Publications by authors named "Sophie Lorber"

is the leading cause of aspergillosis, associated with high mortality rates, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. In search of novel genetic targets against aspergillosis, we studied the WOPR transcription factor OsaA. The deletion of the gene resulted in colony growth reduction.

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Crop contamination by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), an produced toxin, is frequently observed in tropical and subtropical regions. This phenomenon is emerging in Europe, most likely as a result of climate change. Alternative methods, such as biocontrol agents (BCAs), are currently being developed to reduce the use of chemicals in the prevention of mycotoxin contamination.

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In fungi, conserved homeobox-domain proteins are transcriptional regulators governing development. In Aspergillus species, several homeobox-domain transcription factor genes have been identified, among them, hbxA/hbx1. For instance, in the opportunistic human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus, hbxA is involved in conidial production and germination, as well as virulence and secondary metabolism, including production of fumigaclavines, fumiquinazolines, and chaetominine.

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Diversity of species within clade, currently represented by and , was investigated combining three-locus gene sequences, , secondary metabolites profile and morphology. Firstly, approximately 700 accessions belonging to this clade were investigated using calmodulin gene sequences. Based on these sequences, eight haplotypes were clearly identified as ( = 247) and 17 as ( = 403).

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, one of the most common fungi occurring in a diverse range of habitats, has a worldwide distribution and a large economic impact on human health. Hundreds of the species belonging to this genus cause disastrous decay in food crops and are able to produce a varied range of secondary metabolites, from which we can distinguish harmful mycotoxins. Some species are considered to be important producers of patulin and ochratoxin A, two well-known mycotoxins.

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Article Synopsis
  • Ascomycetes reproduce asexually through spores, and a specific gene is vital for their asexual development, contributing to blue mold disease and patulin mycotoxin in apples.
  • A genetically modified strain lacking the function of this gene resulted in halted conidiophore development and increased patulin production compared to the wild type, indicating its role in the fungus's aggressiveness.
  • Metabolome and transcriptome analyses revealed that chaetoglobosins are produced in specific regions, suggesting a specialized biosynthetic pathway that varies depending on the location of the fungus, with certain derivatives appearing only outside of the apple.
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The study of fungal species evolved radically with the development of molecular techniques and produced new evidence to understand specific fungal mechanisms such as the production of toxic secondary metabolites. Taking advantage of these technologies to improve food safety, the molecular study of toxinogenic species can help elucidate the mechanisms underlying toxin production and enable the development of new effective strategies to control fungal toxicity. Numerous studies have been made on genes involved in aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production, one of the most hazardous carcinogenic toxins for humans and animals.

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is the leading cause of invasive aspergillosis, which in immunocompromised patients results in a mortality rate as high as 90%. Earlier studies showed that HbxA is a global regulator in affecting morphological development and secondary metabolism. Here, we determined its role in , examining whether HbxA influences the regulation of asexual development, natural product biosynthesis, and virulence of this fungus.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Filamentous fungi pose a significant risk to food safety by causing food losses and producing harmful mycotoxins, making their rapid identification essential.
  • - This study explored the effectiveness of MALDI-TOF, a rapid identification tool, in distinguishing Aspergillus section Flavi species and differentiating Penicillium roqueforti isolates from three genetic populations.
  • - The results showed that MALDI-TOF provided high accuracy in identifying fungal species, with over 99% correct attribution for Aspergillus and 94-95% for P. roqueforti, indicating its potential as a reliable alternative to traditional molecular methods.
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Dried leaves and stems of Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil. (yerba mate) are used to make a popular beverage in some countries of South America, commonly known as "chimarrão".

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Spices are used extensively in Lebanon not only to flavour foods but also for their medicinal properties. To date, no data are available regarding the nature of the toxigenic fungal species that may contaminate these products at the marketing stage in this country. Eighty samples corresponding to 14 different types of spices were collected throughout Lebanon to characterize the Aspergillus section Flavi contaminating spices marketed in Lebanon and the toxigenic potential of these fungal species.

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To limit anthropogenic impact on ecosystems, regulations have been implemented along with global awareness that human activities are harmful to the environment. Ecological risk assessment (ERA) is the main procedure which allows to assess potential impacts of stressors on the environment as a result of human activities. ERA is typically implemented through different steps of laboratory testing.

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Aflatoxins (AFs) are secondary metabolites produced by section during their development, particularly in maize. It is widely accepted that AFB1 is a major contaminant in regions where hot climate conditions favor the development of aflatoxigenic species. Global warming could lead to the appearance of AFs in maize produced in Europe.

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Penicillium expansum, the causal agent of blue mould disease, produces the mycotoxins patulin and citrinin amongst other secondary metabolites. Secondary metabolism is associated with fungal development, which responds to numerous biotic and abiotic external triggers. The global transcription factor VeA plays a key role in the coordination of secondary metabolism and differentiation processes in many fungal species.

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Several strains of a new aflatoxigenic species of , , were isolated in the course of a screening study involving species from section found contaminating peanuts () and peanut paste in the Côte d'Ivoire. Based on examination of four isolates, this new species is described using a polyphasic approach. A concatenated alignment comprised of nine genes (, , , , , , , and ) was subjected to phylogenetic analysis, and resulted in all four strains being inferred as a distinct clade.

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