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Food Additives & Contaminants. Part B,... Jun 2021A total of 117 fungal metabolites were detected in grains collected in Gunja-G (flooded village) and Gornji Stupnik-GS (control village), located in the Zagreb County,...
A total of 117 fungal metabolites were detected in grains collected in Gunja-G (flooded village) and Gornji Stupnik-GS (control village), located in the Zagreb County, Croatia. Major mycotoxins and derivatives (17), ergot alkaloids (14), (23), (18), (18), (7) and other fungal and unspecific metabolites (20) were found. A higher number of metabolites co-occurred per sample in grains from G (115) than in GS (91). Regulated mycotoxins were below maximum limits except fumonisins B in 15-20% of grains and aflatoxin B metabolites contaminated more than 50% of grains at both locations. Besides FB bikaverin, aurofusarin, culmorin and 15-hidroxyculmorin were detected at relatively high concentrations. Ergot alkaloids were detected at 2-18 times higher concentrations in grains from G as compared to GS. Majority of mycotoxins were present at a low frequency (5-15%). metabolites recovered with higher frequency in GS (55-70%) than in G (20-55%). metabolites prevailed in grains from G (60-80%).
Topics: Alternaria; Croatia; Edible Grain; Food Contamination; Fungi; Mycotoxins
PubMed: 33583343
DOI: 10.1080/19393210.2021.1883746 -
Mycotoxin Research May 2023Fungi of the genus Alternaria are ubiquitous in the environment. Their mycotoxins can leach out of contaminated plants or crop debris into the soil entering the plant...
Fungi of the genus Alternaria are ubiquitous in the environment. Their mycotoxins can leach out of contaminated plants or crop debris into the soil entering the plant via the roots. We aim to evaluate the importance of this entry pathway and its contribution to the overall content of Alternaria toxins (ATs) in wheat plants to better understand the soil-plant-phytopathogen system. A hydroponic cultivation system was established and wheat plants were cultivated for up to two weeks under optimal climate conditions. One half of the plants was treated with a nutrient solution spiked with alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), and tenuazonic acid (TeA), whereas the other half of the plants was cultivated without mycotoxins. Plants were harvested after 1 and 2 weeks and analyzed using a QuEChERS-based extraction and an in-house validated LC-MS/MS method for quantification of the ATs in roots, crowns, and leaves separately. ATs were taken up by the roots and transported throughout the plant up to the leaves after 1 as well as 2 weeks of cultivation with the roots showing the highest ATs levels followed by the crowns and the leaves. In addition, numerous AOH and AME conjugates like glucosides, malonyl glucosides, sulfates, and di/trihexosides were detected in different plant compartments and identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry. This is the first study demonstrating the uptake of ATs in vivo using a hydroponic system and whole wheat plants examining both the distribution of ATs within the plant compartments and the modification of ATs by the wheat plants.
Topics: Chromatography, Liquid; Alternaria; Triticum; Hydroponics; Food Contamination; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Mycotoxins; Lactones; Soil
PubMed: 36929507
DOI: 10.1007/s12550-023-00477-3 -
Virus Research Apr 2020The leaf blight caused by the genus Alternaria is one of the most epidemic diseases on watermelon, and A. tenuissima is the dominant pathogenic species in China....
Molecular and biological characterization of a novel strain of Alternaria alternata chrysovirus 1 identified from the pathogen Alternaria tenuissima causing watermelon leaf blight.
The leaf blight caused by the genus Alternaria is one of the most epidemic diseases on watermelon, and A. tenuissima is the dominant pathogenic species in China. Mycoviruses are found ubiquitously in filamentous fungi, and an increasing number of novel mycoviruses infecting the genus Alternaria have been reported. In this study, a mycovirus from A. tenuissima strain SD-BZF-12 was identified and characterized, whose genome size was very similar with Alternaria alternata chrysovirus 1-N18 (AaCV1-N18). The dsRNA1- and dsRNA2-encoded proteins of the virus had 99 % identities with counterparts of AaCV1-N18; and the dsRNA3- and dsRNA4-encoded proteins of the virus showed the 80 % and 94 % sequence identities with proteins deduced from dsRNA4 and dsRNA3 of AaCV1-N18, respectively. Intriguingly, dsRNA5 of the virus encoded a truncated protein with 68 amino acids (aa) by comparing with 115 aa of AaCV1-N18 dsRNA5. Phylogenetic analysis of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase domain suggested that the virus clustered together with AaCV1-N18. Based on these characteristics, the mycovirus was identified to be a novel strain of AaCV1 and designated as AaCV1-AT1. In addition, no obvious differences were observed on colony morphology between AaCV1-AT1-infected and virus-cured strains of A. tenuissima; however, AaCV1-AT1 infection reduced colony growth rate and spore production ability on host fungus, and increased the median effective concentration of difenoconazole or tebuconazole on its host. This is the first report of AaCV1-AT1 associated with A. tenuissima.
Topics: Alternaria; China; Citrullus; Fungal Viruses; Genome, Viral; Open Reading Frames; Phylogeny; Plant Diseases; RNA, Viral; Viral Proteins
PubMed: 32105762
DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2020.197904 -
Mycotoxin Research Aug 2022A quick and selective analytical method was developed via LC-MS/MS for the simultaneous quantitation of alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) and...
A quick and selective analytical method was developed via LC-MS/MS for the simultaneous quantitation of alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) and tenuazonic acid (TeA) which belong to the large group of secondary metabolites produced by fungi of the genus Alternaria. Cocoa is susceptible to a number of toxin-producing microorganisms, including Aspergillus and Penicillium species. The method relies on a single-step extraction, followed by an easy clean up, dilution of the raw extract and direct analysis. To assess whether cocoa and chocolate products can be a source of Alternaria toxins, a monitoring of cocoa and chocolate products (N = 99) as well as cocoa raw and semi-finished materials (cocoa shells, cocoa masses; N = 10) was performed. As the results, cocoa and products made from cocoa (without other ingredients) are no source of the Alternaria toxins considered here.
Topics: Alternaria; Chocolate; Chromatography, Liquid; Food Contamination; Lactones; Mycotoxins; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Tenuazonic Acid
PubMed: 35437629
DOI: 10.1007/s12550-022-00457-z -
Toxins May 2023A total of 181 citrus-based products, including dried fruits, canned fruits, and fruit juices, collected from China and from abroad in 2021 were analyzed for the four...
A total of 181 citrus-based products, including dried fruits, canned fruits, and fruit juices, collected from China and from abroad in 2021 were analyzed for the four toxins (ALTs): alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), tentoxin (TEN), and tenuazonic acid (TeA) via ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS). Although the concentrations of the four ALTs varied by product and geographically, TeA was the predominant toxin followed by AOH, AME, and TEN. Products made in China showed higher levels of ALTs than those made abroad. Maximum levels of TeA, AOH, and AME in analyzed domestic samples were 4.9-fold, 1.3-fold, and 1.2-fold, respectively, higher than those in imported products. Furthermore, 83.4% (151/181) of the analyzed citrus-based products were contaminated with at least two or more ALTs. There were significant positive correlations between AOH and AME, AME and TeA, and TeA and TEN in all analyzed samples. More importantly, the solid and the condensed liquid products had higher concentrations of ALTs than the semi-solid product samples, as well as tangerines, pummelos, and grapefruits compared to the other kinds of citrus-based products. In conclusion, co-contamination with ALTs in commercially available Chinese citrus-based products was universal. Extensive and systematic surveillance of ALTs in citrus-based products, both domestic and imported, is required to obtain more scientific data for the determination of the maximum allowable concentrations of ALTs in China.
Topics: Mycotoxins; Alternaria; Citrus; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Food Contamination; Tenuazonic Acid; China; Lactones
PubMed: 37235359
DOI: 10.3390/toxins15050325 -
Biochemical and Biophysical Research... Feb 2022Inhalation of the fungus Alternaria alternata is associated with an increased risk of allergic asthma development and exacerbations. Recent work in acute exposure animal...
Inhalation of the fungus Alternaria alternata is associated with an increased risk of allergic asthma development and exacerbations. Recent work in acute exposure animal models suggests that A. alternata-induced asthma symptoms, which include inflammation, mucus overproduction and airway hyperresponsiveness, are due to A. alternata proteases that act via protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR2). However, because other active components present in A. alternata may be contributing to asthma pathophysiology through alternative signaling, the specific role PAR2 plays in asthma initiation and maintenance remains undefined. Airway epithelial cells provide the first encounter with A. alternata and are thought to play an important role in initiating the physiologic response. To better understand the role for PAR2 airway epithelial signaling we created a PAR2-deficient human bronchial epithelial cell line (16HBEPAR) from a model bronchial parental line (16HBE14o-). Comparison of in vitro physiologic responses in these cell lines demonstrated a complete loss of PAR2 agonist (2at-LIGRL-NH) response and significantly attenuated protease (trypsin and elastase) and A. alternata responses in the 16HBEPAR line. Apical application of A. alternata to 16HBE14o- and 16HBEPAR2 grown at air-liquid interface demonstrated rapid, PAR2-dependent and independent, inflammatory cytokine, chemokine and growth factor basolateral release. In conclusion, the novel human PAR2-deficient cell line allows for direct in vitro examination of the role(s) for PAR2 in allergen challenge with polarized human airway epithelial cells.
Topics: Alternaria; Base Sequence; Bronchi; CRISPR-Cas Systems; Cell Line; Epithelial Cells; Humans; Inflammation; Receptor, PAR-2; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 34990903
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.12.090 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2023fungi are widely distributed plant pathogens that invade crop products, causing significant economic damage. In addition, toxic secondary metabolites produced by the...
fungi are widely distributed plant pathogens that invade crop products, causing significant economic damage. In addition, toxic secondary metabolites produced by the fungi can also endanger consumers. Many of these secondary metabolites are chemically characterized as mycotoxins. In this study, Q Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry was used for the non-targeted analysis of the metabolome of seven isolates cultured on Potato Carrot Agar (PCA), Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and Potato Sucrose Agar (PSA) medium. Due to the difficulty of detecting modified toxins, an analytical strategy with multiple visual analysis tools was also used to determine the presence of sulfate conjugated toxins, as well as to visualize the molecular network of toxins. The results show that PSA medium exhibits more advantageous properties for the culture of , with more toxigenic species and quantities and more obvious metabolic pathways. Based on high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) data, the mycotoxins and their metabolites were mainly clustered into four groups: alternariol (AOH)/alternariol monomethyl ether (AME)/altenusin (ALU)/altenuene (ALT)/dehydroaltenusin (DHA)/Desmethyldehydroaltenusin (DMDA) families, Altertoxin-I (ATX-I) family, tentoxin (TEN) family and tenuazonic acid (TeA) family. Moreover, the PSA medium is more suitable for the accumulation of AOH, AME, ALU, ALT, DHA and DMDA, while the PDA medium is more suitable for the accumulation of ATX-I, TEN and TeA. This research may provide theoretical support for the metabolomics study of .
Topics: Humans; Mycotoxins; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Alternaria; Chromatography, Liquid; Food Contamination; Agar; Tenuazonic Acid; Lactones
PubMed: 37050021
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28073258 -
Natural Product Research May 2020Phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) as a natural product which has significant inhibition effects against many soil-borne fungal phytopathogens in agricultural application...
Phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) as a natural product which has significant inhibition effects against many soil-borne fungal phytopathogens in agricultural application and has been registered in China as the fungicide against rice sheath blight. In order to find new higher fungicidal activities lead compounds and develop new eco-friendly agrochemicals, we introduced substructure piperazines which also have high biological activity into PCA, designed and synthesized a series of phenazine-1-carboxylic piperazine derivatives, and their structures were confirmed by H NMR and HRMS. Most compounds exhibited certain fungicidal activities. In particular, Compounds exhibited the activity against all the tested pathogenic fungi, such as , , , , oryzac Cavgra, with the EC value of 24.6μM, 42.9μM, 73.7μM, 73.8μM, 34.2μM, respectively, more potent activities than PCA (33.2μM, 81.5μM, 186.5μM, 176.4μM, 37.3μM). This result provided a highly active lead compound for the further structure optimization design.
Topics: Alternaria; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Fungicides, Industrial; Fusarium; Mass Spectrometry; Molecular Structure; Phenazines; Piperazines; Rhizoctonia; Structure-Activity Relationship
PubMed: 30698024
DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2018.1556656 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2021toxins are emerging mycotoxins whose regulation and standardization are in progress by the European Commission and the European Committee for Standardization. This...
toxins are emerging mycotoxins whose regulation and standardization are in progress by the European Commission and the European Committee for Standardization. This paper describes a dilute and shoot approach to determine five toxins in selected food samples using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The strategy involves sample extraction with acidified aqueous methanol, followed by a solvent change accomplished via sample evaporation and reconstitution. The quantification is based on isotope dilution, applying all corresponding isotopically labeled internal standards to compensate possible matrix effects of the analysis. The main advantages of the present method over other existing methods includes simple and effective sample preparation, as well as detection with high sensitivity. The five-fold sample dilution can decrease matrix effects, which were evaluated with both external and internal standard methods. The results demonstrated a limit of quantification lower than 1.0 µg/kg for all five analytes for the first time. The newly presented method showed acceptable accuracy (52.7-111%) when analyzing naturally contaminated and spiked standard samples at the described levels. The method was validated for tomato-based and flour samples (wheat, rye, and maize). The absolute recovery ranged from 66.7% to 91.6% (RSD < 10%). The developed method could be an alternative approach for those laboratories that exclude sample cleanup and pre-concentration of state-of-the-art instruments with enhanced sensitivity.
Topics: Alternaria; Chromatography, Liquid; Flour; Isotope Labeling; Solanum lycopersicum; Mass Spectrometry; Quality Control; Reproducibility of Results; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Toxins, Biological
PubMed: 33671906
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26041017 -
Biodegradation Jun 2024To date, enumerable fungi have been reported to participate in the biodegradation of several notorious plastic materials following their isolation from soil of... (Review)
Review
To date, enumerable fungi have been reported to participate in the biodegradation of several notorious plastic materials following their isolation from soil of plastic-dumping sites, marine water, waste of mulch films, landfills, plant parts and gut of wax moth. The general mechanism begins with formation of hydrophobin and biofilm proceding to secretion of specific plastic degarding enzymes (peroxidase, hydrolase, protease and urease), penetration of three dimensional substrates and mineralization of plastic polymers into harmless products. As a result, several synthetic polymers including polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane and/or bio-degradable plastics have been validated to deteriorate within months through the action of a wide variety of fungal strains predominantly Ascomycota (Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Penicillium spp.). Understanding the potential and mode of operation of these organisms is thus of prime importance inspiring us to furnish an up to date view on all the presently known fungal strains claimed to mitigate the plastic waste problem. Future research henceforth needs to be directed towards metagenomic approach to distinguish polymer degrading microbial diversity followed by bio-augmentation to build fascinating future of waste disposal.
Topics: Plastics; Polyurethanes; Polymers; Polyethylene; Biodegradation, Environmental; Alternaria
PubMed: 37665521
DOI: 10.1007/s10532-023-10053-2