Research Topic: aflatoxins

Lactic acid bacteria: beyond fermentation to bio-protection against fungal spoilage and mycotoxins in food systems

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Mold and fungal toxins spoil food and threaten human health, costing billions globally. While chemical preservatives work, many consumers want natural alternatives. Lactic acid bacteria (the same organisms used in yogurt production) produce natural antimicrobial compounds that can prevent mold growth and neutralize harmful toxins, offering a safer, more natural way to keep food fresh longer.

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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

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

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

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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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Aspergillus in Italian Pistachios: Characterization and Detection of Major Aflatoxigenic Species With a Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay

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Researchers studied pistachio nuts from Italy and found dangerous mold species that produce aflatoxins, harmful toxins that can cause serious health problems. They developed a quick and reliable test using molecular biology techniques to detect these molds in pistachios, even at very low levels of contamination. The test uses specially treated dried primers that remain stable for over a month, making it practical for food safety monitoring in warehouses and markets around the world.

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Occurrence of Aspergillus and Penicillium Species, Accumulation of Fungal Secondary Metabolites, and qPCR Detection of Potential Aflatoxigenic Aspergillus Species in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Seeds from Different Farming Systems

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This study examined chickpea seeds purchased from stores to check for dangerous fungi and toxins they produce. Researchers found that organic chickpeas had more fungal contamination than conventionally grown ones. While most of the dangerous fungi didn’t produce harmful toxins in the seeds, their presence suggests chickpeas should be regularly tested to keep consumers safe.

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Mycotoxin contamination in Malawi: A systematic review of progress and trends in contamination, knowledge, attitude, and practices

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This review examines mycotoxin (toxic mold) contamination in Malawi and found that most people—farmers, traders, and health workers—don’t know about these dangerous substances or how to prevent them. Although groundnuts and maize are well-studied, other commonly eaten foods like dried fish and mushrooms have been largely ignored in research. Despite years of efforts to educate communities, awareness remains critically low at about 24.5%, and poverty often forces people to eat contaminated food because it’s cheaper.

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