Dr. Xianqin Yang

Research Scientist

I am a research scientist, conducting work in the area of meat safety and preservation.

Current research and/or projects

Since 2007, Dr. Yang’s research has been primarily focusing on reduction of microbiological contamination of meat during the primary production and distribution process, i.e. from slaughtering of animals to steaks on the plate, including identification, tracking and control source of contamination, mechanisms of survival and persistence of E. coli in meat processing environments, effective intervention strategies for controlling enteric pathogens, and shelf-life extension of meat.

Current projects

1. Comparative genetic characterization of E. coli O157:H7 from pigs and cattle, feces and carcasses/Alberta Innovates/2019-2022

2. Exploring the potential of using Carnobacterium maltaromaticum A5 as a bioprotective agent in meat plants to improve the safety and shelf life of meat/Beef Cattle Research Council/2019-2020

3. If E. coli shed by cattle is becoming resistant to antimicrobial interventions in abattoirs, how best to raise the hurdles/Beef Cattle Research Council/ 2018-2022

4. Chlorine resistant Escherichia coli in beef processing facilities: selective pressure for heat resistant pathogens/Alberta Innovates/ 2019-2022.

5. Understanding biofilm community dynamics/Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/2019-2022

6. Beef Quality Canada's National Beef Quality Audit at Retail and Processing/Beef Cluster/2021-2023

Key publications

Yang, X., F. Tran, and T. Wolters. 2017. Microbial ecology of decontaminated and not decontaminated beef carcasses. J Food Res. 6:85-91.
2017 - View publication details
Wang, H., Badoni, M., Zawadski, S., McLeod, B., Uttaro, B. and Yang, X. 2017. Effects on beef microflora of a three-step sous-vide method. International Congress of Meat Science and Technology annual conference. Cork, Ireland, August 13-18, 2017
2017 - View publication details
Zhang P., and Yang, X. 2017. Variability in growth behavior of Carnobacterium isolates in medium with low initial pH. International Association for Food Protection annual meeting (IAFP 2017), Tampa Bay, Florida, USA, July 9-12, 2017
2017 - View publication details
Youssef, M.K, Tran, F., Zhang P., Gill, C.O. and Yang, X. 2017. Storage-life and microflora of vacuum-packaged pork loin cuts in relation to beef from the same abattoir. International Association for Food Protection annual meeting (IAFP 2017), Tampa Bay, Florida, USA, July 9-12, 2017
2017 - View publication details
Visvalingam, J. and Yang, X. 2017. Effect of persistent and transient generic Escherichia coli and Salmonella sp. recovered from a beef packing plant on biofilm formation of Escherichia coli O157:H7. International Association for Food Protection annual meeting (IAFP 2017), Tampa Bay, Florida, USA, July 9-12, 2017. Oral presentation
2017 - View publication details
Visvalingam, J., Vahmani, P., Rolland, D.C., Dugan, M.E.R., Yang, X. (2017). Anti-mutagenic Properties of Mono- and Dienoic Acid Biohydrogenation Products from Beef Fat. Lipids, [online] 52(7), 651-655. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11745-017-4267-9
2017 - View publication details
Badoni, M., Klassen, M.D., Wang, H., Youssef, M.K., Devos, J., Gill, C.O., Yang, X. (2017). Development and testing of a prototype automatic trim sampler. Food Control, [online] 77 82-87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2017.02.005
2017 - View publication details
Mercer, R.G., Walker, B.D., Yang, X., McMullen, L.M., Gänzle, M.G. (2017). The locus of heat resistance (LHR) mediates heat resistance in Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli and Enterobacter cloacae, 64 96-103. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fm.2016.12.018
2017 - View publication details
Yang, X., He, A., Badoni, M., Tran, F., Wang, H. (2017). Mapping sources of contamination of Escherichia coli on beef in the fabrication facility of a commercial beef packing plant, 75 153-159. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2016.12.004
2017 - View publication details
Visvalingam, J., Liu, Y., Yang, X. (2017). Impact of dry chilling on the genetic diversity of Escherichia coli on beef carcasses and on the survival of E. coli and E. coli O157. International Journal of Food Microbiology, [online] 244 62-66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2016.12.022
2017 - View publication details
Liu, Y., Visvalingam, J., Youssef, M. K., and Yang X. (2017). Determination of microbiological effects of dry chilling of beef carcasses. Beef Industry Safety Summit. Houston, TX, USA, February 28-March 02, 2017
2017 - View publication details
Tran, F., Wolters, T., and Yang, X.Q. (2016). "Microflora on beef carcasses that were not or were subjected to decontaminating treatments.", Foodmicro 2016, Dublin, Ireland, 19-22 July, 2016.
2016 - View publication details
Wang, H. and Yang, X.Q. (2016). "Effects of the cleaning process on the microflora on conveyor belts at a beef plant.", Foodmicro 2016, Dublin, Ireland, 19-22 July, 2016.
2016 - View publication details
Visvalingam, J., Liu, Y., and Yang, X.Q. (2016). "Impact of dry chilling on the genetic diversity and survival of naturally occurring Escherichia coli on beef carcasses.", International Association for Food Protection annual meeting (IAFP 2016), St Luis, Missouri, USA, 31 July-3 August, 2016.
2016 - View publication details
Badoni, M., Klassen, M.D., Visvalingam, J., Gill, C.O., and Yang, X.Q. (2016). "Development and testing of a prototype automatic beef trim sampler.", 96th Annual Conference of the Canadian Meat Council, Ottawa, Canada, 27-29 September, 2016.
2016 - View publication details
Wang, H. and Yang, X.Q. (2016). "Simultaneous quantification by real-time PCR of viable Escherichia coli and E. coli O157:H7 in beef after heat treatment.", International Association for Food Protection annual meeting (IAFP 2016), St Luis, Missouri, USA, 31 July-3 August, 2016.
2016 - View publication details
Visvalingam, J., Vahmani, P., Rolland, D.C., Dugan, M.E.R, and Yang, X.Q. (2016). "Anti-mutagenic properties of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids and rumen biohydrogenation intermediates from beef fat.", 96th Annual Conference of the Canadian Meat Council, Ottawa, Canada, 27-29 September, 2016.
2016 - View publication details
Peipei Zhang, Michael Gänzle and Xianqin Yang, Complementary Antibacterial Effects of Bacteriocins and Organic Acids as Revealed by Comparative Analysis ofCarnobacteriumspp. from Meat , Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 10.1128/AEM.01227-19, 85, 20, (2019).
2016 - View publication details
Liu, Y., Youssef, M.K., Yang, X. (2016). Effects of Dry Chilling on the Microflora on Beef Carcasses at a Canadian Beef Packing Plant, 79(4), 538-543. http://dx.doi.org/10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-15-476
2016 - View publication details
Gill, C.O., Devos, J., Badoni, M., Yang, X. (2016). Inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in beef roasts cooked in conventional or convection ovens or in a slow cooker under selected conditions, 79(2), 205-212. http://dx.doi.org/10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-15-116
2016 - View publication details