Research Publications (Food Safety)

Aflatoxin is a group I carcinogen and causes significant public health and food safety risks, throughout the world.

Aspergillus flavus is a significant fungus that poses a threat to food safety by producing mycotoxins in various crops. In this study, A.

Aspergillus flavus infection and subsequent aflatoxin contamination are considered the major constraints in senna (Cassia angustifolia Vahl.) export. Using native epiphytic yeast to control phytopathogens is a successful strategy for managing plant diseases. In the present investigation, we exploited the antagonistic potential of epiphytic yeast isolates obtained from senna against A. flavus growth and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of early harvest in preventing aflatoxins in peanuts under drought-stress conditions. A field experiment was conducted on the 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 growing seasons in a greenhouse with an irrigation system to induce three drought stress conditions: no stress, mild, and severe stress. In addition, three harvest dates were proposed: two weeks earlier, one week earlier, and ideal harvest time.

Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused mainly by Fusarium graminearum, is one of the most dangerous diseases of durum wheat. This hemibiotrophic pathogen transitions from the biotrophic phase, during which it penetrates host tissues and secretes trichothecenes, to the necrotrophic phase which leads to the destruction of host tissues. Yeasts applied to spikes often reduce mycotoxin concentrations, but the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop in Argentina. Aspergillus flavus may infect this crop at growing stage and the harvested kernels can be contaminated with aflatoxins (AFs), whose levels may increase during storage. In Argentina, silo bags, a hermetic type of storage system, are widely used. Biocontrol based on competitive exclusion by atoxigenic A. flavus strains is a useful tool for AFs management at pre-harvest stage.

Aspergillus westerdijkiae may produce large amounts of ochratoxin A (OTA) in dry-cured meat products. Natural strategies to control ochratoxigenic moulds using biocontrol agents (BCAs) are currently in the spotlight. The aim of this study was to test the effects of Debaryomyces hansenii and its combination with rosemary derivatives and with a commercial antifungal preparation composed by natamycin and potassium sorbate (AP) against A.

The effect of water activity (aW; 0.87, 0.90, 0.92, 0.94, 0.96, 0.98 and 0.99), temperature (15, 25, and 30 °C), incubation time (5, 10, 14, and 21 days), and their interactions on mycelial growth and aflatoxin production in a chickpea-based medium by three Aspergillus flavus strains isolated from chickpea grains in Argentina was evaluated.

Red fermented rice (RFR) is rice fermented using Monascus spp. This product contains monacolin K, providing health benefits including mitigation of diarrhoea and improving blood circulation. RFR can produce pigments that can act as natural colour and flavouring agents. However, Monascus spp. (a fungal starter to ferment RFR) can also produce the mycotoxin, citrinin (CIT) which is believed to have adverse effects on human health.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is one of the most toxic fungal secondary metabolites associated with Aspergillus flavus contaminated food products. Although a range of synthetic chemicals has been used to control molds contamination, most of them possess a risk to the health and environment.

Aspergillus flavus communities in agricultural fields consist of isolates with varying abilities to produce aflatoxins, which are highly toxic and carcinogenic to humans and animals. Biological control using multiple non-aflatoxigenic strains as a formulation to outcompete aflatoxigenic A. flavus has become a mainstream strategy. Aflasafe™ is a biocontrol product composed of four strains, Ka16127, La3279, La3304 and Og0222.

Author(s): Josué Delgado, Ana-Rosa Ballester, Luis González-Candelas, Félix Núñez

Author(s): Lisa M. Frisch, Ludwig Niessen

Author(s): Sabina Moser Tralamazza, Karim Cristina Piacentini, Geovana Dagostim Savi, Lorena Carnielli-Queiroz, Lívia de Carvalho Fontes, Camila Siedlarczyk Martins, Benedito Corrêa, Liliana Oliveira Rocha

Author(s): Antonia Susca, Pamela Anelli, Miriam Haidukowski, Crystal E. Probyn, Filomena Epifani, Antonio F. Logrieco, Antonio Moretti, Robert H. Proctor

Author(s): Guillaume Legrand Ngolong Ngea, Qiya Yang, William Tchabo, Raffaello Castoria, Xiaoyun Zhang, Hongyin Zhang

Author(s): Josué Delgado, Juan J. Rondán, Félix Núñez, Alicia Rodríguez

Author(s): Donato Magistà, Giuseppe Cozzi, Lucia Gambacorta, Antonio F. Logrieco, Michele Solfrizzo, Giancarlo Perrone

Author(s): Gemma Castellá, M. Rosa Bragulat, Riccardo Aiese Cigliano, F. Javier Cabañes

Author(s): Manuela Zadravec, Nada Vahčić, Dragan Brnić, Ksenija Markov, Jadranka Frece, Relja Beck, Tina Lešić, Jelka Pleadin

Author(s): Paschalitsa Tryfinopoulou, Antonia Chourdaki, George-John E. Nychas, Efstathios Z. Panagou

Author(s): Carla Cervini, Antonia Gallo, Luca Piemontese, Donato Magistà, Antonio F. Logrieco, Massimo Ferrara, Michele Solfrizzo, Giancarlo Perrone

Author(s): Monika Coton, Thibaud Bregier, Elisabeth Poirier, Stella Debaets, Nathalie Arnich, Emmanuel Coton, Philippe Dantigny