Feasibility of 3D UV-C treatment to reduce fungal growth and mycotoxin loads on maize and wheat kernels
This study has shown that 3D UV-C treatment is a feasible option for reducingFusarium andPenicillium growth on maize kernels and, at higher doses, decreasing ZEN by ~ 50%. (Source: Mycotoxin Research)
Source: Mycotoxin Research - August 1, 2018 Category: Toxicology Source Type: research
Development of a droplet digital PCR assay for population analysis of aflatoxigenic and atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus mixtures in soil
AbstractAflatoxin B1 is a potent hepatotoxin and carcinogen that poses a serious safety hazard to both humans and animals.Aspergillus flavus is the most common aflatoxin-producing species on corn, cotton, peanuts, and tree nuts. Application of atoxigenic strains to compete against aflatoxigenic strains ofA. flavus has emerged as one of the most practical strategies for ameliorating aflatoxin contamination in food. Genes directly involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis are clustered on an 82-kb region of the genome. Three atoxigenic strains (CA12, M34, and AF123) were each paired with each of four aflatoxigenic strains (CA28, CA...
Source: Mycotoxin Research - August 1, 2018 Category: Toxicology Source Type: research
Aflatoxin M 1 contamination of raw cow ’s milk in five regions of Kosovo during 2016
AbstractDuring February and August 2016 (winter and summer season), 192 samples of raw bulk tank milk have been collected from small dairy farms in five different regions of Kosova (Prishtina, Prizren, Peja, Mitrovica, and Gjilan). These samples were analyzed for aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) contamination level by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC –ESI–MS/MS). The limit of quantification for AFM1 was 0.02 μg/L and recovery at 0.1–0.5 μg/L was 90–95% (coefficient of variation 15–25%). A total of 74 milk samples (38%) were ...
Source: Mycotoxin Research - August 1, 2018 Category: Toxicology Source Type: research
Stachybotrychromenes A –C: novel cytotoxic meroterpenoids from Stachybotrys sp.
AbstractIn the course of gaining new insights into the secondary metabolite profile of variousStachybotrys strains, in particular concerning triprenyl phenol-like compounds, so far, unknown metabolites with analogous structural features were discovered. Three novel meroterpenoids containing a chromene ring moiety, namely stachybotrychromenes A –C, were isolated from solid culture of the filamentous fungusStachybotrys chartarum DSMZ 12880 (chemotype S). Their structures were elucidated by means of comprehensive spectroscopic analysis (1D and 2D NMR, ESI-HRMS, and CD) as well as by comparison with spectroscopic data of str...
Source: Mycotoxin Research - August 1, 2018 Category: Toxicology Source Type: research
Occurrence of ochratoxin A in Astragalus propinquus root and its transfer to decoction
AbstractThe aim of this study was to conduct a survey assessing (a) the ochratoxin A (OTA) content in different samples ofAstragalus propinquus root (AR), one of the fundamental herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, and (b) the rate of OTA transfer to AR decoctions that are traditionally used to reduce general weakness and increase overall vitality. A validated method of high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) was used to determine OTA concentrations in AR samples and AR decoctions. The limit of quantification was 0.35 ng/g; the recovery of the HPLC method for AR samples was 82%; an...
Source: Mycotoxin Research - August 1, 2018 Category: Toxicology Source Type: research
Occurrence of deoxynivalenol and zearalenone in brewing barley grains from Brazil
In this study, the levels of deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) in brewing barley were determined using a LC-MS/MS method. A survey was conducted in 2015 to estimate the mycotoxin levels in these products (n = 76) from four crop regions in Brazil. The results showed high levels of DON and ZEN in the analyzed samples, with contamination levels of 94 and 73.6%, respectively. The mean levels of DON and ZEN ranged from 1700 to 7500 μg/kg and from 300 to 630 μg/kg, respectively. Barley samples from regions 1 and 2 presented higher levels of ZEN and DON, respectively, and those from region 4 presented lower level...
Source: Mycotoxin Research - August 1, 2018 Category: Toxicology Source Type: research
Interactions of zearalenone and its reduced metabolites α-zearalenol and β-zearalenol with serum albumins: species differences, binding sites, and thermodynamics
In this study, the complex formation of ZEN, α-ZEL, and β-ZEL with human (HSA), bovine (BSA), porcine (PSA), and rat serum albumins (RSA) was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy, affinity chromatography, thermodynamic studies, and molecular modeling. Our main observations are as follows: (1) ZEN binds with higher affinity to albumins than α-ZEL and β-ZEL. (2) The low binding affinity of β-ZEL toward albumin may result f rom its different binding position or binding site. (3) The binding constants of the mycotoxin-albumin complexes significantly vary with the species. (4) From the thermodynamic point of view, the...
Source: Mycotoxin Research - July 16, 2018 Category: Toxicology Source Type: research
Gliotoxin penetrates and impairs the integrity of the human blood-brain barrier in vitro
This study investigated the effects of gliotoxin (GTX), a mycotoxin secreted byAspergillus fumigatus, on the BBB using brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We observed that both acute (2 h) and prolonged (24 h) exposure to GTX at the level of 1 μM or higher compromised BMECs monolayer integrity. Notably, acute exposure was sufficient to disrupt the barrier function in iPSC-derived BMECs, resulting in decreased transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) and increased fluoresc ein permeability. Further, our data suggest that such disruption occurred withou...
Source: Mycotoxin Research - July 13, 2018 Category: Toxicology Source Type: research
A reproductive and developmental screening study of the fungal toxin ochratoxin A in Fischer rats
AbstractThe presence of the mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA) in cereal grains is due to the growth of toxigenicPenicillium mold on stored crops. Human exposure to OTA is higher in infants, toddlers, and children than in adolescents and adults, based on exposure assessments of ng OTA consumed/kg body weight/day. Ochratoxin A is nephrotoxic and teratogenic in animals, but its effects on juveniles exposed during the reproduction and development period have not been studied. To address this, Fischer rats were exposed to 0, 0.16, 0.4, 1.0, or 2.5 mg OTA/kg diet throughout breeding, gestation, and lactation and its adverse effects...
Source: Mycotoxin Research - July 4, 2018 Category: Toxicology Source Type: research
Stability of fumonisin B 1 , deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and T-2 toxin during processing of traditional Nigerian beer and spices
AbstractThe stability of theFusarium mycotoxins fumonisin B1, deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin, and zearalenone during processing of Nigerian traditional spices (dawadawa,okpehe, andogiri) and beer (burukutu) using artificially contaminated raw materials was investigated. Results revealed the reduction of these toxins in all the final products. Boiling played a significant role (p < 0.05) inFusarium mycotoxin reduction in the traditional spices. The highest percentage reduction of deoxynivalenol (76%) and zearalenone (74%) was observed duringokpehe processing (boiled for 12 h). Dehulling and fermentation further demonst...
Source: Mycotoxin Research - May 3, 2018 Category: Toxicology Source Type: research
Occurrence of ochratoxin A in Astragalus propinquus root and its transfer to decoction
AbstractThe aim of this study was to conduct a survey assessing (a) the ochratoxin A (OTA) content in different samples ofAstragalus propinquus root (AR), one of the fundamental herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, and (b) the rate of OTA transfer to AR decoctions that are traditionally used to reduce general weakness and increase overall vitality. A validated method of high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) was used to determine OTA concentrations in AR samples and AR decoctions. The limit of quantification was 0.35 ng/g; the recovery of the HPLC method for AR samples was 82%; an...
Source: Mycotoxin Research - April 25, 2018 Category: Toxicology Source Type: research
Feasibility of 3D UV-C treatment to reduce fungal growth and mycotoxin loads on maize and wheat kernels
This study has shown that 3D UV-C treatment is a feasible option for reducingFusarium andPenicillium growth on maize kernels and, at higher doses, decreasing ZEN by ~ 50%. (Source: Mycotoxin Research)
Source: Mycotoxin Research - April 24, 2018 Category: Toxicology Source Type: research
Aflatoxin-lysine adducts in blood serum of the Malawian rural population and aflatoxin contamination in foods (groundnuts, maize) in the corresponding areas
AbstractAflatoxin-lysine (AFB1-lys) adduct levels in blood samples collected from 230 individuals living in three districts of Malawi (Kasungu, Mchinji, and Nkhotakota) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) levels in groundnut and maize samples collected from their respective homesteads were determined using indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IC-ELISA) methods. AFB1-lys adducts were detected in 67% of blood samples, with a mean concentration of 20.5 ± 23.4 pg/mg of albumin. AFB1 was detected in 91% of groundnut samples and in 70% of maize samples, with mean AFB1 levels of 52.4 and 16.3 μg/kg, respectively....
Source: Mycotoxin Research - April 20, 2018 Category: Toxicology Source Type: research
