatin-metronidazole conjugates against anaerobic foodborne, waterborne, and sexually-transmitted protozoal parasites. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. 8:380. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2018.00380.
Cinnamoyl-oxaborole amides: Synthesis and their in Vitro biological activity Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Gumbo, M., Beteck, R.M., Mandizvo, T., Seldon, R., Warner, D.F., Hoppe, H.C., Issacs, M., Laming, D., Tam, C.C., Cheng, L.W., Liu, N., Land, K.M., Khanye, S.D. 2018. Cinnamoyl-oxaborole amides: Synthesis and their in Vitro biological activity. Molecules. 23(8):2038. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23082038.
Potato peels and their bioactive glycoalkaloids and phenolic compounds inhibit the growth of pathogenic trichomonads Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Friedman, M., Huang, V., Quiambao, Q., Noritake, S.S., Liu, J., Kwon, O., Chintalapati, S., Levin, C.E., Tam, C.C., Cheng, L.W., Land, K.M. 2018. Potato peels and their bioactive glycoalkaloids and phenolic compounds inhibit the growth of pathogenic trichomonads. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 66(30):7942-7947. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.8b01726.
Synthesis and preliminary antimicrobial analysis of Isatin-ferrocene and Isatin-ferrocenyl-chalcone conjugates Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Singh, A., Fong, G., Liu, J., Wu, Y., Chang, K., Park, W., Kim, J., Tam, C.C., Cheng, L.W., Land, K.M., Kumar, V. 2018. Synthesis and preliminary antimicrobial analysis of Isatin-ferrocene and Isatin-ferrocenyl-chalcone conjugates. ACS Omega. 3(5):5808-5813. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.8b00553.
Organometallic conjugates of the drug sulfadoxine for combatting antimicrobial resistance Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Chellan, P., Avery, V., Duffy, S., Triccas, J.A., Nagalingam, G., Tam, C.C., Cheng, L.W., Liu, J., Land, K.M., Clarkson, G.J., Romero, I., Sadler, P.J. 2018. Organometallic conjugates of the drug sulfadoxine for combatting antimicrobial resistance. Chemistry - A European Journal. 24(40):10078-10090. https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201801090.
A monoclonal-monoclonal antibody based capture elisa for abrin Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Tam, C.C., Cheng, L.W., He, X., Merrill, P.A., Hodge, D., Stanker, L.H. 2017. A monoclonal-monoclonal antibody based capture elisa for abrin. Toxins. 9(10):328. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins9100328.
Abrin toxicity and bioavailability after temperature and pH treatment Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Tam, C.C., Henderson, T.D., Stanker, L.H., He, X., Cheng, L.W. 2017. Abrin toxicity and bioavailability after temperature and pH treatment. Toxins. 9(10):320. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins9100320.
Design, synthesis and preliminary antimicrobial evaluation of n-alkyl chain tethered c-5 functionalized bis-isatins Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Singh, A., Nisha, Bains, T., Hahn, H.J., Liu, N., Tam, C.C., Cheng, L.W., Kim, J.H., Debnath, A., Land, K.M., Kumar, V. 2017. Design, synthesis and preliminary antimicrobial evaluation of n-alkyl chain tethered c-5 functionalized bis-isatins. MedChemComm. 8(10):1982-1992. https://doi.org/10.1039/C7MD00434F.
Antimicrobial activity of organometallic isonicotinyl and pyrazinyl ferrocenyl-derived complexes Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Stringer, T., Seldon, R., Liu, N., Warner, D.F., Tam, C.C., Cheng, L.W., Land, K.M., Smith, P.J., Chibale, K., Smith, G.S. 2017. Antimicrobial activity of organometallic isonicotinyl and pyrazinyl ferrocenyl-derived complexes. Dalton Transactions. 46:9875-9885. https://doi.org/10.1039/c7dt01952a.
Phytochemical-rich foods inhibit the growth of pathogenic trichomonads Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Noritake, S.M., Liu, J., Kanetake, S., Levin, C.E., Tam, C.C., Cheng, L.W., Land, K.M., Friedman, M. 2017. Phytochemical-rich foods inhibit the growth of pathogenic trichomonads. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 17(1):461. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-017-1967-x.
Probiotic microorganisms inhibit epithelial cell internalization of botulinum neurotoxin serotype A Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Lam, T.L., Tam, C.C., Stanker, L.H., Cheng, L.W. 2016. Probiotic microorganisms inhibit epithelial cell internalization of botulinum neurotoxin serotype A. Toxins. 8(12):377. doi: 10.3390/toxins8120377.
Chardonnay grape seed flour ameliorates hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance via altered hepatic gene expression for oxidative stress, inflammation, and lipid and ceramide synthesis in diet-induced obese mice Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Seo, K., Bartley, G.E., Tam, C.C., Kim, H., Kim, D., Chon, J., Kim, H., Yokoyama, W.H. 2016. Chardonnay grape seed flour ameliorates hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance via altered hepatic gene expression for oxidative stress, inflammation, and lipid and ceramide synthesis in diet-induced obese mice. PLoS One. 11(12):E0167680. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0167680.
Bioisosteric ferrocenyl-containing quinolines with antiplasmodial and antitrichomonal properties Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Adams, M., Stringer, T., De Kock, C., Smith, P.J., Land, K.M., Liu, N., Tam, C.C., Cheng, L.W., Njoroge, M., Chibale, K., Smith, G.S. 2016. Bioisosteric ferrocenyl-containing quinolines with antiplasmodial and antitrichomonal properties. Dalton Transactions. 45(47):19086-19095.
Anti-protozoal effects of the tomato tetrasaccharide glycoalkaloid tomatine and the aglycone tomatidine on mucosal trichomonads - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Liu, J., Kanetake, S., Wu, Y., Tam, C.C., Cheng, L.W., Land, K.M., Friedman, M. 2016. Anti-protozoal effects of the tomato tetrasaccharide glycoalkaloid tomatine and the aglycone tomatidine on mucosal trichomonads. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 64:8806-8810. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.6b04030.
Identification of botulinum neurotoxin serotype a inhibitors using in vitro cell and oral models of intoxication - (Proceedings)
Cheng, L.W., Tam, C.C., Lam, T.A., Stanker, L.H., Martchenko, M. 2016. Identification of botulinum neurotoxin serotype a inhibitors using in vitro cell and oral models of intoxication. TOXINS 2017 Basic Science and Clinical Aspects of Botulinum and Other Neurotoxins. Meeting Proceedings. Toxicon. Rose Puleo ed. 123 supplement:S16-S17 (25 December 2016).
Mono- and multimeric ferrocene congeners of quinoline-based polyamines as potential antiparasitics Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Stringer, T., De Kock, C., Guzgay, H., Okombo, J., Liu, J., Kanetake, S., Kim, J., Tam, C.C., Cheng, L.W., Smith, P.J., Hendricks, D.T., Land, K.M., Egan, T.J., Smith, G.S. 2016. Mono- and multimeric ferrocene congeners of quinoline-based polyamines as potential antiparasitics. Dalton Transactions. 45:13415-13426 doi: 10.1039/c6dt02685k.
Technologies for detecting botulinum neurotoxins in biological and environmental matrices - (Book / Chapter)
Cheng, L.W., Land, K.M., Tam, C.C., Brandon, D.L., Stanker, L.H. 2016. Technologies for detecting botulinum neurotoxins in biological and environmental matrices. Intech. doi: 10.5772/63064