Recent Advances in Ochratoxins Research

Dear Colleagues,

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a naturally occurring chlorophenolic fungal toxin that contaminates a wide range of food products (cereals, coffee, cocoa, bean, peanut, spice, meat) and poses a serious risk for human and animal health, that includes: renal toxicity, reprotoxicity, neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity and mutagenicity. To date, it is one of the most potent renal carcinogens in rodents ever studied by the National Cancer Institute/National Toxicological Program. The available evidence suggests that OTA is a genotoxic carcinogen by induction of oxidative DNA lesions coupled with direct DNA adducts following bioactivation.

Harmful effects of OTA can be potentiated by possible synergistic action with other mycotoxins or contaminants. The existence of these synergies makes assessment of the exact role of OTA in human and animal pathologies far more complex, especially when it comes to long-term perspective. Continuous monitoring for the presence of OTA is imperative, as is the adequate response in term of legislative measures and good agricultural practices.

This special issue is devoted to recent advances in OTA research, through both research articles and comprehensive reviews focusing on animal and human toxicity, risk assessment, monitoring strategies (development of biomarkers), detoxification strategies for mitigation both animal and human health risk, and synergistic impact between OTA and other compounds.

Prof. Dr. Annie Pfohl-Leszkowicz
Prof. Dr. Richard A. Manderville
Guest Editors

 

Submission

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. Papers will be published continuously (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are refereed through a peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxins is an international peer-reviewed Open Access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs).