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Castillo, Alejandro (Alex)

Alejandro (Alex) Castillo

Associate Professor
Office:
Kleberg Center Room 110A
Email:
Phone:
979-845-3565
Undergraduate Education
B.Sc. Biology, Chemistry & Pharmacy, University of Guadalajara, 1977
Graduate Education
M.A. Sanitary Microbiology, University of Guadalajara, 1980
M.Sc. Food Microbiology & Hygiene, University of Guadalajara (Mexico), 1985
Ph.D. Food Science & Technology, Texas A&M University, 1998
Awards
State Award to the Professional Merit, National Federation of Professional Boards, Mexico, 1994.
President of the Mexico Association for Food Protection, 2000-2002.
2017 Dean’s Outstanding Achievement Award, Outstanding Interdisciplinary Research, College of Agriculture and Life Science.
2018 Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence, International Involvement, Texas A&M AgriLife.
2019 Dean's Outstanding Achievement Award, International Impact, College of Agriculture and Life Science.
Courses Taught
Microbiology of Foods. Graduate level course (FSTC 606)
Food Safety Principles and Preventive Controls for Human Food (FSTC 324)
Graduate Seminar (FSTC 681)
Undergraduate Seminar (481)

Research Focus

  • Development and validation of control measures for reducing pathogens
  • Microbial ecology in fresh produce
  • Food safety of fresh and fresh-cut produce
  • Pathogen reduction on beef and pork products and fresh produce
  • Industry training and consulting in food safety programs
  • Latin American food safety

Ongoing Research

  • Agriculture Water Treatment. Southwest Region.
  • Bacteria Super-Repellent and Water-efficient, Self-Cleaning. Coatings for Vegetable Washing, Grading, and Packing Lines.
  • Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Food Safety in Spinach Production.
  • Use of ozone gas for eliminating Listeria monocytogenes on surfaces in food storage containers.
  • Strategies to Mitigate Salmonella Contamination In Bulb Onions
  • Next-Generation Smart Surfaces and Coatings to Improve Food Safety and Water-Efficiency of U.S. Specialty Crops

Select Publications

  •  Mohammad, Z.*, S. Beck, M. King, D. Griffin and A. Castillo**. 2021. Comparison Between The Real-Time PCR and Crystal Diagnostic Xpress Immunoassay-Based Method for Detecting Salmonella and Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in the Air of Beef Slaughter Establishments. Journal of Food Protection. 84:31-38. https://doi.org/10.4315/JFP-19-616.
  •  Mohammad, Z.*, A. Kalbasi-Ashtari, G. Riskowski, V. Juneja and A. Castillo**. 2020. Inactivation of Salmonella and Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) From the Surface of Alfalfa Seeds and Sprouts by Combined Antimicrobial Treatments Using Ozone and Electrolyzed Water. Food Research International. 136:109488. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109488.
  • Mohammad, Z. H.*, E. A. Murano, R. G. Moreira and Castillo**. 2020. Effect of Post Inoculation Drying Procedures on the Reduction of Salmonella on Almonds by Thermal Treatments. Food Research International. 130:108857. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2019.108857.
  • Villarreal-Lara, R., D. G. Rodríguez-Sánchez, R. I. Díaz de la Garza, M. I. García-Cruz, Castillo, A. Pacheco and C. Hernández-Brenes. 2019. Purified Avocado Seed Acetogenins: Antimicrobial Spectrum and Complete Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes in a Refrigerated Food Matrix. CyTA. Journal of Food. 17:228-239. https://doi.org/10.1080/19476337.2019.1575908.
  • Hudson, J. C.*, T. N. Tolen, K. R. Kirsch, G. Acuff, T. M. Taylor, L. M. Lucia and Castillo**. 2019. Comparison of Antimicrobial Treatments Applied Via Conventional Spray or Hand-Held Electrostatic Spray to Reduce Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) on Chilled Beef Outside Rounds. Journal of Food Protection. 82:862-868. https://doi.org/10.4315/0362-028X.JFP- 18-399.
  • Arias-Rios, E. V.*, G. R. Acuff, Castillo, L. M. Lucia, S. E. Niebuhr and J. S. Dickson. 2019. Identification of a Surrogate to Validate Irradiation Processing of Selected Spices. LWT – Food Science and Technology. 102:136-141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2018.12.018.
  • Mohammad, Z. H.*, Kalbasi-Ashtari, A., Riskowsky, G. and Castillo**. 2019. Reduction of Salmonella and Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli on Alfalfa Seeds and Sprouts Using an Ozone Generating System. International Journal of Food Microbiology. 289:57-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2018.08.023.
  • Kakani, G.*, T. M. Taylor, N. E. Martinez-Gonzales, M. O. Rodriguez-Garcia, C. Martinez- Cardenas, H. B. Escalona-Buendia and Castillo**. 2018. Using Antimicrobials as a Food Safety Measure During Phytosanitary Treatments in Mangoes. Postharvest Biology and Technology. 138:114-124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2018.01.007.
  • Villarreal-Silva, M.*, D. P. Genho, I. Ilhak, L. M. Lucia, J. S. Dickson, K. B. Gehring, W. Savell and A. Castillo**. 2016. Tracing Surrogates for Enteric Pathogens Inoculated on Hide Through the Beef Harvesting Process. Journal of Food Protection. 79:1860–1867. https://doi.org/10.4315/0362- 028X.JFP-15-481.
  • Martínez-Gonzáles, N. E.*, L. Martínez-Chávez, E. Cabrera-Díaz, C. Martínez- Cárdenas, P. Gutiérrez-González and Castillo**. 2016. Use of a Novel Medium, the Polymyxin Ceftazidime Oxford Medium, for Isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from Raw or Non-Pasteurized Foods. Food Microbiology. 55:105-111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fm.2015.10.015.
  • Palekar, M. P.*, T. M. Taylor, J. E. Maxim and Castillo**. 2015. Reduction of Salmonella enterica Serotype Poona and Background Microbiota on Fresh-Cut Cantaloupe by Electron Beam Irradiation. International Journal of Food Microbiology. 202:66-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2015.02.001.
  • Maxim, J. E., J. A. Neal* and Castillo**. 2014. Development of a Novel Device for Applying Uniform Doses of Electron Beam Irradiation on Carcasses. Meat Science. 96:373-378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2013.07.030.

Links

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Area of Expertise

Microbial Food Safety