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Aspergillus flavus and Aflatoxins (Volume III)

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A special issue of Toxins (ISSN 2072-6651). This special issue belongs to the section "Mycotoxins".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2025) | Viewed by 12105

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Prof. Dr. Shihua Wang

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Guest Editor

Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Interests: fungi; A. flavus; secondary metabolite; mycotoxins; biosynthetic pathway; antibody; detection; regulation; control; post-translation modification
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Prof. Dr. Yang Liu

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Guest Editor

School of Food Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528231, China
Interests: fungi toxins; A. flavus; prevention, control and detoxification
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Dear Colleagues,

It is well known that aflatoxins (AFs), a type of toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites mainly produced by Aspergillus flavus, not only represent a serious threat to human and animal health, but also cause significant economic losses regarding food and feed. Since the discovery of AFs in 1960s, significant research progress on A. flavus and AFs has been achieved. With the rapid development of molecular biology, genomics and bioinformatics, the research of A. flavus and AFs has entered a new era, especially regarding the regulation mechanism of growth and development and secondary metabolism, the discovery of novel natural products, the synthesis mechanism of natural products, and toxin detection. The regulation mechanism is very complex and includes the transcription level, translational level, and post-translational modification (PTM) level. Among them, PTM is one of the current research hotspots, including novel succinylation and benzoylation modifications. A. flavus conidia and sclerotium, as the primary sources of infection, play critical roles in the effects of A. flavus and aflatoxins. In addition, the highly sensitive detection of toxins is also an effective way to reduce losses caused by A. flavus and aflatoxins. Therefore, it is important that the regulation mechanisms of the growth and development of A. flavus and its toxin biosynthesis are revealed, and efficient and sensitive detection methods are developed.

The current Special Issue aims to collect papers related to A. flavus and aflatoxins, on subjects ranging from molecular mechanisms to detection methods, and this includes original research articles, and review articles. As the guest editors, we look forward to receiving papers from researchers and experts.

Prof. Dr. Shihua Wang
Prof. Dr. Yang Liu
Guest Editors

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Keywords

Aspergillus flavus
growth and development
aflatoxins
secondary metabolism
post-translational modification
detection

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Related Special Issues

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Research on Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins in China (Volume II) in Toxins (11 articles)

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Research

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24 pages, 14442 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Combining Multiple Omics with Molecular Dynamics Reveals SCP2-Mediated Cytotoxicity Effects of Aflatoxin B1 in SW480 Cells

by Mengting Chen, Jiaxin Wen, Yiyan Qiu, Xinyue Gao, Jian Zhang, Yifan Lin, Zekai Wu, Xiaohuang Lin and An Zhu

Toxins 2024, 16(9), 375; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16090375 - 24 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1670

Abstract

Aflatoxins belong to a class of mycotoxins, among which aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) has detrimental effects on the health of both animals and humans. It is associated with long-term exposure-induced carcinogenicity, hepatotoxicity, renal toxicity, neurotoxicity, and immunosuppressive properties, resulting in a variety of diseases. The intestine is the first barrier for human exposure to AFB1, but limited investigations have been conducted to clarify the underlying mechanisms of intestinal cytotoxicity. The mechanism of AFB1-induced cytotoxicity was investigated in this study using an integrated approach combining transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome analysis along with molecular dynamics simulation. After exposing SW480 cells to 50 μM AFB1 for 72 h, the transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome exhibited significant enrichment in pathways associated with oxidative stress, fatty acid and lipid metabolism, and glutathione metabolism. The experimental results demonstrated that AFB1 significantly reduces SW480 cells viability, and induces oxidative stress, calcium overload, mitochondrial damage, and lipid metabolism disorders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aspergillus flavus and Aflatoxins (Volume III))

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10 pages, 1868 KiB

Open AccessArticle

X-ray Irradiation Reduces Live Aspergillus flavus Viability but Not Aflatoxin B1 in Naturally Contaminated Maize

by Hannah Glesener, Darya Abdollahzadeh, Christopher Muse, Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, Mark A. Weaver and Lee E. Voth-Gaeddert

Toxins 2024, 16(8), 329; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16080329 - 25 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2221

Abstract

Food crops around the world are commonly contaminated with Aspergillus flavus, which can produce the carcinogenic mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The objective of this study is to test an X-ray irradiation sterilization method for studying AFB1 in contaminated maize samples in the laboratory. Maize that had been naturally contaminated with 300 ppb AFB1 by the growth of aflatoxigenic A. flavus was ground and then irradiated at 0.0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 kGy. A. flavus was quantified by dilution plating on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and modified Rose Bengal media (MDRB) for viability and qPCR for gene presence. AFB1 was quantified by HPLC and ELISA. A. flavus viability, but not gene copies, significantly decreased with increasing doses of radiation (PDA: p < 0.001; MDRB: p < 0.001; qPCR: p = 0.026). AFB1 concentration did not significantly change with increasing doses of radiation (HPLC: p = 0.153; ELISA: p = 0.567). Our results imply that X-ray irradiation is an effective means of reducing viable A. flavus without affecting AFB1 concentrations. Reducing the hazard of fungal spores and halting AFB1 production at the targeted dose are important steps to safely and reproducibly move forward research on the global mycotoxin challenge. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aspergillus flavus and Aflatoxins (Volume III))

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14 pages, 9547 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rhein Inhibits Cell Development and Aflatoxin Biosynthesis via Energy Supply Disruption and ROS Accumulation in Aspergillus flavus

by Xiaoyan Wang, Kashif Iqbal Sahibzada, Ruibo Du, Yang Lei, Shan Wei, Na Li, Yuansen Hu and Yangyong Lv

Toxins 2024, 16(7), 285; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16070285 - 23 Jun 2024

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Abstract

Aspergillus flavus and its carcinogenic secondary metabolites, aflatoxins, not only cause serious losses in the agricultural economy, but also endanger human health. Rhein, a compound extracted from the Chinese herbal medicine Rheum palmatum L. (Dahuang), exhibits good anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-oxidative effects. However, its effect and underlying mechanisms against Aspergillus flavus have not yet been fully illustrated. In this study, we characterized the inhibition effect of rhein on A. flavus mycelial growth, sporulation, and aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) biosynthesis and the potential mechanism using RNA-seq analysis. The results indicate that A. flavus mycelial growth and AFB₁ biosynthesis were significantly inhibited by 50 μM rhein, with a 43.83% reduction in colony diameter and 87.2% reduction in AFB₁ production. The RNA-seq findings demonstrated that the differentially expressed genes primarily participated in processes such as spore formation and development, the maintenance of cell wall and membrane integrity, management of oxidative stress, the regulation of the citric acid cycle, and the biosynthesis of aflatoxin. Biochemical verification experiments further confirmed that 50 μM rhein effectively disrupted cell wall and membrane integrity and caused mitochondrial dysfunction through disrupting energy metabolism pathways, leading to decreased ATP synthesis and ROS accumulation, resulting in impaired aflatoxin biosynthesis. In addition, a pathogenicity test showed that 50 μM rhein inhibited A. flavus spore growth in peanut and maize seeds by 34.1% and 90.4%, while AFB₁ biosynthesis was inhibited by 60.52% and 99.43%, respectively. In conclusion, this research expands the knowledge regarding the antifungal activity of rhein and provides a new strategy to mitigate A. flavus contamination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aspergillus flavus and Aflatoxins (Volume III))

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12 pages, 14393 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Aflatoxin B₁ on Liver Cholestasis and Its Nutritional Regulation in Ducks

by Aimei Yu, Huanbin Wang, Qianhui Cheng, Shahid Ali Rajput and Desheng Qi

Toxins 2024, 16(6), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16060239 - 24 May 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1175

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) on cholestasis in duck liver and its nutritional regulation. Three hundred sixty 1-day-old ducks were randomly divided into six groups and fed for 4 weeks. The control group was fed a basic diet, while the experimental group diet contained 90 μg/kg of AFB₁. Cholestyramine, atorvastatin calcium, taurine, and emodin were added to the diets of four experimental groups. The results show that in the AFB₁ group, the growth properties, total bile acid (TBA) serum levels and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione (GSH) liver levels decreased, while the malondialdehyde (MDA) and TBA liver levels increased (p < 0.05). Moreover, AFB₁ caused cholestasis. Cholestyramine, atorvastatin calcium, taurine, and emodin could reduce the TBA serum and liver levels (p < 0.05), alleviating the symptoms of cholestasis. The qPCR results show that AFB₁ upregulated cytochrome P450 family 7 subfamily A member 1 (CYP7A1) and cytochrome P450 family 8 subfamily B member 1 (CYP8B1) gene expression and downregulated ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 11 (BSEP) gene expression in the liver, and taurine and emodin downregulated CYP7A1 and CYP8B1 gene expression (p < 0.05). In summary, AFB₁ negatively affects health and alters the expression of genes related to liver bile acid metabolism, leading to cholestasis. Cholestyramine, atorvastatin calcium, taurine, and emodin can alleviate AFB₁-induced cholestasis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aspergillus flavus and Aflatoxins (Volume III))

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17 pages, 5464 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chitin Deacetylase Homologous Gene cda Contributes to Development and Aflatoxin Synthesis in Aspergillus flavus

by Xin Zhang, Meifang Wen, Guoqi Li and Shihua Wang

Toxins 2024, 16(5), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16050217 - 9 May 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1558

Abstract

The fungal cell wall serves as the primary interface between fungi and their external environment, providing protection and facilitating interactions with the surroundings. Chitin is a vital structural element in fungal cell wall. Chitin deacetylase (CDA) can transform chitin into chitosan through deacetylation, providing various biological functions across fungal species. Although this modification is widespread in fungi, the biological functions of CDA enzymes in Aspergillus flavus remain largely unexplored. In this study, we aimed to investigate the biofunctions of the CDA family in A. flavus. The A. flavus genome contains six annotated putative chitin deacetylases. We constructed knockout strains targeting each member of the CDA family, including Δcda1, Δcda2, Δcda3, Δcda4, Δcda5, and Δcda6. Functional analyses revealed that the deletion of CDA family members neither significantly affects the chitin content nor exhibits the expected chitin deacetylation function in A. flavus. However, the Δcda6 strain displayed distinct phenotypic characteristics compared to the wild-type (WT), including an increased conidia count, decreased mycelium production, heightened aflatoxin production, and impaired seed colonization. Subcellular localization experiments indicated the cellular localization of CDA6 protein within the cell wall of A. flavus filaments. Moreover, our findings highlight the significance of the CBD1 and CBD2 structural domains in mediating the functional role of the CDA6 protein. Overall, we analyzed the gene functions of CDA family in A. flavus, which contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying aflatoxin contamination and lay the groundwork for potential biocontrol strategies targeting A. flavus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aspergillus flavus and Aflatoxins (Volume III))

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13 pages, 1950 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Recombinant Oxidase from Armillaria tabescens as a Potential Tool for Aflatoxin B1 Degradation in Contaminated Cereal Grain

by Igor Sinelnikov, Oleg Mikityuk, Larisa Shcherbakova, Tatyana Nazarova, Yury Denisenko, Alexandra Rozhkova, Natalia Statsyuk and Ivan Zorov

Toxins 2023, 15(12), 678; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins15120678 - 30 Nov 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1860

Abstract

Forage grain contamination with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a global problem, so its detoxification with the aim of providing feed safety and cost-efficiency is still a relevant issue. AFB1 degradation by microbial enzymes is considered to be a promising detoxification approach. In this study, we modified an previously developed Pichia pastoris GS115 expression system using a chimeric signal peptide to obtain a new recombinant producer of extracellular AFB1 oxidase (AFO) from Armillaria tabescens (the yield of 0.3 g/L), purified AFO, and selected optimal conditions for AFO-induced AFB1 removal from model solutions. After a 72 h exposure of the AFB1 solution to AFO at pH 6.0 and 30 °C, 80% of the AFB1 was degraded. Treatments with AFO also significantly reduced the AFB1 content in wheat and corn grain inoculated with Aspergillus flavus. In grain samples contaminated with several dozen micrograms of AFB1 per kg, a 48 h exposure to AFO resulted in at least double the reduction in grain contamination compared to the control, while the same treatment of more significantly (~mg/kg) AFB1-polluted samples reduced their contamination by ~40%. These findings prove the potential of the tested AFO for cereal grain decontamination and suggest that additional studies to stabilize AFO and improve its AFB1-degrading efficacy are required. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aspergillus flavus and Aflatoxins (Volume III))

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Review

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31 pages, 758 KiB

Open AccessReview

Aflatoxin B1: Challenges and Strategies for the Intestinal Microbiota and Intestinal Health of Monogastric Animals

by Hyunjun Choi, Yesid Garavito-Duarte, Alexa R. Gormley and Sung Woo Kim

Toxins 2025, 17(1), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins17010043 - 17 Jan 2025

Viewed by 728

Abstract

The objective of this review is to investigate the impacts of aflatoxins, particularly aflatoxin B1 (AFB₁), on intestinal microbiota, intestinal health, and growth performance in monogastric animals, primarily chickens and pigs, as well as dietary interventions to mitigate these effects. Aflatoxin B1 contamination in feeds disrupts intestinal microbiota, induces immune responses and oxidative damage, increases antioxidant activity, and impairs jejunal cell viability, barrier function, and morphology in the small intestine. These changes compromise nutrient digestion and reduce growth performance in animals. The negative impact of AFB₁ on the % change in average daily gain (ΔADG) of chickens and pigs was estimated based on meta-analysis: ΔADG (%)_chicken = −0.13 × AFB₁ intake per body weight (ng/g·d) and ΔADG (%)_pig = −0.74 × AFB₁ intake per body weight (µg/kg·d), indicating that increasing AFB₁ contamination linearly reduces the growth of animals. To mitigate the harmful impacts of AFB₁, various dietary strategies have been effective. Mycotoxin-detoxifying agents include mycotoxin-adsorbing agents, such as clay and yeast cell wall compounds, binding to AFB₁ and mycotoxin-biotransforming agents, such as specific strains of Bacillus subtilis and mycotoxin-degrading enzyme, degrading AFB₁ into non-toxic metabolites such as aflatoxin D1. Multiple mycotoxin-detoxifying agents are often combined and used together to improve the intestinal health and growth of chickens and pigs fed AFB₁-contaminated feeds. In summary, AFB₁ negatively impacts intestinal microbiota, induces immune responses and oxidative stress, disrupts intestinal morphology, and impairs nutrient digestion in the small intestine, leading to reduced growth performance. Supplementing multi-component mycotoxin-detoxifying agents in feeds could effectively adsorb and degrade AFB₁ co-contaminated with other mycotoxins prior to its absorption in the small intestine, preventing its negative impacts on the intestinal health and growth performance of chickens and pigs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aspergillus flavus and Aflatoxins (Volume III))

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