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Food Chemistry Jun 2024Mycotoxins are representative contaminants causing food losses and food safety problems worldwide. Thymol can effectively inhibit pathogen infestation and aflatoxin...
Mycotoxins are representative contaminants causing food losses and food safety problems worldwide. Thymol can effectively inhibit pathogen infestation and aflatoxin accumulation during grain storage, but high volatility limits its application. Here, a thymol-betaine co-crystal system was synthesized through grinding-induced self-assembly. The THY-TMG co-crystal exhibited excellent thermal stability with melting point of 91.2 °C owing to abundant intermolecular interactions. Remarkably, after 15 days at 30 °C, the release rate of thymol from co-crystal was only 55%, far surpassing that of pure thymol. Notably, the co-crystal demonstrated the ability to bind HO in the environment while controlling the release of thymol, essentially acting as a desiccant. Moreover, the co-crystals effectively inhibited the growth of Aspergillus flavus and the biosynthesis of aflatoxin B. In practical terms, the THY-TMG co-crystal was successful in preventing AFB contamination and nutrients loss in peanuts, thereby prolonging their shelf-life under conditions of 28 °C and 70% RH.
PubMed: 38870801
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.140037 -
Food Additives & Contaminants. Part A,... Jun 2024The study aimed to screen fungal diversity and ochratoxin A levels on culinary spice and herb samples sold in open-air markets and supermarkets in Nairobi County, Kenya....
The study aimed to screen fungal diversity and ochratoxin A levels on culinary spice and herb samples sold in open-air markets and supermarkets in Nairobi County, Kenya. All herbs were grown in Kenya, while locally-produced and imported spices were purchased from both types of retail outlet. The results showed a high frequency of and species contaminating the samples. The isolated species included , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and Total fungal count on spice and herb samples collected from various sources varied between 6 and 7 CFU/mL. Of imported spices, garlic had the highest fungal diversity, while cardamom had the least. For spices from both open market and supermarket outlets, cloves had the highest fungal diversity, while white pepper had the least. For the herbs sampled from the open markets, basil was the most contaminated, while sage was the least. In supermarket samples, parsley, sage, and mint had the highest fungal diversity, and bay had the least. The results indicate the contamination of spices and herbs with OTA at high concentrations. The calibration curve was saturated at 40 µg/kg; with samples of garlic, cinnamon, red chili, basil, thyme, mint, sage, and parsley having levels above this. Of the spices, imported ginger had the highest OTA levels (28.7 µg/kg), while turmeric from the open market had the least, 2.14 µg/kg. For herb samples, parsley from the open market had the highest OTA levels at 29.4 µg/kg, while marjoram from the open market had the lowest at 6.35 µg/kg. The results demonstrate the presence of mycotoxigenic fungi and OTA contamination of marketed culinary herbs and spices beyond acceptable limits. Hence, there is a need for informed and sustainable mitigation strategies aimed at reducing human exposure in Kenya to OTA mycotoxicosis through dietary intake of spices and herbs.
PubMed: 38870338
DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2024.2367212 -
Environmental Health Insights 2024Aflatoxins (AFs) are secondary metabolites mainly produced by and and their contamination of red peppers can cause hepatocellular carcinoma, growth retardation in...
Aflatoxins (AFs) are secondary metabolites mainly produced by and and their contamination of red peppers can cause hepatocellular carcinoma, growth retardation in children, immune suppression, and death. In addition, their presence in the red peppers can affect international trade and cause significant economic burdens. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the level of AFs contamination in packed powder (from supermarkets) and raw red pepper samples commercially available in the towns of Fiche and Mukaturi. Furthermore, this study aimed to determine the potential health and cancer risks associated with the consumption of red pepper contaminated with AFs. Red pepper samples (raw and packed powder) were collected randomly from the Fiche and Mukaturi open markets. Then AFs in the samples were extracted using methanol: water (80:20, v/v). These extract samples were then cleaned up using an immunoaffinity column (IAC) and determined with a high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD). The finding showed that the amount of AFB, AFB, and AFG in raw red pepper was found to be 3.19 ± 0.01, 0.19 ± 0.001, and 4.07 ± 0.01 μg kg, respectively. The raw red pepper samples had a total of 7.66 ± 0.01 μg kg of AFs. On the other hand, the amount of AFB, AFB, and AFG in Afiya-packed red pepper was found to be 7.04 ± 0.03, 2.15 ± 0.06, and 0.50 ± 0.01 μg kg, while Mudayi packed red pepper contained 31.60 ± 0.22, 24.40 ± 0.17, 3.37 ± 0.02 and 2.48 ± 0.004 μg kg of aflatoxins, respectively. Afiya and Mudayi packed powder peppers had a total AFs content of 10.4 ± 0.07 and 61.90 ± 0.28 μg kg, respectively. The total AFs concentrations in packed pepper powder samples were higher than maximum toleratable limits (MTLs) set by the European Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 (5.00 μg kg for AFB and 10 μg kg for total AFs). AFB (31.60 ± 0.22 μg kg) had the highest level of contamination, followed by AFB (24.40 ± 0.17 μg kg) in packed pepper powder. In the adult population, the estimated daily intake (EDI) of AFB, AFB, AFG, and AFG ranged from 0.80 to 7.90, 0.04 to 6.10, 0.02 to 1.02, and 0.05 to 0.62 g kg body weight (bw) per day, respectively. However, the Margins of Exposure (MOE) values and combined Margin of Exposure (MoET) for these chemicals were significantly lower than the safe margin (<10 000). Therefore, this study highlights the potential health risks associated with consuming AFs-contaminated red peppers and the need for stricter regulations and monitoring to ensure food safety.
PubMed: 38863690
DOI: 10.1177/11786302241257746 -
Journal of Microbiology and... May 2024Fungi generate different metabolites some of which are intrinsically bioactive and could therefore serve as templates for drug development. In the current study, six...
Fungi generate different metabolites some of which are intrinsically bioactive and could therefore serve as templates for drug development. In the current study, six endophytic fungi namely and were isolated and identified from the medicinal plant, These endophytic fungi were identified through intra transcribed sequence (ITS) gene sequencing. The bioactive potentials of fungal extracts were investigated using several bioassays such as antibacterial activity by well-diffusion, MIC, MBC, anti-biofilm, antioxidant, and haemolysis. The strain PAO1 was used to determine the antibiofilm activity. The ethyl acetate extract of Aspergillus flavus showed strong to moderate efficacy against , and and exhibited significant antibiofilm activity with IC at 4.02 and 3.63 mg/ml while exhibited maximum antioxidant activity of 50.8%. Based on, HPLC, LC-MS and NMR experiments kojic acid (1) and carbamic acid (methylene-4, 1-phenylene) bis-dimethyl ester (2) were identified from Kojic acid exhibited DPPH free radical scavenging activity with an IC value of 99.3 μg/ml and moderate activity against ovarian teratocarcinoma (CH1), colon carcinoma (SW480), and non-small cell lung cancer (A549) cell lines. These findings suggest that endophytic fungi are able produce promising bioactive compounds which deserve further investigation.
PubMed: 38858094
DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2403.03036 -
BMC Microbiology Jun 2024There is an urgent need for new bioactive molecules with unique mechanisms of action and chemistry to address the issue of incorrect use of chemical fertilizers and...
There is an urgent need for new bioactive molecules with unique mechanisms of action and chemistry to address the issue of incorrect use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which hurts both the environment and the health of humans. In light of this, research was done for this work to isolate, identify, and evaluate the germination-promoting potential of various plant species' fungal endophytes. Zea mays L. (maize) seed germination was examined using spore suspension of 75 different endophytic strains that were identified. Three promising strains were identified through screening to possess the ability mentioned above. These strains Alternaria alternate, Aspergilus flavus, and Aspergillus terreus were isolated from the stem of Tecoma stans, Delonix regia, and Ricinus communis, respectively. The ability of the three endophytic fungal strains to produce siderophore and indole acetic acid (IAA) was also examined. Compared to both Aspergillus flavus as well as Aspergillus terreus, Alternaria alternata recorded the greatest rates of IAA, according to the data that was gathered. On CAS agar versus blue media, all three strains failed to produce siderophores. Moreover, the antioxidant and antifungal potentials of extracts from these fungi were tested against different plant pathogens. The obtained results indicated the antioxidant and antifungal activities of the three fungal strains. GC-Mass studies were carried out to determine the principal components in extracts of all three strains of fungi. The three strains' fungus extracts included both well-known and previously unidentified bioactive compounds. These results may aid in the development of novel plant growth promoters by suggesting three different fungal strains as sources of compounds that may improve seed germination. According to the study that has been given, as unexplored sources of bioactive compounds, fungal endophytes have great potential.
Topics: Endophytes; Seeds; Germination; Alternaria; Zea mays; Aspergillus; Siderophores; Bioprospecting; Indoleacetic Acids; Antifungal Agents; Fungi; Antioxidants; Aspergillus flavus
PubMed: 38851702
DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03337-x -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024(), a frequent contaminant in silage, is a significant producer of aflatoxins, notably the potent carcinogen aflatoxin B1. This contaminant poses a potential risk...
(), a frequent contaminant in silage, is a significant producer of aflatoxins, notably the potent carcinogen aflatoxin B1. This contaminant poses a potential risk during the initial aerobic phase of ensiling. The present work studied the impact of temperature on growth and aflatoxin B1 production in laboratory-scale sorghum silos during the initial aerobic phase. Growth curves of were generated at various temperatures and modeled with the Gompertz model. Results indicated that the optimal temperature range for the maximum growth rate in sorghum mini-silos is between 25 and 30°C. Mold biomass and aflatoxin B1 levels were quantified using qPCR and HPLC, respectively. A predictive model for aflatoxin B1 synthesis in the initial ensiling phase was established, in function of grain moisture, external temperature, and time. Within the studied range, initial concentration did not significantly influence aflatoxin B1 production. According to the model maximum aflatoxin production is expected at 30% moisture and 25°C temperature, after 6 days in the aerobic phase. Aflatoxin B1 production in such conditions was corroborated experimentally. Growth curves and aflatoxin B1 production highlighted that at 48 h of incubation under optimal conditions, aflatoxin B1 concentrations in mini-silos exceeded national legislation limits, reaching values close to 100 ppb. These results underscore the risk associated with presence in ensiling material, emphasizing the importance of controlling its development in sorghum silos.
PubMed: 38846571
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1360343 -
Zeitschrift Fur Naturforschung. C,... Jun 2024Aspergillosis is one of the most common fungal infections that can threaten individuals with immune compromised condition. Due to the increasing resistance of pathogens...
Aspergillosis is one of the most common fungal infections that can threaten individuals with immune compromised condition. Due to the increasing resistance of pathogens to the existing antifungal drugs, it is difficult to tackle such disease conditions. Whereas, nikkomycin is an emerging safe and effective antifungal drug which causes fungal cell wall disruption by inhibiting chitin synthase. Hence, the study aims at the development of nikkomycin loaded PEG coated PLGA nanoparticles for its increased antifungal efficiency and inhibiting infections. The P-PLGA-Nik NPs were synthesized by w/o/w double emulsification method which resulted in a particle size of 208.3 ± 15 nm with a drug loading of 52.97 %. The NPs showed first order diffusion-controlled drug release which was sustained for 24 h. These nanoparticle's antifungal efficacy was tested using the CLSI - M61 guidelines and the MIC defined against and was found to be >32 μg/ml which was similar to the nikkomycin MIC. The hyphal tip bursting showed the fungal cell wall disruption. The non-cytotoxic and non-haemolytic nature highlights the drug safety profile.
PubMed: 38842117
DOI: 10.1515/znc-2023-0185 -
Therapeutic Advances in Infectious... 2024, a widespread fungus in the natural environment, poses a significant threat to human health by entering the human body the airways and causing a disease called... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
, a widespread fungus in the natural environment, poses a significant threat to human health by entering the human body the airways and causing a disease called aspergillosis. This study comprehensively analyzed data on aspergillosis in published articles from mainland China to investigate the prevalence of , and risk factors, mortality rate, and underlying condition associated with aspergillosis.
METHODS
Published articles were retrieved from Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct online search engines. In the 101 analyzed studies, 3558 isolates were meticulously collected and classified. GraphPad Prism 8 was used to statistically examine the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of aspergillosis.
RESULTS
was prominently reported ( = 2679, 75.14%), followed by ( = 437, 12.25%), ( = 219, 6.14%), and ( = 119, 3.33%). Of a total of 9810 patients, 7513 probable cases accounted for the highest number, followed by confirmed cases ( = 1956) and possible cases ( = 341). In patients, cough emerged as the most common complaint ( = 1819, 18.54%), followed by asthma ( = 1029, 10.48%) and fever (1024, 10.44%). Of total studies, invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) was reported in 47 (45.53%) studies, exhibiting an increased prevalence in Beijing ( = 12, 25.53%), Guangdong ( = 7, 14.89%), and Shanghai ( = 6, 12.76%). Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) was reported in 14 (13.86%) studies. Among the total of 14 studies, the occurrence of CPA was 5 (35.71%) in Beijing and 3 (21.42%) in Shanghai. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), was reported at a lower frequency ( = 8, 7.92%), Guangdong recorded a relatively high number ( = 3, 37.5%), followed by Beijing ( = 2, 25.0%), and Shanghai ( = 1, 12.5%). Percentage of death reported: IPA had the highest rate ( = 447, 68.87%), followed by CPA ( = 181, 27.88%) and ABPA ( = 14, 2.15%). Among the aspergillosis patients, 6220 had underlying conditions, including chronic lung disease ( = 3765, 60.53%), previous tuberculosis ( = 416, 6.68%), and organ transplant or organ failure ( = 648, 10.41%). Aspergillosis was also found in patients using corticosteroid therapy ( = 622, 10.0%).
CONCLUSION
This review sheds light on the prevalence patterns of species, risk factors of aspergillosis, and gaps in surveillance that could be helpful for the control and treatment of aspergillosis and guide the researchers in future studies.
REGISTRATION
This systematic review was prospectively registered on PROSPERO: Registration ID CRD42023476870.
PubMed: 38835831
DOI: 10.1177/20499361241252537 -
Transplant Infectious Disease : An... Jun 2024Unexpected donor-derived fungal infections represent a rare but potentially fatal complication in lung transplant (Tx) recipients. Timely communication of the results of...
Unexpected donor-derived fungal infections represent a rare but potentially fatal complication in lung transplant (Tx) recipients. Timely communication of the results of donor cultures and prompt treatment of recipients are crucial to mitigate the consequences of donor-derived transmissions. In this prospective cohort study, all consecutive patients who underwent lung transplantation from 2015 to 2022 were included. In December 2015, a Local Active Surveillance System has been implemented to provide biovigilance of donor culture results and optimize recipients' management. The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of unexpected, mold-positive cultures among lung donors and the rate of transmission to recipients. Furthermore, management strategies and outcome of recipients with mold transmission are described. In case of isolation of the same mold in donor and recipient cultures, when possible, transmission was confirmed by dendrogram analysis. During the study period, 82 lung Tx were performed from 80 donors. The prevalence of donors with "unexpected" mold isolation from the respiratory tract was 3.75% (3/80). Isolated molds were Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus oryzae, and Aspergillus flavus. Transmissions occurred in all the three cases (100%) with a mean time of 5 days from lung Tx but none of the recipients developed invasive mold disease. Our Local Active Surveillance System allowed prompt recognition of lung donors unexpected mold colonization. Even though transmission occurred, introduction of early targeted antifungal therapy prevented potential catastrophic consequence of mold donor-derived infection in the immediate post-Tx period.
PubMed: 38830813
DOI: 10.1111/tid.14304 -
Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology Jun 2024Due to the potential for Aspergillus species to cause lethal infections and the rising rates of antifungal resistance, the significance of antifungal susceptibility...
PURPOSE
Due to the potential for Aspergillus species to cause lethal infections and the rising rates of antifungal resistance, the significance of antifungal susceptibility tests has increased. We aimed to assess the sensitivities of Aspergillus species to amphotericin B (AMB), voriconazole (VOR), itraconazole (ITZ), and caspofungin (CAS) using disk diffusion (DD) and gradient diffusion (GD) methods and compare them with broth microdilution (BMD) as the reference susceptibility method.
METHODS
The study involved 62 Aspergillus fumigatus, 28 Aspergillus flavus, and 16 Aspergillus terreus isolates, totaling 106 Aspergillus isolates. BMD and DD methods were performed in accordance with CLSI M38-A2 and CLSI M51-A documents, respectively. The GD method utilized nonsupplemented Mueller Hinton agar (MHA) as the medium.
RESULTS
In the BMD method, the lowest minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) or minimal effective concentration (MEC) values were observed for VOR and CAS (0.5 μg/mL and 0.06 μg/mL, respectively). AMB and ITZ MIC values were both 2 μg/mL. In our comparison of the GD method with the BMD method at ±2 dilution, we observed essential agreement rates of 91.6%, 99.1%, 100%, and 38.6% for AMB, VOR, ITZ, and CAS, respectively. When comparing DD and BMD methods, we found categorical agreement rates of 65.1%, 99.1%, 77.3%, and 100% for AMB, VOR, ITZ, and CAS, respectively. For GD and BMD methods, these rates were 79.2%, 99.1%, 87.8%, and 100%.
CONCLUSIONS
Given the high essential and categorical agreement rates, we posit that the GD method is a viable alternative to the BMD method for AMB, ITZ and VOR but not for CAS. In addition, the use of nonsupplemented MHA in the GD method proves advantageous due to its cost-effectiveness and widespread availability compared to other growth media.
PubMed: 38830536
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmmb.2024.100642