Toxicological effects of fumonisin B1 in combination with other Fusarium toxins

Aflatoxins and fumonisins in conventional and organic corn: a comprehensive review

This review analyzes the occurrence and co-exposure of aflatoxins and fumonisins in conventional and organic corn, and compares the vulnerability to contamination of both. The risks of fungal contamination in corn are real, mainly by the genera Aspergillus and Fusarium, producers of aflatoxins and fumonisins, respectively. Aflatoxins, especially AFB1, are related to a high incidence of liver cancer, and the International Agency Research of Cancer (IARC) classified them in group 1A 'carcinogenic to humans'. The occurrence in conventional corn is reported in many countries, including at higher levels than those established by legislation. IARC classified fumonisins in group 2B 'possibly carcinogenic to humans' due to their link with incidence of esophageal cancer. However, comparing corn and organic and conventional by-products from different regions, different results are observed. The co-occurrence of both mycotoxins is a worldwide problem; nevertheless, there is little data on the comparison of the co-exposure of these mycotoxins in corn and derivatives between both systems. It was found that the agricultural system is not a decisive factor in the final contamination, indicating the necessity of effective strategies to reduce contamination and co-exposure at levels that do not pose health risks.

Synergistic toxicity induced by the co-exposure of tenuazonic acid and patulin in Caenorhabditis elegans: Daf-16 plays an important regulatory role

Tenuazonic acid (TeA) and patulin (PAT), as the naturally occurring mycotoxins with various toxic effects, are often detected in environment and food chain, has attracted more and more attention due to their widespread and high contaminations as well as the coexistence, which leads to potential human and animals' risks. However, their combined toxicity has not been reported yet. In our study, C. elegans was used to evaluate the type of combined toxicity caused by TeA+PAT and its related mechanisms. The results showed that TeA and PAT can induce synergistic toxic effects based on Combination Index (CI) evaluation model (Chou-Talalay method), that is, the body length, brood size as well as the levels of ROS, CAT and ATP were significantly affected in TeA+PAT-treated group compared with those in TeA- or PAT-treated group. Besides, the expressions of oxidative (daf-2, daf-16, cyp-35a2, ctl-1, ctl-3, pmk-1, jnk-1, skn-1) and intestinal (fat-5, pod-2, egl-8, pkc-3, ajm-1, nhx-2) stress-related genes were disrupted, among which daf-16 displayed the most significant alternation. Further study on daf-16 gene defective C. elegans showed that the damages to the mutant nematodes were significantly attenuated. Since daf-2, daf-16, jnk-1 and pmk-1 are evolutionarily conserved, our findings could hint synergistic toxic effects of TeA+PAT on higher organisms.

Nutritional Values and Bio-Functional Properties of Fungal Proteins: Applications in Foods as a Sustainable Source

From the preparation of bread, cheese, beer, and condiments to vegetarian meat products, fungi play a leading role in the food fermentation industry. With the shortage of global protein resources and the decrease in cultivated land, fungal protein has received much attention for its sustainability. Fungi are high in protein, rich in amino acids, low in fat, and almost cholesterol-free. These properties mean they could be used as a promising supplement for animal and plant proteins. The selection of strains and the fermentation process dominate the flavor and quality of fungal-protein-based products. In terms of function, fungal proteins exhibit better digestive properties, can regulate blood lipid and cholesterol levels, improve immunity, and promote gut health. However, consumer acceptance of fungal proteins is low due to their flavor and safety. Thus, this review puts forward prospects in terms of these issues.

Individual and combined effects of deoxynivalenol (DON) with other Fusarium mycotoxins on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) growth performance and health

This study assessed whether the toxicological effects of deoxynivalenol (DON) produced by Fusarium graminearum in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are altered by the co-exposure to a mixture of toxins produced by Fusarium verticillioides (FUmix). This FUmix contained fusaric acid and fumonisin B1, B2 and B3. Four diets were formulated according to a 2 × 2 factorial design: CON-CON; CON-FUmix; DON-CON; and DON-FUmix. Diets with and without DON contained on average 2700 and 0 µg/kg feed, respectively. The sum of the analysed FUmix toxins was 12,700 and 100 µg/kg feed in the diets with and without FUmix, respectively. The experiment consisted of a 6-week restrictive feeding period immediately followed by a 2-week ad libitum feeding period. Growth performance measurements were taken per feeding period. Histopathological measurements in the liver and gastrointestinal tract (pyloric caeca, midgut and hindgut) were assessed at the end of week 1 and week 6 of the restrictive feeding period and at week 8, the last day of the ad libitum feeding period. During both restrictive and ad libitum feeding, the effects of FUmix and DON on growth performance were additive (no interaction effect; p > 0.05). During the restrictive feeding period, exposure to DON (p ≤ 0.001) and FUmix (p ≤ 0.01) inhibited growth and increased feed conversion ratio (FCR). During this period, DON exposure decreased the protein (p ≤ 0.001) and energy retention (p ≤ 0.05) in the trout. During the ad libitum feeding period, FUmix affected HSI (p ≤ 0.01), while DON exposure reduced feed intake (p ≤ 0.001) and growth (p ≤ 0.001) and increased FCR (p ≤ 0.01). In general, for both liver and intestinal tissue measurements, no interaction effects between DON and FUmix were observed. In the liver, histopathological analysis revealed mild alterations, increased necrosis score by DON (p ≤ 0.01), increased glycogen vacuolization by FUmix (p ≤ 0.05) and decreased percentage of pleomorphic nuclei by FUmix (p ≤ 0.01). DON had a minor impact on the intestinal histological measurements. Over time, some of the liver (glycogen vacuolization score, pleomorphic nuclei; p ≤ 0.01) and intestinal measurements (mucosal fold and enterocyte width; p ≤ 0.01) were aggravated in fish fed the FUmix contaminated diets, with the most severe alterations being noted at week 8. Overall, the co-exposure to FUmix and DON gave rise to additive effects but showed no synergistic or antagonistic effects for the combination of DON with other Fusarium mycotoxins.

Individual and Combined Cytotoxic Effects of Co-Occurring Fumonisin Family Mycotoxins on Porcine Intestinal Epithelial Cell

Human health is seriously threatened by mycotoxin contamination, yet health risk assessments are typically based on just one mycotoxin, potentially excluding the additive or competitive interactions between co-occurring mycotoxins. In this investigation, we evaluated the individual or combined toxicological effects of three fumonisin-family B mycotoxins: fumonisin B1 (FB1), fumonisin B2 (FB2), and fumonisin B3 (FB3), by using porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC). IPEC cells were exposed to various concentrations (2.5-40 μM) for 48 h, and a cell counting kit (CCK8) was used to determine cell vitality. Firstly, we discovered that they might inhibit cell viability. Additionally, the cytotoxicity of FB1 was significantly greater than that of FB2 and FB3. The results also indicated that the combinations of FB1-FB2, FB2-FB3, and FB1-FB2-FB3 showed synergistically toxicological effects at the ID10-ID50 levels and antagonistic effects at the ID75-ID90 levels. In addition, the FB1-FB3 exposure was also synergistic at the ID10-ID25 level. We also found that myriocin and resveratrol alleviated the cytotoxicity induced by fumonisin in IPEC cells. In all, this study may contribute to the determination of legal limits, the optimization of risk assessment for fumonisins in food and feed, and the development of new methods to alleviate fumonisin toxicity.

Exploring the impact of lactic acid bacteria on the biocontrol of toxigenic Fusarium spp. and their main mycotoxins

The occurrence of fungi and mycotoxins in foods is a serious global problem. Most of the regulated mycotoxins in food are produced by Fusarium spp. This work aimed to assess the antifungal activity of selected lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains against the main toxigenic Fusarium spp. isolated from cereals. Various machine learning (ML) algorithms such as neural networks (NN), random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosted trees (XGBoost), and multiple linear regression (MLR), were applied to develop models able to predict the percentage of fungal growth inhibition caused by the LAB strains tested. In addition, the ability of the assayed LAB strains to reduce/inhibit the production of the main mycotoxins associated with these fungi was studied by UPLC-MS/MS. All assays were performed at 20, 25, and 30 °C in dual culture (LAB plus fungus) on MRS agar-cereal-based media. All factors and their interactions very significantly influenced the percentage of growth inhibition compared to controls. The efficacy of LAB strains was higher at 20 °C followed by 30 °C and 25 °C. Overall, the order of susceptibility of the fungi to LAB was F. oxysporum > F. poae = F. culmorum ≥ F. sporotrichioides > F. langsethiae > F. graminearum > F. subglutinans > F. verticillioides. In general, the most effective LAB was Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp. mesenteroides (T3Y6b), and the least effective were Latilactobacillus sakei ssp. carnosus (T3MM1 and T3Y2). XGBoost and RF were the algorithms that produced the most accurate predicting models of fungal growth inhibition. Mycotoxin levels were usually lower when fungal growth decreased. In the cultures of F. langsethiae treated with LAB, T-2 and HT-2 toxins were not detected except in the treatments with Pediococcus pentosaceus (M9MM5b, S11sMM1, and S1M4). These three strains of P. pentosaceus, L. mesenteroides ssp. mesenteroides (T3Y6b) and L. mesenteroides ssp. dextranicum (T2MM3) inhibited fumonisin production in cultures of F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides. In F. culmorum cultures, zearalenone production was inhibited by all LAB strains, except L. sakei ssp. carnosus (T3MM1) and Companilactobacillus farciminis (T3Y6c), whereas deoxynivalenol and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol were only detected in cultures of L. sakei ssp. carnosus (T3MM1). The results show that an appropriate selection and use of LAB strains can be one of the most impacting tools in the control of toxigenic Fusarium spp. and their mycotoxins in food and therefore one of the most promising strategies in terms of efficiency, positive impact on the environment, food safety, food security, and international economy.

Detoxification of Fumonisins by Three Novel Transaminases with Diverse Enzymatic Characteristics Coupled with Carboxylesterase

Fumonisin (FB) is one of the most common mycotoxins contaminating feed and food, causing severe public health threat to human and animals worldwide. Until now, only several transaminases were found to reduce FB toxicity, thus, more fumonisin detoxification transaminases with excellent catalytic properties required urgent exploration for complex application conditions. Herein, through gene mining and enzymatic characterization, three novel fumonisin detoxification transaminases-FumTSTA, FumUPTA, FumPHTA-were identified, sharing only 61-74% sequence identity with reported fumonisin detoxification transaminases. Moreover, the recombinant proteins shared diverse pH reaction ranges, good pH stability and thermostability, and the recombinant protein yields were also improved by condition optimum. Furthermore, the final products were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. This study provides ideal candidates for fumonisin detoxification and meets diverse required demands in food and feed industries.

Literature review and evaluation of biomarkers, matrices and analytical methods for chemicals selected in the research program Human Biomonitoring for the European Union (HBM4EU)

Humans are potentially exposed to a large amount of chemicals present in the environment and in the workplace. In the European Human Biomonitoring initiative (Human Biomonitoring for the European Union = HBM4EU), acrylamide, mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin B1), diisocyanates (4,4'-methylenediphenyl diisocyanate, 2,4- and 2,6-toluene diisocyanate), and pyrethroids were included among the prioritized chemicals of concern for human health. For the present literature review, the analytical methods used in worldwide biomonitoring studies for these compounds were collected and presented in comprehensive tables, including the following parameter: determined biomarker, matrix, sample amount, work-up procedure, available laboratory quality assurance and quality assessment information, analytical techniques, and limit of detection. Based on the data presented in these tables, the most suitable methods were recommended. According to the paradigm of biomonitoring, the information about two different biomarkers of exposure was evaluated: a) internal dose = parent compounds and metabolites in urine and blood; and b) the biologically effective = dose measured as blood protein adducts. Urine was the preferred matrix used for deoxynivalenol, fumonisin B1, and pyrethroids (biomarkers of internal dose). Markers of the biological effective dose were determined as hemoglobin adducts for diisocyanates and acrylamide, and as serum-albumin-adducts of aflatoxin B1 and diisocyanates. The analyses and quantitation of the protein adducts in blood or the metabolites in urine were mostly performed with LC-MS/MS or GC-MS in the presence of isotope-labeled internal standards. This review also addresses the critical aspects of the application, use and selection of biomarkers. For future biomonitoring studies, a more comprehensive approach is discussed to broaden the selection of compounds.

Underreported Human Exposure to Mycotoxins: The Case of South Africa

South Africa (SA) is a leading exporter of maize in Africa. The commercial maize farming sector contributes to about 85% of the overall maize produced. More than 33% of South Africa’s population live in rural settlements, and their livelihoods depend entirely on subsistence farming. The subsistence farming system promotes fungal growth and mycotoxin production. This review aims to investigate the exposure levels of the rural population of South Africa to dietary mycotoxins contrary to several reports issued concerning the safety of South African maize. A systematic search was conducted using Google Scholar. Maize is a staple food in South Africa and consumption rates in rural and urban communities are different, for instance, intake may be 1–2 kg/person/day and 400 g/person/day, respectively. Commercial and subsistence maize farming techniques are different. There exist differences influencing the composition of mycotoxins in food commodities from both sectors. Depending on the levels of contamination, dietary exposure of South Africans to mycotoxins is evident in the high levels of fumonisins (FBs) that have been detected in SA home-grown maize. Other potential sources of exposure to mycotoxins, such as carryover effects from animal products and processed foods, were reviewed. The combined effects between FBs and aflatoxins (AFs) have been reported in humans/animals and should not be ignored, as sporadic breakouts of aflatoxicosis have been reported in South Africa. These reports are not a true representation of the entire country as reports from the subsistence-farming rural communities show high incidence of maize contaminated with both AFs and FBs. While commercial farmers and exporters have all the resources needed to perform laboratory analyses of maize products, the greater challenge in combatting mycotoxin exposure is encountered in rural communities with predominantly subsistence farming systems, where conventional food surveillance is lacking.

Multi-Mycotoxin Long-Term Monitoring Survey on North-Italian Maize over an 11-Year Period (2011-2021): The Co-Occurrence of Regulated, Masked and Emerging Mycotoxins and Fungal Metabolites

Maize is considered one of the most susceptible crops to mycotoxin-producing fungi throughout the world, mainly belonging to the Fusarium spp. and Aspergillus spp. Maize is mainly used as animal feeds in Italy, as well as for human consumption, being essential for all the protected designation of origin (DOP) products. Our study investigated the occurrence of regulated mycotoxins in 3769 maize grain samples collected from 88 storage centers by the National Monitoring Network over an 11-year period (2011–2021). Moreover, an in-depth survey over a 4-year period, characterized by extremely different meteorological conditions, was conducted to investigate the co-occurrence of regulated, masked, and emerging mycotoxins. The survey confirmed that Fusarium spp. was the most frequent fungi and fumonisins were the main mycotoxins that were constantly detected in the different years and areas. Moreover, the areas characterized by high fumonisin levels were also the most prone to contamination by emerging mycotoxins produced by the same Fusarium species of the Liseola section. On the other hand, as a result of climatic changes, maize grains have also been affected by the increased frequency of aflatoxin accumulation. Deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and other emerging mycotoxins produced by the same Fusarium species as the Discolor section occurred more abundantly in some areas in Northern Italy and in years characterized by predisposing meteorological conditions.

Biodegradation of Fumonisins by the Consecutive Action of a Fusion Enzyme

Fumonisins (FBs) are toxic mycotoxins that commonly exist in food and feed. FBs can induce many aspects of toxicity, leading to adverse effects on human and animal health; therefore, investigating methods to reduce fumonisin contamination is necessary. In our study, we generated a recombinant fusion enzyme called FUMDI by linking the carboxylesterase gene (fumD) and the aminotransferase gene (fumI) by overlapping polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The fusion enzyme FUMDI was successfully, secretively expressed in the host Pichia pastoris (P. pastoris) GS115, and its expression was optimized. Our results demonstrated that the fusion enzyme FUMDI had high biodegradation activity of fumonisin B1 (FB1) and other common FBs, such as fumonisin B2 (FB2) and fumonisin B3 (FB3), and almost completely degraded 5 μg/mL of each toxin within 24 h. We also found that FUMDI enzyme and its reaction products had no negative effect on cell viability and did not induce cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, or endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in a human gastric epithelial cell line (GES-1). The results indicated that these FBs degradation products cannot have adverse effects in a cell model. In conclusion, a safe and efficient fumonisin-degrading enzyme was discovered, which could be a new a technical method for hazard control of FBs in the future.

Multi-mycotoxin occurrence in feed, metabolism and carry-over to animal-derived food products: A review

The world requests for raw materials used in animal feed has been steadily rising in the last years driven by higher demands for livestock production. Mycotoxins are frequent toxic metabolites present in these raw materials. The exposure of farm animals to mycotoxins could result in undesirable residues in animal-derived food products. Thus, the potential ingestion of edible animal products (milk, meat and fish) contaminated with mycotoxins constitutes a public health concern, since they enter the food chain and may cause adverse effects upon human health. The present review summarizes the state-of-the-art on the occurrence of mycotoxins in feed, their metabolism and carry-over into animal source foodstuffs, focusing particularly on the last decade. Maximum levels (MLs) for various mycotoxins have been established for a number of raw feed materials and animal food products. Such values are sometimes exceeded, however. Aflatoxins (AFs), fumonisins (FBs), ochratoxin A (OTA), trichothecenes (TCs) and zearalenone (ZEN) are the most prevalent mycotoxins in animal feed, with aflatoxin M₁ (AFM1) predominating in milk and dairy products, and OTA in meat by-products. The co-occurrence of mycotoxins in feed raw materials tends to be the rule rather than the exception, and the carry-over of mycotoxins from feed to animal source foods is more than proven.

An update on genotoxic and epigenetic studies of fumonisin B1

Fumonisins (FBs), a widespread group of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium spp., are natural contaminants in cereals and foodstuffs. Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is the most toxic and prevalent mycotoxin of this group, and it has been reported that FB1 accounts for 70-80% of FBs produced by the mycotoxigenic strains. The mode of action of FB1 depends on the structural similarity with sphinganine/sphingosine N-acyltransferase. This fact causes an accumulation of sphingoid bases and blocks the sphingolipid biosynthesis or the function of sphingolipids. Diverse toxic effects and diseases such as hepatocarcinogenicity, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and cytotoxicity have been reported, and diseases like leukoencephalomalacia in horses and pulmonary oedema in horses and swine have been described. In humans, FBs have been associated with oesophageal cancer, liver cancer, neural tube defects, and infantile growth delay. However, despite the International Agency for Research on Cancer designated FB1 as a possibly carcinogenic to humans, its genotoxicity and epigenetic properties have not been clearly elucidated. This review aims to summarise the progress in research about the genotoxic and epigenetics effects of FB1.

Variations of enzymatic activity and gene expression in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos co-exposed to zearalenone and fumonisin B1

The natural co-occurrence of multiple mycotoxins has been reported in cereals and cereal products worldwide. Even though the dietary exposure to mycotoxins constitutes a serious human health, most reports are limited to the toxic effect of individual mycotoxins. The purpose of the present study was to assess the combined toxic effects of zearalenone (ZEN) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) and the potential interaction of their mixture on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. Our results showed that ZEN possessed the higher toxicity to embryonic zebrafish (7-day LC₅₀ value of 0.78 mg a.i. L^-1) compared with FB1 (7-day LC₅₀ value of 227.7 mg a.i. L^-1). The combination of ZEN and FB1 exerted an additive effect on zebrafish embryos. Meanwhile, the activities of antioxidant CAT, caspase-3, and detoxification enzyme CYP450, as well as the expressions of six genes (Mn-sod, cas9, bax, cc-chem, ERα, and crh) associated with oxidative stress, cellular apoptosis, immune system, and endocrine system were prominently altered in the mixture exposure compared with the corresponding single treatment group of ZEN or FB1. Taken together, the regulatory standards of mycotoxins in food and feed should be updated based on the mixture effects of mycotoxins, and there is an increased need on effective detoxification methods for controlling and reducing the toxicity of multiple mycotoxins in animal feed and throughout the food supply chain.

Prevalence and concentration of fumonisins in cereal-based foods: a global systematic review and meta-analysis study

Cereal-based foods are utilized as an essential food segment worldwide. Nevertheless, their contamination by mycotoxins, also fumonisins, could pose a critical health risk. The present research provides the first systematic review regarding the prevalence and concentration of fumonisins in cereal-based food with the aid of a meta-analysis. In this regard, some international databases PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus were explored during the last 30 years. Among 9729 screened articles, 73 articles (which meet the proposed inclusion criteria), including 11,132 data, were incorporated in the performed meta-analysis. The overall rank order regarding the concentration of fumonisins in cereal-based foods was corn-based foods > wheat-based foods > other cereal foods > barley-based foods > rice-based foods > oat-based foods. Based on the prevalence of fumonisins, the overall rank order was other cereal foods > corn-based foods > rice-based foods > wheat-based foods > oat-based foods > barley-based food. The present meta-analysis results can be a beneficial database for risk assessment model progress, which can help industries and organizations decrease the presence of fumonisins in cereal-based food.

Nontoxic dose of Phenethyl isothiocyanate ameliorates deoxynivalenol-induced cytotoxicity and inflammation in IPEC-J2 cells

The intestinal tract is a target for the deoxynivalenol (DON), which has adverse effects in animals and humans' health by affecting intestinal functions. Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) is an important degradation product of glucosinolates (GSLs), belonging to an anti-nutritional factor that affects the digestion and absorption of nutrients in the animals' intestinal. However, little attention has been paid to the interaction and its mechanism between DON and PEITC. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the effects of PEITC on DON-induced cytotoxicity and inflammation, and explore the potential mechanisms in IPEC-J2 cells. Our results showed that DON exposure could decrease the cell viability and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in IPEC-J2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. PEITC treatment at the concentrations of 1.25-5 μM had no significant effect on IPEC-J2 cells viability, but above 10 μM of PEITC treatment significantly reduced the cell viability. Interestingly, 1.25-5 μM of PEITC treatment could suppress 4 μM of DON-induced decrease in cell viability and increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. Meanwhile, the protein ratios of p-p65/p-65 and p-IκBα/IκBα were markedly decreased in the groups treated with 1.25-5 μM PEITC compared to DON exposure alone. However, the protective effects of PEITC treatment were significantly blocked after pre-treatment with LPS, NF-κB activator, in IPEC-J2 cells. In conclusion, these findings indicated that the nontoxic dose of PEITC could alleviate DON-induced cytotoxicity and inflammation responses via suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway in IPEC-J2 cells. Our results provide a new theoretical basis for the rational addition of rapeseed meal in animal feedstuff.

Effect of fumonisin B1 on oxidative stress and gene expression alteration of nutrient transporters in porcine intestinal cells

Fumonisin B₁ (FB₁ ) is a common environmental mycotoxin produced by molds such as Fusarium verticillioides. The toxin poses health risks to domestic animals, including pigs, through FB₁ -contaminanted feed. However, the cytotoxicity of FB₁ to porcine intestines has not been fully analyzed. In the present study, the effects of FB₁ on oxidative stress and nutrient transporter-associated genes of the porcine intestinal IPEC-J2 cells were explored. FB₁ decreased IPEC-J2 proliferation but did not trigger reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction. Meanwhile, FB₁ reduced the expression levels of the transporters l-type amino acid transporter-1 (y⁺ LAT1), solute carrier family 7 member 1 (SLC7A1), solute carrier family 1 member 5 (ASCT2), and excitatory amino acid carrier 1 (EAAC1); in addition, FB₁ reduced the levels of the fatty acid transporters long-chain fatty acid transport protein 1 (FATP1) and long-chain fatty acid transport protein 4 (FATP4) as well as glucose transporters Na⁺ /glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2). FB₁ stimulation increased the expression levels of peptide transporter peptide transporter 1 (PepT1) and metal ion transport-related gene zinc transporter 1 (ZNT1). Moreover, metal ion transporter divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) expression was depressed by a higher dosage of FB₁ . The data indicate that FB₁ results in aberrant expression of nutrient transporters in IPEC-J2 cells, thereby exerting its toxicity even though it fails to exert ROS-dependent oxidative stress.

Machine learning approach for predicting Fusarium culmorum and F. proliferatum growth and mycotoxin production in treatments with ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer films containing pure components of essential oils

Fusarium culmorum and F. proliferatum can grow and produce, respectively, zearalenone (ZEA) and fumonisins (FUM) in different points of the food chain. Application of antifungal chemicals to control these fungi and mycotoxins increases the risk of toxic residues in foods and feeds, and induces fungal resistances. In this study, a new and multidisciplinary approach based on the use of bioactive ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) films containing pure components of essential oils (EOCs) and machine learning (ML) methods is evaluated. Bioactive EVOH-EOC films were made incorporating cinnamaldehyde (CINHO), citral (CIT), isoeugenol (IEG) or linalool (LIN). Several ML methods (neural networks, random forests and extreme gradient boosted trees) and multiple linear regression (MLR) were applied and compared for modeling fungal growth and toxin production under different water activity (a_w) (0.96 and 0.99) and temperature (20 and 28 °C) regimes. The effective doses to reduce fungal growth rate (GR) by 50, 90 and 100% (ED₅₀, ED₉₀, and ED₁₀₀) of EOCs in EVOH films were in the ranges 200 to >3330, 450 to >3330, and 660 to >3330 μg/fungal culture (25 g of partly milled maize kernels in Petri dish), respectively, depending on the EOC, a_w and temperature. The type of EVOH-EOC film and EOC doses significantly affected GR in both species and ZEA and FUM production. Temperature also affected GR and a_w only affected GR and FUM production of F. proliferatum. EVOH-CIT was the most effective film against both species and ZEA and FUM production. Usually, when the EOC levels increased, GR and mycotoxin levels in the medium decreased although some treatments in combination with certain a_w and temperature values induced ZEA production. Random forest models predicted the GR of F. culmorum and F. proliferatum and ZEA and FUM production better than neural networks or extreme gradient boosted trees. The MLR mode provided the worst performance. This is the first approach on the ML potential in the study of the impact that bioactive EVOH films containing EOCs and environmental conditions have on F. culmorum and F. proliferatum growth and on ZEA and FUM production. The results suggest that these innovative packaging systems in combination with ML methods can be promising tools in the prediction and control of the risks associated with these toxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in food.

The fate of mycotoxins during secondary food processing of maize for human consumption

Mycotoxins are naturally occurring fungal metabolites that are associated with health hazards and are widespread in cereals including maize. The most common mycotoxins in maize that occur at relatively high levels are fumonisins (FBs), zearalenone, and aflatoxins; furthermore, other mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol and ochratoxin A are frequently present in maize. For these toxins, maximum levels are laid down in the European Union (EU) for maize raw materials and maize-based foods. The current review article gives a comprehensive overview on the different mycotoxins (including mycotoxins not regulated by EU law) and their fate during secondary processing of maize, based on the data published in the scientific literature. Furthermore, potential compliance with the EU maximum levels is discussed where appropriate. In general, secondary processing can impact mycotoxins in various ways. Besides changes in mycotoxin levels due to fractionation, dilution, and/or concentration, mycotoxins can be affected in their chemical structure (causing degradation or modification) or be released from or bound to matrix components. In the current review, a special focus is set on the effect on mycotoxins caused by different heat treatments, namely, baking, roasting, frying, (pressure) cooking, and extrusion cooking. Production processes involving multiple heat treatments are exemplified with the cornflakes production. For that, potential compliance with FB maximum levels was assessed. Moreover, effects of fermentation of maize matrices and production of maize germ oil are covered by this review.

Tri-octahedral bentonites as potential technological feed additive for Fusarium mycotoxin reduction

In 2009 the EU Regulation 386/2009 established a new functional group of feed additives called "substances for reduction of the contamination of feed by mycotoxin". Later, di-octahedral bentonite (1 m558) was authorised, as an anti-aflatoxin additive, being the only additive of this group authorised to date. This work aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of other bentonites, such as tri-octahedral bentonites, versus Fusarium-mycotoxins, since very few adsorbents have proved their effectiveness in relation to this group of mycotoxins. For this purpose, 7 bentonites (six of them tri-octahedral) and 7 commercial adsorbents, added at 0.02% (w/v), were assayed in an in vitro adsorption experiment using two simulated gastro-intestinal (GI) juices (pH 1.3 and 6.8) versus zearalenone (ZEN: 0.1-5 mg/L), fumonisin B₁ (FB₁: 1-10 mg/L) and deoxynivalenol (DON: 2-10 mg/L). Mycotoxin adsorption data were fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. In vitro adsorption experiments showed that ZEN and FB₁ (in the latter case only in acid medium) were partially adsorbed, while the adsorption of DON was negligible. Moreover, the increase of adsorbent dose (up to 0.20%, w/v) significantly improved the in vitro adsorption of ZEN and FB₁, reaching >90% of adsorption. The present work proposes the use of some tri-octahedral bentonites as feed additives for Fusarium-mycotoxin reduction.

Effects of mycotoxin-contaminated feed on farm animals

Mycotoxins are secondary products produced by fungi in cereals and are frequently found in the livestock industry as contaminants of farm animal feed. Studies analyzing feed mycotoxins have been conducted worldwide and have confirmed the presence of mycotoxins with biological activity, including aflatoxin, ochratoxin A, fumonisin, zearalenone, and deoxynivalenol, in a large proportion of feed samples. Exposure to mycotoxins can cause immunotoxicity and impair reproductive function in farm animals. In addition, exposure of tissues, such as the kidneys, liver, and intestines, to mycotoxins can exert histopathological changes that can interfere with animal growth and survival. This review describes previous studies regarding the presence of major mycotoxins in the feed of farm animals, especially pigs and poultry. Moreover, it describes the adverse effects of mycotoxins in farm animals following exposure, as well as the biological activity of mycotoxins in animal-derived cells. Mycotoxins have been shown to regulate signaling pathways, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, apoptosis, and proliferation in porcine and bovine cells. A clear understanding of the effects of mycotoxins on farm animals will help reduce farm household economic loss and address the health concerns of people who consume these meat and dairy products.

Exposure assessment in one central hospital: A multi-approach protocol to achieve an accurate risk characterization

The bioburden in a Hospital building originates not only from patients, visitors and staff, but is also disseminated by several indoor hospital characteristics and outdoor environmental sources. This study intends to assess the exposure to bioburden in one central Hospital with a multi-approach protocol using active and passive sampling methods. The microbial contamination was also characterized through molecular tools for toxigenic species, antifungal resistance and mycotoxins and endotoxins profile. Two cytotoxicity assays (MTT and resazurin) were conducted with two cell lines (Calu-3 and THP-1), and in vitro pro-inflammatory potential was assessed in THP-1 cell line. Out of the 15 sampling locations 33.3% did not comply with Portuguese legislation regarding bacterial contamination, whereas concerning fungal contamination 60% presented I/O > 1. Toxigenic fungal species were observed in 27% of the sampled rooms (4 out of 15) and qPCR analysis successfully amplified DNA from the Aspergillus sections Flavi and Fumigati, although mycotoxins were not detected. Growth of distinct fungal species was observed on Sabouraud dextrose agar with triazole drugs, such as Aspergillus section Versicolores on 1 mg/L VORI. The highest concentrations of endotoxins were found in settled dust samples and ranged from 5.72 to 23.0 EU.mg^-1. While a considerable cytotoxic effect (cell viability < 30%) was observed in one HVAC filter sample with Calu-3 cell line, it was not observed with THP-1 cell line. In air samples a medium cytotoxic effect (61-68% cell viability) was observed in 3 out of 15 samples. The cytokine responses produced a more potent average cell response (46.8 ± 12.3 ρg/mL IL-1β; 90.8 ± 58.5 ρg/mL TNF-α) on passive samples than air samples (25.5 ± 5.2 ρg/mL IL-1β and of 19.4 ± 5.2 ρg/mL TNF-α). A multi-approach regarding parameters to assess, sampling and analysis methods should be followed to characterize the biorburden in the Hospital indoor environment. This study supports the importance of considering exposure to complex mixtures in indoor environments.

Potential use of machine learning methods in assessment of Fusarium culmorum and Fusariumproliferatum growth and mycotoxin production in treatments with antifungal agents

Fusarium-controlling fungicides are necessary to limit crop loss. Little is known about the effect of antifungal formulations at sub-lethal doses, and their interaction with abiotic factors, on Fusarium culmorum and F. proliferatum development and on zearalenone and fumonisin biosynthesis, respectively. In the present study different treatments based on sulfur, trifloxystrobin and demethylation inhibitor fungicides (cyproconazole, tebuconazole and prothioconazole) under different environmental conditions, in Maize Extract Medium, are assayed in vitro. Several machine learning methods (neural networks, random forest and extreme gradient boosted trees) have been applied for the first time for modeling growth of F. culmorum and F. proliferatum and zearalenone and fumonisin production, respectively. The most effective treatment was prothioconazole, 250 g/L + tebuconazole, 150 g/L. Effective doses of this formulation for reduction or total growth inhibition ranged as follows ED₅₀ 0.49-1.70, ED₉₀ 2.57-6.02 and ED₁₀₀ 4.0-8.0 µg/mL, depending on the species, water activity and temperature. Overall, the growth rate and mycotoxin levels in cultures decreased when doses increased. Some treatments in combination with certain a_w and temperature values significantly induced toxin production. The extreme gradient boosted tree was the model able to predict growth rate and mycotoxin production with minimum error and maximum R² value.

Fumonisins: Impact on Agriculture, Food, and Human Health and their Management Strategies

The fumonisins producing fungi, Fusarium spp., are ubiquitous in nature and contaminate several food matrices that pose detrimental health hazards on humans as well as on animals. This has necessitated profound research for the control and management of the toxins to guarantee better health of consumers. This review highlights the chemistry and biosynthesis process of the fumonisins, their occurrence, effect on agriculture and food, along with their associated health issues. In addition, the focus has been put on the detection and management of fumonisins to ensure safe and healthy food. The main focus of the review is to provide insights to the readers regarding their health-associated food consumption and possible outbreaks. Furthermore, the consumers' knowledge and an attempt will ensure food safety and security and the farmers' knowledge for healthy agricultural practices, processing, and management, important to reduce the mycotoxin outbreaks due to fumonisins.

Mycotoxin production by three different toxigenic fungi genera on formulated abalone feed and the effect of an aquatic environment on fumonisins

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by various filamentous fungi, of which Fusarium, Aspergillus and Penicillium are the three main genera. Fusarium verticillioides is one of the most dominant toxigenic fungal species, associated with fumonisin contamination in grain-based feeds, such as compound abalone feed. Mycotoxin production is influenced by temperature and available nutrients. In this study the aims were: to determine if abalone feed as growth substrate favours mycotoxin production for toxigenic fungi; to determine the most effective temperature for fumonisin production by F. verticillioides on abalone feed; and to assess the effect of the aquatic environment on fumonisin-contaminated abalone feed. A total of 93 fungal isolates were inoculated onto abalone feed, including species belonging to the genera Fusarium, Aspergillus and Penicillium. Feed inoculated with F. verticillioides were incubated at two different temperatures and fumonisin-contaminated feed was submerged into seawater for 24 h. Results showed that mycotoxins were produced when abalone feed was inoculated with toxigenic fungi, and that F. verticillioides produced higher concentrations of fumonisins at a lower temperature. Submerging fumonisin-contaminated feed in seawater showed that this toxin leached into the seawater, lowering the risk of fumonisins to be consumed by abalone.