Article
Chemistry, Applied
Zhen Guo, Jing Zhang, Haowei Dong, Jiashuai Sun, Shiling Li, Chengye Ma, Yemin Guo, Xia Sun
Summary: Aflatoxin contamination in peanut kernels has harmful effects on human health and causes significant economic losses. The use of short-wave infrared hyperspectral imaging coupled with multivariate statistical analysis allows for the accurate detection and quantification of aflatoxins in peanut kernels. This study presents a novel method for the quantitative detection of aflatoxins and offers an early warning system for its potential application.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Wan Zhang, Jianpeng Dou, Zidan Wu, Qiu Li, Shanshan Wang, Huiru Xu, Wenfu Wu, Changpo Sun
Summary: This study found that applying a native non-aflatoxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus during peanut growth can effectively control aflatoxin contamination. Using rice grains as a substrate yielded the best results. Additionally, peanut meal can be used as a substitute for traditional grains, reducing the cost of biocontrol products.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Bhargavi Rane, Alison Lacombe, Jiewen Guan, Lillian Lucero, David F. Bridges, Shyam Sablani, Juming Tang, Vivian C. H. Wu
Summary: This study found that fumigation with gaseous chlorine dioxide (ClO2) can effectively reduce mold contamination and toxin levels in almonds. At high concentrations, gaseous ClO2 demonstrated an 84.4% degradation efficiency of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and significantly reduced the number of Aspergillus flavus on almond kernels. The treated almonds also showed continued suppression of AFB1 even after one-month storage at low temperature, without any significant oxidative effects or color changes.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Kunzhi Jia, Lijuan Yan, Yipu Jia, Shuting Xu, Zhaoqi Yan, Shihua Wang
Summary: The study revealed that AflN plays crucial roles in aflatoxin biosynthesis, conidiophore production, and response to oxidative stress in Aspergillus flavus. These findings contribute to a better understanding of AflN function and are beneficial for the prevention and control of Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shuang Zhang, Ruange Lan, Lihui Zhang, Shaojin Wang
Summary: This study developed a computer model based on Joule heating and thermal inactivation kinetics to predict temperature distribution and microbial reduction among peanut kernels after RF processing. The model was validated with small differences in average temperature and microbial reduction between simulation and experimental results. Nonuniform RF heating resulted in the least lethality of A. flavus at the cold spot, and the validated model was used to estimate microbial reduction distributions at other target temperatures.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Godfrey Wokorach, Sofie Landschoot, Amerida Lakot, Sidney Arihona Karyeija, Kris Audenaert, Richard Echodu, Geert Haesaert
Summary: Human exposure to aflatoxins in food can lead to acute stunting in children, liver cancer, and death. The severity of aflatoxin contamination depends on the type of Aspergillus fungus infecting the crops. Evaluating the ability of non-aflatoxigenic chemotypes to reduce aflatoxin levels produced by aflatoxigenic strains could be crucial in mitigating field contamination of crops with aflatoxins.
Article
Microbiology
Lina Castano-Duque, Matthew D. Lebar, Carol Carter-Wientjes, David Ambrogio, Kanniah Rajasekaran
Summary: This study investigated the effects of three flavonoids on fungal proliferation and aflatoxin production in Aspergillus flavus. The results showed that the concentrations of apigenin and luteolin modulated fungal proliferation and aflatoxin production in a dose-dependent manner. Microscopy studies revealed disruptions in the mycelial cell wall and localization of flavonoids in sphere-like structures on the mycelia surface. Low concentrations of flavonoids also lowered the total antioxidant capacity in the environment. These findings suggest that flavonoids may disrupt cell wall integrity and act as potential signaling molecules, leading to reduction of fungal proliferation and aflatoxin production.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yijun Liu, Ruolan Wang, Lingli Zhao, Shanshan Huo, Shichang Liu, Hanxiao Zhang, Akio Tani, Haoxin Lv
Summary: This research investigated the antifungal activity of cinnamon, litsea, clove, thyme, and citronella essential oils against dominant fungi isolated from moldy peanuts. The cinnamon-litsea combined essential oil showed the best antifungal effect, and its chemical composition was identified. The essential oils also caused deformation and damage to the fungal mycelia. Therefore, this study suggests that cinnamon-litsea combined essential oil has great potential as an anti-mildew agent during peanut storage.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Louise Maud, Florian Boyer, Vanessa Durrieu, Julie Bornot, Yannick Lippi, Claire Naylies, Sophie Lorber, Olivier Puel, Florence Mathieu, Selma P. Snini
Summary: This study aims to analyze the effect of a cell-free supernatant (CFS) from Streptomyces roseolus culture on the development of Aspergillus flavus and its transcriptome profile using microarray assay. Results showed that the S. roseolus CFS reduced the dry weight and conidiation of A. flavus, and also reduced the concentration of AFB1 to levels below the limit of quantification. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that exposure to the CFS resulted in differential expression of 5198 genes, with majority of them being downregulated, including genes involved in biosynthetic gene clusters.
Article
Microbiology
Liuke Liang, Wei Zhang, Jing Hao, Yanyu Wang, Shan Wei, Shuaibing Zhang, Yuansen Hu, Yangyong Lv
Summary: This study found that estragole from Pimenta racemosa has antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus and inhibits its growth and aflatoxin biosynthesis by modulating intracellular redox homeostasis. These findings provide a basis for estragole as a potential agent against A. flavus contamination.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Ping-ping Tian, Yang-yong Lv, Shan Wei, Shuai-bing Zhang, Na Li, Yuan-sen Hu
Summary: The study demonstrated that rPINB has antifungal properties against A. flavus spores, inhibiting toxin production on maize. It showed dose-dependent inhibition of spore germination and growth in vitro, altering spore morphology and damaging the cell wall and membrane. The observed direct antifungal activity of rPINB suggests its potential use in preventing fungal contamination of stored foods and agricultural products in the future.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Mycology
Zhang Mengjuan, Lin Guanglan, Pan Xiaohua, Song Weitao, Tan Can, Chen Xuan, Yang Yanling, Zhuang Zhenhong
Summary: Cti6, with its PHD domain, plays a crucial role in promoting mycelium growth, conidiation, sclerotia formation, and AFB1 biosynthesis in A. flavus. Additionally, Atrophin-1 also contributes to increased conidiation in the fungus.
Article
Plant Sciences
Lourena A. Maxwell, Kenneth A. Callicott, Ranajit Bandyopadhyay, Hillary L. Mehl, Marc J. Orbach, Peter J. Cotty
Summary: Atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus isolates have the ability to degrade aflatoxin B1 under optimal temperature conditions, providing a potential biological control method to reduce aflatoxin contamination in crops.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yangyong Lv, Haojie Yang, Jing Wang, Shan Wei, Huanchen Zhai, Shuaibing Zhang, Yuansen Hu
Summary: A study identified a novel protein, Afper1, in Aspergillus flavus that plays a critical role in regulating cell development and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Deletion of Afper1 impaired aflatoxin production and affected hyphal growth, conidial and sclerotial production, and responses to osmotic stress and essential oils. The deletion also led to ROS accumulation, chromatin remodeling, and ER homeostasis disturbance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Yao Lu, Beibei Jia, Seung-Chul Yoon, Hong Zhuang, Xinzhi Ni, Baozhu Guo, Scott E. Gold, Jake C. Fountain, Anthony E. Glenn, Kurt C. Lawrence, Haicheng Zhang, Xiaohuan Guo, Feng Zhang, Wei Wang
Summary: In this study, a combination of SWIR-HSI and SR-FTIR microspectroscopy was used to investigate the chemical and spatial-temporal changes in maize kernels infected by Aspergillus flavus. The results provide theoretical basis for quantifying the spatio-temporal patterns of fungal infection and AFB1 accumulation on maize.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nadia Saeed, Waqas Wakil, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Shakeel, Muhammad Shahid Arain, Qaiser Shakeel
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2020)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
H. M. U. Aslam, K. Naveed, S. I. Hussain, Q. Shakeel, W. Ashraf, H. A. Anwaar, M. M. Raza, S. Sarfraz, I. Tariq
Article
Biology
Muhammad Arslan Khan, Hasan Riaz, Muhammad Raheel, Qaiser Shakeel, Ummara Waheed, Nadeem Ahmed, Muhammad Bashair, Waqas Ashraf, Hafiz Tassawar Abbas, Maria Siddique, Maria Khan, Ambreen Naz, Musarrat Shaheen, Asif Mahmood Arif, Habib Ali, Muhammad Nasir, Mohammad Javed Ansari, Hamed A. Ghramh, Khalid Ali Khan
Summary: The study aimed to establish chemical control methods for root-knot nematodes and root rot fungi, and tested in laboratory and field conditions. The results demonstrated that using specific chemicals can significantly reduce the survival rate of nematodes and the mycelial growth of fungi, serving as an effective management technique.
SAUDI JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Ahsan, Adnan Younis, Muhammad Nafees, Aasma Tufail, Qaiser Shakeel, Muhammad Raheel, Fahim Nawaz, Muhammad Jafar Jaskani, Muhammad Amin, Mateen Sajid, Gulzar Akhtar, Ali Bukhsh, Umme Habiba Siddiqua, Muhammad Ammar Raza, Timothy Schwinghamer, Hira Zulfiqar
Summary: The study revealed that different types of wastewater have varying effects on metal accumulation in rose petals, with no impact on composition but quantitative differences in aroma constituents and essential oil chemical composition.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zuhaib Ahmad, Muhammad Naeem, Rashid Azad, Izhar Hussain, Rehana Bibi, Maid Zaman, Rasheed Akbar, Nousheen Zafeer, Rehab Omer Elnour Elgezouly, Ghulam Mustafa, Muhammad Hasnain, Waqar Jaleel, Qaiser Shakeel, Fahad Saleem, Hamed A. Ghramh, Khalid Ali Khan
Summary: In this study, extensive field surveys were conducted in the Pothohar region of Pakistan to explore the diversity of assassin bugs and their habitats and prey records. The results showed uneven distribution of assassin bug species in the region, with some areas in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Jehlum exhibiting high diversity indices. Certain assassin bug species were found to be effective predators of economically important pests in various crops.
JOURNAL OF KING SAUD UNIVERSITY SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Aqleem Abbas, Mustansar Mubeen, Hongxia Zheng, Muhammad Aamir Sohail, Qaiser Shakeel, Manoj Kumar Solanki, Yasir Iftikhar, Sagar Sharma, Brijendra Kumar Kashyap, Sarfaraz Hussain, Mariadel Carmen Zuniga Romano, Ernesto A. Moya-Elizondo, Lei Zhou
Summary: Rhizoctonia solani is a pathogen that causes considerable harm to plants worldwide, and traditional management methods have limited effectiveness in controlling it. Trichoderma spp. is an example of a model fungus that can enhance crop productivity in a sustainable way through biocontrol mechanisms against R. solani. Additionally, Trichoderma spp. can induce resistance in plants. Therefore, research on Trichoderma spp. is of great importance.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Sajjad Ali, Asif Sajjad, Qaiser Shakeel, M. Aslam Farooqi, M. Anjum Aqueel, Kaleem Tariq, Muhammad Irfan Ullah, Aamir Iqbal, Aftab Jamal, Muhammad Farhan Saeed, Barbara Manachini
Summary: Symbiotic bacteria play a key role in protecting insects, particularly aphids, against fungal pathogens, which can enhance their lifespan and reduce mortality. This symbiotic relationship has significant implications for the development and population of host insects.
Review
Microbiology
Muhammad Umer, Mustansar Mubeen, Qaiser Shakeel, Sajjad Ali, Yasir Iftikhar, Rabia Tahir Bajwa, Naureen Anwar, Muhammad Junaid Rao, Yuejun He
Summary: Mycoviruses can be used as biocontrol agents to manage fungal diseases, and they have been found in various fungal kingdoms and genera. The rice sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani is a significant crop disease, and mycoviruses have been proven to control it.
Article
Microbiology
Ahmad Kaleem Qureshi, Umar Farooq, Qaiser Shakeel, Sajjad Ali, Sarfraz Ashiq, Sohail Shahzad, Muhammad Tariq, Mahmoud F. Seleiman, Aftab Jamal, Muhammad Farhan Saeed, Barbara Manachini
Summary: The study focuses on the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using plant extract as eco-friendly agents and their antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici. The synthesized silver nanoparticles showed significant antifungal efficacy and the combination of plant extract and smaller particle size contributed to the highest inhibitory effect. This study highlights the potential of using plant extracts as reducing and capping agents for the green synthesis of antifungal silver nanoparticles.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qurban Ali, Muhammad Raheel, Waqas Ashraf, Qaiser Shakeel, Muhammad Qasim, Safdar Ali, Kaneez Fatima, Abdul Jabbar, Khalid Naveed, Hafiz Muhammad Usman Aslam
Summary: The studies showed that all tested insect growth regulators had significant impacts on the pupal and adult stages of the pests, with effects that varied depending on concentration and exposure period. The effectiveness of the insect growth regulators was found to be dose and time-dependent, with certain chemicals showing higher suppression rates than others. Ultimately, these results suggest that insect growth regulators, particularly compounds like flufenoxuron, lufenuron, and triflumuron, could be valuable components in integrated pest management systems for stored grain pests.
FRESENIUS ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Adnan Ahmad, Muhammad Naveed Aslam, Fasiha Qurashi, Waqas Ashraf, Muhammad Raheel, Qaiser Shakeel, Ambreen Maqsood, Kamran Saleem
Summary: The study investigated the molecular diversity of the capsid protein gene (CP) of Pakistani Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) isolates, showing high nucleotide sequence similarity within Pakistani isolates and with other isolates from India and China. Phylogenetic analysis revealed clustering of Pakistani isolates with Turkish and South Korean isolates. The findings suggest stable genetic differentiation and low polymorphism frequency in the studied PMMoV populations.
ASIAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Muhammad Arslan Khan, Sajid Aleem Khan, Hasan Riaz, Nadeem Ahmad, Rana Binyamin, Waqas Ashraf, Muhammad Ishtiaq, Mudssar Ali, Muhammad Ahmad Zeshan, Qaiser Shakeel, Rao Muhammad Ikram, Ummara Waheed, Asif Mahmood, Mui-Yun Wong
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND BIOLOGY
(2020)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Farheen Nazli, Adnan Mustafa, Maqshoof Ahmad, Azhar Hussain, Moazzam Jamil, Xiukang Wang, Qaiser Shakeel, Muhammad Imtiaz, Mohamed A. El-Esawi
Article
Zoology
Sajjad Ali, M. Irfan Ullah, Asif Sajjad, Muhammad Zeeshan Majeed, M. Aslam Farooqi, M. Shahid Rizwan, Qaiser Shakeel, Sohail Akhter, Muhammad Raheel, Muhammad Arshad
PAKISTAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Entomology
Hafiz Muhammad Aatif, Muhammad Shahid Hanif, Muhammad Raheel, Muhammad Ferhan, Muhammad Zeeshan Mansha, Azhar Abbas Khan, Muhammad Irian Ullah, Qaiser Shakeel, Sajjad Ali
EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL
(2020)