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Organic anion transporters (OATs) belong to a subgroup of the solute carrier 22 transporter family. OATs have a central role in xenobiotic disposition affecting the toxicokinetics of its substrates and inter-individual differences in their expression, activity and function impact both toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics. Amongst OATs, OAT1 (solute carrier family 22 member 6) is involved in the urinary excretion of many xenobiotics bringing substrates into renal proximal tubular cells which can then be secreted across the apical membrane into the tubule lumen. The mycotoxin ochratoxin A has been shown to have a high affinity for OAT1, which is an important renal transporter involved in its urinary excretion. Nowadays, molecular modeling techniques are widely applied to assess protein-ligand interactions and may provide a tool to depict the mechanistic of xenobiotic action be it toxicokinetics or toxicodynamics. This work provides a structured pipeline consisting of docking and molecular dynamic simulations to study OAT1-ligand interactions and the impact of OAT1 polymorphisms on such interactions. Such a computational structure-based analytical framework allowed to: i) model OAT1-substrate complex formation and depict the features correlating its sequence, structure and its capability to recruit substrates; and ii) investigate the impact of OAT1 missense mutations on substrate recruitment. Perspectives on applying such a structured pipeline to xenobiotic-metabolising enzymes are discussed.

In recent years, the growth of the field of medicinal herbs and the increased demand for plant-derived products have raised questions about their safety for consumer health. The evaluation of mycotoxins and pesticide residues in these matrices are among the major concerns. For this reason, forty-seven samples of different medicinal herbs were purchased from Italian herbal shops and the presence of these contaminants was assessed. AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2 and OTA A were characterised using high-performance chromatography with a FLD detector (LOQs were set at 0.375 μg/kg for aflatoxins and 1.0 μg/kg for ochratoxin A). A QuEChERS modified method was used for pesticide residue determination followed by GC–MS/MS and LC–MS/MS analysis (LOQ was set at 0.005 mg/kg). The two strategies proved to be complementary and contributed to a greater pesticide residues characterisation. About thirty percent of the samples analysed were found to be contaminated. Data highlighted the importance and the need to implement international monitoring in these types of matrices.

Ochratoxins (OTs) with nephrotoxic, immunosuppressive, teratogenic, and carcinogenic properties are thermostable fungal subordinate metabolites. OTs contamination can occur before or after harvesting, during the processing, packing, distribution, and storage of food. Mold development and mycotoxin contamination can occur in any crop or cereal that has not been stored properly for long periods of time and is subjected to high levels of humidity and temperature. Ochratoxin A (OTA) presents a significant health threat to creatures and individuals. There is also a concern of how human interaction with OTA will also express the remains of OTA from feedstuffs into animal-derived items. Numerous approaches have been studied for the reduction of the OTA content in agronomic products. These methods can be classified into two major classes: inhibition of OTA adulteration and decontamination or detoxification of food. A description of the various mycotoxins, the organism responsible for the development of mycotoxins, and their adverse effects are given. In the current paper, the incidence of OTA in various fodder and food materials is discussed, which is accompanied by a brief overview of the OTA mode of synthesis, physicochemical properties, toxic effects of various types of ochratoxins, and OTA decontamination adaptation methods. To our knowledge, we are the first to report on the structure of many naturally accessible OTAs and OTA metabolism. Finally, this paper seeks to be insightful and draw attention to dangerous OTA, which is too frequently neglected and overlooked in farm duplication from the list of discrepancy studies.

The multimycotoxin analysis of aflatoxins (AFs), zearalenone (ZEA), ochratoxin A (OTA), enniatins (ENNs) and beauvericin (BEA) was performed in 85 samples of medicinal herbs dietary supplements. The samples were classified in 64 samples of one herbal ingredient and 21 mixed samples. The extraction was performed by QuEChERS method and the determination by liquid chromatography coupled to ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS-IT). Then, the risk characterization to mycotoxins through the consumption of medicinal herbs dietary supplements was assessed. The results showed that ZEA, OTA, ENNs and BEA showed in the samples with incidences between 1 and 34%, being ENNB the most detected mycotoxin. Mycotoxins contents ranged from LOQ to 3850.5 µg/kg while the mean of positives samples were 65.5 µg/kg (ENNA), 82.7 µg/kg (ENNA1), 88.7 µg/kg (ENNB), 324.9 µg/kg (ENNB1), 137.9 µg/kg (BEA) and 1340.11 µg/kg (ZEA), respectively. OTA was detected in one herbal mix tablet for insomnia at concentration of 799 μg/kg. In herbal drugs the European Pharmacopoeia Commission has implemented limits of 2 µg/kg for AFB1 and 4 µg/kg for total AFs. In the present study AFs have not been detected in the analyzed medicinal herbs dietary supplements. The Estimated Daily Intakes (EDIs) values were calculated using a deterministic method, considering two exposure scenarios (lower bound (LB) and upper bound (UB)). The values obtained were in general far below the Tolerable Daily Intakes (TDIs) established. Graphical abstract

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) are highly toxic mycotoxin metabolites that are found as food pollutants, posing health risks to humans and animals. The objective of the current study is to establish a sensitive, reliable method for determining AFM1 and OTA using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and attempting to assess the efficacy of bentonite, date pit, and chitosan nanoparticles for AFM1 and OTA detoxification from contaminated milk. As revealed, AFM1 was found in 65.7% of analyzed samples ranging from 4.5 to 502 ng/L, while 25.7% of examined samples contained OTA ranging from 1.45 to 301 ng/L. Furthermore, for AFM1 and OTA. The advanced procedure was thoroughly validated by evaluating linearity (R2 > 0.999), LOD (0.9615 and 0.654 ng/L), and LOQ (2.8846 and 1.963 ng/L), recovery (93–95% and 87–91%), as well as precision (≤ 1%RSD). The experimental data revealed a higher removal efficiency of bentonite and date pit than chitosan nanoparticles in the case of AFM1 (68%, 56%, and 12%) and OTA (64%, 52%, and 10%), respectively with slight change in nutritional milk components like fat, protein, and lactose. Eventually, it is concluded that bentonite and date pit can be considered efficient adsorbing agents to extract AFM1 and OTA from contaminated milk.

Mycotoxins constitute a real problem of public health because of their highly toxic effects for the populations. This study aims to evaluate the practices that favor aflatoxins and ochratoxin A development in rice sold on the markets of Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire). A food consumption survey was conducted among 45 traders and 135 consumers of rice in three markets in Abobo and Cocody communes. A simple, open-ended questionnaire was submitted to the rice traders and consumers. It covered socio-demographic characteristics (age, sex, level of education), location and conditions of storage, place of supply, and knowledge of mycotoxins. Following the survey, 20 samples of rice, prized by the population, were collected and analyzed. Total aflatoxin and ochratoxin A levels were determined using HPLC coupled with mass spectrometry. The results revealed that all traders were unaware of the existence of mycotoxins. The storage and marketing of rice are housed in very unhygienic premises (lack of brick walls in some cases, poor quality tin roof, premises not swept regularly). Most traders renew their rice stocks over an average of one to two months (66.66% in Abobo; 79.99% in Cocody) and prefer to buy their supplies from large stores and other markets in Abidjan. Aflatoxin B1 (0.75±0.05 µg/kg) and total aflatoxin (1.73±0.34 µg/kg) were detected in the rice samples from Abobo market. The presence of Aflatoxins in rice could be related to poor post-harvest practices identified. Key words: Rice, total aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, practices, Abidjan.

A novel ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunoassay based on Au/CaCO3 was proposed for detecting ochratoxin A (OTA) in coffee. Au/CaCO3 nanocomposites synthesized using waste eggshells as the template with a large surface area and excellent electrochemical properties were applied for immobilizing a large amount of Ru(bpy)3 2+ and conjugating a high-affinity nanobody (prepared by the phage display technique). Coupling of the Au/CaCO3 nanocomposites and nanobody technologies provided an ultrasensitive and highly selective ECL immunosensor for OTA detection in the range of 10 pg/mL-100 ng/mL with a low detection limit of 5.7 pg/mL. Moreover, the as-prepared ECL immunosensor showed excellent performance and high stability. Finally, the proposed ECL sensor was applied to analyze OTA in coffee samples, confirming the desirable accuracy and practical applicability potential. Overall, this work presents a new nanomaterial for fabricating the sensing interface of immunosensors by harnessing natural waste as the source and a method for detecting toxic OTA in foods.

Bacillus spp. have been used as a biocontrol strategy to eliminate/reduce toxic fungicides in viticulture. Furthermore, the presence of fungi that are resistant to commonly used products is frequent, highlighting the need for new biocontrol strains. Aspergillus carbonarius can produce ochratoxins, including ochratoxin A (OTA), which has a regulatory maximum allowable limit for grape products. The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of four Amazonian strains of Bacillus (P1, P7, P11, and P45) to biocontrol A. carbonarius and various forms of ochratoxins in grapes. Berries treated with strain P1 presented no fungal colonies (100% reduction), while P7, P11 and P45 strains caused a reduction of 95, 95 and 61% on fungal counts, respectively. Six forms of ochratoxin were found in the grapes inoculated with A. carbonarius, including ochratoxin ��, ochratoxin ��, ochratoxin �� methyl-ester, ochratoxin �� amide, N-formyl-ochratoxin �� amide, and OTA. Four of these ochratoxin forms (ochratoxin ��, ochratoxin �� methyl-ester, ochratoxin �� amide, N-formyl-ochratoxin �� amide) are reported for the first time in grapes. These ochratoxins were identified using liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QToF-MS). All Bacillus strains inhibited the synthesis of OTA, which is the most toxic form of ochratoxin. No ochratoxin form was found when P1 and P7 were used. Although some forms of ochratoxin were detected in grapes treated with Bacillus spp. P11 and P45, the levels decreased by 97%. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the inhibition of Aspergillus carbonarius-derived ochratoxin by Bacillus species. P1 strain, identified as Bacillus velezensis, was found to be the most promising for completely inhibiting fungal growth and production of all ochratoxins.

Mycotoxins are frequently found in fruits and fruit juices. However, data about occurrence and fate of mycotoxins along the fruit juice processing chain are currently insufficient. Herein, a liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric (LC–MS/MS) multi-mycotoxin method was developed and applied to investigate the effect of technological unit operations on the fate of three of the most relevant mycotoxins along the processing chain for cloudy and clear apple juice, namely patulin (PAT), ochratoxin A (OTA), and alternariol (AOH). Raw juice obtained directly after dejuicing was spiked with the aforementioned mycotoxins at pilot-plant scale prior to subjecting it to different technological unit operations. Regarding clear apple juice production treatment with a pectinolytic enzyme preparation, and pasteurization were insignificant for mycotoxin reduction, but fining with subsequent filtration was effective, although the mycotoxins showed different affinity towards the tested agents. The most effective fining agent was activated charcoal/bentonite in combination with ultrafiltration, which removed OTA (54 µg/L) and AOH (79 µg/L) to not quantifiable amounts (limit of quantification (LOQ) 1.4 and 4.6 µg/L, respectively), while PAT was reduced only by 20% (from 396 to 318 µg/L). Regarding cloudy apple juice production, all studied processing steps such as centrifugation and pasteurization were ineffective in reducing mycotoxin levels. In brief, none of the common steps of clear and cloudy apple juice production represented a fully effective safety step for minimizing or even eliminating common mycotoxins. Thus, ensuring the sole use of sound apples should be of utmost importance for processors, particularly for those manufacturing cloudy juices.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) mycotoxin affects protein synthesis, metabolic oxidative pathways and ROS mediation. In the present study, we investigate the antioxidative-therapeutic potential of Azadirachta Indica Oil (A. indica) against chronic (28 days) OTA-induced nephrotoxicity. Balb/c male mice were exposed to i.e., (1) controls; (2) A. indica treated (120 mg/kg b. wt. i.p., given every two days); (3) c) OTA treated (Isolate D2306, 1.25 mg/kg b.wt., i.p., given every two days); d) A. indica (120 mg/kg b.wt., i.p.) administered 2h prior to OTA-administration. Till the end of the 28 experimental days of chronic OTA-nephrotoxicity, the mortality rate (±0) was not observed in mice. Kidney tissue was subjected for the determination of biochemical indexes (the MDA ratio, and antioxidant capability of SOD, and GSH) and EPR- ROS productions. OTA-exposure resulted in twofold significant increases in SOD (p

A protective effect of two herbs, Glycyrrhiza glabra and Tinospora cordifolia, given as feed additives was observed against the growth inhibitory effect of ochratoxin A (OTA) and associated immunosuppression and biochemical or pathomorphological changes. The feed levels of 3 mg/kg OTA and fine powder of one of both herbs were given during a period of 32 days to female broiler chicks divided into 3 experimental and 1 control groups (14 chicks per group). The observed pathological and biochemical changes, the changes in relative organs’ weight and body weight, and the decrease of antibody titer against Newcastle disease were more pronounced in the OTA-treated chicks without herbal supplementation, and less pronounced in the chicks treated additionally with G. glabra or T. cordifolia as was shown by the better feed performance and the higher body weight in the chicks treated with the herbs. The higher relative weight of lymphoid organs of the chicks supplemented with both herbs revealed their beneficial effects on the immune system. The hepatoprotective effect of both herbs was evident, being stronger in the chicks additionally supplemented with G. glabra shown by the pathomorphological findings and by the lower levels of aspartate transaminase (131.1 U/l) compared to chicks given only OTA (156.0 U/l). A protective effect of T. cordifolia on the bone marrow and kidneys was found as was shown by the lower levels of uric acid (382.9 μmol/l) compared to chicks given only OTA (466.9 μmol/l).

Background Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a harmful mycotoxin and secondary metabolite produced by several species of Aspergillus and Penicillium. It is of vital importance to establish a sensitive method to detect OTA in various grains. Objective A novel, highly sensitive chemiluminescence immunoassay was developed to determine OTA in wheat, corn, and poultry feed. Methods The immunomagnetic beads were used as solid phase carriers and separators in the competitive chemiluminescence method. Anti-OTA monoclonal antibodies coated on the magnetic beads were applied as the capturing antibodies, in which OTA would compete with OTA-alkaline phosphatase in binding with OTA antibodies. Results The proposed method exhibited good linearity (R2 ≥ 0.999), adequate OTA recovery rate (83.60–102.50%), and good repeatability. The sensitivity of the proposed method was 2.05 pg/mL. In addition, the method was highly selective and showed no cross-reactions with other mycotoxins (e.g., AFB1, DON, ZEN). The developed method was applied in the analysis of wheat, corn, and two animal feeds successfully. The results obtained by the chemiluminescence method showed a high correlation with those obtained by the HPLC method (correlation coefficient 0.9958). Conclusion This strategy shows great potential for other toxic and harmful mycotoxin detection. Highlights A novel highly rapid and sensitive chemiluminescence immunoassay was established for quantitation of OTA.

Analytical methods based on immunoaffinity column clean-up and quantitative determination with liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection were used to determine aflatoxins and ochratoxin A in liver samples. The validation of the procedures was performed. The linearity of the methods was checked, and a good coefficient of correlation was found for all aflatoxins and OTA as well. The LOD and LOQ were acceptable: 0.003 µg/kg and 0.009 µg/kg for AFB1; 0.001 µg/kg and 0.005 µg/kg for AFB2; 0.006 µg/kg and 0.020 µg/kg for AFG1; 0.007 µg/kg and 0.022 µg/kg for AFG2; 0.08 µg/kg and 0.27 µg/kg for OTA. The results for the repeatability estimated by the relative standard deviation (RSDr) were satisfactory and the obtained values were in the acceptable range (1.97–14.41% for all aflatoxins and 3.76-8.31% for OTA) at three proposed concentration levels. RSDR values showed acceptable correlation between two analysts for all four aflatoxins and OTA. The RSDR values were as followed: 2.37% and 5.60% for AFB1, 6.71% and 8.78% for AFB2, 4.40% and 7.00% for AFG1 and 10.30% and 13.91% for AFG2 (for the first and second analyst, respectively). The RSDR values for OTA were 4.91% and 3.15% (1 µg/kg); 3.76% and 4.12% (5 µg/kg) and 8.31% and 8.21% (10 µg/kg). The mean recovery for total aflatoxins and OTA were 78.10% and 93.34%, respectively. All validation parameters were in accordance to European legislation. They indicate that the proposed analytical procedures are suitable and they could be methods of choice for the determination of aflatoxins and OTA in liver samples.

The behavior of mycotoxins is strongly influenced by the matrix, their chemical structure, hydrophobicity, thermal-mechanical susceptibility. Food processing can contribute into mitigating mycotoxins risk towards the final consumers through an appropriate management of recipes and technological parameters. The present review reports a thoughtful choice of the last decade scientific literature related on findings and effectiveness of food processing strategies with respect to potential mycotoxins fate, transformation and desired mitigation, addressing specifically Patulin, Aflatoxins, Ochratoxin A, Fumonisins, Deoxynivalenol, Zearalenone, Beauvericin, Enniatins. Ergot Alkaloids, Alternaria Toxins, T-2 and HT-2 toxins. Novel technologies emerged in the last years for being tested and optimized in the close future; beside this it is undoubtedly clear the necessity to concretely demonstrate the outcome of each mitigation treatment: the total degradation of the mycotoxins or their transformation into molecular structure with a proved reduced toxicity and carcinogenicity potentiality.

Background: Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a well-known widely-spread mycotoxin all over the world that constitutes a real human threat. Its presence in human milk has previously been reported in different countries. Objective: This study aimed to detect the presence of OTA in both mothers’ milk, sera, and infants’ sera and compare the results with a previous study done in Egypt. Patients and Methods: Forty-eight healthy breast-lactating mothers and their infants who were exclusively breast-fed for at least 4 months were included. All of them were subjected to a thorough laboratory evaluation including determination of OTA concentration by (ELISA) Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Results: Fifteen mothers (31.3%) and their infants had been contaminated with OTA. The analysis showed that all infants of affected mothers had OTA in their sera. Conclusion: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between OTA levels in mothers’ sera, milk, and their infants’ sera.

Los principales géneros de hongos asociados a la producción de Ocratoxina A (OTA) son Aspergillius y Penicillium. OTA es una micotoxina con efectos nefrotóxicos e inmunosupresores sobre animales, y ha sido clasificada por la Agencia Internacional de Investigación del Cáncer como un posible cancerígeno en humanos (grupo 2B). Ha sido detectada en numerosos alimentos, como cereales, maíz, especias, legumbres, café, cacao, pasas, coco, cerveza y vino, entre otros. La OTA es estable en el tiempo y a altas temperaturas. El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la contaminación por OTA en muestras de vinos de producción artesanal. En la identificación y cuantificación de OTA en los vinos se utilizó un método de Cromatografía Líquida de Alto Rendimiento con detección por fluorescencia (HPLC-FL). Es un método fácil, robusto, reproducible, específico y sensible, con una recuperación promedio de 95,7%, un límite de detección de 0,043 μg/L y un límite de cuantificación de 0,088 μg/L. En este estudio se analizaron 15 muestras de vinos artesanales, observándose la presencia de OTA en todas las muestras analizadas, de las cuales dos muestras presentaron concentraciones superiores al límite máximo permisible establecido en la Legislación de la Unión Europea (2 μg/L).

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is one of the most common toxins in food and feed, which seriously affects the health of public. Herein, a convenient biosensor for OTA detecting was built based on graphene oxide (GO) and quantum dots-aptamer (QDs-aptamer) in this investigation. The results in our study demonstrated that the constructed biosensor shows excellent sensitivity and highly selectivity for OTA. A lower limit of detection of 376.3 pM (equivalent to 0.152 ng·mL−1) was achieved in the linear range from 0.5 to 20 nM (R2 = 0.996) under optimized conditions. In addition, the constructed sensor was challenged by testing coffee and red wine samples that contained buffer solution spiked with different concentrations of OTA. Considering easy operating and superior sensitivity, it has great potential, provides a high-performance platform for OTA testing in complicated food sample, and also affords a pathway for analysis of other aptamer-specific molecules.

Our previous study showed that ochratoxin A (OTA), one of the most common mycotoxins in feed, could induce immunosuppression with long-time exposure but immunostimulation with short-time exposure. However, limited studies for the control of OTA-induced two-way immune toxicity were carried out. This study explored the effects of mannan oligosaccharide (MOS), a glucomannoprotein complex with immunoregulatory capability derived from the yeast cell wall, on OTA-induced immune toxicity and its underlying mechanisms. Surprisingly, the results showed that MOS significantly attenuated immunosuppression induced by long-time OTA treatment but did not provide protection against immunostimulation induced by short-time OTA treatment on porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs), as demonstrated by the expressions of inflammatory cytokines and the capability of migration and phagocytosis. Further, MOS increased the OTA-inhibited autophagy level and the JNK phosphorylation level on PAMs with long-time OTA treatment. In addition, the inhibition of autophagy by 3-MA or the inhibition of JNK phosphorylation by SP600125 could partly block the protective effects of MOS on OTA-induced immunosuppression. Importantly, the inhibition of JNK phosphorylation down-regulated the MOS-promoted autophagy level. In conclusion, MOS could attenuate OTA-induced immunosuppression with short-time exposure on PAMs through activating JNK-mediated autophagy but had no significant effects on OTA-induced immunostimulation with short-time exposure. Our study provides new insights into the application of MOS as an immunoregulator against mycotoxin-induced immune toxicity.

The mycotoxins are toxic composites frequently found in foodstuffs causing some damages to consumers. This current study has been realised in order to estimate the content of Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A in dry okra and cassava chips frequently consumed by the population of Daloa. The analysis by chromatography in the liquid phase at high performance has shown that these foodstuffs contain Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A. These results reveal an average content of : 2.58 ± 3.65 µg/Kg and 3.08 ± 5.04 µg/Kg for the Aflatoxin B1 ; 1.06 ± 0.86 µg/Kg and 0.61±0.24 µg/Kg for the Ochratoxin A respectively in the flour of cassava chips and the powder of dry okra. These concentrations are somewhat to higher than those allowed by the norm of Codex Alimentarius. Under this form, the consumption of these foodstuffs by the population expose them at risk of diseases.

A magnetic beads (MBs)–assisted fluorescence aptasensing approach based on dual DNA tweezers and magnetic separation was established for the detection of ochratoxin A (OTA) and fumonisin B1 (FB1). A dual DNA tweezers structure with four ends linked with fluorophores (FAM, ROX) and quenchers (BHQ1, BHQ2) was designed, and produced the high initial fluorescence signals because of the long spatial distance between FAM and BHQ1, ROX, and BHQ2. Bio-aptamer/anti-aptamer of OTA and bio-aptamer/anti-aptamer of FB1 were respectively annealed to form dsDNA, and immobilized to MBs coated with streptavidin (SA). With the existence of OTA and FB1, OTA and FB1 preferentially bound with their respective bio-aptamers, which made anti-aptamers dissociate from dsDNA coupled on MBs. After magnetic separation, the dissociated anti-aptamers reacted with dual DNA tweezers, respectively, which made DNA tweezers close and the fluorescence was quenched. The linear ranges of approach for OTA and FB1 detection were 0.05–20 ng/mL and 0.1–40 ng/mL, respectively. The limit of detection for OTA and FB1 was 0.029 ng/mL and 0.061 ng/mL. The prepared MBs-assisted fluorescence aptasensing approach was applied to detect OTA and FB1 in spiked red wine and corn samples, which showed good recoveries between 92 and 106%.

Background Edible vegetable oils usually make up at least 30% of the human daily diet, provide calories and essential fatty acids for the body, and make food palatability. However, edible oils are susceptible to mycotoxins as a severe threat to human health. Oilseeds are prone to contamination with various mycotoxins if stored for a long time in inappropriate storage conditions such as high temperature and humidity, which can eventually be transmitted to the extracted oil. Scope and approach This review intends to summarize the studies published to date regarding the prevalence, toxicity, and methods used to detect and decontaminate the main mycotoxins in edible vegetable oils. Key findings and conclusions Among the 14 types of oils discussed in the current review, the main mycotoxins in oils were aflatoxins, zearalenone, ochratoxin A, trichothecenes, fumonisins, and Alternaria toxins with a predominance of aflatoxins. Mycotoxins' prevalence varied in different edible oils depending on the type of oil, geographical area, analysis method, and oilseeds' storage conditions. A broad range of methods was used to detect mycotoxins in oils, while the most applied was the HPLC coupled with fluorescence detection, followed by HPLC coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, aptamer, and surface plasmon resonance. The lowest detection limit with excellent sensitivity and selectivity was associated with LC-MS/MS, although it depends on the sample preparation method. Moreover, mycotoxins decontamination techniques for edible oils were alkaline electrolyzed water, irradiation, magnetic adsorbents, and enzymatic methods, while the most effective method was alkaline electrolyzed water.

Robusta coffee is a coffee type found in South OKU Regency in Indonesia, and its storage process is highly susceptible to the growth of various fungal species, including fungi that produce Ochratoxin A (OTA). Therefore, this study aims to examine the fungal contamination contained in storage using polystyrene and gunny sacks for 20 and 30 days. Data were obtained from surveys, interviews, and samples from 30 farmers which stored coffee beans using polystyrene and gunny sacks in May-July 2020. The results showed that the moisture content was higher in storage using gunny sacks than in polystyrene sacks, at 16.94 ± 0.878 % and 15.99 ± 1.33%, respectively. Furthermore, 16 fungal species were present in gunny sack storage, while 14 fungal species were observed in polystyrene sacks. The percentage of OTA-producing fungi A.niger and A.ochraceus in the two stores yielded 100% and 63.3%, respectively

Although postharvest coffee fruit fermentation can improve coffee flavour and quality, the mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA) can also be a result of microbiological activity, albeit in the later drying step of coffee processing. To evaluate the possible occurrence of OTA contamination in postharvest fruit fermentation, fourteen coffees that entailed two different postharvest fruit fermentation times were evaluated. These coffees originated in the surroundings of the village of Pedra Menina in the qualified Denomination of Origin and coffee producer region of Caparao on the border between Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo states in Brazil. All coffees were classified according to the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) protocol and 12 achieved specialty level. OTA was determined in all 14 coffees using immunoaffinity for sample clean-up and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection for quantification. One sample presented an OTA concentration of 0.75 µg kg-1 and two samples showed OTA concentrations of 0.87 µg kg-1. The other samples had concentrations of OTA below the limit of quantification obtained in this work (0.64 µg kg-1). Thus, all samples showed OTA concentrations far below the most stringent maximum residue limit (MRL) of 5 µg kg-1 established for roasted coffees by European legislation. These low levels were similar to most of the previous results for Brazilian coffees listed and tabled in this work. This comparison showed that OTA contamination due to this kind of postharvest process - fruit fermentation - should not be a concern for producers and consumers of these fermented coffees.

The present study was aimed at determining the distribution of ochratoxin A (OTA) in different types of coffee using short review and analysis. Mycotoxins have undoubtedly presented a global challenge to human health since the earliest times, and this threat will mainly increase as the demand for the available food supply increases in response to the growth of the world population. The most important naturally occurring mycotoxins in human food are aflatoxin, ochratoxin, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and fumonisin. OTA is the most prevalent and toxic and is produced by both Aspergillus and Penicillium. Coffee production has high socio-economic importance in most African countries. However, postharvest treatment and storage conditions represent optimal environments for the occurrence of fungi responsible for mycotoxins production in coffee beans. Preliminary data revealed the wild diversity of coffee beans with the presence of other fungal genera such as Mucor, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Wallemia and Acremonium. In addition, the authors found the production ability of A. niger, A. carbonarius and A. ochraceus to produce Ochratoxin-A at concentrations of 0.31, 5.07 and 13.08 µg.kg-1. The outcome of this short review can be used for the building of a risk evaluation procedure aiming to provide specific actions to reduce the exposure to OTA in coffee beans and to improve the exchange of coffee products throughout the world.

Introduction. Dried fruits are a valuable source of dietary fibre, many vitamins and minerals in the population’s diet. However, the high content of readily available carbohydrates makes this type of product vulnerable to mould contamination. The greatest danger among which are toxigenic species. But there is practically no scientific information about the contamination presented on the Russian market dried fruits with moulds producing mycotoxins. That does not allow judging about this aspect of food safety. Materials and methods. Contamination with moulds and bacteria of 57 samples of dried fruits of 7 species popular in Russia was studied using cultural methods of analysis. Monospore isolates of moulds were isolated from dried fruits; in vitro mycotoxins production studied; by UHPLC-MS / MS analyzed mycotoxins in the multidetection mode. Results and discussion. In general, the microbial contamination of dried fruits was low: 87.7% of the samples met the established microbiological standards, in most cases, moulds caused it. At the same time, the highest frequency and levels of contamination were found in dates. Aspergillus sp. dominated in the micoflora of all types of dried fruits. Among the isolated 33 strains of moulds, 45.5% turned out to be toxigenic and, in vitro, were capable of biosynthesis of significant amounts of several types of mycotoxins, including emergent mycotoxins. Fumonisin- and ochratoxin-producing activities have been found in Aspergillus strains of the Nigri section. In model experiments, the accumulation of mycotoxins in individual strains exceeded the level normalized in grain products, including (in μg/kg): for aflatoxins B1 - more than 32000 and B2 - 3230; fumonisin B2 - more than 3100; ochratoxin A up to 4.3; for emergent accumulation reached: sterigmatocystin up to 6218220 and citreoviridine - 153. Conclusion. Moulds are the main type of microflora that contaminates dried fruits. The ability of mould isolates from dried fruits to form mycotoxins has been established, among which highly toxigenic strains have been identified. This indicates the presence of a potential risk of contamination of this type of food with unregulated mycotoxins and a possible increase in their content in the diets of consumers. The results obtained substantiate the need for extensive monitoring of mycotoxin producers in dried fruits. This is important for predicting the risk of toxin formation and identifying the relationship of specific mycotoxins with certain types of dried fruits. The presence of toxigenic activity of moulds isolated from dried fruits has been shown in Russia for the first time. Contribution: Minaeva L.P. — concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material of microbiological studies, writing and editing of the manuscript, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article; Polyanina A.S., Efimochkina N.R. — collection and processing of material of microbiological studies; Kiseleva M.G., Chalyy Z.A. — collection and processing of material UHPLC-MS/MS research results; Sheveleva S.A. — editing. All authors — approval of the final version of the article. Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest. Acknowledgement. The study was supported by Russian Science Foundation (grant No 18‐16‐00077).

The present study describes the synthesis, characterization and antiochratoxin efficacy of zinc oxide nanoparticles against hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in albino rats. Ochratoxin A (OTA) was produced by solid state fermentation on wheat grains using Aspergillus ochraceus and estimated by HPLC. ZnONPs were produced using leaf extract of Camellia sinensis and characterized by UV–visible spectrophotometer, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Different doses were given to albino rats by dividing them into different groups i.e., group A (basal feed), group B (50 ppb OTA), group C (50 ppb OTA and 25 ppb ZnONPs) and group D (25 ppb ZnONPs). Blood was collected for biochemical analysis and tissues of liver and kidney were taken for histopathological examination. UV–visible spectroscopy showed prominent peak of green synthesized nanoparticles having maximum absorption of 350 nm and size range from 30 to 40 nm using SEM. The synthesized ZnO nanostructure was confirmed by XRD image and different functional groups responsible for green synthesis were confirmed by FTIR analysis. OTA significantly decreased the weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio of rats. Histopathological examination of liver and kidney indicated that OTA has severe effects including degeneration, increase sinusoidal spaces, infiltration of lymphocytes, vascular congestion and necrosis. Biochemical parameters such as ALT, AST and creatinine were significantly raised whereas albumin and total protein were decreased by OTA feeding. These changes were ameliorated by green synthesized ZnONPs. This study concluded that OTA severely affect liver and kidney of rats and green tea mediated ZnONPs plays a hepatoprotective and nephroprotective role to reduce the lethal effects of OTA in albino rats.

Background Filamentous fungi are the main contamination agent in the viticultural sector. Use of synthetic fungicides is the regular answer to these contaminations. Nevertheless, due to several problems associated with the use of synthetic compounds the industry demands new and safer methods. In the present work, the biopreservation potential of four lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains was studied against the principal grape contaminant fungi. Results Agar diffusion test evidenced that all four culture-free supernatant (CFS) had antifungal properties against all tested fungi. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) test values evidenced that media fermented by the Lactobacillus plantarum E3 and Lactobacillus plantarum E4 strains showed the highest antifungal activity, resulting in an MFC from 6.3 to 100 g L-1 . Analysis of CFS evidenced the presence of different antifungal compounds, such as lactic acid, phenyllactic acid and pyrazines. In tests on red grapes, an average reduction of 1.32 Log10 of the spores per gram of fruit was achieved by all CFS in grapes inoculated with Aspergillus ochraceous and by 0.94 Log10 for L. plantarum E3 CFS against Botrytis cinerea. Conclusion The antifungal activity of the fermented CFS by L. plantarum E3 reduced the growth of B. cinerea and A. ochraceous in grapes, which are the main contaminant and main productor of ochratoxin A in these crops, respectively. Therefore, based on the results obtained in this work use of the strain L. plantarum E3 can be an interesting option for the biopreservation of grapes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The principle aim of this work is to evaluate the antimicrobial and antiochratoxic power of the essential oil of Mentha spicata (EOM). This oil was obtained by hydrodistillation with a yield of 0.3%. EOM was screened for its possible antibacterial activity in vitro against five strains of pathogenic bacteria, using the solid disc diffusion method and the microdilution method. The extract reacted positively to the bacterial strains tested. The results of the antifungal activity show an inhibition of mycelial growth; it is total on Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium viridicatum, and on Rhizopus stolonifer and Alternaria alternate at a concentration of 12.5 μl/ml. Tests carried out on yeasts mainly referenced as Candida albicans IP444 and Candida albicans 2679 showed minimal inhibition (MIC) of the order of 7.81 μl/ml and 0.97 μl/ml, respectively and theMICis of the order of 0.48 μl/ml for Candida albicans 10 231. In addition, the EOM antiochratoxigenic test for ochratoxin A production capacity following a series of high performance liquid chromatography separation and ultraviolet detection (HPLC–UV) analyses detected an inhibitory effect proportional to the EOM concentration. In general, the essential oil showed an effective antimicrobial action on the growth of the tested pathogens and an antiochratoxigenic.

Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites of filamentous fungi; they are common contaminants in numerous foods and beverages. Cyclodextrins are ring-shaped oligosaccharides, which can form host-guest type complexes with certain mycotoxins. Insoluble beta-cyclodextrin bead polymer (BBP) extracted successfully some mycotoxins (e.g., alternariol and zearalenone) from aqueous solutions, including beverages. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to examine the ability of BBP to remove other 12 mycotoxins (including aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin M1, citrinin, dihydrocitrinone, cyclopiazonic acid, deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin A, patulin, sterigmatocystin, zearalanone, α-zearalanol, and β-zearalanol) from different buffers (pH 3.0, 5.0, and 7.0). Our results showed that BBP can effectively extract citrinin, dihydrocitrinone, sterigmatocystin, zearalanone, α-zearalanol, and β-zearalanol at each pH tested. However, for the removal of ochratoxin A, BBP was far the most effective at pH 3.0. Based on these observations, BBP may be a suitable mycotoxin binder to extract certain mycotoxins from aqueous solutions for decontamination and/or for analytical purposes.

Batches of grain are accepted or rejected based on average mycotoxin concentrations in a composite grain sample. Spatial analysis of mycotoxins in two grain bulks was performed to determine the spatial distribution of toxins, whether they were co-located and the proportions of grain over legislative limits. The 2D distribution of deoxynivalenol (DON) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in a truck load of wheat grain was analysed, as was the distribution of fumonisins (FB1 and FB2) in a 3D maize grain pile. The data had been previously analysed, but results here show that highly skewed data would need to be transformed to investigate spatial autocorrelation properly. In the truck of wheat grain, DON and OTA showed co-variation and, in contrast to previous studies, OTA showed spatial structure when converted to normal scores. Spatial analysis of the maize pile showed that FB1 and FB2 contamination levels were each highest near the outer face and base of the grain pile. Simulations for both grain bulks showed that, for average toxin concentrations close to legislative limits, the proportion of grain over the legislative limits can vary greatly and could be very small when toxin contamination is highly positively skewed. The implications of the results for management were considered. Post-harvest, strategically placed sensors could be used to monitor environmental conditions within the stored grain in real time and detect the first signs of spoilage allowing swift remediative action so less grain is wasted. Pre-harvest approaches for mycotoxin management are suggested as additional food waste reduction strategies.

Background: The presence of toxicogenic fungi and the production of ochratoxin in flour are dangerous to human health. Therefore, identification of these fungi by molecular and precise methods is essential. The aim of this study was molecular identification of fungal species and investigation of ochratoxin A contamination in flours used in bakeries in Hamadan Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 60 flour samples were collected from bakeries in Hamadan. At first, fungi were identified using phenotypic methods such as slide culture. Then, the genus and species of fungi were confirmed by PCR and sequencing of PCR products. ELISA method was used to detect ochratoxin A. Data were analyzed with GraphPad software version 6. Results: Of the 60 samples, 28 flour samples (46.66%) were free of fungal contamination and 32 flour samples (53.33%) were over fungal contamination (104 colonies/gr). Aspergillus and penicillium were the most abundant in samples. The prevalence of fungi in flour of Lavash bread, Sangak Bread, Barbari bread, Taftoon bread (Handmade), Taftoon bread (Machinal made), Stokbrood bread and Loaf bread were 50%, 46%, 35%, 31%, 26%, 18% and 11%, respectively. However, the highest levels of ochratoxin A were reported in flour of Lavash bread (3.98 ppb) and the lowest in Loaf bread (0.66 ppb). There was also a significant relationship between the fungal species and the amount of ochratoxin A production in flour of beards. Conclusion: While phenotypic and genotypic methods did not show the same sensitivity, the presence of ochratoxin in the studied flours indicated the necessity of modification in wheat storage and bakery flours.

AFB1 and OTA are produced in food products due to climatic conditions like temperature and humidity. In Lebanon, few studies address AFB1 and OTA contamination in wheat and wheat products. In this study, a total of 312 samples of wheat and wheat products were collected from different sites, including port, silos, mills, and supermarkets were analysed. Wheat and wheat products consumption in Lebanon was quantified using a food frequency questionnaire. Exposure to AFB1 and OTA was calculated and liver and kidney cancer risk were evaluated. Results showed that AFB1 and OTA were, respectively, found in 65.7% and 100% of the samples, with 0.6% and 17.6% exceeding the maximum limit set by the European Commission. AFB1 was shown to be associated with 0.076 additional cancer cases per 100,000 persons per year and OTA weekly exposure was shown to be 53.2 ng/kg bw, which is less than the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake of 100 ng/kg bw.