Article
Food Science & Technology
Vanja Vlajkov, Mila Grahovac, Dragana Budakov, Marta Loc, Ivana Pajcin, Dragan Milic, Tihomir Novakovic, Jovana Grahovac
Summary: Maize is a leading export product in the Republic of Serbia and plays a critical role in the country's agriculture-dependent economic development. Although there was no aflatoxin contamination detected in maize samples harvested in 2019 and 2020 in different localities, the presence of Aspergillus flavus strains with key biosynthesis genes for aflatoxin production was confirmed. This study highlighted the potential risk of aflatoxin contamination and the importance of biocontrol agents in preventing such contamination.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Zheyu Li, Yanan Sun, Linghui Gu, Yuchi Wang, Mingqin Xu, Yunhao Zhou, Yichen Hu, Wenbo Ma
Summary: We optimized the synthesis method of Ar-turmerone, the main active ingredient in turmeric essential oil, improved its yield and reduced the operation requirements. Moreover, 50.0 μg/mL Ar-turmerone completely inhibited the growth, spore germination, mycelium biomass, and aflatoxin accumulation of A. flavus in 7 days. We identified 2,018 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to A. flavus growth and aflatoxin production, with 45 DEGs completely suppressed. Additionally, Ar-turmerone greatly reduced A. flavus in maize, and we determined the optimal storage conditions for maize to avoid A. flavus contamination.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Sonia Duarte, Ana Magro, Joanna Tomas, Carolina Hilario, Paula Alvito, Ricardo Boavida Ferreira, Maria Otilia Carvalho
Summary: The study found that the presence of insects enhances fungal development and mycotoxin production, but fungal growth has a negative impact on insects. Interaction between the two organisms was observed when they were in contact, and further investigation is needed to clarify the exact mechanisms of the interactions.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Tiago Centeno Einloft, Patricia Bolzan de Oliveira, Lauri Lourenco Radunz, Rafael Gomes Dionello
Summary: This study demonstrates that Bacillus sp. RP103 and RP242 are highly effective in inhibiting Aspergillus flavus, even under unfavorable environmental conditions. In contrast, Bacillus safensis RF69 lost its dominance under suboptimal conditions.
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
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
Biology
Abeer R. M. Abd El-Aziz, Shereen M. Shehata, Sameh M. Hisham, Afnan A. Alobathani
Summary: This study focused on the characterization and identification of A. flavus isolates in stored maize in Saudi Arabia. Various methods including microscopic morphological, biochemical, and molecular characterizations were used for accurate discrimination of aflatoxigenic and non-aflatoxigenic isolates. The study found different methods for determining aflatoxigenic isolates varied in accuracy, with HPLC being the most accurate. Additionally, non-aflatoxigenic isolates may play a crucial role in controlling aflatoxin contamination.
SAUDI JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yenjit Raruang, Olanike Omolehin, Dongfang Hu, Qijian Wei, Surassawadee Promyou, Lidiya J. Parekattil, Kanniah Rajasekaran, Jeffrey W. Cary, Kan Wang, Zhi-Yuan Chen
Summary: The suppression of the Aspergillus flavus polygalacturonase gene (p2c) through host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) can reduce aflatoxin contamination in maize.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Tijana Barosevic, Ferenc Bagi, Zagorka Savic, Natasa Ljubicic, Ivana Ivanovic
Summary: Aflatoxin, a harmful mycotoxin, can be effectively controlled by growing genetically resistant maize hybrids. This research evaluated the sensitivity of different maize hybrids to A. flavus infection and aflatoxin accumulation, and found significant differences in their susceptibility. Infection intensity did not always correspond to aflatoxin levels.
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
Marilyn L. Warburton, Dan Jeffers, Jessie Spencer Smith, Carlos Scapim, Renan Uhdre, Adam Thrash, William Paul Williams
Summary: Research on corn resistance to aflatoxin aims to identify resistance-related genes and metabolites, which can contribute to improving selection of resistant varieties and enhancing genetic gain efficiency.
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
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rafael Nguenha, Maral Seidi Damyeh, Anh D. T. Phan, Hung T. Hong, Mridusmita Chaliha, Tim J. O'Hare, Michael E. Netzel, Yasmina Sultanbawa
Summary: This study successfully evaluated the combination of blue light with curcumin to effectively inactivate Aspergillus flavus spores in maize, inhibiting the production of aflatoxin B1 without affecting carotenoid content.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Jacob J. Pekar, Seth C. Murray, Thomas Isakeit, Luke S. Pruter, Nancy J. Wahl, Michael J. Brewer
Summary: The study showed that applying atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus, different irrigation regimes, and hybrids can reduce aflatoxin contamination in maize. Genotypic variation and interactions between location, irrigation, and genotype can influence aflatoxin susceptibility. These findings are important for breeders to select aflatoxin-tolerant germplasm.
Article
Microbiology
Guojun Chen, Qian'an Fang, Zhenlin Liao, Chunwei Xu, Zhibo Liang, Tong Liu, Qingping Zhong, Li Wang, Xiang Fang, Jie Wang
Summary: This study found that Bacillus amyloliquefaciens WF2020 isolated from naturally fermented pickles could effectively degrade aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and exhibited potential probiotic and antifungal activities. The extracellular enzymes or proteins of B. amyloliquefaciens WF2020 played a major role in AFB1 degradation. The results indicate that B. amyloliquefaciens WF2020 and/or its extracellular enzymes or proteins have promising potential in protecting food and feed from AFB1 contamination.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Edit Kaszab, Julia Rado, Balazs Kriszt, Judit Paszti, Virag Lesinszki, Adam Szabo, Gergo Toth, Ariane Khaledi, Sandor Szoboszlay
Summary: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major public health concern worldwide, with environmental isolates showing high virulence in a Galleria mellonella model and a positive correlation between twitching and mortality. Resistance to antibiotics like Imipenem may lead to lower virulence in this model. The study highlights industrial wastewater, composts, and hydrocarbon-contaminated sites as hot spots for high-risk clones of P. aeruginosa.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Noemi Kiss, Monika Homa, Palanisamy Manikandan, Arumugam Mythili, Krisztina Krizsan, Rajaraman Revathi, Monika Varga, Tamas Papp, Csaba Vagvolgyi, Laszlo Kredics, Sandor Kocsube
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Tibor Benedek, Flora Szentgyorgyi, Istvan Szabo, Milan Farkas, Robert Duran, Balazs Kriszt, Andras Tancsics
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Daniela Jaksic, Miranda Sertic, Domagoj Kifer, Sandor Kocsube, Ana Mornar Turk, Biljana Nigovic, Bojan Sarkanj, Rudolf Krska, Michael Sulyok, Maja Segvic Klaric
Summary: Airborne levels of Aspergilli (Versicolores) were three times higher in the flooded village of Gunja compared to the control village, while dustborne isolates were equally distributed in both locations. Dominant Aspergilli species in Gunja included A. jensenii and A. creber, which produced sterigmatocystin and 5-methoxysterigmatocystin, with a higher prevalence in winter. A total of 75 metabolites related to various fungi were detected in dust samples, with majority showing higher prevalence in winter in Gunja.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Edina Garai, Anita Risa, Emese Varga, Matyas Cserhati, Balazs Kriszt, Bela Urbanyi, Zsolt Csenki
Summary: The NI1 strain was able to degrade various mycotoxins and their mixtures in different proportions, reducing the toxic effects and transforming them into non-toxic degradation products. However, some mixtures, such as the AFB1+T-2 mixture, were degraded into more toxic products. Single exposures to mycotoxins were highly toxic, while combined exposures showed synergistic or antagonistic effects, depending on the specific mixture.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Jafar Al-Omari, Istvan Szabo, Gabor Soma Szerdahelyi, Julia Rado, Edit Kaszab, Jeffrey Griffitts, Andras Tancsics, Sandor Szoboszlay
Summary: A novel bacterium designated as ZS-1/3T, affiliated with the genus Parvularcula and named Parvularcula mediterranea, was isolated from a plastic litter sample in Greece. It shows optimal growth at pH 7.0 and 28℃, with unique fatty acids and respiratory quinone composition.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Sinchan Banerjee, Andras Tancsics, Erika Toth, Fruzsina Revesz, Karoly Boka, Balazs Kriszt
Summary: The bacterium D2P1(T) is capable of degrading benzene, para-xylene, and meta-xylene, belonging to the genus Hydrogenophaga with distinct genetic lineage. Analysis based on 16S rRNA genes showed its low genomic relatedness to closest relatives, suggesting it represents a novel species within the genus.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Gabor Bordos, Szilveszter Gergely, Judit Hahn, Zoltan Palotai, Eva Szabo, Gabriella Besenyo, Andras Salgo, Peter Harkai, Balazs Kriszt, Sandor Szoboszlay
Summary: The current research results on microplastics in the environment are uncertain due to inappropriate sampling, detection, and quantification methods. Surface sampling is more efficient than sampling in deeper layers of the water column, and using environmentally relevant reference particles can yield recovery rates closer to real environmental concentrations.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Cs Dobolyi, K. Inotai, I Bata-Vidacs, D. Sarkany, O. Csernus, S. Kocsube, B. Toth, A. Szekeres, J. Kukolya
Summary: Newly discovered ST-producing A. creber strain in Hungary is the first extreme ST-producing mold in the country. Although A. flavus strains producing aflatoxin B1 have appeared in Hungary due to climate change, the appearance of A. creber, with lower temperature optimum, is likely not related to climate change.
Article
Immunology
Gabor Nagy, Sandor Kiss, Rakesh Varghese, Kitti Bauer, Csilla Szebenyi, Sandor Kocsube, Monika Homa, Laszlo Bodai, Nora Zsindely, Gabor Nagy, Csaba Vagvolgyi, Tamas Papp
Summary: Mucormycosis is a life-threatening infection caused by certain fungi that have high mortality rates. Treatment is challenging due to intrinsic resistance to antifungal agents, such as azoles. The study shows that the regulation of eight pdr genes in the fungus is interconnected, with pdr1 and pdr2 playing roles in resistance to specific azoles.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Mycology
Donat Magyar, Zsofia Tischner, Anna Paldy, Sandor Kocsube, Zsuzsanna Dancshazy, Agnes Halasz, Laszlo Kredics
Summary: Global megatrends such as globalization, technological development, and climate change have significant impacts on microfungi in the vulnerable region of Pannonian Biogeographical Region. The importation of high amounts of inocula and the expansion of fungal habitats due to technological advancements contribute to the increasing presence of non-native species affecting human health and agriculture. It is crucial to take into account the growing presence of these fungal species when developing adaptation strategies.
FUNGAL BIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Orsolya Kedves, Sandor Kocsube, Teodora Bata, Maria A. Andersson, Johanna M. Salo, Raimo Mikkola, Heidi Salonen, Attila Szucs, Alfonz Kedves, Zoltan Konya, Csaba Vagvolgyi, Donat Magyar, Laszlo Kredics
Summary: The research focused on isolating and studying Chaetomium and Chaetomium-like strains from indoor environments in Hungary and Finland, identifying Ch. globosum as the most abundant species in both countries. Additionally, a new phylogenetic species from the closely related genus Dichotomopilus, Dichotomopilus finlandicus, was formally described during the study.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eszter Bokor, Michel Flipphi, Sandor Kocsube, Judit Amon, Csaba Vagvolgyi, Claudio Scazzocchio, Zsuzsanna Hamari
Summary: This study reports the genomic organization and evolutionary features of regulatory clusters in Aspergillus, shedding light on gene duplication, cluster loss, horizontal gene transfer, and the plasticity and complexity of metabolic cluster evolution.