The role of black Aspergilli in food safety and human health in Hungary
Informations
- Funding country
Hungary- Acronym
- -
- URL
- -
- Start date
- 4/1/2011
- End date
- 3/31/2014
- Budget
- 76,331 EUR
Fundings
| Name | Role | Start | End | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thematic Programme | Grant | 4/1/2011 | 3/31/2014 | 76,331 EUR |
Abstract
Species assigned to Aspergillus section Nigri (the so-called black Aspergilli) are economically important as producers of mycotoxins including ochratoxins and fumonisins, as allergens in indoor environments and as opportunistic human pathogens. Aspergillus section Nigri currently includes 24 species, among which A. niger and A. awamori are able to produce both ochratoxins and fumonisins, while other species produce only ochratoxin A. These species are morphologically very similar, in most cases only DNA sequence based approaches can be used to distinguish them. Our aim is to examine the species distribution of black Aspergilli in agricultural products, in indoor environment and in clinical samples using a sequence-based approach (ITS and calmodulin genes). Mycotoxin (ochratoxins, fumonisin isomers) producing abilities of the isolates will be examined using RP-HPLC/ESI-MS technique, and correlated with mycotoxin contamination of the agricultural products (dried fruits, onion, nuts). The possible host preference of the different species will also be examined. Identification of possible correlations between species assignment, antifungal susceptibilities towards various antifungal drugs and lovastatin and other characteristics (presence of mycoviruses, mycotoxin profiles, metabolic profiles obtained using RP-HPLC/ESI-TOFMS analysis, UP-PCR and RAPD profiles, extracellular enzyme activities) of the clinical and indoor isolates will be carried out.