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Background and Purpose: The current study aimed to report a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay as a monitoring technique to differentiate aflatoxigenic from non-aflatoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus isolated from pistachio orchards soil.Materials and Methods: In total, 25 A. flavus strains were isolated from soil samples of pistachio orchards. To test the strains for Aflatoxin B1(AFB1)-producing ability, thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was used and the amounts of AFB1 were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Multiplex PCR was used as a genome-based method to detect genes responsible for AFB1 production by A. flavus and the results were analyzed in terms of speed and specificity of detection. A set of four primers was designed specifically for the omtA, omtB, ver-1, and aflR genes which are commonly present in aflatoxin biosynthetic pathways.Results: The AFB1 production by the A. flavus strains ranged from 0 to 321 ρg/μl. Four band patterns of the primer sets were observed only in AFB1-producing A. flavus strains. Moreover, 18 out of the 25 strains showed all four bands belonging to omtA, omtB, ver-1, and aflR, whereas 7 strains did not display omtA, or aflR-related bands, in non-toxigenic and low toxin-producing A. flavus.Conclusion: The multiplex PCR is a supplementary strategy to current conventional mycotoxin analytical techniques, such as TLC and HPLC. It could be used as an efficient method to differentiate aflatoxigenic from non-aflatoxigenic strains of A. flavus. This achievement is crucial to minimize fungal contamination of food, feed, and agricultural commodities, thereby reducing the risk of subsequent aflatoxin consumption.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a highly toxic mycotoxin, always contaminated in a variety of agricultural products. Camelid variable domain of heavy chain antibody (VHH) is a noteworthy reagent in immunoassay, owing to its excellent characteristics. Immunization of camelid animals is a straightforward strategy to produce VHHs. In this study, to avoid the dependence on the large animals, the camelized, murine antibody (cVHs) against AFB1 was prepared in vitro based on the identities between murine VH and camelid VHH and then to develop an immunoassay for AFB1. A murine anti-AFB1 VH fragment (VH-2E6) was selected for camelization through replacement of conserved hydrophobic residues in framework region 2 (FR2) (cVH-FR2), point mutation at position 103 in the FR4 region (cVH-103), and CDR3-grafted with a high AFB1-affinity VHH (cVH-Nb26). The cVH-Nb26 had a yield of 5 mg/L as refolded protein expressed from Escherichia coli and 10 mg/L expressed from Pichia pastoris. Compared with anti-AFB1 single-chain fragment variable (scFv) 2E6, cVH-Nb26 performed more than 20-fold enhancement of AFB1-binding interactions. Although the AFB1-affinity of cVH-Nb26 cannot meet the application requirement in the present form, our study provides effective strategies for preparation of camelized antibody in vitro, which could be a promising immunoreagent for AFB1 detection.

Aflatoxins belong to a class of mycotoxins, among which aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) has detrimental effects on the health of both animals and humans. It is associated with long-term exposure-induced carcinogenicity, hepatotoxicity, renal toxicity, neurotoxicity, and immunosuppressive properties, resulting in a variety of diseases. The intestine is the first barrier for human exposure to AFB1, but limited investigations have been conducted to clarify the underlying mechanisms of intestinal cytotoxicity. The mechanism of AFB1-induced cytotoxicity was investigated in this study using an integrated approach combining transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome analysis along with molecular dynamics simulation. After exposing SW480 cells to 50 μM AFB1 for 72 h, the transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome exhibited significant enrichment in pathways associated with oxidative stress, fatty acid and lipid metabolism, and glutathione metabolism. The experimental results demonstrated that AFB1 significantly reduces SW480 cells viability, and induces oxidative stress, calcium overload, mitochondrial damage, and lipid metabolism disorders.

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and Thunbergia laurifolia extract (TLE) in the diets of Cherry Valley ducklings. Our investigation covered growth indicators, blood biochemical indices, meat quality, intestinal morphology, immune response, and CP450 enzyme-related gene expression. We conducted the study with 180 seven-day-old Cherry Valley ducks, randomly divided into five dietary treatments. These treatments included a basal diet without AFB1 (T1 group), TLE, or a commercial binder; the basal diet containing 0.1 mg AFB1/kg (T2 group), 0.1 mg AFB1/kg and 100 mg TLE/kg (T3 group), 0.1 mg AFB1/kg and 200 mg TLE/kg (T4 group), and 0.1 mg AFB1/kg and 0.5 g/kg of a commercial binder (T5 group), respectively. Ducklings fed with the T2 diet exhibited lower final body weight (BW), average body weight gain (ADG), and poor feed conversion ratio (FCR) during the 42-day trials. However, all ducklings in the T3, T4, and T5 groups showed significant improvements in final BW, ADG, and FCR compared to the T2 group. Increased alanine transaminase (ALT) concentration and increased expression of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 indicated hepatotoxicity in ducklings fed the T2 diet. In contrast, ducklings fed T3, T4, and T5 diets all showed a decrease in the expression of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2, but only the T4 treatment group showed improvement in ALT concentration. AFB1 toxicity considerably raised the crypt depth (CD) in both the duodenum and jejunum of the T2 group, while the administration of 200 mg TLE/kg (T4) or a commercial binder (T5) effectively reduced this toxicity. Additionally, the villus width of the jejunum in the T2 treatment group decreased significantly, while all T3, T4, and T5 groups showed improvement in this regard. In summary, T. laurifolia extract can detoxify aflatoxicosis, leading to growth reduction and hepatic toxicosis in Cherry Valley ducklings.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a widespread contaminant in food and feeds, poses a threat to the health of animals and humans. Consequently, it is significant to develop a rapid, precise and highly sensitive analytical method for the detection of AFB1. Herein, we developed an immunochromatographic strip (ICS) based on a tetrahedral DNA (TDN) immunoprobe for AFB1 determination in rice bran oil. Three sizes of TDN immunoprobes (AuNP-TDN13bp-mAb, AuNP-TDN17bp-mAb, AuNP-TDN26bp-mAb) were constructed, and the performance of these three immunoprobes, including the effective antibody labeling density and immunoaffinity, was measured and compared with that of the immunoprobe (AuNP-mAb) developed using the physical adsorption method. Subsequently, the optimal TDN immunoprobe, namely AuNP-TDN13bp-mAb, was selected to prepare the immunochromatographic strip (ICS) for the qualitative and quantitative detection of AFB1 in rice bran oil. The visual limits of detection (vLODs) of the ICS based on AuNP-TDN13bp-mAb and AuNP-mAb were 0.2 ng/mL and 2 ng/mL, with scanning quantitative limits (sLOQs) of 0.13 ng/mL and 1.4 ng/mL, respectively. The ICS demonstrated a wide linear range from 0.02 ng/mL to 0.5 ng/mL, with good specificity, accuracy, precision, repeatability, and stability. Moreover, a high consistency was observed between the constructed ICS and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) in the quantification of AFB1. The results indicated that the introduction of TDN was beneficial for promoting efficient antibody labeling, protecting the bioactivity of immunoprobes, and increasing the sensitivity of detection, which would provide new perspectives for the achievement of the highly sensitive detection of mycotoxins.

The research aimed to evaluate how effective hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicates (HSCASs) and discarded date pits (DDPs) are as dietary adsorbents for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in enhancing the performance and health of broiler chickens aged 16 to 30 days. A total of 240 Ross 308 straight-run broilers were randomly allocated into four dietary groups, each with 10 replicates: a control diet, a control diet with 1000 ppb AFB1, an AFB1-contaminated diet with 0.5% HSCAS, and an AFB1-contaminated diet with 4% DDP. Incorporating HSCASs or DDPs into the AFB1-contaminated diet resulted in significant improvements across various parameters, involving increased body weight, improved feed conversion ratio, higher dressing percentage, decreased relative weights of kidney and spleen, elevated serum levels of total protein, globulin, and glucose, reduced serum alanine aminotransferase activity, and heightened hepatic protein concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity, along with diminished hepatic malondialdehyde content and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase activity. Moreover, both supplements led to increased ileal villus height and surface area, enhanced apparent nitrogen-corrected metabolizable energy digestibility, and decreased AFB1 residues in the liver and kidney. Moreover, the dietary inclusion of DDPs significantly decreased relative liver weight, raised serum albumin concentration, lowered serum alkaline phosphatase activity, enhanced hepatic total antioxidant capacity level, and augmented ileal villus width. Conversely, the dietary addition of HSCASs significantly heightened apparent crude protein digestibility. In conclusion, the inclusion of HSCASs and DDPs in AFB1-contaminated diets can mitigate the toxic effects of AFB1 on broiler chickens, with DDPs exhibiting additional advantages in optimizing liver function and gut morphology.

A novel electrochemical aptasensor was prepared for the simultaneous determination of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA). Composites of Au nanoparticles and polyethyleneimine-reduced graphene oxide (AuNPs/PEI-RGO) with good electrical conductivity and high specific surface area were employed as the supporting substrate, demonstrating the ability to provide more binding sites for aptamers and accelerate the electron transfer. Aptamers were immobilized on a AuNPs/PEI-RGO surface to specifically recognize AFB1 and OTA. A metal–organic framework of UiO-66-NH2 served as the signal carrier to load metal ions of Cu2+ and Pb2+, which facilitated the generation of independent current peaks and effectively improved the electrochemical signals. The prepared aptasensor exhibited sensitive current responses for AFB1 and OTA with a linear range of 0.01 to 1000 ng/mL, with detection limits of 6.2 ng/L for AFB1 and 3.7 ng/L for OTA, respectively. The aptasensor was applied to detect AFB1 and OTA in cereal samples, achieving results comparable with HPLC-MS, with recovery results from 92.5% to 104.1%. With these merits of high sensitivity and good selectivity and stability, the prepared aptasensor proved to be a powerful tool for evaluating contaminated cereals.

This article follows-up on our recently published work, which evaluated the impact of the addition of an alfalfa leaf-derived adsorbent in the aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-contaminated diet in regard to the production parameters, blood cell count, serum biochemistry, liver enzymes, and liver histology of turkey poults. This paper presents complementary results on microbial community, ileal morphology, barrier function, and immunity. For this purpose, 350 1-day-old female turkey poults were randomly distributed into five groups: (1) Control, AFB1-free diet; (2) AF, AFB1-contaminated diet at 250 ng/g; (3) alfalfa, AFB1-free diet + 0.5% (w/w) adsorbent; (4) alfalfa + AF, AFB1-contaminated diet at 250 ng/g + 0.5% (w/w) adsorbent; and (5) YCW + AF, AFB1-contaminated diet at 250 ng/g + 0.5% (w/w) commercial yeast cell wall-based adsorbent (reference group). In general, in the AF group, the growth of opportunistic pathogens was promoted, which lead to gut dysbacteriosis, mainly influenced by Streptococcus lutetiensis. Conversely, a significant increase in beneficial bacteria (Faecalibacterium and Coprococcus catus) was promoted by the addition of the plant-based adsorbent. Moreover, the AF group had the lowest villus height and a compromised barrier function, as evidenced by a significant (p < 0.05) increase in fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-d), but these negative effects were almost reversed by the addition of the alfalfa adsorbent. Furthermore, the AF + YCW and alfalfa + AF groups exhibited a significant increase in the cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity response compared to the rest of the experimental groups. Taken together, these results pointed out that the alfalfa counteracts the adverse effects of AFB1 in poults, facilitating the colonization of beneficial bacteria and improving the barrier function of the turkey poults.

Mycotoxins, especially aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FMB1), are common contaminants in cereal-based foods. Instances of contamination are predicted to increase due to the current challenges induced by climate change. Despite the health benefits of whole grains, the presence of mycotoxins in bran remains a concern. Nonetheless, previous research indicates that wheat bran can adsorb mutagens. Therefore, this study investigated the capacity of maize, wheat, and oat brans to adsorb AFB1 and FMB1 under varying in vitro conditions, including pH, binding time, temperature, particle size, and the amount of bran utilized. Maize bran demonstrated a high AFB1 adsorption capacity (>78%) compared to wheat and oat brans. However, FMB1 was not adsorbed by the brans, possibly due to its hydrophilic nature. Lower temperature (≤25 °C) enhanced AFB1 adsorption efficacy in wheat and oat bran, while for maize bran, the highest adsorption occurred at 37 °C. A linear model following Henry’s law best explained AFB1 adsorption by the brans. Further studies identified the pericarp layer of bran as the primary site of AFB1 adsorption, with the initial liquid volume being a critical factor. The study concludes that bran could potentially act as an effective bioadsorbent. Further research is essential to confirm the adsorption efficacy and the bioavailability of AFB1 through in vivo experiments.

In the realm of analysis, the lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) is frequently utilized due to its capability to be fast and immediate. However, the biggest challenge of the LFIA is its low detection sensitivity and tolerance to matrix interference, making it impossible to enable accurate, qualitative analyses. In this study, we developed a new LFIA with higher affinity and sensitivity, based on a nanobody (G8-DIG) and CuS nanoflowers-Au (CuS NFs-Au), for the detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in maize. We synthesized the immunoprobe G8-DIG@CuS NFs-Au, stimulated the in situ development of Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) on Cu NFs by electrical displacement, and obtained Cu NFs-Au for fixing the G8-DIG. G8-DIG@CuS NFs-Au probe-based LFIAs may, in ideal circumstances, use a strip chromatography reader to accomplish sensitive quantitative detection and qualitative visualization. AFB1 has a detection range of 2.82–89.56 µg/L and a detection limit of 0.87 µg/L. When compared with an LFIA based on CuS NFs, this sensitivity is increased by 2.76 times. The practical application of this method in corn flour demonstrated a recovery rate of 81.7% to 117%. Therefore, CuS NFs-Au show great potential for detecting analytes.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination in food and feed is a global health and economic threat, necessitating the immediate development of effective strategies to mitigate its negative effects. This study focuses on the isolation and characterization of Enterococcus faecium HB2-2 (E. faecium HB2-2) as a potent AFB1-degrading microorganism, using morphological observation, biochemical profiling, and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. An incubation of E. faecium HB2-2 at 32 °C for 96 h in a pH 10 nutrient broth (NB) medium resulted in a remarkable degradation rate of 90.0% for AFB1. Furthermore, E. faecium HB2-2 demonstrated 82.9% AFB1 degradation rate in the peanut meal, reducing AFB1 levels from 105.1 to 17.9 μg/kg. The AFB1 degradation ability of E. faecium HB2-2 was found to be dependent on the fermentation supernatant. The products of AFB1 degradation by E. faecium HB2-2 were analyzed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and a possible degradation mechanism was proposed based on the identified degradation products. Additionally, cytotoxicity assays revealed a significant reduction in the toxicity of the degradation products compared to the parent AFB1. These findings highlight the potential of E. faecium HB2-2 as a safe and effective method for mitigating AFB1 contamination in food and feed.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination is a serious threat to nutritional safety and public health. The CotA-laccase from Bacillus licheniformis ANSB821 previously reported by our laboratory showed great potential to degrade AFB1 without redox mediators. However, the use of this CotA-laccase to remove AFB1 in animal feed is limited because of its low catalytic efficiency and low expression level. In order to make better use of this excellent enzyme to effectively degrade AFB1, twelve mutants of CotA-laccase were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis. Among these mutants, E186A and E186R showed the best degradation ability of AFB1, with degradation ratios of 82.2% and 91.8% within 12 h, which were 1.6- and 1.8-times higher than those of the wild-type CotA-laccase, respectively. The catalytic efficiencies (kcat/Km) of E186A and E186R were found to be 1.8- and 3.2-times higher, respectively, than those of the wild-type CotA-laccase. Then the expression vectors pPICZαA-N-E186A and pPICZαA-N-E186R with an optimized signal peptide were constructed and transformed into Pichia pastoris GS115. The optimized signal peptide improved the secretory expressions of E186A and E186R in P. pastoris GS115. Collectively, the current study provided ideal candidate CotA-laccase mutants for AFB1 detoxification in food and animal feed and a feasible protocol, which was desperately needed for the industrial production of CotA-laccases.

旨在为霉变花生粕中黄曲霉毒素B1（AFB1）的脱除提供技术支持，以自然霉变花生粕为实验材料，用二乙烯三胺脱除花生粕中的AFB1。采用单因素实验优化脱毒条件，并对二乙烯三胺脱除AFB1的机制进行研究。结果表明：二乙烯三胺脱除花生粕中AFB1的最佳工艺条件为液料比5∶ 1、处理温度50 ℃、处理时间45 min、二乙烯三胺溶液质量浓度10 mg/mL，在此条件下AFB1脱除率为95.5%；高效液相色谱和高分辨质谱分析表明，AFB1可能的降解机制是其酮羰基与二乙烯三胺发生脱水反应，并且反应产物通过离心随着上清液被脱除。二乙烯三胺具有应用于花生粕中AFB1脱除的潜力。To provide a technical support for the removal of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) from moldy peanut meal, with naturally moldy peanut meal as the experimental material, and diethylenetriamine was used to the removal of AFB1.Single factor experiment was used to optimize the detoxification conditions, and the mechanism of removing AFB1 by diethylenetriamine was studied. The results showed that the optimal conditions for the removal of AFB1 from peanut meal were obtained as follows: liquid-solid ratio 5∶ 1, reaction temperature 50 ℃, reaction time 45 min, mass concentration of diethylenetriamine 10 mg/mL. Under these conditions, the detoxification rate was 95.5%. The high performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis showed that the possible degradation way of AFB1 was the dehydration reaction between the ketone carbonyl group in AFB1 and diethylenetriamine. In addition, in the process of detoxification, reaction products were removed by centrifugation with supernatant. In conclusion, diethylenetriamine has the potential to be used for the removal of AFB1 from peanut meal.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this network meta-analysis was to determine the efficacy of different mycotoxin binders (MTB) to reduce aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk. A literature search was conducted to identify in vivo research papers from different databases. Inclusion criteria were in vivo, dairy cows, description of the MTB used, doses of MTB, aflatoxin inclusion in the diet, and concentration of AFM1 in milk. Twenty-eight papers with 131 data points were selected. Binders used in the studies were hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS), yeast cell wall (YCW), bentonite, and mixes of several MTB (MX). The response variables were AFM1 concentration, AFM1 reduction in milk, total AFM1 excreted in milk, and transfer of aflatoxin from feed to AFM1 in milk. Data were analyzed with CINeMA and GLIMMIX procedures with the WEIGHT statement of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc.). The AFM1 concentration in milk decreased for bentonite (0.3 µg/L ± 0.05; mean ± SE) and HSCAS (0.4 µg/L ± 0.12), and tended to decrease for MX (0.6 µg/L ± 0.13) but was similar for YCW (0.6 µg/L ± 0.12), compared with control (0.7 µg/L ± 0.12). The percentage reduction of AFM1 in milk was similar for all MTB and different from control with a range of reduction from 25% for YCW to 40% for bentonite. The excretion of AFM1 in milk was lower in YCW (5.3 µg/L ± 2.37), HSCAS (13.8 µg/L ± 3.31), and MX (17.1 µg/L ± 5.64), and not affected by bentonite (16.8 µg/L ± 3.33) compared with control (22.1 µg/L ± 5.33). The transfer of aflatoxin B1 from feed into AFM1 in milk was lowest in bentonite (0.6% ± 0.12), MX (1.04% ± 0.27), and HSCAS (1.04% ± 0.21), and not affected in YCW (1.4% ± 0.10), compared with control (1.7% ± 0.35). The meta-analysis results indicate that all MTB reduced the AFM1 transfer into milk, where bentonite had the highest capacity and YCW the lowest.

黄曲霉毒素是危害最大的真菌毒素之一，而黄曲霉毒素B1（AFB1）是黄曲霉毒素中毒性最大的一种，具有高毒性、致癌、致畸和致突变的作用，对动物和人类健康造成危害。为了有效脱除AFB1，综述了近年来研究的具有解毒作用的微生物，介绍了采用生物技术脱除AFB1的方法，重点探讨了生物脱除AFB1机制。用于脱除AFB1的菌株有芽孢杆菌、假单胞菌、乳酸菌、非产毒曲霉等，可采用单菌种发酵、多菌种协同发酵和菌-酶协同作用脱除AFB1。生物脱除AFB1机制主要为降解脱除和吸附脱除。可进一步筛选具有高优良能力的菌株以及更深层次地研究微生物脱毒的机制，探索微生物制剂对AFB1的降解作用。 Aflatoxin is one of the most harmful mycotoxins, and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is one of the most toxic aflatoxins. Due to its highly toxic, carcinogenic, teratogenic and mutagenic effects, AFB1 is harmful for animal and human health. In order to effectively remove AFB1, the research on microorganisms with detoxification effects in recent years were reviewed, the methods of using biotechnology to remove AFB1 were introduced, and the mechanism of microbial detoxification of AFB1 was discussed. The strains used for the removal of AFB1 included Bacillus, Pseudomonas, lactic acid bacteria, non-toxigenic Aspergillus, etc. Single-strain fermentation, multi-strain synergistic fermentation and bacteria-enzyme synergistic action could be used to remove AFB1. The main mechanisms for biological removal of AFB1 included degradation removal and adsorption removal. Further screening of strains with high and excellent abilities and deeper research on the mechanism of microbial detoxification can be conducted to explore the degradation effect of microbial preparations on AFB1.

为了解山东省市售花生及其制品中黄曲霉毒素B1（AFB1）污染状况，评估其暴露水平及潜在的健康风险，并为有关部门采取控制措施提供依据，2015—2020年于山东省16市生产环节、流通环节（农贸市场、商店）随机采集花生、花生酱、花生油共计246份样品，采用高效液相色谱-柱后衍生法测定其AFB1含量，计算AFB1平均膳食暴露量和暴露限值（MOE），评估山东省市售花生及其制品中AFB1膳食暴露风险。结果表明，花生及其制品中AFB1总检出率为28.46%，不合格率为7.72%。花生酱和花生油中AFB1检出率显著高于花生；散装花生酱、花生油中AFB1检出率显著高于预包装产品；一般消费居民通过花生、花生酱和花生油AFB1平均膳食暴露量分别为0.01、061、1.09 ng/（kg·d），肝癌发病风险分别为0.000、0.019、0.034例/10万人，其MOE分别为30 500、500和280；高消费居民通过花生、花生酱和花生油AFB1平均膳食暴露量分别为0.23、664、8.90 ng/（kg·d），肝癌发病风险分别为0.007、0.205、0.274例/10万人，其MOE分别为1 326、46和34。严格执行限量标准后经花生酱和花生油AFB1平均膳食暴露量、肝癌发病风险降幅均达50%以上。为了更大限度地保护人群健康，有必要采取有效的监管和风险管理措施控制山东省市售花生及其制品中AFB1含量，特别是散装花生酱和花生油。 To investigate the contamination status of aflatoxin B1(AFB1) in peanut and its products sold in Shandong province, evaluate its exposure level and health risk, and provide basis for relevant departments to take control measures, a total of 246 peanuts，peanut butter and peanut oil were randomly collected from production and circulation links (farmers′markets and stores) in 16 cities of Shandong province from 2015 to 2020. The contents of AFB1 in peanut and its products were determined by high performance liquid chromatography-post-column derivatization method,and mean dietary exposure and margin of exposure (MOE) were calculated to evaluate the dietary exposure risk of residents to AFB1 through peanut and its products sold in Shandong province. The results showed that the total detection rate of AFB1 in peanut and its products was 28.46% and the unqualified rate was 772%. The detection rate of AFB1 in peanut butter and peanut oil was significantly higher than that in peanut. The detection rate of AFB1 in bulk peanut butter and peanut oil was significantly higher than that in pre-packing products. The AFB1 exposure of general consumption residents through peanut, peanut butter and peanut oil were 0.01, 0.61 ng/（kg·d）and 1.09 ng/（kg·d）, the risk of liver cancer were 0.000, 0.019 and 0.034 cases per 100 000 people, and the MOE values were 30 500, 500 and 280, respectively. The AFB1 exposure of high consumption residents through peanut, peanut butter and peanut oil were 0.23, 6.64 ng/（kg·d）and 8.90 ng/（kg·d）, respectively, the risk of liver cancer were 0.007, 0.205 and 0.274 cases per 100 000 people, and the MOE values were 1 326, 46 and 34, respectively. After strict implementation of the limit standard, AFB1 exposure and the risk of liver cancer were reduced by more than 50%. For greater protection of population health, it is necessary to take effective regulatory and risk management measures to control the AFB1 content in peanut and its products sold in Shandong province, especially in bulk peanut butter and peanut oil.

为降低泰安市居民黄曲霉毒素B1(AFB1)的膳食摄入风险，指导消费者购买安全食品提供依据，随机采集2021年泰安市各县市区内小麦粉、大米、谷物加工品、玉米粉、玉米油、花生油、坚果炒货等粮油食品共计553份，采用高效液相色谱-柱后衍生法对其AFB1含量进行检测，并采用暴露限值（MOE）法和数学模型法对不同种类、不同来源、不同地区、不同人群粮油食品AFB1膳食暴露水平进行评估。结果表明：泰安市粮油食品中AFB1总检出率分别为2.53%，平均含量为0.73 μg/kg，总不合格率为0.72%；高新区、新泰市、宁阳县3个县市区小作坊、小食杂店，餐饮店，小型超市购进的花生油与玉米粉中AFB1检出率较高；泰安市粮油食品AFB1暴露量为3.90 ng/（kg·d），MOE为103，AFB1致肝癌发病风险为0.084 2 例/（10万人·年）；玉米粉、小麦粉、花生油中AFB1膳食暴露风险较高，高新区、新泰市、宁阳县3个县市区小作坊、小食杂店，餐饮店粮油食品中AFB1膳食暴露风险较高；不同人群粮油食品中AFB1膳食暴露风险差别不大。综上，泰安市粮油食品中AFB1膳食暴露风险较高，仍需持续关注，有关部门应加强监管力度。 To reduce the dietary intake risk of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in Tai′an and provide a basis for guiding consumers to purchase safe food, a total of 553 samples of wheat flour, rice, processed cereals, corn flour, corn oil, peanut oil, and roasted nuts were randomly collected from various administrative areas of Tai′an in 2021, and the content of AFB1 was accurately detected by high performance liquid chromatography-post-column derivation method. The dietary exposure levels of AFB1 in different types, sources, regions and populations of grain and oil product were evaluated using the exposure limit method(MOE) and mathematical modeling method. The results showed that the total detection rate of AFB1 was 2.53%, the average content was 0.73 μg/kg, and the total unqualified rate was 0.72%. The detection rates of AFB1 in the peanut oil and the corn flour purchased by small workshops, small grocery stores, restaurants and small supermarkets in High-tech District, Xintai city and Ningyang county were higher. The exposure amount of AFB1 in grain and oil product in Tai′an was 3.90 ng/ (kg·d), the MOE was 103, and the risk of liver cancer caused by AFB1 was 0.084 2cases/(100 000 people-years). The dietary exposure risk of AFB1 in corn flour, wheat flour and peanut oil was high, and as well as the grain and oil product from the small workshops, small grocery stores, restaurants of High-tech district, Xintai city, Ningyang county. The dietary exposure risk of AFB1 in different populations had no obvious differences. In conclusion, the dietary exposure risk of AFB1 in grain and oil product in Tai′an is high, and still needs continuous attention and supervision by the relevant authorities.

San-Huang chicken is a high-quality breed in China with yellow feather, claw and break. However, the abnormal phenomenon of the yellow shank turning into green shank of San-Huang chicken has been a concern, as it seriously reduces the carcass quality and economic benefit of yellow-feathered broilers. In this study, the cause of this abnormal green skin in shank was systematically investigated. Physiological anatomy revealed that the abnormal skin in shank was primarily due to the deposition of melanin under the dermis. After analyzing multiple potential causes such as heredity (pedigree and genetic markers), environment (water quality monitoring) and feed composition (mycotoxin detection), excessive aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in feed was screened, accompanied with a higher L-dihydroxy-phenylalanine (L-DOPA) (P170 μg kg–1) indeed induced the abnormal green skin in shank compared to the normal AFB1 content (

Contamination with multiple mycotoxins is a major issue for global food safety and trade. This study focused on the degradation of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and zearalenone (ZEN) by 8 types of edible fungi belonging to 6 species, inclulding Agaricus bisporus, Agrocybe cylindracea, Cyclocybe cylindracea, Cyclocybe aegerita, Hypsizygus marmoreus and Lentinula edodes. Among these fungi, Agrocybe cylindracea strain GC-Ac2 was shown to be the most efficient in the degradation of AFB1 and ZEN. Under optimal degradation conditions (pH 6.0 and 37.4°C for 37.9 h), the degradation rate of both AFB1 and ZEN reached over 96%. Through the analysis of functional detoxification components, it was found that the removal of AFB1 and ZEN was primarily degraded by the culture supernatant of the fungus. The culture supernatant exhibited a maximum manganese peroxidase (MnP) activity of 2.37 U/mL. Interestingly, Agrocybe cylindracea strain GC-Ac2 also showed the capability to degrade other mycotoxins in laboratory-scale mushroom substrates, including 15A-deoxynivalenol, fumonisin B1, B2, B3, T-2 toxin, ochratoxin A, and sterigmatocystin. The mechanism of degradation of these mycotoxins was speculated to be catalyzed by a complex enzyme system, which include MnP and other ligninolytic enzymes. It is worth noting that Agrocybe cylindracea can degrade multiple mycotoxins and produce MnP, which is a novel and significant discovery. These results suggest that this candidate strain and its enzyme system are expected to become valuable biomaterials for the simultaneous degradation of multiple mycotoxins.

ABSTRACT: Vasicine from Adhatoda vasica was investigated in the management of aflatoxicosis and ochratoxicosis by in silico molecular docking approach. The computational analysis was carried out using Discovery Studio Autodock 4.5 tool. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME), pharmacodynamics and toxicity studies were also carried out using Swiss ADME and PASS online server, respectively. The standard drug compound used was silymarin and the structure were retrieved from the protein data bank for both the test compound vasicine and the standard drug. Vasicine interacted with aflatoxin B1 at 10 different poses and the maximum dock score was found to be 83.04 and the binding energy was -37.54 kcal/mol. Silymarin interacted with aflatoxin B1 at 10 different poses and the maximum dock score was found to be 143.578 and the binding energy was -67.32 kcal/mol. Vasicine interacted with ochratoxin A at 10 different poses and the maximum dock score was found to be 73.75 and the binding energy was -56.20 kcal/mol. Silymarin interacted with ochratoxin A at 10 different poses and the maximum dock score was found to be 89.23 and the binding energy was -98.86 kcal/mol. The compounds possess good gastro intestinal absorption with antioxidant property and exhibits minimum adverse effects. The obtained results support the toxin mitigating potential of the test compound with minimum adverse effects and hence vasicine can be regarded as a potential toxin binder of aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A, wherein it can be implemented for alleviating aflatoxicosis and ochratoxicosis.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a secondary metabolite produced principally by Aspergillus parasiticus and A. flavus. It is one of the most potent and commonly occurring dietary carcinogen with its carcinogenic potential being linked to the formation of DNA adducts and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Plant extracts contain a plethora of biologically active phytochemicals that act against ROS. This study aimed to assess the phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts of some medicinal plants and investigate their detoxification potentials against AFB1. Phytochemical screening together with total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS+)) assays) were performed on nine methanolic plant extracts. Extracts were incubated with AFB1 for 24 and 48 h and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis done to assess their AFB1 detoxification activities. The TPC of the extracts ranged from 88.92 ± 6.54 to 210.19 ± 7.90 mg GAE/g, while TFC ranged between 4.01 ± 0.94 and 32.48 ± 1.02 mg QE/g. Radical scavenging activities of extracts varied from 4.18 ± 1.37 to 251.53 ± 9.30 μg/mL and 8.36 ± 1.65 to 279.22 ± 8.33 μg/mL based on DPPH and ABTS+ assays, respectively. Six of the plant extracts showed a time-dependent detoxification activity against AFB1 after 48 h ranging from 20.17 to 38.13 %. C. dentata bark extract showed the highest percentage of AFB1 reduction, with mean percentages of 43.57 and 70.96 % at 24 and 48 h, respectively. This was followed by C. asiatica leaves and A. melegueta seeds with a maximum of 40.81 and 38.13 %, respectively after 48 h. These extracts also possessed high TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activities compared to all the other extracts. Findings from this study demonstrate the abundance of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity playing a role in potent AFB1 detoxification activity.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a major food and feed pollutant that endangers public health. Previous studies have shown that exposure to AFB1 causes neurotoxicity in the body. However, the mechanism of neurotoxicity caused by AFB1 is not well understood, and finding a workable and practical method to safeguard animals from AFB1 toxicity is essential. This study confirmed that AFB1 caused endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) and apoptosis in hippocampal neurons using C57BL/6 J mice and HT22 cells as models. In vitro experiments showed that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) plays a significant role in the cytotoxicity of AFB1. Finally, we assessed how hesperetin protecting against the neurotoxicity caused by AFB1. Our findings demonstrated that AFB1 increased the levels of BAX and Cleaved-Caspase3 proteins, while decreasing the levels of BCL2 protein in the CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus. The AFB1 increased the expression of AHR and activated nuclear translocation. It also elevated the expression levels of Chop, GRP78, p-IRE1/ Xbp1s, and p-PERK/p-EIF2a. Importantly, we also discovered for the first time that blocking AHR in HT22 cells dramatically reduced the level of ER stress and apoptosis caused by AFB1. In vivo and in vitro studies, supplementation of hesperetin effectively reversed AFB1-induced cytotoxicity. We have demonstrated that hesperetin effectively restored the imbalance in the GSH/GST system in HT22 cells treated with AFB1. Furthermore, we observed that elevated GSH levels facilitated the formation of AFB1-GSH complexes, which enhanced the excretion of AFB1. Therefore, hesperetin improves ER stress-induced apoptosis by reducing AFB1 activation of AHR.

Mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a threat to food safety and human health because it is present in animal feed and is metabolized into aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), a more toxic form, during lactation. The aim of this study was to quantify AFM1 concentrations in raw milk of buffalos, cows, sheep, and goats sampled randomly from four regions within Baghdad ‎Province, Iraq, and to compare these levels with the maximum allowable levels set forth by the ‎European Commission (EC), the Iraqi Standard Specification (IQS), and the food and Drug Administration (FDA). The carry-over of AFB1 from feed to AFM1 in milk were also calculated for each of the ‎studied species. A total of 200 random samples, including 50 each from cows, buffaloes, ‎sheep, and goats, were collected from farms located in Zu'afraniya, Nahrawan, Abu Ghraib, and ‎Fedhalia regions. AFM1 and AFB1 concentrations were determined using the ‎enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Raw milk samples from cows, sheep, buffaloes, and goats were all found to have AFM1 concentrations that were below the limits set by the EC, IQS, and FDA. Animal feed samples, on the other hand, had AFB1 concentrations of 10.08, 5.95, 4.27, and 7.10 ppb for ‎buffaloes, cows, sheep, and goats, respectively. The observed carry-over rates ranged from 0.36% ‎in goats to 0.78% in buffaloes to 0.66% in cows. Multiple factors, including animal species, ‎are considered, and it is determined that a universal carry-over equation cannot be applied to all cases. ‎Therefore, it is essential to regularly monitor AFM1 levels in milk from various animal species in order to ‎lessen potential health risks. Furthermore, the study suggests enhancing agricultural and veterinary ‎practices to better regulate feed quality for dairy animals‎‎‎‎.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), ochratoxin A (OTA), and fumonisin B1 (FB1), the most commonly ‎encountered mycotoxins, constitute serious human ‎and animal health threats as a result of their ‎toxigenic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic influences‎. The study aimed to investigate the occurrence ‎of these mycotoxins in poultry feeds and determine the ‎percentage of the samples that exceeded the legal limits approved by the European ‎Commission ‎‎(EC). Sixty poultry feed samples were collected from poultry feed plants and poultry farms in Nineveh ‎Province and analyzed for ‎detection mycotoxins‏ ‏using competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent ‎Assay (ELISA). Results reported co-occurrence of AFB1 and FB1 in ‎all samples examined (100%), while AFB1, ‎OTA, and FB1 co-occurred in 53 samples (88.33%) at values ranging between 3.15–43.96, 0–‎‎168.24, ‎and 220.6–6935.12 ppb, respectively. Also, results showed that FB1 existed at a mean value (2164.01 ‎ppb) significantly higher ‎‎(P

Aspergillus fungi species found in wheat, maize, rice, and other agricultural products produce the carcinogenic mycotoxin known as Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), which can cause cancer in animals and humans. Consequently, recent interest has surged regarding the need for inexpensive, selective, and sensitive sensors to detect AFB1 in food. An ultrasensitive electrochemical aptasensor for AFB1 analysis was constructed using carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (cMWCNTs) and iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NP) on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The peptide bond formation by EDC coupling between the aptamer and cMWCNTs-Fe3O4 NP composite exhibited a strong anodic redox response from AFB1 using cyclic voltammetry (CV) in this study. Applying differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), the GCE/cMWCNTs-Fe3O4 NP aptasensor exhibited very low limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 0.43 fg mL−1 and 1.44 fg mL−1 respectively over a calibration ranging from 0.50 fg mL−1 to 5.00 fg mL−1. For actual sample analysis, excellent spike recoveries from 95 to 105% were obtained for corn and rice flour. Single particle ICP-MS (spICP-MS) confirmed the average mass-based diameter of the synthesized Fe3O4 NPs to be in the nano-range (d ≈ 20 nm), the properties of which are essential for the facilitation of strong electron transfer in DPV sensing. Finally, density functional theory and molecular docking studies predicted the sensing mechanism and supported deductions based on the AFB1 capture by the employed aptamer respectively. As part of South Africa’s quality control and regulatory frameworks, this study aims to contribute toward the prevention of AFB1 exposure in foods.

With the increasing consumption of plant-based ingredients in aquafeeds, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination has become an issue of concern. This experiment aimed to investigate the effect of dietary AFB1 levels on the growth and liver function of hybrid grouper and the mechanisms involved. Six diets with different AFB1 levels were formulated at concentrations of 0 μgkg−1 (AFB0), seven μgkg−1 (AFB7), 30 μgkg−1 (AFB30), 111 μgkg−1 (AFB111), 445 μgkg−1 (AFB445) and 2230 μgkg−1 (AFB2230). A total of 540 healthy hybrid grouper with an initial weight of 11.59 ± 0.03 g were selected and randomly divided into six groups of three replicates of 30 fish each for a trial period of eight weeks. The results showed that with increasing dietary AFB1 levels, growth performance decreased, feed conversion ratio increased, and serum liver damage indicators increased. Liver section results also showed a significant hepatic inflammatory response and increased liver ROS levels in the high AFB1 dietary dose group. In addition, combined with the expression of critical genes in the liver, it was shown that high dietary AFB1 levels disrupted normal liver lipid and protein metabolism, reduced liver antioxidant capacity, and upregulated liver inflammation-related gene expression.

This study was conducted to investigate the protective potential of a pharmaceutically formulated capsule of artichoke leaf powder (ArLP) against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced hepatotoxicity in male albino rats. In the 42-day experiment, rats were divided into five equal groups: (i) control, treated with sterile water, (ii) treated with 4% DMSO as AFB1 vehicle, (iii) ArLP of 100 mg kg–1 bw, (iv) AFB1 of 72 µg kg–1 bw, and (v) AFB1 plus ArLP. Exposure of rats to AFB1 resulted in hepatotoxicity as manifested by the intensification of oxidative stress, production of free radicals and significant increase in the activity levels of liver function enzymes relative to the control. Significant reductions in both the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant markers as well as histopathological abnormalities in liver tissues were also observed. Notably, the combined administration of ArLP with AFB1 clearly reduced AFB1-mediated adverse effects leading to the normalization of most of these parameters back to control levels. These findings clearly highlight the potential benefits of artichoke dietary supplements as a safe and natural solution in counteracting the adverse hepatotoxic effects conferred by AFB1 exposure. Further research is warranted to fully dissect the biochemical and molecular mechanism of action of the observed artichoke-mediated hepatoprotection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a mycotoxin produced by several species of Aspergillus fungi which can cause liver cancer in animals and humans. This study aims to perform the risk assessment of AFB1 in herbal medicines and plant food supplements (PFS) in Malaysian market. A total of 31 herbal medicines and PFS were purchased through online platforms and over the counter using a targeted sampling strategy. Of 31 samples analysed using the ELISA method, 25 (80.6%) were contaminated with AFB1 at levels ranged from 0.275 to 13.941 μg/kg. The Benchmark Dose Lower Confidence level of 10 (BMDL10) of 63.46 ng/kg bw/day and the estimated dietary intake of the adult population ranged from 0.006 to 10.456 ng/kg bw/day were used to calculate the Margin of Exposure (MOE). The MOEs for 24 (96%) out of the 25 positive samples were lower than 10,000. The RISK21 matrix revealed that AFB1 exposure levels from herbal medicines and PFS differed greatly over the world. The calculated population risk of acquiring liver cancer from AFB1 exposure ranged from 0 to 0.261 cancers/100,000 populations/year and accounted for an estimated percentage of liver cancer incidence ranged from 0.002 to 4.149%. This study revealed a moderate risk of liver cancer attributable to AFB1 from herbal medicine and PFS among Malaysian populations and emphasised an urgency for risk management actions. Highlights: 80.6% of samples analysed were positive with AFB1 Margin of exposure values below 10,000 for 96% of positive samples indicating a high priority for risk management actions The RISK21 framework is a helpful tool for communicating and visualising risk The estimated percentage of liver cancer incidence attributable to AFB1 through consumption of herbal medicine and plant food supplement (PFS) samples ranged from 0.002 to 4.149% revealed that Malaysians were at moderate risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aflatoxin B1 is one of the most common fungal toxins in agricultural by-products, due to mutagenic, teratogenic, immunosuppressive, and carcinogenic effects. It is very necessary to develop reliable detection of aflatoxin B1 in agricultural by-products, in order to reduce the harm caused by aflatoxin B1. Traditional methods cannot fully meet the requirements of onsite and rapid detection in modern agriculture. Fortunately, electrochemical sensors have attracted much attention in recent years, due mainly to the simple preparation, easy portability, high sensitivity, and strong selectivity. According to the different recognition components, electrochemical sensors for aflatoxin B1 can be divided into aptamer-, immune response-, and molecular imprinting-based sensors. The recognition elements of these three sensors are antibodies, aptamers, and molecularly imprinted polymers, respectively. Various types of electrochemical sensors have also been developed for aflatoxin B1 using different perception strategies and nanomaterials, such as aptamer electrochemical sensors using competitive strategy, and aptamer electrochemical sensors using ratio strategy. This study aims to review the progress of electrochemical sensors for aflatoxin B1 over the past five years (2019-2023), thereby listing the representative examples, the sensing mechanisms, and signal generation strategies of sensors using different recognition elements. The performance of these sensors was compared to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of different recognition elements. The recommendations and development direction were discussed for the electrochemical sensors of aflatoxin B1 using different principles. The main conclusions were as follows: 1) The recognition components of AFB1 sensors mainly included adaptors, antibodies, and molecularly imprinted membranes at present. The preparation technology of recognition components and new recognition elements should be developed to further improve the performance of AFB1 sensors. 2) The high sensitivity of AFB1 sensors often required signal amplification using one or more nanocomposite materials. The performance of the AFB1 sensor depended mainly on nanomaterials. In addition, these types of sensors were still lacking in the structural stability and complex processing of highquality nanomaterials. Therefore, there is a high demand to develop novel nanomaterials with excellent performance. Preparation technology of nanomaterials can be expected to greatly improve the performance of AFB1 electrochemical sensors. 3) It is very necessary to combine different recognition components or perception strategies. The aptamers and antibodies were used in combination, together with the aptamers and MIP. More joint applications were explored in the future. 4) Most AFB1 sensors were used to detect a single toxin. However, multiple toxins often coexist in nature. Therefore, the sensors should be developed to simultaneously detect the multiple toxins in real matrices. This requirement can be fully met by integrating the electrodes with high-throughput technologies. 5) The AFB1 sensor is still in the laboratory research stage, and thus a lot of work needs to be done for the true commercial application. The preparation process of the AFB1 electrochemical sensor should be simplified with the sensitivity. The stability and generalization of the sensor should be improved to promote large-scale production and utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disease characterized by impaired communication, reciprocal social interactions, restricted sociability deficits, and stereotyped behavioral patterns. Environmental factors and genetic susceptibility have been implicated in an increased risk of ASD. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a typical contaminant of food and feed that causes severe immune dysfunction in humans and animals. Nevertheless, the impact of ASD on behavioral and immunological responses has not been thoroughly examined. To investigate this phenomenon, we subjected BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice to AFB1 and evaluated their marble-burying and self-grooming behaviors and their sociability. The exposure to AFB1 resulted in a notable escalation in marble-burying and self-grooming activities while concurrently leading to a decline in social contacts. In addition, we investigated the potential molecular mechanisms that underlie the impact of AFB1 on the production of Th1 (IFN-γ, STAT1, and T-bet), Th9 (IL-9 and IRF4), Th17 (IL-17A, IL-21, RORγT, and STAT3), Th22 (IL-22, AhR, and TNF-α), and T regulatory (Treg) (IL-10, TGF-β1, and FoxP3) cells in the spleen. This was achieved using RT-PCR and Western blot analyses to assess mRNA and protein expression in brain tissue. The exposure to AFB1 resulted in a significant upregulation of various immune-related factors, including IFN-γ, STAT1, T-bet, IL-9, IRF4, IL-17A, IL-21, RORγ, STAT3, IL-22, AhR, and TNF-α in BTBR mice. Conversely, the production of IL-10, TGF-β1, and FoxP3 by CD4+ T cells was observed to be downregulated. Exposure to AFB1 demonstrated a notable rise in Th1/Th9/Th22/Th17 levels and a decrease in mRNA and protein expression of Treg. The results above underscore the significance of AFB1 exposure in intensifying neurobehavioral and immunological abnormalities in BTBR mice, hence indicating the necessity for a more comprehensive investigation into the contribution of AFB1 to the development of ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is one of the most toxic and harmful fungal toxins to humans and animals, and the fundamental way to prevent its entry into humans is to detect its presence in advance. In this paper, the monoclonal antibody mAbA2-2 was obtained via three-step sample amplification and multi-concentration standard detection using a subcloning method based on the limited dilution method with AFB1 as the target. A dynamic and pseucdo-homogeneous magnetic beads enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MBs-icELISA) was established using the prepared antibody as the recognition element and immunomagnetic beads as the antigen carrier. The MBs-icELISA showed good linear correlation in the concentration range of 0.004–10 ng/mL with R2 = 0.99396. The limit of detection (LOD) of the MBs-icELISA for AFB1 was 0.0013 ng/mL. This new ELISA strategy significantly shortened AFB1 detection time through improved sensitivity compared to the conventional ELISA method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycotoxins are considered the most threating natural contaminants in food. Among these mycotoxins, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) are the most prominent fungal metabolites that represent high food safety risks, due to their widespread co-occurrence in several food commodities, and their profound toxic effects on humans. Considering the ethical and more humane animal research, the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, and refinement) principle has been promoted in the last few years. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the research studies conducted up to date on the toxicological effects that AFB1 and FB1 can induce on human health, through the examination of a selected number of in vitro studies. Although the impact of both toxins, as well as their combination, were investigated in different cell lines, the majority of the work was carried out in hepatic cell lines, especially HepG2, owing to the contaminants' liver toxicity. In all the reviewed studies, AFB1 and FB1 could invoke, after short-term exposure, cell apoptosis, by inducing several pathways (oxidative stress, the mitochondrial pathway, ER stress, the Fas/FasL signaling pathway, and the TNF-α signal pathway). Among these pathways, mitochondria are the primary target of both toxins. The interaction of AFB1 and FB1, whether additive, synergistic, or antagonistic, depends to great extent on FB1/AFB1 ratio. However, it is generally manifested synergistically, via the induction of oxidative stress and mitochondria dysfunction, through the expression of the Bcl-2 family and p53 proteins. Therefore, AFB1 and FB1 mixture may enhance more in vitro toxic effects, and carry a higher significant risk factor, than the individual presence of each toxin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) are among the most important mycotoxins with common presence in bread and bakery products. Biological detoxification of mould food spoilage and mycotoxin contamination by lactic acid bacteria (LABs) exhibits high potential on a cost‐effective and large scale. In this work, the effect of Lactobacillus strains isolated from goat milk whey on reducing AFB1 and OTA during bread making was evaluated by the determination of mycotoxin reduction potential of 12 LAB strains after 72 h incubation in De Man–Rogosa–Sharpe (MRS) broth (37 °C). The most effective LABs were lyophilized and added as ingredient in bread formulation, analysing mycotoxins by high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry after bread fermentation and baking. RESULTS: AFB1 was reduced in MRS broth by seven LABs (11–35%), highlighting Lactobacillus plantarum B3 activity; while all LABs reduced OTA (12–40%) with L. plantarum B3 and Lactobacillus paracasei B10 as the most active strains. Both LABs were lyophilized and added in contaminated bread with and without yeast, reaching AFB1 and OTA reductions up to 27% and 32% respectively in dough and up to 55% and 34% respectively in bread. CONCLUSION: The selected strains significantly reduced AFB1 and OTA during bread fermentation, pointing to a potential biocontrol strategy for mycotoxins detoxification in bread and bakery products. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is widely distributed and highly hepatotoxic, which can cause oxidative damage to human liver. In this study, a rat model of acute liver injury was established by injecting AFB1 to explore the intervention effect and method of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) with antioxidant activity on liver injury. The experiment was designed with blank group, COS control group, model group, COS intervention group, and positive control group. Consecutive gavage for 8 days, the model group, COS intervention and positive control group were injected with 1 mg/kg AFB1 only on the 6th day. The intervention effect of COS on liver injury was evaluated by serum liver function indexes, lipid peroxide content, antioxidant enzyme activity and liver tissue sections in rats, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained by RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology to analyse the intervention mode of COS. The results showed that compared with the model group, the COS intervention group significantly decreased the serum liver function indexes and lipid peroxide content, and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes; the observation of liver slices showed that COS was beneficial to improve the liver morphology of rats. RNA-Seq data showed a total of 968 DEGs in the COS intervention group compared with the model group, and the enriched gene ontology (GO) entries were mainly related to liver metabolic function, oxidative stress response and protein synthesis. In conclusion, COS has a certain intervention effect on AFB1-induced acute liver injury, which provides a theoretical basis for COS to prevent AFB1-induced liver injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was designed to predict the response of Aspergillus parasiticus and AFB1 production as a function of temperature (25, 30, 35, 40 °C), water activity (aw = 0.57, 0.90, 0.94, 0.96) and growth medium in peanuts and walnuts. The fungal growth, counted as infected nut kernels and AFB1 content was determined using HPLC. About 100 % kernels of peanut and walnut were infected with A. parasiticus at 30 °C with 0.96aw. The maximum toxin was quantified at optimal 25 °C × 0.96aw (4780 μg/kg) in walnuts and 30 °C × 0.96aw (9100 μg/kg) in peanuts. Whereas, the temperatures (<20 °C or >40 °C) and aw (<0.90) doesn't provide a sufficient environment for the growth of these entities. Additionally, the sample growth medium was found another major factor that affects toxin production, along with environmental conditions. The regression model and two-way ANOVA indicate that temperature, aw and commodity are the significant predictors (p < 0.05) for fungal growth and AFB1 production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Henan University of Technology Natural Science Edition is the property of Henan University of Technology Journal Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A rapid gold nanoflowers (AuNFs) immunochromatographic test strip (ICTS) based on the nanobody (Nb) was developed and used for rapid detection of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Thanks to remarkable physicochemical stability, structural adaptability, ease of genetic manipulation, expression in the prokaryotic system with high yield and tolerance to harsh environments of nanobodies, the G8‐DIG was produced via expression and purification, which was labeled with AuNFs by electrostatic adsorption as signal probes in the ICTS. The AuNFs‐anti‐G8‐DIG nanobodies as a probe of ICTS could specifically recognize not only AFB1 but also DIG‐BSA. In this study, the DIG‐BSA replaced the anti‐6×His‐tag antibody of traditional nanobody‐based ICTS was coated on the control line, which was easier to synthesize, cheaper, and more stable. Under the optimal conditions, the AuNFs‐based nanobody ICTS system accurately detected AFB1 linearly and dynamically over the range (IC20~IC80) of 1.02~27.86 ng/mL, with the IC10 and IC50 of 0.1 ng/mL and 5.46 ng/mL respectively. In addition, these developed nanobodies ICTS had a universal application in the analysis of AFB1 in corn samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapid gold nanoflowers (AuNFs) immunochromatographic test strip (ICTS) based on the nanobody (Nb) was developed and used for rapid detection of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Thanks to remarkable physicochemical stability, structural adaptability, ease of genetic manipulation, expression in the prokaryotic system with high yield and tolerance to harsh environments of nanobodies, the G8‐DIG was produced via expression and purification, which was labeled with AuNFs by electrostatic adsorption as signal probes in the ICTS. The AuNFs‐anti‐G8‐DIG nanobodies as a probe of ICTS could specifically recognize not only AFB1 but also DIG‐BSA. In this study, the DIG‐BSA replaced the anti‐6×His‐tag antibody of traditional nanobody‐based ICTS was coated on the control line, which was easier to synthesize, cheaper, and more stable. Under the optimal conditions, the AuNFs‐based nanobody ICTS system accurately detected AFB1 linearly and dynamically over the range (IC20~IC80) of 1.02~27.86 ng/mL, with the IC10 and IC50 of 0.1 ng/mL and 5.46 ng/mL respectively. In addition, these developed nanobodies ICTS had a universal application in the analysis of AFB1 in corn samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), one of the main types of aflatoxins, is the most dangerous and prevalent. Due to its side effect to the liver, AFB1 has been linked to an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. This study's goal was to assess how the nanoparticles of lactoferrin (LF) protects rat liver from the toxicity caused by aflatoxin B1, as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound. Methods: Forty adult male Wistar rats (140-200g each) were divided into four groups of ten each: 1) A group of healthy animals; 2) healthy rats treated with PEE (50 mg/kg/day); 3) rats given Aflatoxin B1 (40 mg/kg/day) orally for six weeks; 4) rats injected with LF-NPs for six weeks after being intoxicated with AFB1. Results: The results showed that LF was successful in reducing AFB1-induced hepatotoxicity after six weeks of treatment. This was demonstrated by a significant decline in the serum ALAT, ASAT, GGT, ALP, TNF-α, IL-1β, CD4 and AFP levels, and hepatic MDA, NO, and DNA fragmentation. Also, significant increase in the serum total protein and albumin, hepatic GSH, SOD, and CAT values were investigated. These effects were consistent with the structural restoration of the histological status of the liver. Conclusion: It is possible to draw the conclusion that LF-NPs have been highly effective in reducing the oxidative stress caused by AFB1 and protecting the liver from its harmful effects. LFNPs may be thought of as an exciting candidate for safeguarding the liver from the adverse effects of AFB1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi, which can have very dangerous consequences for human health in addition to spoiling food and changing organoleptic properties. Aflatoxin entering the body and targeting the liver as the main organ involved can cause liver and blood cancer. Hence, the aim of the present study is to measure aflatoxin B1 in corn flour and wheat flour supplied in Shahrekord using ELISA method in 2022. Materials and Methods: In this study, 40 samples of flour, including 20 samples of corn flour and 20 samples of wheat flour, were randomly sampled from the supply centers and sent to the food hygiene laboratory to track and determine the amount of aflatoxin B1. Results: The results showed that all samples of wheat flour and corn flour contained aflatoxin 1B. The average of aflatoxin B1 in wheat flour and corn flour was calculated as 2.58 ± 0.95 and 3.47 ± 2.07 (µg/kg) of the sample, respectively; Among the 20 examined samples of corn flour, the concentration of aflatoxin B1 ranged from 3.4 (µg/kg) to 1.9 (µg/kg) and in 20 samples of wheat flour (µg/kg) from 7.90 to (µg/kg) was 1.4; Therefore, the concentration of none of the samples was higher than the Iranian standard. Conclusion: The occurrence of aflatoxin B1 in all the samples examined in the current study is lower than the risk range determined by the Iranian standard, so in this case, its aasociated high risk does not threaten the health of consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reuterin is a secondary metabolite of the lactic acid bacteria Limosilactobacillus reuteri having broad antimicrobial activity. This study aimed to determine the antifungal activity of reuterin against aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus). The aflatoxigenic A. flavus BIO 33212 isolated from Indonesian nutmeg was used in this study. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of reuterin based on radial growth and colony-forming assays in solid and liquid fat-enriched media against A. flavus was determined. The effect of reuterin on the morphological structure of A. flavus was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) produced by A. flavus was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Reuterin effectively prolonged the lag phase and decreased the growth rate of A. flavus. At 2 and 4 mM, reuterin demonstrated radial growth inhibition by 5.59% and 35.40%, respectively, while the reductions in colony numbers were 18.36% and 69.51%, respectively. At higher concentrations (6 and 8 mM), the fungal growth was inhibited and reduced completely (100%). SEM revealed the disruption of hyphae and conidiophore development and conidial damage. However, a contradictory phenomenon was found when reuterin at < 6 mM triggered a higher production of AFB1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Peroxidase (PO) is effective at mitigating or eliminating mycotoxins in fish feeds. However, the literature does not describe how the free radicals produced during oxidation by PO can interact with other nutrients and active compounds present in such feeds, affecting their bioavailability and modifying both the metabolism of the species and the quality of the final product. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of using PO as a treatment against mycotoxins on the nutritional quality of the fatty acids and polyphenols present in a fish feed. The results demonstrate that applying PO may have unwanted side effects on long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and the digestive bioaccessibility of polyphenols. Peroxidase (PO) has been applied in different areas of industrial biotechnology, including the control of contaminants like aflatoxin B1 in fish feeds. However, its potential negative interactions with the macro and micro components of feeds have not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of PO's addition to a feed on compounds like fatty acids and polyphenols using an in vitro simulation of the digestive tract of the tilapia. The influence on fatty acids was determined by changes in the peroxide index, with the feed including PO presenting values four times higher than those of the control feed. On the other hand, the in vitro digestive simulation also evidenced an effect of PO on the bioaccessibility of polyphenols significantly influenced by the total digestion time and temperature. The bioaccessibility of polyphenol ranged from 2.09 to 16.23 μmol of the total Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity for the combinations evaluated in the study. The greatest bioaccessibility was observed at the central point under the following conditions of digestive hydrolysis: pH of 7, 30 °C, 4.5 h of digestive hydrolysis and an absence of PO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycotoxin contamination on food and feed can have deleterious effect on human and animal health. Agricultural crops may contain one or more mycotoxin compounds; therefore, a good multiplex detection method is desirable to ensure food safety. In this study, we developed a rapid method using label-free surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to simultaneously detect three common types of mycotoxins found on corn, namely aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (ZEN), and ochratoxin A (OTA). The intrinsic chemical fingerprint from each mycotoxin was characterized by their unique Raman spectra, enabling clear discrimination between them. The limit of detection (LOD) of AFB1, ZEN, and OTA on corn were 10 ppb (32 nM), 20 ppb (64 nM), and 100 ppb (248 nM), respectively. Multivariate statistical analysis was used to predict concentrations of AFB1, ZEN, and OTA up to 1.5 ppm (4.8 µM) based on the SERS spectra of known concentrations, resulting in a correlation coefficient of 0.74, 0.89, and 0.72, respectively. The sampling time was less than 30 min per sample. The application of label-free SERS and multivariate analysis is a promising method for rapid and simultaneous detection of mycotoxins in corn and may be extended to other types of mycotoxins and crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An adsorbent material derived from alfalfa leaves was prepared and further characterized, and its efficacy for removing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was investigated. Characterization consisted of the use of attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), point of zero charge (pHpzc), zeta potential (ζ-potential), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and spectral analysis. To determine the adsorption capacity against AFB1 (250 ng AFB1/mL), pH-dependent and avian intestinal in vitro models were used. The adsorbent inclusion percentage was 0.5% (w/w). In general, the pH-dependent model gave adsorption percentages of 98.2%, 99.9%, and 98.2%, evaluated at pH values of 2, 5, and 7, respectively. However, when the avian intestinal model was used, it was observed that the adsorption percentage of AFB1 significantly decreased (88.8%). Based on the characterization results, it is proposed that electrostatic, non-electrostatic, and the formation of chlorophyll-AFB1 complexes were the main mechanisms for AFB1 adsorption. From these results, it can be concluded that the adsorbent derived from alfalfa leaves could be used as an effective material for removing AFB1 in in vitro digestion models that mimic the physiological reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]