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Al-Ayoubi C, Alonso-Jauregui M, Azqueta A, Vignard J, Mirey G, Rocher O, Puel O, Oswald IP, Vettorazzi A, Soler L. Mutagenicity and genotoxicity assessment of the emerging mycotoxin Versicolorin A, an Aflatoxin B1 precursor. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 335:122276. [PMID: 37517643 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most potent natural carcinogen among mycotoxins. Versicolorin A (VerA) is a precursor of AFB1 biosynthesis and is structurally related to the latter. Although VerA has already been identified as a genotoxin, data on the toxicity of VerA are still scarce, especially at low concentrations. The SOS/umu and miniaturised version of the Ames test in Salmonella Typhimurium strains used in the present study shows that VerA induces point mutations. This effect, like AFB1, depends primarily on metabolic activation of VerA. VerA also induced chromosomal damage in metabolically competent intestinal cells (IPEC-1) detected by the micronucleus assay. Furthermore, results from the standard and enzyme-modified comet assay confirmed the VerA-mediated DNA damage, and we observed that DNA repair pathways were activated upon exposure to VerA, as indicated by the phosphorylation and/or relocation of relevant DNA-repair biomarkers (γH2AX and 53BP1/FANCD2, respectively). In conclusion, VerA induces DNA damage without affecting cell viability at concentrations as low as 0.03 μM, highlighting the danger associated with VerA exposure and calling for more research on the carcinogenicity of this emerging food contaminant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carine Al-Ayoubi
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), University of Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, 31027, Toulouse, France
| | - Maria Alonso-Jauregui
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Research Group MITOX, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Amaya Azqueta
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Research Group MITOX, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Julien Vignard
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), University of Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, 31027, Toulouse, France
| | - Gladys Mirey
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), University of Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, 31027, Toulouse, France
| | - Ophelie Rocher
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), University of Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, 31027, Toulouse, France
| | - Olivier Puel
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), University of Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, 31027, Toulouse, France
| | - Isabelle P Oswald
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), University of Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, 31027, Toulouse, France
| | - Ariane Vettorazzi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Research Group MITOX, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Laura Soler
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), University of Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, 31027, Toulouse, France.
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2
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Maud L, Boyer F, Durrieu V, Bornot J, Lippi Y, Naylies C, Lorber S, Puel O, Mathieu F, Snini SP. Effect of Streptomyces roseolus Cell-Free Supernatants on the Fungal Development, Transcriptome, and Aflatoxin B1 Production of Aspergillus flavus. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:428. [PMID: 37505697 PMCID: PMC10467112 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15070428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Crop contamination by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), an Aspergillus-flavus-produced toxin, is frequently observed in tropical and subtropical regions. This phenomenon is emerging in Europe, most likely as a result of climate change. Alternative methods, such as biocontrol agents (BCAs), are currently being developed to reduce the use of chemicals in the prevention of mycotoxin contamination. Actinobacteria are known to produce many bioactive compounds, and some of them can reduce in vitro AFB1 concentration. In this context, the present study aims to analyze the effect of a cell-free supernatant (CFS) from Streptomyces roseolus culture on the development of A. flavus, as well as on its transcriptome profile using microarray assay and its impact on AFB1 concentration. Results demonstrated that in vitro, the S. roseolus CFS reduced the dry weight and conidiation of A. flavus from 77% and 43%, respectively, and was therefore associated with a reduction in AFB1 concentration reduction to levels under the limit of quantification. The transcriptomic data analysis revealed that 5198 genes were differentially expressed in response to the CFS exposure and among them 5169 were downregulated including most of the genes involved in biosynthetic gene clusters. The aflatoxins' gene cluster was the most downregulated. Other gene clusters, such as the aspergillic acid, aspirochlorine, and ustiloxin B gene clusters, were also downregulated and associated with a variation in their concentration, confirmed by LC-HRMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Maud
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, 31326 Toulouse, France; (L.M.); (F.B.); (J.B.)
| | - Florian Boyer
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, 31326 Toulouse, France; (L.M.); (F.B.); (J.B.)
| | - Vanessa Durrieu
- Laboratoire de Chimie Agro-Industrielle (LCA), Université de Toulouse, INRAE, INPT, 4 Allée Emile Monso, 31030 Toulouse, France;
| | - Julie Bornot
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, 31326 Toulouse, France; (L.M.); (F.B.); (J.B.)
| | - Yannick Lippi
- Toxalim (Research Center in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, EI-Purpan, UPS, 31062 Toulouse, France; (Y.L.); (C.N.); (S.L.); (O.P.)
| | - Claire Naylies
- Toxalim (Research Center in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, EI-Purpan, UPS, 31062 Toulouse, France; (Y.L.); (C.N.); (S.L.); (O.P.)
| | - Sophie Lorber
- Toxalim (Research Center in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, EI-Purpan, UPS, 31062 Toulouse, France; (Y.L.); (C.N.); (S.L.); (O.P.)
| | - Olivier Puel
- Toxalim (Research Center in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, EI-Purpan, UPS, 31062 Toulouse, France; (Y.L.); (C.N.); (S.L.); (O.P.)
| | - Florence Mathieu
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, 31326 Toulouse, France; (L.M.); (F.B.); (J.B.)
| | - Selma P. Snini
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, 31326 Toulouse, France; (L.M.); (F.B.); (J.B.)
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Yang X, Li X, Gao Y, Wang J, Zheng N. Integrated Metabolomics and Lipidomics Analysis Reveals Lipid Metabolic Disorder in NCM460 Cells Caused by Aflatoxin B1 and Aflatoxin M1 Alone and in Combination. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:toxins15040255. [PMID: 37104193 PMCID: PMC10146203 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15040255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) are universally found as environmental pollutants. AFB1 and AFM1 are group 1 human carcinogens. Previous sufficient toxicological data show that they pose a health risk. The intestine is vital for resistance to foreign pollutants. The enterotoxic mechanisms of AFB1 and AFM1 have not been clarified at the metabolism levels. In the present study, cytotoxicity evaluations of AFB1 and AFM1 were conducted in NCM 460 cells by obtaining their half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50). The toxic effects of 2.5 μM AFB1 and AFM1 were determined by comprehensive metabolomics and lipidomics analyses on NCM460 cells. A combination of AFB1 and AFM1 induced more extensive metabolic disturbances in NCM460 cells than either aflatoxin alone. AFB1 exerted a greater effect in the combination group. Metabolomics pathway analysis showed that glycerophospholipid metabolism, fatty acid degradation, and propanoate metabolism were dominant pathways that were interfered with by AFB1, AFM1, and AFB1+AFM1. Those results suggest that attention should be paid to lipid metabolism after AFB1 and AFM1 exposure. Further, lipidomics was used to explore the fluctuation of AFB1 and AFM1 in lipid metabolism. The 34 specific lipids that were differentially induced by AFB1 were mainly attributed to 14 species, of which cardiolipin (CL) and triacylglycerol (TAG) accounted for 41%. AFM1 mainly affected CL and phosphatidylglycerol, approximately 70% based on 11 specific lipids, while 30 specific lipids were found in AFB1+AFM1, mainly reflected in TAG up to 77%. This research found for the first time that the lipid metabolism disorder caused by AFB1 and AFM1 was one of the main causes contributing to enterotoxicity, which could provide new insights into the toxic mechanisms of AFB1 and AFM1 in animals and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Yang
- Key Laboratory of Quality & Safety Control for Milk and Dairy Products of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Dairy Products of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- Milk and Milk Products Inspection Center of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xue Li
- Research and Development Institute, Heilongjiang Feihe Dairy Co., Ltd., Qiqihar 161000, China
| | - Yanan Gao
- Key Laboratory of Quality & Safety Control for Milk and Dairy Products of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Dairy Products of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- Milk and Milk Products Inspection Center of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jiaqi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Quality & Safety Control for Milk and Dairy Products of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Dairy Products of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- Milk and Milk Products Inspection Center of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Nan Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Quality & Safety Control for Milk and Dairy Products of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Dairy Products of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- Milk and Milk Products Inspection Center of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
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4
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You L, Nepovimova E, Valko M, Wu Q, Kuca K. Mycotoxins and cellular senescence: the impact of oxidative stress, hypoxia, and immunosuppression. Arch Toxicol 2023; 97:393-404. [PMID: 36434400 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-022-03423-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Mycotoxins induce oxidative stress, hypoxia, and cause immunosuppressive effects. Moreover, emerging evidence show that mycotoxins have a potential of inducing cellular senescence, which are involved in their immunomodulatory effects. Mycotoxins upregulate the expression of senescence markers γ-H2AX, senescence-associated β-galactosidase, p53, p16, and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) inflammatory factors. Moreover, mycotoxins cause senescence-associated cell cycle arrest by diminishing cyclin D1 and Cdk4 pathways, as well as increasing the expression of p53, p21, and CDK6. Mycotoxins may induce cellular senescence by activating reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative stress. In addition, hypoxia acts as a double-edged sword on cell senescence; it could both act as the stress-induced senescence and also hinder the onset of cellular senescence. The SASP inflammatory factors have the ability to induce an immunosuppressive environment, while mycotoxins directly cause immunosuppression. Therefore, there is a potential relationship between mycotoxins and cellular senescence that synergistically cause immunosuppression. However, most of the current studies have involved the effect of mycotoxins on cell cycle arrest, but only limited in-depth research has been carried out to link the occurrence of this condition (cell cycle arrest) with cellular senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li You
- College of Physical Education and Health, Chongqing College of International Business and Economics, Chongqing, 401520, China
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, China
| | - Eugenie Nepovimova
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, 500 03, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Marian Valko
- Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, 812 37, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Qinghua Wu
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, China.
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, 500 03, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
| | - Kamil Kuca
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, 500 03, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
- Andalusian Research Institute in Data Science and Computational Intelligence (DaSCI), University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
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Verghese M, Wilkinson E, He Y. Role of RNA modifications in carcinogenesis and carcinogen damage response. Mol Carcinog 2023; 62:24-37. [PMID: 35560957 PMCID: PMC9653521 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The field of epitranscriptomics encompasses the study of post-transcriptional RNA modifications and their regulatory enzymes. Among the numerous RNA modifications, N6 -methyladenosine (m6 A) has been identified as the most common internal modification of messenger RNA (mRNA). Although m6 A modifications were first discovered in the 1970s, advances in technology have revived interest in this field, driving an abundance of research into the role of RNA modifications in various biological processes, including cancer. As analogs to epigenetic modifications, RNA modifications also play an important role in carcinogenesis by regulating gene expression post-transcriptionally. A growing body of evidence suggests that carcinogens can modulate RNA modifications to alter the expression of oncogenes or tumor suppressors during cellular transformation. Additionally, the expression and activity of the enzymes that regulate RNA modifications can be dysregulated and contribute to carcinogenesis, making these enzymes promising targets of drug discovery. Here we summarize the roles of RNA modifications during carcinogenesis induced by exposure to various environmental carcinogens, with a main focus on the roles of the most widely studied m6 A mRNA methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Verghese
- Department of Medicine, Section of DermatologyUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
- Pritzker School of MedicineUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Emma Wilkinson
- Department of Medicine, Section of DermatologyUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
- Committee on Cancer BiologyUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Yu‐Ying He
- Department of Medicine, Section of DermatologyUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
- Committee on Cancer BiologyUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
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6
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Lin H, Jia B, Wu A. Cytotoxicities of Co-occurring alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether and tenuazonic acid on human gastric epithelial cells. Food Chem Toxicol 2022; 171:113524. [PMID: 36442738 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2022.113524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) and tenuazonic acid (TeA) are the three major Alternaria toxin contaminants in food. In the present study, we conducted their single and combined toxicity analyses using human gastric epithelial cell line (GES-1) that was first exposed to the toxins when they entered the human body. By comparing the cytotoxicity IC50, we found that compared to several other mycotoxins with limit standards there was cytotoxicity DON > OTA > AME > AOH > ZEN > TeA. Further, we obtained combination index (CI)-isobologram equation by the Chou-Talalay method according to a toxin ratio of 1:1:2 and carried out the combined toxicity analysis of the three binary and ternary compounds, and the results showed that AOH + AME + TeA showed synergistic toxic effects. Based on the co-occurring status, we also carried out the combined toxicity analysis of AME and AOH at different ratios and found antagonistic effects at low cytotoxic concentrations as well as synergistic and additive effects at high concentrations. Also, we found that all three and their combinations caused apoptosis, activation of caspase-3 cleavage, activation of DNA damage pathways ATR-Chk1-P53 and ATM-Chk2-P53. In conclusion, we used GES-1 cells to inform the risk of coaction of AOH, AME, and TeA in dietary exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huikang Lin
- SIBS-UGENT-SJTU Joint Laboratory of Mycotoxin Research, CAS Key Laboratory of Nutrition, Metabolism and Food Safety, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Bingxuan Jia
- SIBS-UGENT-SJTU Joint Laboratory of Mycotoxin Research, CAS Key Laboratory of Nutrition, Metabolism and Food Safety, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Aibo Wu
- SIBS-UGENT-SJTU Joint Laboratory of Mycotoxin Research, CAS Key Laboratory of Nutrition, Metabolism and Food Safety, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
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7
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Metabolism of versicolorin A, a genotoxic precursor of aflatoxin B1: Characterization of metabolites using in vitro production of standards. Food Chem Toxicol 2022; 167:113272. [PMID: 35803361 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2022.113272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The toxicity of mycotoxins containing bisfuranoid structures such as aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) depends largely on biotransformation processes. While the genotoxicity and mutagenicity of several bisfuranoid mycotoxins including AFB1 and sterigmatocystin have been linked to in vivo bioactivation of these molecules into reactive epoxide forms, the metabolites of genotoxic and mutagenic AFB1 precursor versicolorin A (VerA) have not yet been characterized. Because this molecule is not available commercially, our strategy was to produce a library of metabolites derived from the biotransformation of in-house purified VerA, following incubation with human liver S9 fractions, in presence of appropriate cofactors. The resulting chromatographic and mass-spectrometric data were used to identify VerA metabolites produced by intestinal cell lines as well as intestinal and liver tissues exposed ex vivo. In this way, we obtained a panel of metabolites suggesting the involvement of phase I (M + O) and phase II (glucuronide and sulfate metabolites) enzymes, the latter of which is implicated in the detoxification process. This first qualitative description of the metabolization products of VerA suggests bioactivation of the molecule into an epoxide form and provides qualitative analytic data to further conduct a precise metabolism study of VerA required for the risk assessment of this emerging mycotoxin.
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Gützkow KL, Al Ayoubi C, Vasco LS, Rohn S, Maul R. Analysis of ochratoxin A, aflatoxin B1 and its biosynthetic precursors in cheese – Method development and market sample screening. Food Control 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2022.109241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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9
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Wang X, Zhao Y, Qi X, Zhao T, Wang X, Ma F, Zhang L, Zhang Q, Li P. Quantitative analysis of metabolites in the aflatoxin biosynthesis pathway for early warning of aflatoxin contamination by UHPLC-HRMS combined with QAMS. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 431:128531. [PMID: 35220124 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Aflatoxins seriously threaten human health and food safety, and early warning benefits the reasonable use of control measures to reduce aflatoxin contamination. In this study, a novel method for quantifying aflatoxins and their precursors in the aflatoxin biosynthesis pathway was developed by combining ultra-high performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) with quantitative analysis of multi-components by a single marker (QAMS). The stability of the relative correction factor (RCF) of QAMS was then systematically evaluated. The validation results showed that the relative deviation (RD) between QAMS and the external standard method (ESM) was less than 11.7%, indicating that the established QAMS method could replace ESM without the use of reference standards. This method was successfully employed to compare the time-course changes of metabolites in the aflatoxin biosynthesis pathway of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasitica. As a result, the precursors of (1'S,5'R)-5'-Hydroxyaverantin (HAVN) and Versicolorin B (VerB) could be used as potential markers for the early warning of aflatoxin contamination. This study provided a quantitative method of aflatoxins and their precursors in the biosynthesis pathway, and may serve as a reference for the extension of quantitative studies on other metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Wang
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Ya Zhao
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Xin Qi
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430062, China; Quality Inspection and Test Center for Oilseed Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Tiantian Zhao
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430062, China; Quality Inspection and Test Center for Oilseed Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Xiupin Wang
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430062, China; Quality Inspection and Test Center for Oilseed Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Fei Ma
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430062, China; Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430062, China; Quality Inspection and Test Center for Oilseed Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Liangxiao Zhang
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430062, China; Quality Inspection and Test Center for Oilseed Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430062, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Qi Zhang
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430062, China; Quality Inspection and Test Center for Oilseed Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430062, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Peiwu Li
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430062, China; Quality Inspection and Test Center for Oilseed Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430062, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China.
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10
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Schamann A, Schmidt-Heydt M, Geisen R, Kulling SE, Soukup ST. Formation of B- and M-group aflatoxins and precursors by Aspergillus flavus on maize and its implication for food safety. Mycotoxin Res 2022; 38:79-92. [PMID: 35288866 PMCID: PMC9038868 DOI: 10.1007/s12550-022-00452-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Aflatoxins count to the most toxic known mycotoxins and are a threat to food safety especially in regions with a warm and humid climate. Contaminated food reaches consumers globally due to international trade, leading to stringent regulatory limits of aflatoxins in food. While the formation of aflatoxin (AF) B1 by the filamentous fungus Aspergillus flavus is well investigated, less is known about the formation kinetics of its precursors and further aflatoxins. In this study, autoclaved maize kernels were inoculated with A. flavus and incubated at 25 °C for up to 10 days. Aflatoxins and precursors were analyzed by a validated UHPLC-MS method. Additional to AFB1 and AFB2, AFM1 and AFM2 were detected, confirming the ability of the formation of M-group aflatoxins on cereals by A. flavus. The measured relative levels of AFB2, AFM1, and AFM2 on maize compared to the level of AFB1 (mean of days 5, 7, and 10 of incubation) were 3.3%, 1.5%, and 0.2%, respectively. The occurrence and kinetics of the measured aflatoxins and their precursors sterigmatocystin, O-methylsterigmatocystin, 11-hydroxy-O-methylsterigmatocystin, aspertoxin, and 11-hydroxyaspertoxin (group 1) as well as of dihydrosterigmatocystin and dihydro-O-methylsterigmatocystin (group 2) supported the so far postulated biosynthetic pathway. Remarkable high levels of O-methylsterigmatocystin and aspertoxin (17.4% and 4.9% compared to AFB1) were found, raising the question about the toxicological relevance of these intermediates. In conclusion, based on the study results, the monitoring of O-methylsterigmatocystin and aspertoxin as well as M-group aflatoxins in food is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Schamann
- Department of Safety and Quality of Fruit and Vegetables, Max Rubner-Institut (MRI) - Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Markus Schmidt-Heydt
- Department of Safety and Quality of Fruit and Vegetables, Max Rubner-Institut (MRI) - Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Rolf Geisen
- Department of Safety and Quality of Fruit and Vegetables, Max Rubner-Institut (MRI) - Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Sabine E Kulling
- Department of Safety and Quality of Fruit and Vegetables, Max Rubner-Institut (MRI) - Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Sebastian T Soukup
- Department of Safety and Quality of Fruit and Vegetables, Max Rubner-Institut (MRI) - Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food, Karlsruhe, Germany.
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Xie H, Wang X, van der Hooft JJ, Medema MH, Chen ZY, Yue X, Zhang Q, Li P. Fungi population metabolomics and molecular network study reveal novel biomarkers for early detection of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 424:127173. [PMID: 34597924 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mycotoxins threaten global food safety, public health and cause huge socioeconomic losses. Early detection is an effective preventive strategy, yet efficient biomarkers for early detection of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species are lacking. Here, we proposed to use untargeted metabolomics and machine learning to mine biomarkers of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species. We systematically delineated metabolic differences across 568 extensive field sampling A. flavus and performed biomarker analysis. Versicolorin B, 11-hydroxy-O-methylsterigmatocystin et.al metabolites shown a high correlation (from 0.71 to 0.95) with strains aflatoxin-producing capacity. Molecular networking analysis deciphered the connection of aflatoxins and biomarkers as well as potential emerging mycotoxins. We then developed a model using the biomarkers as variables to discern aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species with 97.8% accuracy. A validation dataset and metabolome from other 16 fungal isolates confirmed the robustness and specificity of these biomarkers. We further demonstrated the solution feasibility in agricultural products by early detection of biomarkers, which predicted aflatoxin contamination risk 35-47 days in advance. A developed operable decision rule by the XGBoost algorithm help regulators to intuitively assess the risk prioritization with 87.2% accuracy. Our research provides novel insights into global food safety risk assessment which will be crucial for early prevention and control of mycotoxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huali Xie
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430061, China; Key laboratory of Detection for Aflatoxins, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China; Laboratory of Risk Assessment for Oilseeds Products (Wuhan), Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430061, China; Bioinformatics Group, Wageningen University, 6708PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Xiupin Wang
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430061, China; Laboratory of Risk Assessment for Oilseeds Products (Wuhan), Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430061, China; Quality Inspection and Test Center for Oilseeds Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430061, China
| | | | - Marnix H Medema
- Bioinformatics Group, Wageningen University, 6708PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Zhi-Yuan Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Xiaofeng Yue
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430061, China; Laboratory of Risk Assessment for Oilseeds Products (Wuhan), Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430061, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430061, China; Key laboratory of Detection for Aflatoxins, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China; Laboratory of Risk Assessment for Oilseeds Products (Wuhan), Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430061, China; Quality Inspection and Test Center for Oilseeds Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430061, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China.
| | - Peiwu Li
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430061, China; Key laboratory of Detection for Aflatoxins, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China; Laboratory of Risk Assessment for Oilseeds Products (Wuhan), Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430061, China; Quality Inspection and Test Center for Oilseeds Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430061, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China.
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12
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In vitro and in vivo evaluation of AFB1 and OTA-toxicity through immunofluorescence and flow cytometry techniques: A systematic review. Food Chem Toxicol 2021; 160:112798. [PMID: 34973406 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2021.112798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Due to the globalization, mycotoxins have been considered a major risk to human health being the main contaminants of foodstuffs. Among them, AFB1 and OTA are the most toxic and studied. Therefore, the goal of this review is to deepen the knowledge about the toxicological effects that AFB1 and OTA can induce on human health by using flow cytometry and immunofluorescence techniques in vitro and in vivo models. The examination of the selected reports shows that the majority of them are focused on immunotoxicity while the rest are concerned about nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, gastrointestinal toxicity, neurotoxicity, embryotoxicity, reproductive system, breast, esophageal and lung toxicity. In relation to immunofluorescence analysis, biological processes related to AFB1- and OTA-toxicity were evaluated such as inflammation, neuronal differentiation, DNA damage, oxidative stress and cell death. In flow cytometry analysis, a wide range of assays have been performed across the reviewed studies being apoptosis assay, cell cycle analysis and intracellular ROS measurement the most employed. Although, the toxic effects of AFB1 and OTA have been reported, further research is needed to clarify AFB1 and OTA-mechanism of action on human health.
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13
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Christiansen JV, Isbrandt T, Petersen C, Sondergaard TE, Nielsen MR, Pedersen TB, Sørensen JL, Larsen TO, Frisvad JC. Fungal quinones: diversity, producers, and applications of quinones from Aspergillus, Penicillium, Talaromyces, Fusarium, and Arthrinium. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:8157-8193. [PMID: 34625822 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11597-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Quinones represent an important group of highly structurally diverse, mainly polyketide-derived secondary metabolites widely distributed among filamentous fungi. Many quinones have been reported to have important biological functions such as inhibition of bacteria or repression of the immune response in insects. Other quinones, such as ubiquinones are known to be essential molecules in cellular respiration, and many quinones are known to protect their producing organisms from exposure to sunlight. Most recently, quinones have also attracted a lot of industrial interest since their electron-donating and -accepting properties make them good candidates as electrolytes in redox flow batteries, like their often highly conjugated double bond systems make them attractive as pigments. On an industrial level, quinones are mainly synthesized from raw components in coal tar. However, the possibility of producing quinones by fungal cultivation has great prospects since fungi can often be grown in industrially scaled bioreactors, producing valuable metabolites on cheap substrates. In order to give a better overview of the secondary metabolite quinones produced by and shared between various fungi, mainly belonging to the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Talaromyces, Fusarium, and Arthrinium, this review categorizes quinones into families such as emodins, fumigatins, sorbicillinoids, yanuthones, and xanthomegnins, depending on structural similarities and information about the biosynthetic pathway from which they are derived, whenever applicable. The production of these quinone families is compared between the different genera, based on recently revised taxonomy. KEY POINTS: • Quinones represent an important group of secondary metabolites widely distributed in important fungal genera such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Talaromyces, Fusarium, and Arthrinium. • Quinones are of industrial interest and can be used in pharmacology, as colorants and pigments, and as electrolytes in redox flow batteries. • Quinones are grouped into families and compared between genera according to the revised taxonomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- J V Christiansen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - T Isbrandt
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - C Petersen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - T E Sondergaard
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - M R Nielsen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, 6700, Esbjerg, Denmark
| | - T B Pedersen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, 6700, Esbjerg, Denmark
| | - J L Sørensen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, 6700, Esbjerg, Denmark
| | - T O Larsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - J C Frisvad
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
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14
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Versicolorin A enhances the genotoxicity of aflatoxin B1 in human liver cells by inducing the transactivation of the Ah-receptor. Food Chem Toxicol 2021; 153:112258. [PMID: 33984424 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2021.112258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Aflatoxins are a group of mycotoxins that have major adverse effects on human health. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most important aflatoxin and a potent carcinogen once converted into a DNA-reactive form by cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP450). AFB1 biosynthesis involves the formation of Versicolorin A (VerA) which shares structural similarities with AFB1 and can be found in contaminated commodities, often co-occurring with AFB1. This study investigated and compared the toxicity of VerA and AFB1, alone or in combination, in HepG2 human liver cells. Our results show that both toxins have similar cytotoxic effects and are genotoxic although, unlike AFB1, the main genotoxic mechanism of VerA does not involve the formation of DNA double-strand breaks. Additionally, we show that VerA activates the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and significantly induce the expression of the CYP450-1A1 (CYP1A1) while AFB1 did not induce AhR-dependent CYP1A1 activation. Combination of VerA with AFB1 resulted in enhanced genotoxic effects, suggesting that AhR-activation by VerA influences AFB1 genotoxicity by promoting its bioactivation by CYP450s to a highly DNA-reactive metabolite. Our results emphasize the need for expanding the toxicological knowledge regarding mycotoxin biosynthetic precursors to identify those who may pose, directly or indirectly, a threat to human health.
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Jakšić D, Sertić M, Kifer D, Kocsubè S, Mornar Turk A, Nigović B, Šarkanj B, Krska R, Sulyok M, Šegvić Klarić M. Fungi and their secondary metabolites in water-damaged indoors after a major flood event in eastern Croatia. INDOOR AIR 2021; 31:730-744. [PMID: 33314413 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In winter and summer of 2016 and 2017, airborne fungi and house dust were collected in indoors of the village Gunja, which had been flooded, and the control village Gornji Stupnik (Croatia) in order to explore variations of fungal indoor levels, particularly Aspergilli section Nidulantes series Versicolores, as well as fungal metabolites in dust. Levels of airborne Aspergilli (Versicolores) were three times as high in winter and summer in Gunja than in the control village, while dustborne isolates were equally present in both locations. Sequencing of the calmodulin gene region revealed that among Aspergilli (Versicolores), A. jensenii and A. creber were dominant and together with A. puulaauensis, A. tennesseensis and A. venenatus produced sterigmatocystin and 5-methoxysterigmatocystin (HPLC coupled with mass spectrometry); A. amoenus, A. fructus, A. griseoaurantiacus, A. pepii, and A. protuberus produced sterigmatocystin but not 5-methoxysterigmatocystin; A. sydowii did not produce any of these toxins. A total of 75 metabolites related to Penicillium (29), Aspergillus (22), Fusarium (10), Alternaria (5), Stachybotrys (2), and other fungi (7) were detected in dust by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The majority of metabolites including sterigmatocystin and 5-methoxysterigmatocystin exhibited a higher prevalence in winter in Gunja.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Jakšić
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Miranda Sertić
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Domagoj Kifer
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Sandor Kocsubè
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ana Mornar Turk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Biljana Nigović
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Bojan Šarkanj
- Department of Food Technology, University North, Koprivnica, Croatia
| | - Rudolf Krska
- Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Tulln, Austria
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Michael Sulyok
- Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Tulln, Austria
| | - Maja Šegvić Klarić
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
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Leggieri MC, Toscano P, Battilani P. Predicted Aflatoxin B 1 Increase in Europe Due to Climate Change: Actions and Reactions at Global Level. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:292. [PMID: 33924246 PMCID: PMC8074758 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13040292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change (CC) is predicted to increase the risk of aflatoxin (AF) contamination in maize, as highlighted by a project supported by EFSA in 2009. We performed a comprehensive literature search using the Scopus search engine to extract peer-reviewed studies citing this study. A total of 224 papers were identified after step I filtering (187 + 37), while step II filtering identified 25 of these papers for quantitative analysis. The unselected papers (199) were categorized as "actions" because they provided a sounding board for the expected impact of CC on AFB1 contamination, without adding new data on the topic. The remaining papers were considered as "reactions" of the scientific community because they went a step further in their data and ideas. Interesting statements taken from the "reactions" could be summarized with the following keywords: Chain and multi-actor approach, intersectoral and multidisciplinary, resilience, human and animal health, and global vision. In addition, fields meriting increased research efforts were summarized as the improvement of predictive modeling; extension to different crops and geographic areas; and the impact of CC on fungi and mycotoxin co-occurrence, both in crops and their value chains, up to consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Camardo Leggieri
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production (DI.PRO.VE.S.), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy;
| | - Piero Toscano
- IBE-CNR, Institute of BioEconomy-National Research Council, Via Giovanni Caproni 8, 50145 Florence, Italy;
| | - Paola Battilani
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production (DI.PRO.VE.S.), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy;
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17
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Aflatoxin Biosynthesis and Genetic Regulation: A Review. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12030150. [PMID: 32121226 PMCID: PMC7150809 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12030150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of fungal species evolved radically with the development of molecular techniques and produced new evidence to understand specific fungal mechanisms such as the production of toxic secondary metabolites. Taking advantage of these technologies to improve food safety, the molecular study of toxinogenic species can help elucidate the mechanisms underlying toxin production and enable the development of new effective strategies to control fungal toxicity. Numerous studies have been made on genes involved in aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production, one of the most hazardous carcinogenic toxins for humans and animals. The current review presents the roles of these different genes and their possible impact on AFB1 production. We focus on the toxinogenic strains Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, primary contaminants and major producers of AFB1 in crops. However, genetic reports on A. nidulans are also included because of the capacity of this fungus to produce sterigmatocystin, the penultimate stable metabolite during AFB1 production. The aim of this review is to provide a general overview of the AFB1 enzymatic biosynthesis pathway and its link with the genes belonging to the AFB1 cluster. It also aims to illustrate the role of global environmental factors on aflatoxin production and the recent data that demonstrate an interconnection between genes regulated by these environmental signals and aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway.
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