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Mechanisms of Action of Antifungal Compounds/Agents in Food and Food Matrices

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 10462

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Dr. Josué Delgado Perón

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Guest Editor

Higiene y Seguridad Alimentaria, Instituto Universitario de Investigación de Carne y Productos Cárnicos (IProCar), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Interests: antifungal compounds; proteomics; mycotoxins; metabolomics; food safety; bioprotective agents
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Dr. María J. Andrade

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Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Interests: food microbiology; meat products; microbial spoilage; pathogenic microorganisms; biopreservation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Mycotoxins in foods is a worldwide concern given their potential risk for human health. Since decontamination strategies are expensive and not efficient, the prevention of mycotoxin production becomes a critical point. The environmental factors, such as temperature or humidity, deeply impact in the ability to produce mycotoxins in foods. However, these conditions cannot be always controlled. Thus, antifungal agents are a promising tool to prevent not only mould contamination but also mycotoxin production in a further extent.

The different nature of the huge variety of antifungal compounds entails differential mechanisms of action on the target toxigenic moulds. The knowledge about these mechanisms deployed on moulds grown in complex matrices, such as food, may increase the efficiency of these treatments to reach the goal of safe foodstuff, free of mycotoxins.

This issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences will focus on “Mechanisms of action of antifungal agents in food and food matrices”, including commercial antifungal products, microorganisms, plant extracts, antifungal proteins and antifungal compounds, such as volatile compounds and quorum sensing molecules. Approaches to any new agents with ability to control mycotoxin production on food or food matrices are also welcome.

Dr. Josué Delgado Perón
Dr. Maria J. Andrade
Guest Editors

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Keywords

mycotoxins
antifungal agents
emerging preservative techniques
food safety
mould inhibition.

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 3576 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Plant Metabolites Affect Fusarium proliferatum Metabolism and In Vitro Fumonisin Biosynthesis

by Justyna Lalak-Kańczugowska, Natalia Witaszak, Agnieszka Waśkiewicz, Jan Bocianowski and Łukasz Stępień

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 3002; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24033002 - 3 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2381

Abstract

Fusarium proliferatum is a common hemi-biotrophic pathogen that infect a wide range of host plants, often leading to substantial crop loss and yield reduction. F. proliferatum synthesizes various mycotoxins, and fumonisins B are the most prevalent. They act as virulence factors and specific effectors that elicit host resistance. The effects of selected plant metabolites on the metabolism of the F. proliferatum strain were analyzed in this study. Quercetin-3-glucoside (Q-3-Glc) and kaempferol-3-rutinoside (K-3-Rut) induced the pathogen’s growth, while DIMBOA, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside (Iso-3-Rut), ferulic acid (FA), protodioscin, and neochlorogenic acid (NClA) inhibited fungal growth. The expression of seven F. proliferatum genes related to primary metabolism and four FUM genes was measured using RT-qPCR upon plant metabolite addition to liquid cultures. The expression of CPR6 and SSC1 genes was induced 24 h after the addition of chlorogenic acid (ClA), while DIMBOA and protodioscin reduced their expression. The transcription of FUM1 on the third day of the experiment was increased by all metabolites except for Q-3-Glc when compared to the control culture. The expression of FUM6 was induced by protodioscin, K-3-Rut, and ClA, while FA and DIMBOA inhibited its expression. FUM19 was induced by all metabolites except FA. The highest concentration of fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) in control culture was 6.21 µg/mL. Protodioscin did not affect the FB content, while DIMBOA delayed their synthesis/secretion. Flavonoids and phenolic acids displayed similar effects. The results suggest that sole metabolites can have lower impacts on pathogen metabolism and mycotoxin synthesis than when combined with other compounds present in plant extracts. These synergistic effects require additional studies to reveal the mechanisms behind them. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Action of Antifungal Compounds/Agents in Food and Food Matrices)

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15 pages, 2049 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficacy and Mechanisms of Action of Essential Oils’ Vapours against Blue Mould on Apples Caused by Penicillium expansum

by Fabio Buonsenso, Giada Schiavon and Davide Spadaro

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 2900; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032900 - 2 Feb 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2609

Abstract

Biofumigation with slow-release diffusers of essential oils (EOs) of basil, oregano, savoury, thyme, lemon, and fennel was assessed for the control of blue mould of apples, caused by Penicillium expansum. In vitro, the ability of the six EOs to inhibit the mycelial growth was evaluated at concentrations of 1.0, 0.5, and 0.1%. EOs of thyme, savoury, and oregano, at all three concentrations, and basil, at 1.0 and 0.5%, were effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth of P. expansum. In vivo, disease incidence and severity were evaluated on ‘Opal’ apples artificially inoculated with the pathogen and treated at concentrations of 1.0% and 0.5% of EOs. The highest efficacy in reducing blue mould was observed with EOs of lemon and oregano at 1.0% after 60 days of storage at 1 ± 1 °C (incidence of rot, 3 and 1%, respectively) and after a further 14 days of shelf-life at 15 ± 1 °C (15 and 17%). Firmness, titratable acidity, and total soluble solids were evaluated at harvest, after cold storage, and after shelf-life. Throughout the storage period, no evident phytotoxic effects were observed. The EOs used were characterised through GC-MS to analyse their compositions. Moreover, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the cabinets were characterised during storage using the SPME-GC-MS technique. The antifungal effects of EOs were confirmed both in vitro and in vivo and the possible mechanisms of action were hypothesised. High concentrations of antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds in the EOs explain the efficacy of biofumigation in postharvest disease control. These findings provide new insights for the development of sustainable strategies for the management of postharvest diseases and the reduction of fruit losses during storage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Action of Antifungal Compounds/Agents in Food and Food Matrices)

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15 pages, 3027 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Pathogen-Induced MATE Gene TaPIMA1 Is Required for Defense Responses to Rhizoctonia cerealis in Wheat

by Qiang Su, Wei Rong and Zengyan Zhang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(6), 3377; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23063377 - 21 Mar 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2181

Abstract

The sharp eyespot, mainly caused by the soil-borne fungus Rhizoctonia cerealis, is a devastating disease endangering production of wheat (Triticum aestivum). Multi-Antimicrobial Extrusion (MATE) family genes are widely distributed in plant species, but little is known about MATE functions in wheat disease resistance. In this study, we identified TaPIMA1, a pathogen-induced MATE gene in wheat, from RNA-seq data. TaPIMA1 expression was induced by Rhizoctonia cerealis and was higher in sharp eyespot-resistant wheat genotypes than in susceptible wheat genotypes. Molecular biology assays showed that TaPIMA1 belonged to the MATE family, and the expressed protein could distribute in the cytoplasm and plasma membrane. Virus-Induced Gene Silencing plus disease assessment indicated that knock-down of TaPIMA1 impaired resistance of wheat to sharp eyespot and down-regulated the expression of defense genes (Defensin, PR10, PR1.2, and Chitinase3). Furthermore, TaPIMA1 was rapidly induced by exogenous H₂O₂ and jasmonate (JA) treatments, which also promoted the expression of pathogenesis-related genes. These results suggested that TaPIMA1 might positively regulate the defense against R. cerealis by up-regulating the expression of defense-associated genes in H₂O₂ and JA signal pathways. This study sheds light on the role of MATE transporter in wheat defense to Rhizoctonia cerealis and provides a potential gene for improving wheat resistance against sharp eyespot. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Action of Antifungal Compounds/Agents in Food and Food Matrices)

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Review

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24 pages, 923 KiB

Open AccessReview

Proteomics as a New-Generation Tool for Studying Moulds Related to Food Safety and Quality

by Micaela Álvarez, María J. Andrade, Félix Núñez, Mar Rodríguez and Josué Delgado

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(5), 4709; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24054709 - 1 Mar 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2554

Abstract

Mould development in foodstuffs is linked to both spoilage and the production of mycotoxins, provoking food quality and food safety concerns, respectively. The high-throughput technology proteomics applied to foodborne moulds is of great interest to address such issues. This review presents proteomics approaches useful for boosting strategies to minimise the mould spoilage and the hazard related to mycotoxins in food. Metaproteomics seems to be the most effective method for mould identification despite the current problems related to the bioinformatics tool. More interestingly, different high resolution mass spectrometry tools are suitable for evaluating the proteome of foodborne moulds able to unveil the mould’s response under certain environmental conditions and the presence of biocontrol agents or antifungals, being sometimes combined with a method with limited ability to separate proteins, the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. However, the matrix complexity, the high ranges of protein concentrations needed and the performing of multiple steps are some of the proteomics limitations for the application to foodborne moulds. To overcome some of these limitations, model systems have been developed and proteomics applied to other scientific fields, such as library-free data independent acquisition analyses, the implementation of ion mobility, and the evaluation of post-translational modifications, are expected to be gradually implemented in this field for avoiding undesirable moulds in foodstuffs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Action of Antifungal Compounds/Agents in Food and Food Matrices)

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