Where is Aspergillus parasiticus found?
Aspergillus parasiticus can be found outdoors commonly within an agricultural setting of soil on fields and through the improper handling, drying, transportation and storage of grains and fresh produce. This fungus is also commonly found on the stems and roots of peanuts and other plants.
Where is Aspergillus flavus found?
soil
Pathogen. Aspergillus flavus is a fungal pathogen that causes Aspergillus ear and Kernel rot. The fungus is mostly found in soil as saprophytes, but it has a broad host range as an opportunistic pathogen. It causes significant losses in corn, peanuts, cottonseed, and tree nuts.
Is Aspergillus parasitic?
A number of species from the genus Aspergillus are facultative parasites and have been reported as agents of stonebrood (Shoreit and Bagy, 1995, Gilliam and Vandenberg, 1988).
What is aflatoxin b1 used for?
Risk management and regulations. Aflatoxin B1 exposure is best managed by measures aimed at preventing contamination of crops in the field, post-harvest handling, and storage, or via measures aimed at detecting and decontaminating contaminated commodities or materials used in animal feed.
Which food items are prone to aflatoxin contamination?
Pre-harvest contamination with aflatoxins is mainly limited to maize, cottonseed, peanuts and tree nuts. Post-harvest contamination can be found in a variety of other crops such as coffee, rice and spices.
What is Aspergillus flavus used for?
Aspergillus flavus strain AF36 is noncarcinogenic and aflatoxin-free and is used as an active ingredient in pesticides. AF36 is a fungal antagonist and is applied as a commercial biocontrol to cotton and corn to reduce aflatoxin exposure.
How does Aspergillus flavus affect humans?
Growth of the fungus on a food source often leads to contamination with aflatoxin, a toxic and carcinogenic compound. Aspergillus flavus is also the second leading cause of aspergillosis in humans. Patients infected with A. flavus often have reduced or compromised immune systems.
What is the most toxic aflatoxin?
Aflatoxin B1 is considered the most toxic and is produced by both Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Aflatoxin M1 is present in the fermentation broth of Aspergillus parasiticus, but it and aflatoxin M2 are also produced when an infected liver metabolizes aflatoxin B1 and B2.
Why is aflatoxin B1 the most toxic?
Toxic effects of AFB1. AFB1 is well known to be hepatotoxic, causing degeneration and necrosis of the liver as well as proliferation of the bile duct and infiltration of inflammatory cells in many species.
Is Aspergillus parasiticus a carcinogen?
Aspergillus parasiticus is a plant pathogen that produces aflatoxins, a liver carcinogen. This fungus produces aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, and mycotoxins, which are all potent carcinogens. Of these, aflatoxin B1 is considered to be the most potent, naturally occurring carcinogen known.
What is the difference between Aspergillus flavus and parasiticus?
Often confused with the closely related species, A. flavus, A. parasiticus has defined morphological and molecular differences. Aspergillus parasiticus is one of three fungi able to produce the mycotoxin, aflatoxin, one of the most carcinogenic naturally occurring substances.
Does Aspergillus parasiticus produce norsoloronic acid?
Aspergillus parasiticus is a mold known to produce aflatoxins within the section Flavi. A mutant strain of Aspergillus parasiticus was reported as producing norsoloronic acid ( Lee et al., 1971). Norsoloronic acid was previously identified in another fungal strain, Aspergillus versicolor ( Hamasaki et al., 1967 ).
Does Aspergillus parasiticus have a sexual life cycle?
Currently, many details of the sexual life cycle remain unknown (4). Aspergillus parasiticus is thought to be ubiquitous and can be isolated from agricultural, but rarely indoor environments (4, 7). It is isolated most frequently from plant parts, seeds, and insects (8).