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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Prospecting for the incidence of genes involved in ochratoxin and fumonisin biosynthesis in Brazilian strains of Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus welwitschiae

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Author(s):
Massi, Fernanda Pelisson [1] ; Sartori, Daniele [1] ; Ferranti, Larissa de Souza [1] ; Iamanaka, Beatriz Thie [2] ; Taniwaki, Marta Hiromi [2] ; Carneiro Vieira, Maria Lucia [3] ; Pelegrinelli Fungaro, Maria Helena [1]
Total Authors: 7
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Estadual Londrina, Ctr Ciencias Biol, POB 6001, BR-86051990 Londrina - Brazil
[2] Inst Tecnol Alimentos, POB 139, BR-13070178 Campinas, SP - Brazil
[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Escola Super Agr Luiz de Queiroz, Dept Genet, POB 83, BR-13418900 Piracicaba - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 3
Document type: Journal article
Source: International Journal of Food Microbiology; v. 221, p. 19-28, MAR 16 2016.
Web of Science Citations: 15
Abstract

Aspergillus niger ``aggregate{''} is an informal taxonomic rank that represents a group of species from the section Nigri. Among A. niger ``aggregate{''} species Aspergillus niger sensu stricto and its cryptic species Aspergillus welwitschiae (= Aspergillus awamori sensu Perrone) are proven as ochratoxin A and fumonisin B-2 producing species. A. niger has been frequently found in tropical and subtropical foods. A. welwitschiae is a new species, which was recently dismembered from the A. niger taxon. These species are morphologically very similar and molecular data are indispensable for their identification. A total of 175 Brazilian isolates previously identified as A. niger collected from dried fruits, Brazil nuts, coffee beans, grapes, cocoa and onions were investigated in this study. Based on partial calmodulin gene sequences about one-half of our isolates were identified as A. welwitschiae. This new species was the predominant species in onions analyzed in Brazil. A. niger and A. welwitschiae differ in their ability to produce ochratoxin A and fumonisin B-2. Among A. niger isolates, approximately 32% were OTA producers, but in contrast only 1% of the A. welwitschiae isolates revealed the ability to produce ochratoxin A. Regarding fumonisin B-2 production, there was a higher frequency of FB2 producing isolates in A. niger (74%) compared to A. welwitschiae (34%). Because not all A. niger and A. welwitschiae strains produce ochratoxin A and fumonisin B-2, in this study a multiplex PCR was developed for detecting the presence of essential genes involved in ochratoxin (polyketide synthase and radHflavin-dependent halogenase) and fumonisin (alpha-oxoamine synthase) biosynthesis in the genome of A. niger and A. welwitschiae isolates. The frequency of strains harboring the mycotoxin genes was markedly different between A. niger and A. welwitschiae. All OTA producing isolates of A. niger and A. welwitschiae showed in their genome the pks and radH genes, and 95.2% of the nonproducing isolates did not contain these genes. The a-oxoamine synthase gene was detected in 100% and 36% of the A. niger and A. welwitschiae isolates, respectively. The loss of ochratoxin A production in A. niger and A. welwitschiae is highly associated with gene deletions within the ochratoxin biosynthetic gene cluster. The loss of fumonisin production in A. welwitschiae is associated with gene deletions within the fumonisin biosynthetic gene cluster, but this is not the case with A. niger. Published by Elsevier B.V. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 13/05414-8 - Isolation, identification and development of molecular marks for evaluation of Aspergillus niger producers of fumonisin B2 and ochratoxin A
Grantee:Beatriz Thie Iamanaka
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants