Fourier transform infrared as a powerful technique for the identification and characterization of filamentous fungi and yeasts.

Fourier transform infrared is considered a powerful technique for characterizing chemical compositions of complex probes such as microorganisms. It has successfully been applied to fungal identification. In this paper, the current state of identification and characterization of filamentous fungi and yeasts by Fourier transform infrared is reviewed.

Characterization of Aspergillus species based on fatty acid profiles.

Cellular fatty acid (FA) composition was utilized as a taxonomic tool to discriminate between different Aspergillus species. Several of the tested species had the same FA composition and different relative FA concentrations. The most important FAs were palmitic acid (C16:0), estearic acid (C18:0), oleic acid (C18:1) and linoleic acid (C18:2), which represented 95% of Aspergillus FAs.

Mycobiota in poultry feeds and natural occurrence of aflatoxins, fumonisins and zearalenone in the Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.

The intake of mycotoxin-contaminated feeds can lead to nutrient losses and may have adverse effects on animal health and on productivity. The aims of this study were (1) to determine the mycobiota present in poultry feed samples, and (2) to evaluate the natural occurrence of aflatoxin B(1), fumonisin B(1) and zearalenone. Fungal counts were similar between all culture media tested (10(3 )CFU g(-1)).