Research Publications (Food Safety)

A novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on magnetic nanoparticles and biotin/streptavidin-HRP (MNP-bsELISA) was developed for rapid and sensitive detection of zearalenone (ZEN). The detection signal was enhanced and the sensitivity of the assay was improved by combined use of antibody-conjugated magnetic nanoparticles and biotin-streptavidin system. Under the optimized conditions, the regression equation for quantification of ZEN was y = −0.4287x + 0.3132 (R2 = 0.9904).

Roxana Cojocneanu Petric, Cornelia Braicu, Cristian Bassi, Laura Pop, Ionelia Taranu, Nicolae Dragos, Dan Dumitrascu, Massimo Negrini, Ioana Berindan-Neagoe

Publication date: Available online 25 September 2015
Food and Chemical Toxicology
Author(s): Luca Dellafiora, Gianni Galaverna, Chiara Dall'Asta, Pietro Cozzini

The multi-mycotoxin occurrence for internal and superficial fungi contamination were comprehensively assessed in medicinal seeds used as food or beverage. Based on a polyphasic approach using morphological characters, β-tubulin and ITS gene blast, a total of 27 species belonging to 12 genera were identified from surface-sterilized seeds. Chaetomium globosporum was most predominant (23%), followed by Microascus trigonosporus (12%) and Alternaria alternata (9%).

Publication date: 4 January 2016
, Volume 216
Author(s): Gabriela Garmendia, Silvana Vero

Ochratoxin A is a nephrotoxic and renal carcinogenic mycotoxin and is a common contaminant of various food commodities. Eighty six kinds of foodstuffs (1032 food samples) were collected in 2011–2013. High-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection was used for ochratoxin A determination. Limit of quantification of the method varied between 0.01–0.2 μg/kg depending on the food matrices. The most exposed population is children aged 4–6 years old.

Publication date: October 2015
Food and Chemical Toxicology, Volume 84
Author(s): Assunta Raiola, Gian Carlo Tenore, Lara Manyes, Giuseppe Meca, Alberto Ritieni

The mycotoxin zearalenone (ZEN) is frequently contaminating animal feeds including feed used in aquaculture. In the present study, the effects of dietary exposure to ZEN on carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) were investigated. ZEN at three different concentrations (low dose: 332 µg kg−1, medium dose: 621 µg kg−1 and high dose: 797 µg kg−1 final feed, respectively) was administered to juvenile carp for four weeks.

Publication date: February 2016
, Volume 60
Author(s): Lei Lv, Chengbi Cui, Chengyun Liang, Wurong Quan, Sihong Wang, Zhijun Guo

G. A. Sumbal, Z.H. Shar, S. T. H. Sherazi, Siraj Uddin, S. M. Nizamani, S. A. Mahesar

Zearalenone (ZEA) and its derivatives are mycotoxins with estrogenic effects on mammals. The biotransformation for ZEA in animals involves the formation of two major metabolites, α- and β-zearalenol (α-ZOL and β-ZOL), which are subsequently conjugated with glucuronic acid. The capability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains isolated from silage to eliminate ZEA and its derivatives α-ZOL and β-ZOL was investigated as, also, the mechanisms involved.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of several fungal metabolites, including mycotoxins in natural grasses (Poaceae) intended for grazing cattle. A total number of 72 and 77 different metabolites were detected on 106 and 69 grass samples collected during 2011 and 2014, respectively. A total of 60 metabolites were found across both years.

Zearalenone and its metabolites, α-zearalenol and β-zearalenol, demonstrate estradiol-like activity and disrupt physiological functions in animals. This article evaluates the carryover of zearalenone and its selected metabolites from the digesta to intestinal walls (along the entire intestines) in pre-pubertal gilts exposed to low doses of zearalenone over long periods of time.

Publication date: February 2016
, Volume 60
Author(s): Shiquan Qian, Hedong Lu, Jing Sun, Chong Zhang, Haizhen Zhao, Fengxia Lu, Xiaomei Bie, Zhaoxin Lu

Publication date: Available online 12 August 2015
Food and Chemical Toxicology
Author(s): Sven Dänicke, Janine Winkler

Ruminant diets include cereals, protein feeds, their by-products as well as hay and grass, grass/legume, whole-crop maize, small grain or sorghum silages. Furthermore, ruminants are annually or seasonally fed with grazed forage in many parts of the World. All these forages could be contaminated by several exometabolites of mycotoxigenic fungi that increase and diversify the risk of mycotoxin exposure in ruminants compared to swine and poultry that have less varied diets.

Publication date: Available online 10 August 2015
Food and Chemical Toxicology
Author(s): M.S. Frehse, M.I.M. Martins, E.Y.S. Ono, A.P.F.R.L. Bracarense, L.Y. Bissoqui, E.M.K. Teixeira, N.J.R. Santos, R.L. Freire

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a fungal metabolite dangerous for human and animal health due to its nephrotoxic, immunotoxic, mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic effects, classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in group 2B, possible human carcinogen. This toxin has been stated as a wine contaminant since 1996. The aim of this study was to develop a conceptual model for the dynamic simulation of the A.

Publication date: 2 December 2015
, Volume 214
Author(s): Jessica Gil-Serna, Covadonga Vázquez, María Teresa González-Jaén, Belén Patiño

Solid bar microextraction (SBME), followed by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD), for the quantification of ochratoxin A in wheat and maize was developed. Ground wheat and maize grains were extracted with acetonitrile-water-acetic acid (79:20:1, v/v/v), followed by defatting with cyclohexane, and subjected to SBME-LC-FLD analysis.

Ochratoxin A (OTA), a potentially carcinogenic mycotoxin which contaminates grains, is produced by several Aspergillus species. A comparative sequence analysis of the OTA-producing Aspergillus ochraceus fc-1 strain and other Aspergillus species was performed. Two new OTA-related polyketide synthase (PKS) (AoOTApks) genes were identified. The predicted amino acid sequence of AoOTApks-1 displayed high similarity to previously identified PKSs from OTA-producing A.

Kuruc, Julie et al. Cereal grains are a significant source of ochratoxin A (OTA) in the human diet. Multiple ochratoxigenic Aspergillus and Penicillium spp. have been reported as contaminants on various cereal grains around the world, although relatively few species dominate in any given location. Efforts to mitigate the risk of fungal contamination and OTA accumulation can be made pre- and postharvest.

Publication date: January 2016
, Volume 59
Author(s): S. Degraeve , R.R. Madege , K. Audenaert , A. Kamala , J. Ortiz , M. Kimanya , B. Tiisekwa , B. De Meulenaer , G. Haesaert

Publication date: January 2016
, Volume 59
Author(s): Fausto Gentile , Giovanna Loredana La Torre , Angela Giorgia Potortì , Marcello Saitta , Maria Alfa , Giacomo Dugo