EmergingFusarium-Mycotoxins Fusaproliferin, Beauvericin, Enniatins, And Moniliformin—A Review

Evaluation of the genotoxicity of Fusarium mycotoxin moniliformin in human peripheral blood lymphocytes

Mycotoxins are fungal secondary metabolites that can be found in contaminated food and feed. There is some evidence to suggest that certain mycotoxins may be mutagenic. Here, we investigate the genotoxicity of the mycotoxin moniliformin (MON) (3-hydroxycyclobut-3-ene-1,2-dione) in human peripheral blood lymphocytes using chromosomal aberration (CA), sister-chromatid exchange (SCE), and micronucleus (MN) analysis. Lymphocyte cultures were treated for 48 h with six different concentrations of MON between 2.5 and 25 microM. CA, SCE, and MN frequencies were significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner compared with the negative control. The mitotic, replication, and cytokinesis-block proliferation indices were not affected by treatment with MON. The results provide evidence to demonstrate that MON can exert cytogenetic effects in human cells in culture.

What about the 'other' Fusarium mycotoxins?

Most Fusarium species are capable of producing mycotoxins that may cause adverse effects on human or animal health. The most commonly studied Fusarium mycotoxins include trichothecenes, zearalenone and fumonisins. However, it seems that nearly all of the most prevalent Fusarium species infecting grains are also capable of producing other toxic metabolites. The existing studies, although exiguous, have clearly demonstrated that other toxic metabolites of Fusarium spp. are also present in our foods and feeds, occasionally at very high levels. It is apparent that since mycotoxins, including these 'other' metabolites, are natural toxins, they cannot be completely eliminated from food and feed chains. However, scientific studies are needed to determine their true significance. Thus, the mechanism and level of toxicity as well as presence and concentration levels will have to be fully clarified. In this paper, we briefly review the prevalence of the dominant Fusarium species contaminating maize and small-grain cereals worldwide, and the current knowledge on the biological activity as well as the natural occurrence of their selected less-known toxic metabolites. Additionally, the significance of these 'other' Fusarium mycotoxins is discussed.