Mycotoxins

Dear Colleagues,

Mycotoxins are referred to as low-molecular-weight secondary metabolites produced by molds (ascomycetes mushrooms) that may have a wide spectrum of adverse effects on humans, animals, and plants. In particular, their almost unavoidable occurrence in food and feed is posing a severe threat to public health, and it is also a possible cause of trade friction on a global scale. Most of their effects are organ-specific, but some mycotoxins may have broader effects at a systemic level. The induction of cancer by some mycotoxins through initiation and promotion processing, in animals and possibly in humans, is one of the major concerns regarding their chronic effects, albeit their pleiotropic effects may be responsible for a wealth of disfunctions and altered physiological states at both chronic and acute levels. As an example, the modulation of immune systems as well as endocrine disrupting activity are among the effects of most concerns studied over the years.

Meanwhile, fungal secondary metabolites can also benefit humans in different ways. For instance, they can be used as antibiotics (penicillins) or immunosuppressants (cyclosporine).

In this Special Issue, original reaserch findings and review articles dealing with, but not limited to, the mechanisms and modes of action in both animals and plants, treatments to counteract adverse effects in living organisms, strategies to prevent and/or reduce accumulation in the food and feed production chains, innovative strategies of detection, as well as sound evidence pointing to possible beneficial effects of fungal metabolites are considered for publication.

Prof. Dr. Chiara Dall'Asta
Dr. Luca Dellafiora
Guest Editors

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