Validation of a simplex PCR assay enabling reliable identification of clinically relevant Candida species

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Mycotoxin producers in the Aspergillus genus : an update

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi. Species assigned to the Aspergillus genus produce a wide range of mycotoxins which can contaminate several agricultural products, and cause various human and animal diseases. In this review, we wish to give an overview of producers of Aspergillus mycotoxins in view of recent scientific data

Identification of potential mycotoxin producing fungi on agricultural products in Hungary and Serbia

One of the most important effects of climate change is the occurrence of thermotolerant mycotoxin producing fungi in countries with temperate climate, causing mycotoxin contamination of agricultural products. Indeed, a shift has recently been observed in the occurrence of aflatoxin producing fungi in Europe, with consequent aflatoxin contamination in agricultural commodities including maize and milk in several European countries including Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania and Ukraine. These observations led us to examine the occurrence of mycotoxin producing Aspergilli in agricultural products in Hungary and Serbia. The samples were collected from cereal fields in Hungary and North-Serbia (Vojvodina) after harvest in 2012. Surface-sterilized cereal seeds were placed on selective media and the isolated fungal strains were identified using morphological methods. The species identification of selected isolates was carried out using sequence-based methods. Several potentially aflatoxigenic A. flavus isolates were identified on maize. Further examinations of mycotoxin producing abilities of the isolates, and their occurrence in milk and milk-derived products are in progress

Influence of culture conditions on the antibiotic production of antagonistic Bacillus strains isolated from tomato rhizosphere

Many phytopathogenic bacteria and fungi attack tomato plants both in seedling (e.g. Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium debaryanum) and in developed foliar state (e.g. Phytophthora infestans, Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria solani, Xanthomonas vesicatoria, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, Clavibacter michiganensis). It would be desirable to find an efficient biocontrol approach for preventing the destructive effect of these pathogens. In the frame of this study, more than 250 bacteria with antagonistic properties were isolated and characterized. Results of the preliminary antagonism tests revealed that the strains belonging into the genus Bacillus were the most efficient agents against the tomato pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The Bacillus strains with the best antagonistic traits were investigated in detail. The antibiotics present in the cell-free ferment broths were detected and analysed by thin layer chromatography. Specific PCR-based approach was developed and used for the detection of the distinct antibiotic-synthesis gene clusters (iturin, surfactin, fengycin, bacillomycin and mycosubtilin) in the genomes of the strains. Our investigation revealed that the best antagonistic strains produced high amount of surfactin and/or fengycin antibiotics. On the basis of these experiments two strains were selected for further investigations. The influence of the Cu2+ and Fe2+ ions and the quality of carbon and nitrogen sources were tested in liquid culture for the antibiotic production levels by the strains. Both copper and iron highly elevated the production rate at least of the tyrosine containing antibiotics. The applied carbon and nitrogen sources highly influenced both the quantity and quality of the antibiotic mixture secreted by the strain B23 of Bacillus subtilis

Climate change and mycotoxin contamination in Central Europe : an overview of recent findings

Climate change accompanied by global warming affects food security and food safety at different levels. Climate change has a direct impact on local weather conditions. Higher temperatures and elevated humidity or drought will increase the infection of crops by different fungi and therefore increase the probability of mycotoxin occurrence. Fungi have optimum temperature ranges within which they can infect agricultural crops more severely. Increasing average temperatures could lead to changes in the range of latitudes at which certain fungi are able to compete. The production of several mycotoxins including aflatoxins, ochratoxins or fumonisins is favored by moisture and high temperature. Recently, several papers have dealt with the effects of global warming caused by climate change on the appearance of mycotoxin producing fungi and mycotoxins in agricultural products. In this review, we wish to give a general overview on the potential effects of climate change on the occurrence of mycotoxin producing fungi and their mycotoxins in Central Europe

CLIMATE CHANGE AND MYCOTOXIN CONTAMINATION IN CENTRAL EUROPE: AN OVERVIEW OF RECENT FINDINGS

Climate change accompanied by global warming affects food security and food safety at different levels. Climate change has a direct impact on local weather conditions. Higher temperatures and elevated humidity or drought will increase the infection of crops by different fungi and therefore increase the probability of mycotoxin occurrence. Fungi have optimum temperature ranges within which they can infect agricultural crops more severely. Increasing average temperatures could lead to changes in the range of latitudes at which certain fungi are able to compete. The production of several mycotoxins including aflatoxins, ochratoxins or fumonisins is favored by moisture and high temperature. Recently, several papers have dealt with the effects of global warming caused by climate change on the appearance of mycotoxin producing fungi and mycotoxins in agricultural products. In this review, we wish to give a general overview on the potential effects of climate change on the occurrence of mycotoxin producing fungi and their mycotoxins in Central Europe