UNASSIGNED: The productivity of domestic animals and the safety of food products derived from them are jeopardised by mycotoxins in animal feed. To control them, feed additives are used, which limit the absorption of mycotoxins in the gastrointestinal tract of animals by binding to them. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a new in vitro model in experiments on the binding of mycotoxins from buffers and contaminated feed and to confirm the effect of a single sorbent or mixture in binding them.
UNASSIGNED: Nine mineral sorbents were tested for their efficiency binding eight mycotoxins. Two in vitro experiments were conducted to indicate the mycotoxin-binding capacity of sorbents, each specifying a buffer with one of two different pH levels reflecting gastrointestinal conditions (pH 3.5 and 7.0). The first investigated the sorbent with only the buffer and mycotoxin standards, while the second did so with the sorbent, buffer and feed naturally contaminated with mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and ochratoxin A).
UNASSIGNED: The sorption was significantly lower in the trial with feed. In the first experiment at gastric pH (pH 3.5), activated charcoal bound deoxynivalenol and sepiolite bound zearalenone at 70% and 96%, respectively, whereas in the second experiment with feed, the binding was only 3% and 6%.
UNASSIGNED: The study underlines the challenge of finding a feed additive that would work comprehensively, binding all mycotoxins regulated by law.

Mycotoxins, toxic secondary metabolites produced by certain fungi, pose significant threats to global food safety and public health. These compounds can contaminate a variety of crops, leading to economic losses and health risks to both humans and animals. Traditional lab analysis methods for mycotoxin detection can be time-consuming and may not always be suitable for large-scale screenings. However, in recent years, machine learning (ML) methods have gained popularity for use in the detection of mycotoxins and in the food safety industry in general due to their accurate and timely predictions. We provide a systematic review on some of the recent ML applications for detecting/predicting the presence of mycotoxin on a variety of food ingredients, highlighting their advantages, challenges, and potential for future advancements. We address the need for reproducibility and transparency in ML research through open access to data and code. An observation from our findings is the frequent lack of detailed reporting on hyperparameters in many studies and a lack of open source code, which raises concerns about the reproducibility and optimisation of the ML models used. The findings reveal that while the majority of studies predominantly utilised neural networks for mycotoxin detection, there was a notable diversity in the types of neural network architectures employed, with convolutional neural networks being the most popular.

Mycotoxins are potent fungal toxins that frequently contaminate agricultural crops and foods. Mycotoxin exposure is frequently reported in humans, and children are known to be particularly at risk of exceeding safe levels of exposure. Urinary biomonitoring is used to assess overall dietary exposure to multiple mycotoxins. This study aims to quantify multi-mycotoxin exposure in UK children and to identify major food groups contributing to exposure. Four repeat urine samples were collected from 29 children (13 boys and 16 girls, aged 2.4-6.8 years), and food diaries were recorded to assess their exposure to eleven mycotoxins. Urine samples (n = 114) were hydrolysed with β-glucuronidase, enriched through immunoaffinity columns and analysed by LC-MS/MS for deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), T-2/HT-2 toxins, zearalenone (ZEN), ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxins. Food diaries were analysed using WinDiet software, and the daily intake of high-risk foods for mycotoxin contamination summarised. The most prevalent mycotoxins found in urine samples were DON (95.6% of all samples), OTA (88.6%), HT-2 toxin (53.5%), ZEN (48.2%) and NIV (26.3%). Intake of total cereal-based foods was strongly positively associated with urinary levels of DON and T-2/HT-2 and oat intake with urinary T-2/HT-2. Average daily mycotoxin excretion ranged from 12.10 µg/d (DON) to 0.03 µg/d (OTA), and co-exposure to three or more mycotoxins was found in 66% of samples. Comparing mycotoxin intake estimates to tolerable daily intakes (TDI) demonstrates frequent TDI exceedances (DON 34.2% of all samples, T-2/HT-2 14.9%, NIV 4.4% and ZEN 5.2%). OTA was frequently detected at low levels. When mean daily OTA intake was compared to the reference value for non-neoplastic lesions, the resulting Margin of Exposure (MoE) of 65 was narrow, indicating a health concern. In conclusion, this study demonstrates frequent exposure of UK children to multiple mycotoxins at levels high enough to pose a health concern if exposure is continuous.

Mycotoxins are a class of exogenous metabolites that are major contributors to foodborne diseases and pose a potential threat to human health. However, little attention has been paid to trace mycotoxin co-exposure situations in vivo. To address this, we devised a novel analytical strategy, both highly sensitive and comprehensive, for quantifying 67 mycotoxins in human plasma samples. This method employs isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) for approximately 40% of the analytes and utilizes internal standard quantification for the rest. The mycotoxins were classified into three categories according to their physicochemical properties, facilitating the optimization of extraction and detection parameters to improve analytical performance. The lowest limits of detection and quantitation were 0.001-0.5 μg/L and 0.002-1 μg/L, respectively, the intra-day precision ranged from 1.8% to 11.9% RSD, and the intra-day trueness ranged from 82.7-116.6% for all mycotoxins except Ecl, DH-LYS, PCA, and EnA (66.4-129.8%), showing good analytical performance of the method for biomonitoring. A total of 40 mycotoxins (including 24 emerging mycotoxins) were detected in 184 plasma samples (89 from infertile males and 95 from healthy males) using the proposed method, emphasizing the widespread exposure of humans to both traditional and emerging mycotoxins. The most frequently detected mycotoxins were ochratoxin A, ochratoxin B, enniatin B, and citrinin. The incidence of exposure to multiple mycotoxins was significantly higher in infertile males than in healthy subjects, particularly levels of ochratoxin A, ochratoxin B, and citrinin, which were significantly increased. It is necessary to carry out more extensive biological monitoring to provide data support for further study of the relationship between mycotoxins and male infertility.

Alternaria alternata, as a main decay fungus of goji berry, can produce mycotoxins such as alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), and tenuazonic acid (TeA). Carvacrol (CVR) has exhibited a broad-spectrum antifungal activity in vitro. We assumed that CVR can also be applied to control Alternaria rot on goji berries and mycotoxins produced by the pathogens. To investigate whether CVR impacts the accumulation of mycotoxins and cell membrane damage of A. alternata, the antifungal activity of CVR on the fungal growth and mycotoxin production was evaluated in this study. The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CVR against A. alternata was 0.12 µL/mL. Meanwhile, the destruction of plasma membrane integrity, cytoplasmic leakage, intracellular oxidative damage, and inhibitory effect in vivo were also observed in A. alternata treated with CVR. Moreover, CVR significantly reduced the accumulation of AOH, AME, and TeA. Transcriptomic profiling was performed by means of comparative RNA-Seq analysis to research the gene expression level of A. alternata, which attested to significant changes in nitrogen metabolism, carbon utilization, fatty acid oxidation, and antioxidant enzymes in CVR-treated A. alternata. This study suggests a new understanding of the molecular mechanism of response to CVR treatment in A. alternata, indicating that CVR is a novel antifungal agent with the potential to be applied to various fungi.

In this study, bacteria residing in the gut of the rice weevils (Sitophilus oryzae L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) feeding on aflatoxin-contaminated corn kernels were isolated and evaluated for their ability to suppress Aspergillus flavus and to remove/degrade aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Four morphologically distinct S. oryzae gut-associated bacterial isolates were isolated and identified as Bacillus subtilis (RWGB1), Bacillus oceanisediminis (RWGB2), Bacillus firmus (RWGB3), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (RWGB4) based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. These bacterial isolates inhibited A. flavus growth in the dual culture assay and induced morphological deformities in the fungal hyphae, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. All four bacterial isolates were capable of removing AFB1 from the nutrient broth medium. In addition, culture supernatants of these bacterial isolates degraded AFB1, and the degradation of toxin molecules was confirmed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The bacterial isolates, B. subtilis RWGB1, B. oceanisediminis RWGB2, and P. aeruginosa RWGB4, were capable of producing antifungal volatile organic compounds that inhibited A. flavus growth. These results suggest that the bacterial isolates from S. oryzae gut have the potential to bind and/or degrade AFB1. Further research on their application in the food and feed industries could enhance the safety of food and feed production.

Mycotoxins are secondary fungal metabolites harmful to humans and animals. Patulin (PAT) is a toxin found in different food products but especially in apples and their derivative products. The most common fungi producers of this compound are Aspergillus clavatus and Penicillium expansum. The production of patulin, as other mycotoxins, can be impacted by diverse phenomena such as water and nutrient availability, UV exposure, and the presence of antagonistic organisms. Consequently, gaining a comprehensive understanding of climate and environmental conditions is a crucial step in combating patulin contamination. In this study, moulds were isolated from 40 apple samples collected from seven locations across Hungary: Csenger, Damak, Pallag, Lövőpetri, Nagykálló, and Újfehértó. A total of 183 moulds were morphologically identified, with 67 isolates belonging to the Alternaria, 45 to the Aspergillus, and 13 to the Penicillium groups. The location possessed a higher influence than farming method on the distribution of mould genera. Despite the requirement of higher temperature, Aspergillus species dominated only for the region of Újfehértó with approximately 50% of the isolates belonging to the genus. Four of the seven locations assessed: Csenger, Debrecen-Pallag, Nyírtass and Nagykálló, were dominated by Alternaria species. All isolates belonging to the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium were tested for the presence of the isoepoxidone dehydrogenase (idh) gene, a key player in the patulin metabolic pathway. To guarantee patulin production, this ability was confirmed with TLC assays. The only Aspergillus strain that presented a positive result was the strain Aspergillus clavatus B9/6, originated from the apple cultivar Golden Reinders grown in Debrecen-Pallag by integrated farming. Of the Penicillium isolates only one strain, B10/6, presented a band of the right size (500-600 bp) for the idh gene. Further sequencing of the ITS gene showed that this strain should be classified as Talaromyces pinophilus. The TLC tests confirmed this microorganism as the only patulin producer under the studied conditions for its cluster.

UNASSIGNED: Mycotoxins such as aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A (OTA) are secondary metabolites in molds that grow in raw materials or commercial feed. This interaction has a synergistic effect on mortality, body weight, feed intake, embryo abnormalities, egg production, and lymphoid organ atrophy. This study was conducted to determine the effect of a mycotoxin detoxifier on the blood profile of broilers that were given feed contaminated with mycotoxin, such as the number of heterophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and MCH concentration (MCHC).
UNASSIGNED: A total of 20 day-old chicks (DOC) of Cobb broilers were given four treatments with five replicates. The number of chickens used in this research was determined using statistical calculations, and the data obtained was homogeneous so that the population was represented. Treatments included negative control with basal feed (C-), positive control with mycotoxins contamination (C+), treatment 1: Mycotoxins contamination and mycotoxin detoxification 1.1 g/kg (T1), and treatment 2: Mycotoxins contamination and mycotoxin detoxification 1.6 g/kg (T2). Mycotoxin contamination comprised 0.1 mg/kg aflatoxin B1 and 0.1 mg/kg OTA. The treatment period for chickens was 28 days, from 8 to 35 days. A battery cage was used in this study. Chickens were kept in a closed, ventilated room and the room temperature (27°C) was monitored during the treatment period.
UNASSIGNED: Based on the results of statistical data processing, a significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed between chickens fed mycotoxin-contaminated feed (C+) and chickens not fed mycotoxin-contaminated feed (C-) and chickens given 1.6 g/kg mycotoxin detoxification (T2). Mycotoxin detoxification at a dose of 1.6 g/kg had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on the heterophil, lymphocyte, and heterophil lymphocyte ratio, leukocyte, erythrocyte, and hemoglobin levels of the blood broiler in this experiment. On other parameters such as monocytes, MCH, and MCHC, treatment 2 at dose 1.6 g/kg was the best treatment, although there was no significant effect with C- and T1.
UNASSIGNED: The administration of mycotoxin detoxifiers at a dose of 1.6 g/kg increased the number of heterophils and the ratio of heterophil lymphocytes, leukocytes, erythrocytes, and hemoglobin in broilers fed mycotoxin-contaminated feed.

To investigate the metabolic transformation of cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) in the liver of different species and to supplement accurate risk assessment information, the metabolism of CPA in liver microsomes from four animals and humans was studied using the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight method. The results showed that a total of four metabolites were obtained, and dehydrogenation, hydroxylation, methylation, and glucuronidation were identified as the main metabolic pathways of CPA. Rat liver microsomes exhibited the highest metabolic capacity for CPA, with dehydrogenated (C20H18N2O3) and glucuronic acid-conjugated (C26H28N2O10) metabolites identified in all liver microsomes except chicken, indicating significant species metabolic differences. Moreover, C20H18N2O3 was only detected in the incubation system with cytochromes P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). The hydroxylated (C20H20N2O4) and methylated (C21H22N2O3) metabolites were detected in all incubation systems except for the CYP2C9, with CYP3A4 demonstrating the strongest metabolic capacity. The \"cocktail\" probe drug method showed that CPA exhibited a moderate inhibitory effect on the CYP3A4 (IC50 value = 8.658 μM), indicating that the substrate had a negative effect on enzyme activity. Our results provide new insights to understand the biotransformation profile of CPA in animals and humans.

Mushroom poisonings are common in the United States. Gyromitrin (acetaldehyde N-methyl-N-formylhydrazone) is a clinically significant mycotoxin primarily associated with the lorchel (i.e. the false morel) Gyromitra esculenta. Resemblance between \'true and false morels\' has resulted in misidentification of Gyromitra spp. as edible and sought after Morchella spp., resulting in toxicity. Despite literature evidence outlining toxic sequalae, Gyromitra spp. mushrooms are commonly consumed and prepared for culinary purposes. Classic clinical teachings emphasize significant neurotoxicity, including seizures, associated with ingestion of gyromitrin-containing mushrooms, stemming from gyromitrin\'s terminal metabolite monomethylhydrazine. We performed a longitudinal descriptive review of the clinical toxicity associated with ingestion of mushroom species known or suspected to contain gyromitrin in cases reported to the Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center between January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2020. Our 19-year descriptive case series of gyromitrin-containing mushroom ingestions reported to our Center demonstrated a preponderance of gastrointestinal signs and symptoms, including hepatotoxicity. Of 118 identified cases, 108 (91.5%) of the reported ingestions involved Gyromitra esculenta. The most frequent clinical findings associated with symptomatic ingestions (n= 83) were the aforementioned gastrointestinal symptoms (n=62; 74.7%). Neurological symptoms were less frequent (n=22, 26.5%) while hepatotoxicity occurred in fewer patients (n=14; 16.9%). Of symptomatic patients, most were treated with symptomatic and supportive care (n=58; 70%). Pyridoxine was used in a total of seven patients (n=7; 8.4%) with either hepatotoxicity or neurotoxicity. Medical outcomes ranged from minor to major, with no reported deaths. Patient presentations (i.e. GI vs. neurotoxic symptoms) following ingestion of gyromitrin-containing mushrooms may be highly variable and multifactorial, owing to differences in dose ingested, geographical distribution, genetic variability of both patient and mushroom species, and species-specific differences in toxin composition. Future research warrants species-level identification of ingested gyromitrin-containing mushrooms and investigating the contribution of genetic polymorphisms to differences in clinical toxidromes.