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Toxins May 2024Mycotoxins are potent fungal toxins that frequently contaminate agricultural crops and foods. Mycotoxin exposure is frequently reported in humans, and children are known...
Mycotoxins are potent fungal toxins that frequently contaminate agricultural crops and foods. Mycotoxin exposure is frequently reported in humans, and children are known to be particularly at risk of exceeding safe levels of exposure. Urinary biomonitoring is used to assess overall dietary exposure to multiple mycotoxins. This study aims to quantify multi-mycotoxin exposure in UK children and to identify major food groups contributing to exposure. Four repeat urine samples were collected from 29 children (13 boys and 16 girls, aged 2.4-6.8 years), and food diaries were recorded to assess their exposure to eleven mycotoxins. Urine samples ( = 114) were hydrolysed with β-glucuronidase, enriched through immunoaffinity columns and analysed by LC-MS/MS for deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), T-2/HT-2 toxins, zearalenone (ZEN), ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxins. Food diaries were analysed using WinDiet software, and the daily intake of high-risk foods for mycotoxin contamination summarised. The most prevalent mycotoxins found in urine samples were DON (95.6% of all samples), OTA (88.6%), HT-2 toxin (53.5%), ZEN (48.2%) and NIV (26.3%). Intake of total cereal-based foods was strongly positively associated with urinary levels of DON and T-2/HT-2 and oat intake with urinary T-2/HT-2. Average daily mycotoxin excretion ranged from 12.10 µg/d (DON) to 0.03 µg/d (OTA), and co-exposure to three or more mycotoxins was found in 66% of samples. Comparing mycotoxin intake estimates to tolerable daily intakes (TDI) demonstrates frequent TDI exceedances (DON 34.2% of all samples, T-2/HT-2 14.9%, NIV 4.4% and ZEN 5.2%). OTA was frequently detected at low levels. When mean daily OTA intake was compared to the reference value for non-neoplastic lesions, the resulting Margin of Exposure (MoE) of 65 was narrow, indicating a health concern. In conclusion, this study demonstrates frequent exposure of UK children to multiple mycotoxins at levels high enough to pose a health concern if exposure is continuous.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Child; Mycotoxins; Child, Preschool; United Kingdom; Dietary Exposure; Food Contamination; Biological Monitoring; Diet
PubMed: 38922145
DOI: 10.3390/toxins16060251 -
Toxins May 2024Mycotoxins, secondary metabolites synthesized by various filamentous fungi genera such as , , , , and , are potent toxic compounds. Their production is contingent upon... (Review)
Review
Mycotoxins, secondary metabolites synthesized by various filamentous fungi genera such as , , , , and , are potent toxic compounds. Their production is contingent upon specific environmental conditions during fungal growth. Arising as byproducts of fungal metabolic processes, mycotoxins exhibit significant toxicity, posing risks of acute or chronic health complications. Recognized as highly hazardous food contaminants, mycotoxins present a pervasive threat throughout the agricultural and food processing continuum, from plant cultivation to post-harvest stages. The imperative to adhere to principles of good agricultural and industrial practice is underscored to mitigate the risk of mycotoxin contamination in food production. In the domain of food safety, the rapid and efficient detection of mycotoxins holds paramount significance. This paper delineates conventional and commercial methodologies for mycotoxin detection in ensuring food safety, encompassing techniques like liquid chromatography, immunoassays, and test strips, with a significant emphasis on the role of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensors, which are known for their high sensitivity and specificity. These are categorized into antibody-, and aptamer-based, as well as molecular imprinting methods. This paper examines the latest advancements in biosensors for mycotoxin testing, with a particular focus on their amplification strategies and operating mechanisms.
Topics: Mycotoxins; Biosensing Techniques; Food Safety; Food Contamination; Food Microbiology; Humans; Animals
PubMed: 38922144
DOI: 10.3390/toxins16060249 -
Toxins May 2024Monitoring agricultural toxins such as mycotoxins is crucial for a healthy society. High concentrations of these toxins lead to the cause of several chronic diseases;... (Review)
Review
Monitoring agricultural toxins such as mycotoxins is crucial for a healthy society. High concentrations of these toxins lead to the cause of several chronic diseases; therefore, developing analytical systems for detecting/monitoring agricultural toxins is essential. These toxins are found in crops such as vegetables, fruits, food, and beverage products. Currently, screening of these toxins is mostly performed with sophisticated instrumentation such as chromatography and spectroscopy techniques. However, these techniques are very expensive and require extensive maintenance, and their availability is limited to metro cities only. Alternatively, electrochemical biomimetic sensing methodologies have progressed hugely during the last decade due to their unique advantages like point-of-care sensing, miniaturized instrumentations, and mobile/personalized monitoring systems. Specifically, affinity-based sensing strategies including immunosensors, aptasensors, and molecular imprinted polymers offer tremendous sensitivity, selectivity, and stability to the sensing system. The current review discusses the principal mechanisms and the recent developments in affinity-based sensing methodologies for the detection and continuous monitoring of mycotoxins and pesticides. The core discussion has mainly focused on the fabrication protocols, advantages, and disadvantages of affinity-based sensing systems and different exploited electrochemical transduction techniques.
Topics: Mycotoxins; Electrochemical Techniques; Pesticides; Biosensing Techniques; Biomimetics; Humans; Food Contamination; Biomimetic Materials
PubMed: 38922139
DOI: 10.3390/toxins16060244 -
Toxins May 2024The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aflatoxin B (AFB) on cholestasis in duck liver and its nutritional regulation. Three hundred sixty 1-day-old...
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aflatoxin B (AFB) on cholestasis in duck liver and its nutritional regulation. Three hundred sixty 1-day-old ducks were randomly divided into six groups and fed for 4 weeks. The control group was fed a basic diet, while the experimental group diet contained 90 μg/kg of AFB. Cholestyramine, atorvastatin calcium, taurine, and emodin were added to the diets of four experimental groups. The results show that in the AFB group, the growth properties, total bile acid (TBA) serum levels and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione (GSH) liver levels decreased, while the malondialdehyde (MDA) and TBA liver levels increased ( < 0.05). Moreover, AFB caused cholestasis. Cholestyramine, atorvastatin calcium, taurine, and emodin could reduce the TBA serum and liver levels ( < 0.05), alleviating the symptoms of cholestasis. The qPCR results show that AFB upregulated () and () gene expression and downregulated () gene expression in the liver, and taurine and emodin downregulated and gene expression ( < 0.05). In summary, AFB negatively affects health and alters the expression of genes related to liver bile acid metabolism, leading to cholestasis. Cholestyramine, atorvastatin calcium, taurine, and emodin can alleviate AFB-induced cholestasis.
Topics: Animals; Aflatoxin B1; Ducks; Cholestasis; Liver; Bile Acids and Salts; Poultry Diseases; Cholestyramine Resin; Animal Feed
PubMed: 38922135
DOI: 10.3390/toxins16060239 -
Toxins May 2024Patulin, a toxic mycotoxin, can contaminate apple-derived products. The FDA has established an action level of 50 ppb (ng/g) for patulin in apple juice and apple juice...
Patulin, a toxic mycotoxin, can contaminate apple-derived products. The FDA has established an action level of 50 ppb (ng/g) for patulin in apple juice and apple juice products. To effectively monitor this mycotoxin, there is a need for adequate analytical methods that can reliably and efficiently determine patulin levels. In this work, we developed an automated sample preparation workflow followed by liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS/MS) detection to identify and quantify patulin in a single method, further expanding testing capabilities for monitoring patulin in foods compared to traditional optical methods. Using a robotic sample preparation system, apple juice, apple cider, apple puree, apple-based baby food, applesauce, fruit rolls, and fruit jam were fortified with C-patulin and extracted using dichloromethane (DCM) without human intervention, followed by an LC-APCI-MS/MS analysis in negative ionization mode. The method achieved a limit of quantification of 4.0 ng/g and linearity ranging from 2 to 1000 ng/mL (r > 0.99). Quantitation was performed with isotope dilution using C-patulin as an internal standard and solvent calibration standards. Average recoveries (relative standard deviations, RSD%) in seven spike matrices were 95% (9%) at 10 ng/g, 110% (5%) at 50 ng/g, 101% (7%) at 200 ng/g, and 104% (4%) at 1000 ng/g ( = 28). The ranges of within-matrix and between-matrix variability (RSD) were 3-8% and 4-9%, respectively. In incurred samples, the identity of patulin was further confirmed with a comparison of the information-dependent acquisition-enhanced product ion (IDA-EPI) MS/MS spectra to a reference standard. The metrological traceability of the patulin measurements in an incurred apple cider (21.1 ± 8.0 µg/g) and apple juice concentrate (56.6 ± 15.6 µg/g) was established using a certified reference material and calibration data to demonstrate data confidence intervals (k = 2, 95% confidence interval).
Topics: Patulin; Malus; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Fruit and Vegetable Juices; Chromatography, Liquid; Robotics; Food Contamination; Fruit
PubMed: 38922133
DOI: 10.3390/toxins16060238 -
Toxins May 2024Endometrial cancer is one of the most common cancer types among women. Many factors can contribute to the development of this disease, including environmental factors...
Endometrial cancer is one of the most common cancer types among women. Many factors can contribute to the development of this disease, including environmental factors and, thus, eating habits. Our study aims to determine the levels of various mycotoxins and their metabolites in the blood serum and endometrial tissue samples of participants with previously proven endometrial cancer and to find possible contributions to cancer development. In the cohort clinical trial, 52 participants aged between 44 and 86 were studied. The participants were divided into two groups: patients or matched controls. All patients had previously histologically diagnosed endometrial cancer. The cancer patients were divided into low-grade endometrioid and low- plus high-grade endometrioid groups. Controls had no history of endometrial malignancy or premalignancy. Blood serum and endometrial tissue samples were obtained from all study patients. We compared the concentrations of total Aflatoxins (Afs), Deoxynivalenol (DON), Ochratoxin-A (OTA), T2-toxin and HT2 toxin (T2/HT2 toxin), Zearalenone (ZEN), alpha-Zearalenol (α-ZOL), and Fumonisin B1 (FB1) in the serum and endometrium between the different study groups. As a result, we can see a significant correlation between the higher levels of Afs and zearalenone and the presence of endometrial cancer. In the case of Afs, DON, OTA, T2/HT2 toxins, ZEN, and alpha-ZOL, we measured higher endometrial concentrations than in serum. Considering the effect of mycotoxins and eating habits on cancer development, our results might lead to further research exploring the relationship between certain mycotoxins and endometrium cancer.
Topics: Female; Humans; Endometrial Neoplasms; Mycotoxins; Middle Aged; Aged; Adult; Aged, 80 and over; Endometrium; Case-Control Studies
PubMed: 38922131
DOI: 10.3390/toxins16060236 -
Toxins May 2024produces fumonisins, which are mycotoxins inhibiting sphingolipid biosynthesis in humans, animals, and other eukaryotes. Fumonisins are presumed virulence factors of...
produces fumonisins, which are mycotoxins inhibiting sphingolipid biosynthesis in humans, animals, and other eukaryotes. Fumonisins are presumed virulence factors of plant pathogens, but may also play a role in interactions between competing fungi. We observed higher resistance to added fumonisin B (FB) in fumonisin-producing than in nonproducing , and likewise between isolates of and differing in production of sphinganine-analog toxins. It has been reported that in , ceramide synthase encoded in the fumonisin biosynthetic gene cluster is responsible for self-resistance. We reinvestigated the role of and by generating a double mutant strain in a background. Nearly unchanged resistance to added FB was observed compared to the parental strain. A recently developed fumonisin-sensitive baker's yeast strain allowed for the testing of candidate ceramide synthases by heterologous expression. The overexpression of the yeast gene, but not , increased fumonisin resistance. High-level resistance was conferred by , but not by . Likewise, strong resistance to FB was caused by overexpression of the presumed "housekeeping" ceramide synthases , , and , located outside the fumonisin cluster, indicating that possesses a redundant set of insensitive targets as a self-resistance mechanism.
Topics: Fumonisins; Fusarium; Oxidoreductases; Drug Resistance, Fungal; Fungal Proteins; Aspergillus; Alternaria
PubMed: 38922130
DOI: 10.3390/toxins16060235 -
High-Coverage UHPLC-MS/MS Analysis of 67 Mycotoxins in Plasma for Male Infertility Exposure Studies.Toxics May 2024Mycotoxins are a class of exogenous metabolites that are major contributors to foodborne diseases and pose a potential threat to human health. However, little attention...
Mycotoxins are a class of exogenous metabolites that are major contributors to foodborne diseases and pose a potential threat to human health. However, little attention has been paid to trace mycotoxin co-exposure situations in vivo. To address this, we devised a novel analytical strategy, both highly sensitive and comprehensive, for quantifying 67 mycotoxins in human plasma samples. This method employs isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) for approximately 40% of the analytes and utilizes internal standard quantification for the rest. The mycotoxins were classified into three categories according to their physicochemical properties, facilitating the optimization of extraction and detection parameters to improve analytical performance. The lowest limits of detection and quantitation were 0.001-0.5 μg/L and 0.002-1 μg/L, respectively, the intra-day precision ranged from 1.8% to 11.9% RSD, and the intra-day trueness ranged from 82.7-116.6% for all mycotoxins except Ecl, DH-LYS, PCA, and EnA (66.4-129.8%), showing good analytical performance of the method for biomonitoring. A total of 40 mycotoxins (including 24 emerging mycotoxins) were detected in 184 plasma samples (89 from infertile males and 95 from healthy males) using the proposed method, emphasizing the widespread exposure of humans to both traditional and emerging mycotoxins. The most frequently detected mycotoxins were ochratoxin A, ochratoxin B, enniatin B, and citrinin. The incidence of exposure to multiple mycotoxins was significantly higher in infertile males than in healthy subjects, particularly levels of ochratoxin A, ochratoxin B, and citrinin, which were significantly increased. It is necessary to carry out more extensive biological monitoring to provide data support for further study of the relationship between mycotoxins and male infertility.
PubMed: 38922075
DOI: 10.3390/toxics12060395 -
Veterinary Sciences Jun 2024The quality of animal feed is increasingly affected by weather conditions, high humidity, and damage to grains, which have led to various mycotoxin-producing moulds. The...
The quality of animal feed is increasingly affected by weather conditions, high humidity, and damage to grains, which have led to various mycotoxin-producing moulds. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the combination of deepoxy-deoxynivalenol and beta-zearalenol on the development of preimplantation bovine embryos, the extent to which the presence of both mycotoxin metabolites affects the development of in vitro cultured bovine embryos, or whether the effect of both toxins enhances embryotoxicity. Ovaries were transported from the abattoir to the laboratory and, after maturation and fertilisation, zygotes were placed in an embryo culture medium (IVC) with different mycotoxin metabolite concentrations diluted in acetonitrile. It was found that the blastocyst rate of cleaved embryos was affected by 1 μL acetonitrile in 400 μL medium (0.25%) compared to the group without acetonitrile. For this reason, it was decided to use acetonitrile as a control group, and the desired mycotoxin metabolite concentrations were diluted in the lowest possible amount of acetonitrile (0.5 μL) that could be accurately added to the study groups. There was no statistical difference when the higher mycotoxin metabolite concentrations were added.
PubMed: 38922014
DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11060267 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024, as a main decay fungus of goji berry, can produce mycotoxins such as alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), and tenuazonic acid (TeA). Carvacrol (CVR)...
, as a main decay fungus of goji berry, can produce mycotoxins such as alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), and tenuazonic acid (TeA). Carvacrol (CVR) has exhibited a broad-spectrum antifungal activity in vitro. We assumed that CVR can also be applied to control rot on goji berries and mycotoxins produced by the pathogens. To investigate whether CVR impacts the accumulation of mycotoxins and cell membrane damage of , the antifungal activity of CVR on the fungal growth and mycotoxin production was evaluated in this study. The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CVR against was 0.12 µL/mL. Meanwhile, the destruction of plasma membrane integrity, cytoplasmic leakage, intracellular oxidative damage, and inhibitory effect in vivo were also observed in treated with CVR. Moreover, CVR significantly reduced the accumulation of AOH, AME, and TeA. Transcriptomic profiling was performed by means of comparative RNA-Seq analysis to research the gene expression level of , which attested to significant changes in nitrogen metabolism, carbon utilization, fatty acid oxidation, and antioxidant enzymes in CVR-treated . This study suggests a new understanding of the molecular mechanism of response to CVR treatment in , indicating that CVR is a novel antifungal agent with the potential to be applied to various fungi.
PubMed: 38921388
DOI: 10.3390/jof10060402