Research Publications (Food Safety)

Aim:Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is hepatotoxic. Numerous studies have shown that mitochondria play an essential role in AFB1-induced steatosis. However, the mechanisms of AFB1-induced steatosis via mitochondria are still obscure.

Author(s): Jose M. Soriano, Ana Rubini, María Morales-Suarez, Juan F. Merino-Torres, Dolores Silvestre

A multi-mycotoxin chromatographic method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantitation of aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2), ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZON), deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), fumonisins (FB1, FB2 and FB3), T-2 toxin (T-2) and HT-2 toxin (HT-2) in feed.

The mutagenic patterns of A. flavus, A. parasiticus and A. fumigatus extracts were evaluated. These strains of toxigenic Aspergillus were collected from the agricultural environment. The Ames test was performed on Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA100 and TA102, without and with S9mix (exogenous metabolic activation system).

Fungal metabolites including regulated mycotoxins were identified by a validated LC-MS/MS method in 180 individual Turkish dried figs from 2017 and 2018 harvests. Hand-selected dried figs were subjectively classified based on the extent of fluorescence. Forty-three fungal metabolites including eight EU-regulated mycotoxins were identified and quantified. Figs classified as being uncontaminated mostly did not contain aflatoxins above 1 μg/kg.

In this study, melon (n = 60) and sesame (n = 60) seeds purchased from markets within Benue and Nasarawa states, respectively, in Nigeria, during two seasons (dry and wet), were analysed for fungal and mycotoxin contamination in order to determine the safety of these foods for human consumption.

This study aimed to evaluate the aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) adsorption capacity of the seaweed Lithothamnium calcareum in vitro and to prevent aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens. In vitro adsorption assays were performed at a single AFB1 concentration (1 μg/mL) and four seaweed concentrations (0.50, 1, 1.5 and 2 mg/mL) at pH 3 and pH 6. The maximum adsorption was obtained at the lowest seaweed content (0.62 and 0.78 μg/mg).

In this study, the application of ozonation, ultraviolet radiation, and pulsed electric field techniques on the elimination of total Aflatoxins (AF) and AFM1 in probiotic milk (Acidophilus milk) has been investigated. A central composite response surface analysis was performed to determine the effects of these methods on the reduction of total AF and AFM1 and also, the viability of bacteria using Design‐Expert software.

Wheat may be infected by the aflatoxigenic mold Aspergillus flavus during pre- and post-harvest activities. Control strategies reported to manage aflatoxin contamination of wheat are expensive and require extensive testing to verify the absence of toxic secondary metabolites or newly formed compounds. The objective of this study was to develop an in vitro new control strategy based on assessing the influence of wheat husks on aflatoxin production by A. flavus in liquid culture.

As a natural severe contaminant of stored grains and other crops worldwide, Aspergillus flavus can produce aflatoxins (AFs), the most powerful naturally producing toxic and hepatocarcinogenic compounds. AFs production is regulated by diverse factors including AFs cluster genes, transcription factors, regulators, and environmental factors. Among them, crop substrate is one of the most important factors.

Aflatoxins (AFs) are the most frequent contaminants of maize and maize-based products, and its consumption can cause severe adverse effects to humans and animals. The efficacy of essential oils (EOs) and their bioactive compounds as potential antifungal agents has been well documented against food-borne fungi.

Author(s): Fernanda B. Campagnollo, Amin Mousavi Khaneghah, Liliana L. Borges, Melina A. Bonato, Yadolah Fakhri, Caio B. Barbalho, Ricardo L.C. Barbalho, Carlos H. Corassin, Carlos A.F. Oliveira

Author(s): Enric Pellicer-Castell, Carolina Belenguer-Sapiña, Pedro Amorós, José Manuel Herrero-Martínez, Adela R. Mauri-Aucejo

In recent years, very many incidences of contamination with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in pistachio nuts have been reported as a major global problem for the crop. In Europe, legislation is in force and 12 μg/kg of AFB1 is the maximum limit set for pistachios to be subjected to physical treatment before human consumption.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Aspergillus flavus, a saprophytic fungus, is regularly detected in oil‐enriched seeds. During colonisation, this organism releases aflatoxins that pose a serious risk to food safety and human health. Therefore, an eco‐friendly biological approach to inhibit the pathogen is desirable. RESULTS Experimental results indicated that A. flavus spores could not germinate in potato dextrose broth culture medium, when the concentration of Sub3 exceeded 0.15 g L−1.

Author(s): Danieli C. Schabo, Ligia M. Martins, Beatriz T. Iamanaka, Janeeyre F. Maciel, Marta H. Taniwaki, Donald W. Schaffner, Marciane Magnani

Author(s): James Ledo, Kasper A. Hettinga, Jamal B. Kussaga, Pieternel A. Luning

QuEChERS combined with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was developed to analyze multi-class mycotoxins including aflatoxins, ochratoxins, and Alternaria toxins in apples and tomatoes. Using apples and tomatoes as the research models, the method performance had been evaluated, showing great convenience, high sensitivity, and good reliability. The limit of detections was of 0.05–20 μg/L.

The study aimed to establish a automated versatile sample preconcentration method based on the modified immunomagnetic beads, which was utilized to enrich for aflatoxin B1 from the matrices. The critical main parameters affecting the extraction efficiency, such as usage amount of immunomagnetic beads, reaction time, elution time, blending way was investigated.

Author(s): Huirong He, Da-Wen Sun, Hongbin Pu, Lunjie Huang

Yellow corn kernels were subjected to gamma (γ) irradiation (1.0–10.0 kGy), post packaging in polypropylene/polyethylene terephthalate/aluminium foil trilamellate. These packaged‐irradiated corn grits were stored under ambient conditions (23 ± 2°C, 80% R.H.) and their shelf lives were ascertained chiefly w.r.t. lutein and aflatoxin contents.

Black tea (BTE) or curcumin (CMN) ameliorated hepatorenal changes induced by aflatoxin‐B1 (AFB1) with high improvement when combined BTE/CMN was used. Forty eight adult male rats were used into 8 groups: G1; control, G2, G3, and G4 were; olive oil, BTE and CMN, respectively, G5 was; olive oil‐dissolved AFB1. G6, G7 and G8 were; AFB1 along with BTE, CMN and BTE plus CMN, respectively. Liver/kidney function, oxidative stress and tumor/antitumor markers were measured in serum.

Author(s): Selamawit Tadesse, Tarekegn Berhanu, Ashagrie Zewdu Woldegiorgis

Aflatoxins, and particularly aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), are toxic mycotoxins to humans and farm animal species, resulting in acute and chronic toxicities. At present, AFB1 is still considered a global concern with negative impacts on health, the economy, and social life. In farm animals, exposure to AFB1-contaminated feed may cause several untoward effects, liver damage being one of the most devastating ones.

Author(s): Shao-Yan Zheng, Ze-Shun Wei, Shuang Li, Shi-Jia Zhang, Chun-Fang Xie, Dong-Sheng Yao, Da-Ling Liu