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Toxicity, Mitigation and Chemical Analysis of Aflatoxins and Other Toxic...
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Toxicity, Mitigation and Chemical Analysis of Aflatoxins and Other Toxic Metabolites Produced by Aspergillus

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 August 2025 | Viewed by 3623

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Matthew Lebar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Food and Feed Safety Research Unit, Southern Regional Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture—Agricultural Research Service, New Orleans, LA 70179, USA
Interests: fungal secondary metabolites; biosynthesis; host-pathogen interactions; chemical ecology; aflatoxins
Dr. Kanniah Rajasekaran

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Southern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA/ARS), New Orleans, LA 70124, USA
Interests: host plant resistance; aflatoxins; biotechnology; molecular breeding; pre-& post-harvest contamination; maize; cotton; peanuts
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aflatoxin-producing fungi from Aspergillus species infect and contaminate food and feed crops. Although aflatoxins are highly regulated, contamination of the food supply is still a global concern. In addition to aflatoxins, Aspergillus fungi produce many other secondary metabolites, which are currently unregulated. Several of these metabolites are known to be toxic, yet the toxicity and function of the majority of Aspergillus-produced metabolites are largely unknown.

This Special Issue of Toxins aims to highlight regulated and unregulated toxins and other metabolites produced by Aspergillus spp., alongside methods to mitigate these metabolites in the food supply. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Novel aflatoxin detection and mitigation strategies.
  • Methods to detect and analyze non-regulated toxins and other Aspergillus
  • Toxicity and co-toxicity studies focusing on aflatoxin and/or other Aspergillus toxins including cyclopiazonic acid, aflatrem, aspergillic acid, etc.
  • The identification of new Aspergillus metabolites and their potential biological roles.
  • Survey data for unregulated Aspergillus toxins in food and feed crops and/or commercial products.

Dr. Matthew Lebar
Dr. Kanniah Rajasekaran
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxins is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • aflatoxin
  • Aspergillus
  • secondary metabolites
  • non-regulated toxins
  • mitigation

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 3277 KiB  
Article
Variations in Kojic Acid Production and Corn Infection Among Aspergillus flavus Isolates Suggest a Potential Role as a Virulence Factor
by Rebecca R. Sweany, Matthew K. Gilbert, Carol H. Carter-Wientjes, Geromy G. Moore and Matthew D. Lebar
Toxins 2024, 16(12), 539; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16120539 - 13 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1586
Abstract
Kojic acid is a secondary metabolite with strong chelating and antioxidant properties produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. oryzae. Although antioxidants and chelators are important virulence factors for plant pathogens, the ecological role of kojic acid remains unclear. We previously observed a [...] Read more.
Kojic acid is a secondary metabolite with strong chelating and antioxidant properties produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. oryzae. Although antioxidants and chelators are important virulence factors for plant pathogens, the ecological role of kojic acid remains unclear. We previously observed a greater gene expression of antioxidants, especially kojic acid, by non-aflatoxigenic A. flavus when co-cultured with aflatoxigenic A. flavus. Aflatoxin production was also reduced. In this study, we investigated kojic acid production in 22 A. flavus isolates from Louisiana and compared them to four common A. flavus strains in liquid medium and on corn kernels. Corn kernel infection was assessed by quantifying the maize beta tubulin DNA content of the kernels using drop digital PCR (ddPCR). Maize beta tubulin DNA content decreased with increased corn kernel infection. Greater kojic acid production by A. flavus isolates coincided with greater levels of corn kernel infection. All isolates produced 60 and 700 times more kojic acid than aflatoxin and cyclopiazonic acid (a known virulence factor), respectively, which varied among sclerotial size categories. A. flavus strains with small sclerotia, which were rarely isolated from corn, produced the least kojic acid and infected corn kernels the least, while medium and large sclerotia strains—mainly isolated from corn—produced the most kojic acid and were more infectious. Non-aflatoxigenic isolates from Louisiana produced the most kojic acid. These results suggest that kojic acid is a potential virulence factor and may increase the pathogenic success of medium and large sclerotia-producing A. flavus, which could ultimately lead to more effective A. flavus biocontrol strains. Further studies are required to determine the effects that kojic acid has on the redox environment during corn infection and how the altered redox environment decreases aflatoxin production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicity, Mitigation and Chemical Analysis of Aflatoxins and Other Toxic Metabolites Produced by Aspergillus)
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13 pages, 1612 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Kernel Type (Inshell, Shelled and Split Almonds) on the Growth and Aflatoxin Production of A. flavus Under Different Combinations of Water Activity and Temperature
by Barbara Szonyi, Guangwei Huang, Tim Birmingham and Dawit Gizachew
Toxins 2024, 16(11), 493; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16110493 - 16 Nov 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1024
Abstract
Almonds are susceptible to infestation by Aspergillus flavus, an aflatoxin-producing fungus. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of kernel type (inshell, shelled and split almonds) on the ability of A. flavus to grow and produce aflatoxins at different [...] Read more.
Almonds are susceptible to infestation by Aspergillus flavus, an aflatoxin-producing fungus. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of kernel type (inshell, shelled and split almonds) on the ability of A. flavus to grow and produce aflatoxins at different combinations of temperature (20, 27 and 35 °C), water activity (0.85, 0.92, 0.95 and 0.98 aw) and incubation period (10, 20 and 30 days). There was no fungal growth at 0.85 aw on any of the kernel types. At 0.92 aw, only the split kernels supported growth and aflatoxin synthesis. The fungus was able to grow and produce aflatoxins on all three kernels at 0.95–0.98 aw and 20–35 °C. At 0.98 aw, high total aflatoxin concentrations (>300 µg/kg) were found on the shelled and split kernels at all temperatures. On the inshell nuts, the fungus produced up to 372 µg/kg of total aflatoxins at 0.98 aw and 27 °C. Regression analysis showed that significantly higher levels of aflatoxins were produced at 27 °C (as compared to at 20 and 35 °C) on shelled and split almonds. Incubation time was also a significant predictor of aflatoxin accumulation. The results of this study indicated that shipping almonds below 0.85 aw and reducing storage time would significantly decrease the risk of infestation and aflatoxin production by A. flavus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicity, Mitigation and Chemical Analysis of Aflatoxins and Other Toxic Metabolites Produced by Aspergillus)
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Review

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27 pages, 2201 KiB  
Review
Toxicity, Mitigation, and Chemical Analysis of Aflatoxins and Other Toxic Metabolites Produced by Aspergillus: A Comprehensive Review
by Habtamu Fekadu Gemede
Toxins 2025, 17(7), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins17070331 - 30 Jun 2025
Viewed by 365
Abstract
Aflatoxins, toxic secondary metabolites produced primarily by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, pose significant risks to food safety, public health, and global trade. These mycotoxins contaminate staple crops such as maize and peanuts, particularly in warm and humid regions, leading to economic [...] Read more.
Aflatoxins, toxic secondary metabolites produced primarily by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, pose significant risks to food safety, public health, and global trade. These mycotoxins contaminate staple crops such as maize and peanuts, particularly in warm and humid regions, leading to economic losses and severe health effects, including hepatocellular carcinoma, immune suppression, and growth impairment. In addition to aflatoxins, Aspergillus species produce other toxic metabolites such as ochratoxin A, sterigmatocystin, and cyclopiazonic acid, which are associated with nephrotoxic, carcinogenic, and neurotoxic effects, respectively. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of aflatoxin toxicity, mitigation strategies, and chemical detection methods. The toxicity of aflatoxins is discussed in relation to their biochemical mechanisms, carcinogenicity, and synergistic effects with other mycotoxins. Various mitigation approaches, including pre-harvest biocontrol, post-harvest storage management, and novel detoxification methods such as enzymatic degradation and nanotechnology-based interventions, are evaluated. Furthermore, advances in aflatoxin detection, including chromatographic, immunoassay, and biosensor-based methods, are explored to improve regulatory compliance and food safety monitoring. This review underscores the need for integrated management strategies and global collaboration to reduce aflatoxin contamination and its associated health and economic burdens. Future research directions should focus on genetic engineering for resistant crop varieties, climate adaptation strategies, and improved risk assessment models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicity, Mitigation and Chemical Analysis of Aflatoxins and Other Toxic Metabolites Produced by Aspergillus)
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