Exploring the impact of lactic acid bacteria on the biocontrol of toxigenic Fusarium spp. and their main mycotoxins.

The occurrence of fungi and mycotoxins in foods is a serious global problem. Most of the regulated mycotoxins in food are produced by Fusarium spp. This work aimed to assess the antifungal activity of selected lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains against the main toxigenic Fusarium spp.

Lactic Acid Bacteria as Potential Agents for Biocontrol of Aflatoxigenic and Ochratoxigenic Fungi.

Aflatoxins (AF) and ochratoxin A (OTA) are fungal metabolites that have carcinogenic, teratogenic, embryotoxic, genotoxic, neurotoxic, and immunosuppressive effects in humans and animals. The increased consumption of plant-based foods and environmental conditions associated with climate change have intensified the risk of mycotoxin intoxication. This study aimed to investigate the abilities of eleven selected LAB strains to reduce/inhibit the growth of , , , , , , , and and AF and OTA production under different temperature regiments.

Silver Nanoparticle-Based Therapy: Can It Be Useful to Combat Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria?

The present review focuses on the potential use of silver nanoparticles in the therapy of diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Such bacteria are known as "superbugs", and the most concerning species are , , (methicillin and vancomycin-resistant), and some Enterobacteriaceae. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is an urgent need for new treatments against these "superbugs".

Comparative Analysis of Machine Learning Methods to Predict Growth of and Production of T-2 and HT-2 Toxins in Treatments with Ethylene-Vinyl Alcohol Films Containing Pure Components of Essential Oils.

The efficacy of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer films (EVOH) incorporating the essential oil components cinnamaldehyde (CINHO), citral (CIT), isoeugenol (IEG), or linalool (LIN) to control growth rate (GR) and production of T-2 and HT-2 toxins by cultured on oat grains under different temperature (28, 20, and 15 °C) and water activity (a) (0.99 and 0.96) regimes was assayed.

Comparative Study of Several Machine Learning Algorithms for Classification of Unifloral Honeys.

Unifloral honeys are highly demanded by honey consumers, especially in Europe. To ensure that a honey belongs to a very appreciated botanical class, the classical methodology is palynological analysis to identify and count pollen grains. Highly trained personnel are needed to perform this task, which complicates the characterization of honey botanical origins.

Potential Health Risk Associated with Mycotoxins in Oat Grains Consumed in Spain.

Spain is a relevant producer of oats (), but to date there has been no study on the occurrence/co-occurrence of mycotoxins in oats marketed in Spain. The present study is addressed to overcome this lack of knowledge. One hundred oat kernel samples were acquired across different Spanish geographic regions during the years 2015-2019 and analyzed for mycotoxin content using an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method and matrix-matched calibration.

Contamination of Wheat, Barley, and Maize Seeds with Toxigenic Fusarium Species and Their Mycotoxins in Tunisia.

Background: Fusarium is a worldwide distributed fungal genus. It includes different species pathogenic to cereals among others crops. Some of these species can also produce toxic compounds toward animals and humans.

Potential use of machine learning methods in assessment of Fusarium culmorum and Fusariumproliferatum growth and mycotoxin production in treatments with antifungal agents.

Fusarium-controlling fungicides are necessary to limit crop loss. Little is known about the effect of antifungal formulations at sub-lethal doses, and their interaction with abiotic factors, on Fusarium culmorum and F. proliferatum development and on zearalenone and fumonisin biosynthesis, respectively.

Machine learning approach for predicting Fusarium culmorum and F. proliferatum growth and mycotoxin production in treatments with ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer films containing pure components of essential oils.

Fusarium culmorum and F. proliferatum can grow and produce, respectively, zearalenone (ZEA) and fumonisins (FUM) in different points of the food chain. Application of antifungal chemicals to control these fungi and mycotoxins increases the risk of toxic residues in foods and feeds, and induces fungal resistances.

Antifungal effect of engineered silver nanoparticles on phytopathogenic and toxigenic Fusarium spp. and their impact on mycotoxin accumulation.

Cereal grains are essential ingredient in food, feed and industrial processing. One of the major causes of cereal spoilage and mycotoxin contamination is the presence of toxigenic Fusarium spp. Nanoparticles have immense applications in agriculture, nutrition, medicine or health but their possible impact on the management of toxigenic fungi and mycotoxins have been very little explored.

Assessment of Toxic Effects of Ochratoxin A in Human Embryonic Stem Cells.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by different and species, and it is considered a common contaminant in food and animal feed worldwide. On the other hand, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have been suggested as a valuable model for evaluating drug embryotoxicity. In this study, we have evaluated potentially toxic effects of OTA in hESCs.

Kinetics of Alphatorquevirus plasma DNAemia at late times after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Torque teno virus (TTV) plasma DNA load has been consistently shown to be a surrogate biomarker of immunosuppression in solid organ transplant recipients. It is uncertain whether it may behave similarly in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (allo-HSCT). Here, we characterized the dynamics of TTV DNAemia in patients undergoing T-cell replete allo-SCT at late times after transplantation (> day + 100).

Electrochemical identification of toxigenic fungal species using solid-state voltammetry strategies.

An electrochemical methodology for the characterization of mycotoxin-producing fungal species from the genera Aspergillus and Fusarium using solid-state voltammetry is described. Upon attachment of fungal colony microsamples to glassy carbon electrodes in contact with aqueous acetate buffer, characteristic voltammetric signals mainly associated to the oxidation of polyphenolic metabolites are recorded. The possibility of fungi-localized electrochemical processes was assessed by means of electron microscopy and field emission scanning electrochemical microscopy coupled to the application of oxidative potential inputs.

Determination of multiple mycotoxins in feedstuffs by combined use of UPLC-MS/MS and UPLC-QTOF-MS.

In this report, a UPLC-ESI-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, T-2 and HT-2 toxins, fusarenone X, diacetoxyscirpenol, and 3- and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol in feedstuffs was developed. A quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometer detector (QTOF-MS) operating in full scan mode was combined with the UPLC-ESI-MS/MS system to confirm the identity of detected mycotoxins and to identify other possible microbial metabolites occurring in samples. Sixty-two feed samples from the Spanish market were analyzed.

Pre-engraftment cytomegalovirus DNAemia in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients: incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes.

To gauge the risk of delaying initiation of prophylaxis with letermovir from the time of donor infusion to prevent CMV infection in allo-HSCT recipients we investigated the clinical outcomes of CMV DNAemia episodes occurring before engraftment, and compared to that of episodes developing after engraftment (up to day +365). A total of 197 consecutive adult patients were included. Plasma CMV DNA load was monitored by real-time PCR assays [limit of detection: 31 IU/ml].

Risk management of ochratoxigenic fungi and ochratoxin A in maize grains by bioactive EVOH films containing individual components of some essential oils.

Aspergillus steynii and Aspergillus tubingensis are possibly the main ochratoxin A (OTA) producing species in Aspergillus section Circumdati and section Nigri, respectively. OTA is a potent nephrotoxic, teratogenic, embryotoxic, genotoxic, neurotoxic, carcinogenic and immunosuppressive compound being cereals the first source of OTA in the diet. In this study bioactive ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) films containing cinnamaldehyde (CINHO), linalool (LIN), isoeugenol (IEG) or citral (CIT) which are major components of some plant essential oils (EOs) were produced and tested against A.

Selected plant essential oils and their main active components, a promising approach to inhibit aflatoxigenic fungi and aflatoxin production in food.

Recent research has showed that Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus are aflatoxigenic species that can become very competitive in the framework of climate change. Aflatoxins show carcinogenic, mutagenic, immunotoxic and teratogenic effects on human and animals. Effective and sustainable measures to inhibit these species and aflatoxins in food are required.

Epstein-Barr virus DNA load kinetics analysis in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients: Is it of any clinical usefulness?

Background: There is a lack of clinical information regarding the usefulness of plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA load kinetics analyses in the management of EBV infections in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) recipients. Namely, it remains unknown whether this type of analysis can help physicians to anticipate the development of high-level EBV DNAemia episodes requiring rituximab treatment or predict the risk of recurrent EBV DNAemia or post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs).

Study Design: Unicentric, retrospective, observational study including 142 consecutive patients undergoing T-cell replete allo-HSCT.

Impact of bioactive packaging systems based on EVOH films and essential oils in the control of aflatoxigenic fungi and aflatoxin production in maize.

Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus are the most common fungal species associated with aflatoxin (AF) contamination of cereals, especially maize, and other agricultural commodities. AFB the most frequent and toxic metabolite, is a powerful hepatotoxic, teratogenic and mutagenic compound.

Assessment of azole fungicides as a tool to control growth of Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin B and B production in maize.

Aspergillus flavus is a highly aflatoxin (AF)-producing species infecting maize and other crops. It is dominant in tropical regions, but it is also considered an emerging problem associated with climate change in Europe. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of azole fungicides (prochloraz, tebuconazole and a 2:1 (w/w) mixture of prochloraz plus tebuconazole) to control the growth of A.

Effect of fenpropimorph, prochloraz and tebuconazole on growth and production of T-2 and HT-2 toxins by Fusarium langsethiae in oat-based medium.

Fusarium langsethiae has been isolated from infected cereals in central and northern Europe where it has been identified in the last decade as the main species involved in the occurrence of high levels of T-2 and HT-2 toxins, mainly in oats. The efficacy of three fungicides (prochloraz, tebuconazole, fenpropimorph) for controlling growth of two strains of F. langsethiae isolated from oats was examined at 0.

Aflatoxins and ochratoxin A in stored barley grain in Spain and impact of PCR-based strategies to assess the occurrence of aflatoxigenic and ochratoxigenic Aspergillus spp.

Contamination of barley by moulds and mycotoxins results in quality and nutritional losses and represents a significant hazard to the food chain. The presence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), B2 (AFB2), G1 (AFG1) and G2 (AFG2) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in stored barley in Spain has been studied. Species-specific PCR assays were used for detection of Aspergillus flavus, A.

Determination of type A and type B trichothecenes in paprika and chili pepper using LC-triple quadrupole-MS and GC-ECD.

There is a need to develop sensitive and accurate analytical methods for determining deoxynivalenol (DON), HT-2 toxin and T-2 toxin in paprika to properly assess the relevant risk of human exposure. An optimized analytical method for determination of HT-2 toxin and T-2 toxin using capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detection and another method for determination of DON by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in paprika was developed. The method for determination of HT-2 toxin and T-2 toxin that gave the best recoveries involved extraction of the sample with acetonitrile-water (84:16, v/v), clean-up by solid-phase extraction on a cartridge made of different sorbent materials followed by a further clean-up in immunoaffinity column that was specific for the two toxins.

Impact of non-selective fungicides on the growth and production of ochratoxin A by Aspergillus ochraceus and A. carbonarius in barley-based medium.

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the non-selective fungicides mancozeb, copper oxychloride, and sulfur on the growth and capability for producing ochratoxin A (OTA) of ochratoxigenic isolates of Aspergillus carbonarius and A. ochraceus in barley-based medium. Lag phases and growth rates were determined for each fungicide at different doses, at 15°C and 25°C and at 0.

Optimization of clean-up procedure for patulin determination in apple juice and apple purees by liquid chromatography.

Patulin (PAT) is a mycotoxin produced in fruits, mainly in apples, by several fungal species that can be carried into industrial apple juice by-products during factory processing. An analytical method for determination of PAT in apple juice and another one for determination of this compound in apple purees and apple compotes by liquid chromatography are proposed in the present paper. These methods have better precision and sensitivity than previously reported methods and focus mainly on extraction and clean-up.