Mycotoxin Research最新文献

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi with harmful effects such as carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, nephrotoxicity, and hepatotoxicity. They cause widespread contamination of plant products such as crops, food, and feed, posing serious threats to the life and health of human beings and animals. It has been found that many traditionally synthesized and natural compounds are capable of inhibiting the growth of fungi and their secondary metabolite production. Natural compounds have attracted much attention due to their safety, environmental, and health friendly features. In this paper, compounds of plant origin with inhibitory effects on ochratoxins, aflatoxins, Fusarium toxins, and Alternaria toxins, including cinnamaldehyde, citral, magnolol, eugenol, pterostilbene, curcumin, and phenolic acid, are reviewed, and the inhibitory mechanisms of different compounds on the toxin production of fungi are also elucidated, with the aim of providing application references to reduce the contamination of fungal toxins, thus safeguarding the health of human beings and animals.

Yogurt, a milk-derived product, is susceptible to mycotoxin contamination. While various methods have been developed for the analysis of dairy products, only a few have been specifically validated for yogurt. In addition, these methods are primarily focus on detecting aflatoxins and zearalenone. This study aimed to conduct a preliminary investigation into the presence of regulated, emerging, and modified mycotoxins in natural and oat yogurts available in the Spanish market. For this, a QuEChERS-based extraction method was optimized and then validated to detect and quantify 32 mycotoxins using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The method was in-house validated for the analysis of natural and oat yogurt in terms of linearity, matrix effect, sensitivity, accuracy, and precision. Satisfactory performance characteristics were achieved; for most of the analytes, LOQs were lower than 2 ng/g, and recoveries ranged from 60 to 110% with a precision, expressed as the relative standard deviation of the recovery, lower than 15%. Subsequently, the validated method was applied to analyze commercial yogurt samples, revealing a notable incidence of beauvericin and enniatins, with some analogues found in up to 100% of the samples. Alternariol methyl ether was also frequently found, appearing in 50% of the samples. Additionally, the study identified regulated toxins such as fumonisins, ochratoxin A , and HT-2 toxin. These results provide new incidence data in yogurt, raising concerns about potential health risks for consumers.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is among the most potent genotoxic and carcinogenic mycotoxins and is a major source of distress for the growing poultry sector. On the other hand, distillery yeast sludge or distillery sludge (DS) is a byproduct of molasses-based industries. It is often treated as a waste despite containing abundant nutrients particularly protein, basic amino acids, and vitamins along with other macro and micronutrients. This study was designed to investigate the oxidative stress and immunological alterations induced by AFB1 and their amelioration by dietary supplementation with DS. For this purpose, 360 newly hatched broiler chicks were randomly divided into twelve groups (30 birds each) and fed different combinations of AFB1 (100, 200, or 600 µg/kg) and DS (5 or 10 g/kg) for 42 days. The parameters under consideration were body weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR), relative organ weights, histopathological examination of different visceral organs, total antioxidant capacity, antibody response to intravenous injection of sheep red blood cells, in situ lymphoproliferative response to phytohemagglutinin-P, and phagocytic potential through a carbon clearance assay system. The results of this study established that DS supplementation ameliorated AFB1-associated oxidative stress and ameliorated toxicopathological and immunological anomalies in groups given AFB1 at 100 µg/kg and 200 µg/kg; however, little to no relief was observed in birds fed AFB1 at 600 µg/kg. The determination of the actual ratio of the AFB1 to the DS for substantiating the ameliorating effects requires further investigation.

Citrinin (CIT) is a nephrotoxic mycotoxin, produced by several species of Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Monascus. The foodstuffs most frequently contaminated with CIT include cereals, cereal products, and red yeast rice. Studies on the occurrence of CIT in food have shown that the CIT concentrations in processed cereal-based products are generally lower than in unprocessed industry cereal samples. One possible explanation is the reaction of CIT with major food components such as carbohydrates or proteins to form modified CIT. Such modified forms of CIT are then hidden from conventional analyses, but it is possible that they are converted back into the parent mycotoxin during digestion. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate reactions of CIT with food matrix during thermal processes and to gain a deeper understanding of the degradation of CIT during food processing. In this study, we could demonstrate that CIT reacts with amino compounds such as proteins, under typical food processing conditions, leading to modified forms of CIT.

Beauvericin, a Fusarium mycotoxin commonly found in feeds, particularly cereals worldwide, exhibits a wide array of biofunction. It exhibits anticancer characteristics in addition to its antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial capabilities against gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms. The mechanism underlying most of beauvericin’s properties lies in its ionophoric activity. By facilitating calcium (Ca²⁺) flow from the extracellular space as well as its release from intracellular reservoirs, beauvericin increases intracellular free Ca²⁺. This elevation in Ca²⁺ levels leads to detrimental effects on mitochondria and oxidative stress, ultimately resulting in apoptosis and cell death. Studies on various cancer cell lines have shown that beauvericin induces apoptosis upon exposure. Moreover, besides its cytotoxic effects, beauvericin also inhibits cancer growth and progression by exerting anti-angiogenic and anti-migratory effects on cancer cells. Additionally, beauvericin possesses immunomodulatory properties, albeit less explored. Recent research indicates its potential to enhance the maturation and activation of dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells, both directly through its interaction with Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and indirectly by increasing intracellular Ca²⁺ levels. Hence, beauvericin could serve as an adjuvant in chemoimmunotherapy regimens to enhance treatment outcomes. Given these diverse properties, beauvericin emerges as an intriguing candidate for developing effective cancer treatments. This review explores the cellular signaling pathways involved in its anticancer effects.

This study investigated the occurrence and distribution of multiple mycotoxins (aflatoxin B₁, B₂, G₁, G₂, fumonisins B₁, B₂, ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), and citrinin (CIT)) in cassava products and as assessed the potential risk of aflatoxin B1 (AFB₁) exposure among cassava consumers. A total of 192 samples of cassava products (96 flour and 96 chips, each with 48 samples from farmer and 48 from wholesaler) were analysed using LC/MS–MS. All positive samples irrespective of their origin (flour or chips) exhibited AFB₁ levels exceeding the EU regulatory threshold of 5 µg/kg. The sum of fumonisins (FB₁ + FB₂), ZEN, and DON were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in cassava flour (14.3 µg/kg; 3.71 µg/kg; 25.1 µg/kg) compared to chips (6.54 µg/kg; 1.25 µg/kg; 0.25 µg/kg), respectively. Aflatoxins G₂ was not detected in any of 192 samples. Cassava flour samples from farmers exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) higher mean concentrations of AFB₁ (27.1 µg/kg), total aflatoxins (78.2 µg/kg), and ochratoxin A (79.6 µg/kg) in contrast to wholesalers, whose mean levels were notably lower at 8.91, 5.79 µg/kg, and 2.44 µg/kg, respectively, pointing the likely critical source of mycotoxin contamination. Cassava consumers in Northern Uganda are at a higher risk, with an estimated 2.06 cancer cases per 100,000 individuals per year compared to those in Eastern Uganda at 0.25. This study underscores the urgent need for interventions to manage aflatoxins in cassava flour, particularly at farm level in Northern Uganda. It accentuates a shift market to household-level sampling and the need for analytical methods targeting multiple mycotoxins.

Mycotoxins, secondary metabolites produced by various fungi, pose a significant threat to food and feed safety worldwide due to their toxic effects on human and animal health. Traditional methods of mycotoxin management often involve chemical treatments, which may raise concerns about residual toxicity and environmental impact. In recent years, there has been growing interest in exploring natural alternatives for preventing mycotoxin contamination and detoxification. This review provides an overview of the current research on the use of natural products for mitigating mycotoxin risks in food and feed. It encompasses a wide range of natural sources, including plant-derived compounds, microbial agents, and enzymatic control. The mechanisms underlying the efficacy of these natural products in inhibiting mycotoxin synthesis, adsorbing mycotoxins, or enhancing detoxification processes are discussed. Challenges and future directions in the development and application of natural products for mycotoxin management are also addressed. Overall, this review highlights the promising role of natural products as sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives for combating mycotoxin contamination in the food and feed supply chain.

Globally, maize (Zea mays L.) is deemed an important cereal that serves as a staple food and feed for humans and animals, respectively. Across the East African Community, maize is the staple food responsible for providing over one-third of calories in diets. Ideally, stored maize functions as man-made grain ecosystems, with nutritive quality changes influenced predominantly by chemical, biological, and physical factors. Food spoilage and fungal contamination are convergent reasons that contribute to the exacerbation of mycotoxins prevalence, particularly when storage conditions have deteriorated. In Kenya, aflatoxins are known to be endemic with the 2004 acute aflatoxicosis outbreak being described as one of the most ravaging epidemics in the history of human mycotoxin poisoning. In Tanzania, the worst aflatoxin outbreak occurred in 2016 with case fatalities reaching 50%. Similar cases of aflatoxicoses have also been reported in Uganda, scenarios that depict the severity of mycotoxin contamination across this region. Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan seemingly have minimal occurrences and fatalities of aflatoxicoses and aflatoxin contamination. Low diet diversity tends to aggravate human exposure to aflatoxins since maize, as a dietetic staple, is highly aflatoxin-prone. In light of this, it becomes imperative to formulate and develop workable control frameworks that can be embraced in minimizing aflatoxin contamination throughout the food chain. This review evaluates the scope and magnitude of aflatoxin contamination in post-harvest maize and climate susceptibility within an East African Community context. The paper also treats the potential green control strategies against Aspergillus spoilage including biocontrol-prophylactic handling for better and durable maize production.

Moniliformin (MON) is a widespread emerging mycotoxin often occurring in maize at significant levels. Few published studies investigated MON redistribution in maize-derived products for human consumption; to better understand this issue, 5 maize lots with different levels of MON contamination were processed following an industrial milling process to evaluate the redistribution of the mycotoxin in final products (grits), by-products destined to feed (bran and flour) and cleaning waste. MON was quantified by LC–MS/MS after the purification step through the SPE column; moreover, a confirmatory method based on MON derivatization with 1,2-diamino-4,5-dichlorobenzene was developed. Relevant MON reduction was obtained after sieve cleaning, scourer process, and optical sorting, achieving a decrement of the concentration level close to 70%. The following other milling procedures showed a limited reduction from cleaned maize to small and large grits; considering the entire industrial process, the reduction percentage of MON contamination in the final products was 80.9 ± 9.3% and 81.0 ± 6.7% for small and large grits, respectively. The flaking process showed a very limited reduction of MON, close to 10%. Considering the widespread of MON occurrence in maize, the study highlights the importance of cleaning steps to achieve a low risk of exposure for the consumer.

To date, the changes in maternal metabolic response associated with prenatal aflatoxin exposure remain largely unknown. This study investigated the effects of prenatal aflatoxin exposure on the maternal serum metabolome in rural Ethiopia. A total of 309 pregnant women were enrolled prospectively, and their serum aflatoxin concentrations were measured using targeted liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Serum metabolic fingerprints were obtained using laser-assisted rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometry (LA-REIMS), followed by combination of univariate and multivariate statistical modelling to evaluate changes in circulating metabolic features between aflatoxin-exposed and unexposed mothers and to select discriminatory metabolic features. The analysis revealed that 81.8% of women were exposed to aflatoxins, with a median concentration of 12.9 pg/mg albumin. The orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) regression model demonstrated significant disparities in the serum metabolome when comparing Ethiopian pregnant women with low vs high aflatoxin exposure. Thirty-two differentially expressed metabolic features were identified, affecting aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis pathway. Several discriminatory metabolites have been identified, including glutamine, tryptophan, tyrosine, carnosine, and 1-methylnicotinamide. In conclusion, our findings indicate that aflatoxin exposure during pregnancy have shown disparities in the maternal serum metabolome, primarily affecting protein synthesis. Further research is needed to identify specific metabolite biomarkers and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.