Mycotoxins in Food: Detection, Contamination and Management Strategies

A special issue of Toxins (ISSN 2072-6651). This special issue belongs to the section "Mycotoxins".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 5208

Special Issue Editors


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Department of Chemistry, Sapienza Università di Roma, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: high-resolution mass spectrometry; hyphenated techniques; omics sciences; metabolomics; lipidomics; food analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Sapienza Università di Roma, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: high-resolution mass spectrometry; hyphenated techniques; omics sciences; proteomics; peptidomics; food analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I would like to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue focused on “Mycotoxins in Food: Detection, Contamination and Management Strategies”. The production of mycotoxins in agricultural products in the fields and/or during storage is unavoidable and unpredictable, and their detection and management represent a unique challenge in food safety. The objective of this collection is to illustrate novel approaches and results in the detection of mycotoxins for food safety. Innovative approaches based on sample preparation, (bio)sensors, and/or chromatography for the detection of mycotoxins in food matrices are the main interest of the collection, as well as extensive studies and monitoring on the spread of contamination through the food production chains and innovative strategies for the management of mycotoxins.

Therefore, contributions and experiences in the field of mycotoxins are welcome. The main aim of this Special Issue is to collect and share new knowledge on mycotoxin detection in food. Indeed, we hope that it will represent an exciting overview for the scientific community that will also inspire young researchers in the field.

Dr. Andrea Cerrato
Dr. Anna Laura Capriotti
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • mycotoxins
  • food safety
  • food contamination
  • food analysis
  • mycotoxin management
  • sensors
  • mass spec-trometry
  • liquid chromatography
  • sample preparation

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 3941 KiB  
Article
Meat Starter Culture Reduces Aspergillus parasiticus Production of Aflatoxins on Meat-Based and Salami Model Media
by Iva Zahija Jazbec, Lea Demšar, Barbka Jeršek and Tomaž Polak
Toxins 2024, 16(4), 173; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16040173 - 2 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1383
Abstract
There is great concern about the risk posed by the consumption of food contaminated with aflatoxins (AF), produced mostly by Aspergillus strains, that can also be found in dry-fermented meat products (DFMPs). The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect [...] Read more.
There is great concern about the risk posed by the consumption of food contaminated with aflatoxins (AF), produced mostly by Aspergillus strains, that can also be found in dry-fermented meat products (DFMPs). The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of meat starter culture (SC), frequently used for fermentation in the meat industry, on A. parasiticus growth and the production of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), aflatoxin B2 (AFB2), aflatoxin G1 (AFG1), aflatoxin G2 (AFG2), and sterigmatocystin (STE) on different meat-based (CMA) and salami model (SM-G) media. Incubation was carried out under optimal conditions for fungal growth and under typical conditions for ripening of DFMPs for 21 days. Reversed-phase UPLC–MS/MS analysis was performed to determine mycotoxin production. SC reduced A. parasiticus growth more on CMA than on SM-G media. AFB1 formation was inhibited on both types of SC-containing media, although SC generally had a stronger inhibitory effect on AFB1 production on CMA than on SM-G. AFB1 and AFB2 were produced on CMA, while AFB1 dominated in SM-G, AFG1, and AFG2 were not detected in any media. The results show that SC inhibited AFB1 formation of A. parasiticus on SM-G media after 21 days of incubation under typical conditions for the production of DFMPs. These results indicate the necessity to investigate AF on natural matrices in an environment that is as similar as possible to real conditions in the production of DFMPs. Full article
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13 pages, 1711 KiB  
Article
Moniliformin Occurrence in Serbian Maize over Four Years: Understanding Weather-Dependent Variability
by Bojana Radić, Radmila Radović, Elizabet Janić Hajnal, Anamarija Mandić, Sanja Đekić, Zorica Stojanović and Jovana Kos
Toxins 2023, 15(11), 634; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins15110634 - 30 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1580
Abstract
Moniliformin (MON) represents one of the most widespread emerging mycotoxins, whose presence in food and feed can potentially cause harmful effects on the health of both the public and animals. In order to investigate MON occurrence, a total of four hundred (n = [...] Read more.
Moniliformin (MON) represents one of the most widespread emerging mycotoxins, whose presence in food and feed can potentially cause harmful effects on the health of both the public and animals. In order to investigate MON occurrence, a total of four hundred (n = 400) samples of unprocessed maize were sampled from different regions (Bačka, Banat, and Srem) of Serbia during a period of four years (2018–2021) and were analyzed using a validated liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. The influence of regional differences and variations from year to year in terms of weather conditions on the occurrence of MON was also assessed. The obtained validation parameters indicated that the LC-MS/MS method is applicable to the determination of MON in maize samples. It can be observed from the acquired findings that all samples were contaminated with MON, while concentration levels varied between the samples, especially from different sampling years. The maize samples showed the greatest levels of MON concentration during the dry and hot climatic conditions experienced in 2021. In maize samples harvested in the period 2018–2020, the MON concentration levels detected were about two to three times lower compared to the year 2021. Additionally, a comprehensive investigation into the correlation between weather conditions and the occurrence of MON in maize grown in Serbia was undertaken by reviewing the outcomes of research undertaken in the past decade. Full article
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Review

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22 pages, 2479 KiB  
Review
Application of Biosensors for the Detection of Mycotoxins for the Improvement of Food Safety
by Rafał Szelenberger, Natalia Cichoń, Wojciech Zajaczkowski and Michal Bijak
Toxins 2024, 16(6), 249; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16060249 - 27 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1350
Abstract
Mycotoxins, secondary metabolites synthesized by various filamentous fungi genera such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Claviceps, and Alternaria, are potent toxic compounds. Their production is contingent upon specific environmental conditions during fungal growth. Arising as byproducts of fungal metabolic [...] Read more.
Mycotoxins, secondary metabolites synthesized by various filamentous fungi genera such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Claviceps, and Alternaria, are potent toxic compounds. Their production is contingent upon specific environmental conditions during fungal growth. Arising as byproducts of fungal metabolic processes, mycotoxins exhibit significant toxicity, posing risks of acute or chronic health complications. Recognized as highly hazardous food contaminants, mycotoxins present a pervasive threat throughout the agricultural and food processing continuum, from plant cultivation to post-harvest stages. The imperative to adhere to principles of good agricultural and industrial practice is underscored to mitigate the risk of mycotoxin contamination in food production. In the domain of food safety, the rapid and efficient detection of mycotoxins holds paramount significance. This paper delineates conventional and commercial methodologies for mycotoxin detection in ensuring food safety, encompassing techniques like liquid chromatography, immunoassays, and test strips, with a significant emphasis on the role of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensors, which are known for their high sensitivity and specificity. These are categorized into antibody-, and aptamer-based, as well as molecular imprinting methods. This paper examines the latest advancements in biosensors for mycotoxin testing, with a particular focus on their amplification strategies and operating mechanisms. Full article
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