Ochratoxins 2011-2012

Dear Colleagues,

In 2010 a special issue of Toxins entitled “Ochratoxins” published 31 papers concerned with detection of ochratoxins in feed and human foodstuff, occurrence and estimation of dietary intake, and understanding mechanisms of toxicity and carcinogenicity for the development of detoxification processes. In terms of ochratoxin A (OTA) carcinogenicity, highlights from the special issue include the findings by Stoev that OTA induces renal tumors in chicks. Schwartz and coworkers demonstrated that in utero exposure to OTA causes adducts in the testicular DNA of male offspring in support of a possible role for OTA in testicular cancer. 2010 also saw Mantle and coworkers publish convincing evidence that part of the mechanism of OTA carcinogenesis involves direct covalent interaction with DNA.  In the special issue Mantle and Nolan raised new questions about a difference between young adults and mature adults in sensitivity of male rats to the ochratoxin A-induced DNA damage necessary for renal carcinogenesis.  Several papers that include those by Fusi, Varga, Abrunhosa, and Perez examined control strategies for reducing or preventing OTA-induced toxicoses. For OTA detection, Yu and Lai outlined recent advances of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for the extraction and analysis of ochratoxins. Rapid and reliable visual tests for OTA detection was reviewed by Bazin and coworkers, while a new ELISA test for OTB detection was described by Dietrich coworkers. Numerous other studies demonstrated the wide-spread occurrence of OTA, highlighting that problematic exposure to the toxin is not limited to the Balkan region. Given the level of participation and interest in the special issue “Ochratoxins”, the editorial board of Toxins was eager to run this special issue again. To the many authors that contributed to ‘Ochratoxins” we wish to thank you for sharing your research findings that made the special issue such a success. We hope that this second special issue of Toxins entitled “Ochratoxins 2011” further highlights the ongoing interdisciplinary research on the ochratoxins and provides the readership with a further understanding of the key issues being addressed at the present time.

Prof. Dr. Richard A. Manderville
Prof. Dr. Annie Pfohl-Leszkowicz
Guest Editors