International interlaboratory study to normalize liquid chromatography-based mycotoxin retention times through implementation of a retention index system.

Monitoring for mycotoxins in food or feed matrices is necessary to ensure the safety and security of global food systems. Due to a lack of standardized methods and individual laboratory priorities, most institutions have developed their own methods for mycotoxin determinations. Given the diversity of mycotoxin chemical structures and physicochemical properties, searching databases, and comparing data between institutions is complicated.

Derivation of human toxicokinetic parameters and internal threshold of toxicological concern for tenuazonic acid through a human intervention trial and hierarchical Bayesian population modeling.

Background: Tenuazonic acid (TeA), a mycotoxin produced by Alternaria alternata, contaminates various food commodities and is known to cause acute and chronic health effects. However, the lack of human toxicokinetic (TK) data and the reliance on external exposure estimates have stalled a comprehensive risk assessment for TeA.

Objective: To bridge this gap, a human TK trial and population-based TK (PopTK) modeling were applied to determine human TK parameters of TeA, and the results were applied for risk screening using population biomonitoring data and threshold of toxicological concern (TTC)-based approaches.

Diversity of Mycotoxins in Stored Paddy Rice: Contamination Patterns in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam.

Rice ( L.) is the most important food in Vietnam. However, rice is often lost in post-harvest due to fungal growth and mycotoxins contamination.

Risk ranking of mycotoxins in plant-based meat and dairy alternatives under protein transition scenarios.

While reducing the consumption of animal-source foods is recommended for planetary and human health, potential emerging food safety risks associated with the transition to dietary patterns featuring plant-based meat (PBMA) and dairy alternatives (PBDA) remain unexplored. We assessed the exposure to mycotoxins and ranked the associated health risks related to the consumption of PBMA and PBDA. We simulated diets by replacing animal-source proteins with their plant-based alternatives.

Ochratoxin A and AFM1 in Cheese and Cheese Substitutes: LC-MS/MS Method Validation, Natural Occurrence, and Risk Assessment.

Cheese is vulnerable to contamination with mycotoxins, particularly ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxin M1 (AFM1). This study aims to develop and validate an analytical method for the detection and quantification of OTA and AFM1 in cheese and to assess their prevalence and associated risks. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was validated for detecting these mycotoxins in 41 cheese samples, including firm-ripened, spreadable, and plant-based alternatives.

Aflatoxin awareness and preventive agricultural practices are key to adoption of biocontrol among maize smallholder farmers in Tanzania.

Aflatoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus species that infect staple foods like maize causing threat to public health and economic impacts. The use of atoxigenic Aspergillus species is considered one of the promising technologies to prevent aflatoxin contamination in maize. Tanzania approved the use of aflatoxin biocontrol (Aflasafe®) in 2018 and introduced it to eight districts.

The interplay of dietary mycotoxins and oncogenic viruses toward human carcinogenesis: a scoping review.

Background: Mycotoxins, fungal metabolites prevalent in many foods, are recognized for their role in carcinogenesis, especially when interacting with oncogenic viruses.

Objectives: This scoping review synthesizes current evidence on the human cancer risk associated with mycotoxin exposure and oncogenic virus infections.

Methods: Searches were conducted on PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science.

Multiple mycotoxin exposure assessment through human biomonitoring in an esophageal cancer case-control study in the Arsi-Bale districts of Oromia region of Ethiopia.

Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) is a malignancy with a poor prognosis and a five-year survival rate of less than 20%. It is the ninth most frequent cancer globally and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The incidence of EC has been found to vary significantly by geography, indicating the importance of environmental and lifestyle factors along with genetic factors in the onset of the disease.

Rapid LA-REIMS-based metabolic fingerprinting of serum discriminates aflatoxin-exposed from non-exposed pregnant women: a prospective cohort from the Butajira Nutrition, Mental Health, and Pregnancy (BUNMAP) Study in rural Ethiopia.

To date, the changes in maternal metabolic response associated with prenatal aflatoxin exposure remain largely unknown. This study investigated the effects of prenatal aflatoxin exposure on the maternal serum metabolome in rural Ethiopia. A total of 309 pregnant women were enrolled prospectively, and their serum aflatoxin concentrations were measured using targeted liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

A high content imaging assay for identification of specific inhibitors of native liver stage protein synthesis.

parasite resistance to antimalarial drugs is a serious threat to public health in malaria-endemic areas. Compounds that target core cellular processes like translation are highly desirable, as they should be capable of killing parasites in their liver and blood stage forms, regardless of molecular target or mechanism. Assays that can identify these compounds are thus needed.

Unraveling the fate of mycotoxins during the production of legume protein and other derived products.

Consumers are increasingly looking for healthier and sustainable diets. Plant-based diets rich in legumes satisfy this demand. Legumes contain protein, dietary fibers and starch.

Validation of a UPLC-MS/MS Method for Multi-Matrix Biomonitoring of Toxins in Humans.

Mycotoxins, natural toxins produced by fungi, contaminate nearly 80% of global food crops. mycotoxins, including alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethylether (AME), and tenuazonic acid (TeA), present a health concern due to their prevalence in various plants and fruits. Exposure to these toxins exceeds the threshold of toxicological concern in some European populations, especially infants and toddlers.

Actinobacteria as Promising Biocontrol Agents for In Vitro and In Planta Degradation and Detoxification of Zearalenone.

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a prevalent mycotoxin found in grains and grain-derived products, inducing adverse health effects in both animals and humans. The in-field application of microorganisms to degrade and detoxify ZEN is a promising strategy to enhance the safety of food and feed. In this study, we investigated the potential of three actinobacterial strains to degrade and detoxify ZEN in vitro and in planta on wheat ears.

A high content imaging assay for identification of specific inhibitors of native liver stage protein synthesis.

parasite resistance to antimalarial drugs is a serious threat to public health in malaria-endemic areas. Compounds that target core cellular processes like translation are highly desirable, as they should be multistage actives, capable of killing parasites in the liver and blood, regardless of molecular target or mechanism. Assays that can identify these compounds are thus needed.

Aflatoxin B1 and Epstein-Barr virus-induced CCL22 expression stimulates B cell infection.

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infects more than 90% of the adult population worldwide. EBV infection is associated with Burkitt lymphoma (BL) though alone is not sufficient to induce carcinogenesis implying the involvement of co-factors. BL is endemic in African regions faced with mycotoxins exposure.

Exploration of Cytochrome P450-Related Interactions between Aflatoxin B1 and Tiamulin in Broiler Chickens.

Poultry may face simultaneous exposure to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and tiamulin (TIA), given mycotoxin contamination and antibiotic use. As both mycotoxins and antibiotics can affect cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP450), our study aimed to explore their interaction. We developed UHPLC-MS/MS methods for the first-time determination of the interaction between TIA and AFB1 in vitro and in vivo in broiler chickens.

Evaluation of the efficacy of cinnamon oil on Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium proliferatum growth and mycotoxin production on paddy and polished rice: Towards a mitigation strategy.

In the present investigation, the effect of cinnamon oil (CO) (10, 30, 50 and 70 %) on the growth rate (mm/day) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) production of Aspergillus flavus (AF01) and Fusarium proliferatum (FP01) isolates, respectively was determined at optimum water activities (0.95 and 0.99 a) and temperatures (25, 30 and 35 °C) on paddy and polished rice grains.

Model of Coccidioidomycosis for Drug Susceptibility Tests and Virulence Factor Identification.

Coccidioidomycosis (CM) can manifest as respiratory and disseminated diseases that are caused by dimorphic fungal pathogens, such as species. The inhaled arthroconidia generated during the saprobic growth phase convert into multinucleated spherules in the lungs to complete the parasitic lifecycle. Research on coccidioidal virulence and pathogenesis primarily employs murine models typically associated with low lethal doses (LD < 100 spores).

Dietary mycotoxin exposure and human health risks: A protocol for a systematic review.

Background: Mycotoxins are toxic fungal secondary metabolites that contaminate a wide spectrum of essential foods worldwide, such as grain-based products, nuts and spices, causing adverse health effects pertaining to their carcinogenic, nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic nature, among others.

Aim: The aim of this systematic review (SR) is to systematically search for, appraise and synthesize primary research evidence to identify what is known about dietary mycotoxin-related health effects and what remains unknown, as well as the uncertainty around findings and the recommendations for the future.

Search Strategy And Eligibility Criteria: Search strategies, as well as eligibility criteria were structured according to a predefined PECO (population, exposure, comparison, and outcome) research question and developed in an iterative scoping process.

Influence of traditional dehulling on mycotoxin reduction and GC-HRTOF-MS metabolites profile of fermented maize products.

Contamination with mycotoxins has been a worldwide food safety concern for several decades, and food processing has been suggested as a potential method to mitigate their presence. In this study, the influence of traditional dehulling (TD) on the mycotoxin reduction and metabolites profile of fermented white maize products obtained via natural and three controlled fermentation methods (involving Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus plantarum, and their mixed cultures) was examined. Gas chromatography coupled with high resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-HRTOF-MS) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) were employed.

Results of multi-actor collaboration in risk analysis: a simplified risk assessment toolkit for rapid detection of emerging risks.

The dynamic field of food safety faces continuous challenges, prompting stakeholders to develop collaborative actions for improved food safety systems. As part of these actions, the EU-FORA fellowship programme was dedicated to a multi-actor collaboration addressing risks of the unregulated mycotoxins T-2 and HT-2 toxins in oats. Critical gaps in risk assessment procedures were identified, leading to a joint effort to develop a strategy for rapid data collection and risk assessment, including the development of a risk assessment toolkit comprising of a training manual and two intuitive Microsoft® Excel files.