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A mycotoxin (from the Greek μύκης mykes, "fungus" and τοξικός toxikos, "poisonous") [1] [2] is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by fungi [3] [4] and is capable of causing disease and death in both humans and other animals.
Mycotoxicology is the branch of mycology that focuses on analyzing and studying the toxins produced by fungi, known as mycotoxins. [1] In the food industry it is important to adopt measures that keep mycotoxin levels as low as practicable, especially those that are heat-stable.
Fumonisins were the most recent mycotoxin found to affect humans and animals negatively. The most produced toxin for this group of fungi is fumonisin B1. [2] Studies have shown that it can cause diseases such as equine leukoencephalomalacia in horses, hydrothorax and porcine pulmonary edema in swine, and it can negatively affect the immune system.
The presence of those molds does not always indicate that harmful levels of aflatoxin are present, but does indicate a significant risk. The molds can colonize and contaminate food before harvest or during storage, especially following prolonged exposure to a high-humidity environment, or to stressful conditions such as drought.
Mycotoxins are synthesized by different types of moulds and are built by a wide group of toxins. [37] Mycotoxins have a low molecular weight compound that is usually less than 1000 grams per mol. [37] There are roughly 400 toxic mycotoxins that are constructed by 100 different fungi species that have been researched. [37]
Many fungi produce biologically active compounds, several of which are toxic to animals or plants and are therefore called mycotoxins. Of particular relevance to humans are mycotoxins produced by molds causing food spoilage, and poisonous mushrooms (see above).
Trichothecenes constitute a large group of chemically related mycotoxins. They are produced by fungi of the genera Fusarium, Myrothecium, Trichoderma, Podostroma, Trichothecium, Cephalosporium, Verticimonosporium [ceb; nl; sv], Stachybotrys (most in Hypocreales) and possibly others. [1] [2] [3] Chemically, trichothecenes are a class of ...
Aspergillus ochraceus is a mold species in the genus Aspergillus known to produce the toxin ochratoxin A, one of the most abundant food-contaminating mycotoxins, and citrinin. It also produces the dihydroisocoumarin mellein. It is a filamentous fungus in nature and has characteristic biseriate conidiophores.