Research Keyword: mycotoxin contamination

Impact of Volatile Organic Compounds on the Growth of Aspergillus flavus and Related Aflatoxin B1 Production: A Review

Aspergillus flavus is a dangerous fungus that produces aflatoxin B1, a poison that can cause serious diseases and survives even when food is heated. Scientists have discovered that certain smelly chemicals called volatile organic compounds, produced by other organisms or plants, can stop this fungus from growing and making its toxin. This research suggests these natural chemicals could be used to protect our crops and food supply from contamination.

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A comprehensive review of mycotoxins, their toxicity, and innovative detoxification methods

Mycotoxins are poisons produced by molds that commonly contaminate foods like grains, nuts, and spices, causing serious health problems in people and animals. This comprehensive review examines how these toxins affect our health, how to detect them in food, and various methods to remove or destroy them. Traditional approaches using biological agents and chemicals work well but are only partially effective, while newer innovative methods using nanoparticles and plant extracts show greater promise for more complete protection of our food supply.

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Patulin Biodegradation by Rhodosporidiobolus ruineniae and Meyerozyma guilliermondii Isolated From Fruits

Patulin is a dangerous toxin produced by molds that grow on apples and peaches, posing serious health risks to consumers. Researchers isolated two yeast species from fruits that can effectively break down patulin into a less toxic compound called (E)-ascladiol. The yeasts work by using enzymes inside their cells to degrade the toxin, and this biological approach could be used to safely remove patulin from contaminated fruits and fruit products.

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Avian toxicoses: a review

Pet and wild birds can be poisoned by many common substances including metals found in cage materials, kitchen cookware fumes, toxic plants, chocolate, salt, and rodent poison. Symptoms vary by toxin but can include difficulty breathing, weakness, seizures, and bleeding. Treatment focuses on removing the source, supportive care, and specific antidotes when available, though diagnosis is often challenging due to the small size of birds.

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Increased Dissemination of Aflatoxin- and Zearalenone-Producing Aspergillus spp. and Fusarium spp. during Wet Season via Houseflies on Dairy Farms in Aguascalientes, Mexico

This study found that during rainy seasons on Mexican dairy farms, houseflies carry more mold spores that produce harmful toxins called aflatoxins and zearalenone. These toxins contaminate cattle feed and milk, posing health risks to both animals and humans. The research shows that controlling houseflies during wet seasons is crucial to reduce toxic mold contamination of dairy products and animal feed.

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Synergistic inhibition of Aspergillus flavus by organic acid salts: growth, oxidative stress, and aflatoxin gene modulation

A dangerous fungus called Aspergillus flavus contaminates animal feed and produces harmful toxins called aflatoxins that can make animals sick. Researchers tested a combination of three salt-based organic acids commonly used as natural food preservatives and found they work together to kill this fungus much better than using them individually. The combination damages the fungus’s cell structure, creates harmful reactive oxygen inside the cells, and shuts down the genes that produce the toxins, making it an excellent safe option for protecting animal feed.

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Prevalence of toxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in Arabic coffee (Coffea arabica): Protective role of traditional coffee roasting, brewing and bacterial volatiles

This study examined toxin-producing fungi and harmful mycotoxins found in coffee sold in Qatar markets. Researchers tested whether traditional coffee roasting and brewing methods reduce these harmful compounds, and also tested a beneficial bacterium that produces antifungal compounds. They found that higher roasting temperatures and brewing significantly reduced the dangerous toxins, and the bacterial volatiles completely stopped fungal growth on coffee beans, offering a natural alternative to chemical fungicides.

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Comparative genome analysis of patulin-producing Penicillium paneum OM1 isolated from pears

Researchers sequenced the complete genome of a mold called Penicillium paneum that produces a toxic substance called patulin, which contaminates apples and pears. They found all 15 genes responsible for making patulin and discovered the mold has similar genetic patterns to other patulin-producing fungi. This information could help scientists develop better ways to prevent patulin contamination on fruit crops and improve food safety.

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Fusarium Species Infecting Greenhouse-Grown Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) Plants Show Potential for Mycotoxin Production in Inoculated Inflorescences and from Natural Inoculum Sources

Researchers found that certain fungi called Fusarium species can infect cannabis flowers growing in greenhouses and produce harmful toxins called mycotoxins. These toxins, which can accumulate in dried cannabis buds, come from both direct infection and from nearby tall fescue grass plants growing outside the greenhouse. The study shows that high humidity conditions in greenhouses can promote fungal growth and toxin production, potentially affecting cannabis safety. Different cannabis varieties showed varying levels of toxin accumulation despite similar fungal infection rates.

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Editorial: Aspergillus-Derived Mycotoxins in the Feed and Food Chain

Aspergillus fungi produce harmful toxins called mycotoxins that can contaminate our food and animal feed at various stages from farm to table. Climate change is making this problem worse by helping these fungi spread and produce more toxins. Scientists are working on multiple solutions including using harmless fungi strains to compete with the harmful ones, using natural plant compounds to stop toxin production, and developing better ways to detect and remove these toxins from food and feed.

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