甘草药材上的污染真菌类群及其产毒素特性

对药材市场上霉变甘草样品的污染真菌进行分析,共得到4属7种真菌,包括Penicillium、Aspergillus、Fusarium、Mucor属,其中Penicillium polonicum、Aspergillus parasiticus以及P.crustosum是优势真菌。采用高效液相色谱-质谱联用技术对优势菌菌株产黄曲霉毒素及赭曲霉毒素A的特性进行检测。结果表明A.parasiticus主要产生黄曲霉毒素(AFG2、AFG1、AFB2、AFB1)和赭曲霉毒素A(OTA);而Penicillium polonicum主要产生赭曲霉毒素A(OTA)。     

氧脂素对赭曲霉在大豆培养基质中合成赭曲霉毒素A的影响

【背景】赭曲霉毒素A (ochratoxin A,OTA)是曲霉属和青霉属等真菌的次级代谢产物,严重威胁农产品及食品安全,氧脂素羟基十八碳二烯酸(hydroxyoctadecaenoic acids,HODEs)被认为可能是曲霉属的群体感应信号分子,调节曲霉的生长发育和次级代谢物生成。【目的】主要研究HODEs对赭曲霉(Aspergillusochraceus)菌株AS3.4412产生OTA的影响,检测孢子密度、培养基类别以及内、外源HODEs作用下OTA产量的不同变化。【方法】分别在PDB、黄豆和黑豆培养基中进行赭曲霉的培养,采用高效液相色谱-荧光检测法测定OTA含量,采用高效液相色谱-质谱法测定氧脂素含量,根据变化规律寻找赭曲霉群体密度、氧脂素、OTA三者间的关系。【结果】低密度赭曲霉培养物(103 spores/mL)中9(S)-HODE/13(S)-HODE及OTA产量高于高密度赭曲霉(106 spores/mL);外源添加9(S)-HODE能促进OTA合成,13(S)-HODE可以抑制OTA合成;赭曲霉侵染抗氧化能力更高的黑豆产生更多的OTA。【结论】OTA的合成受到赭曲霉群体密度和氧脂素的影响,推测9(S)-HODE和13(S)-HODE是赭曲霉群体感应信号分子,并且二者在调节OTA合成中具有相反的作用。     

赭曲霉G蛋白偶联受体的鉴定及生物信息学分析

【目的】预测并分析赭曲霉(Aspergillus ochraceus)中存在的G蛋白偶联受体(G-protein- coupled receptors,GPCRs)的结构特征和理化性质,探究赭曲霉GPCR超家族蛋白的结构及所接收配体的聚类情况以及与其他同源蛋白的进化关系,为深入开展赭曲霉中GPCRs的定位、功能研究提供理论基础,也有望从G蛋白信号途径角度抑制赭曲霉毒素的产生,进一步控制粮食的真菌毒素污染。【方法】基于已经报道的曲霉属典型GPCRs序列,在赭曲霉全基因组中进行BLASTp比对以获取候选GPCRs蛋白。通过SMART及多种软件进行保守结构域,特别是跨膜结构的分析,进一步分析候选序列的理化性质、信号肽、二级结构及亚细胞定位等特征。最后,利用MEGA构建赭曲霉中GPCRs与同源蛋白的系统发育树进行遗传关系的比较。【结果】明确赭曲霉存在 15个具有典型7次跨膜结构的GPCRs蛋白,不存在信号肽及转运肽,均含有较高比例的α螺旋结构,15个蛋白质中有7个定位在细胞膜。赭曲霉中的GPCRs与黄曲霉等曲霉属中相应的同源序列具有较近的亲缘关系。【结论】本研究首次对赭曲霉的GPCR超蛋白家族进行了预测,分析其结构及理化性质,探讨了其与同源蛋白的聚类情况,为深入开展赭曲霉GPCRs的功能研究提供理论基础。     

黑曲霉中生物合成赭曲霉毒素A的非核糖体肽合成酶基因的鉴定

赭曲霉毒素A(ochratoxin A,OTA)是国际癌症研究机构认定的"2B"类致癌物。黑曲霉Aspergillus niger是美国食品药品监督局认可的食品安全菌。然而近年来陆续发现某些黑曲霉菌株能够产生OTA,这会对人类健康构成潜在威胁。阐明黑曲霉生物合成OTA的关键基因有助于理解OTA生物合成机制,这对OTA污染的防控具有重要意义。本研究克隆了产OTA黑曲霉中非核糖体肽合成酶(NRPS)编码基因(An15g07910),并对其进行了生物信息学分析,在此基础上采用同源重组的方法敲除了该基因,获得了一株性能稳定的敲除突变株Δnrps。与野生株相比,Δnrps突变株的表型在CYA培养基中并无明显改变,但在7d培养期间完全失去了合成赭曲霉毒素α(ochratoxinα,OTα)和OTA的能力,而赭曲霉毒素β(ochratoxinβ,OTβ)的合成不受影响。在野生株培养过程中,该nrps基因前4d表达量逐渐增大,并在第4天达到最高,随后基因表达量逐渐下降并趋于稳定,这与OTA的含量变化基本一致。结果表明该nrps基因(An15g07910)参与OTA的生物合成,其编码的NRPS可能负责催化苯丙氨酸部分和二氢异香豆素部分的交联。     

赭曲霉毒素A的微生物脱毒研究进展

赭曲霉毒素A(Ochratoxin A,OTA)是一类聚酮化合物,是由曲霉属(Aspergillus spp.)和青霉属(Penicilliumspp.)等霉菌产生的次级代谢产物,具有强烈毒性。近年来,国内外已有大量关于OTA生物脱毒的研究,主要是OTA脱毒功能菌株的筛选,包括细菌、霉菌和酵母菌等。此外,对不同微生物脱毒机理的探索也是研究热点。对上述两方面的研究进展进行归纳和讨论。     

羧肽酶A的脱毒功能及其应用前景

赭曲霉毒素A(Ochratoxin A,OTA)是由曲霉菌和青霉菌产生的一种真菌毒素,谷物、豆类、葡萄酒和咖啡等制品常常受到其污染,对食品安全构成了极大的威胁。随着全球气候的变化,OTA的污染情况日益严重,为保障人类及畜禽动物的安全,不少研究人员正致力于脱除或降解食品及其原料中的OTA。目前很多真菌和细菌被报道能降解OTA,然而它们产生的降解酶很少被定性和纯化,降解产物也不明确,无法应用于工业中。羧肽酶A(Carboxypeptidase A,CPA)对OTA的脱毒能力已被广泛证明,同时它的性质、结构及作用机理都极为清晰,降解产物也对人体无害,是脱除OTA的理想产品。因此通过基因工程和蛋白质工程大量表达获得稳定并效率高的羧肽酶A是降解OTA的新途径。将从OTA的污染状况及其生物脱毒机制、CPA的脱毒能力、CPA作为脱毒剂的发展前景等方面进行综述,旨在为真菌毒素降解酶制剂的开发和应用奠定理论基础。     

曲霉属三新记录种(英文)

报道了曲霉属的3个中国新记录种:Aspergillus dimorphicus,A.fumigatiaffinis以及A.westerdijkiae。比较了其与相近种的形态及分子序列β‐tubulin基因的差异,并采用高效液相色谱‐质谱联用技术对菌株产赭曲霉毒素A(OTA)的能力进行了测定。检测结果表明Aspergillus westerdijkiae CGMCC3.15268在大米培养基上能够产生OTA,单位菌丝的产毒量为17.26μg/kg;而A.fumigatiaffinis CGMCC3.15275以及A.dimorphicus CGMCC3.17045未检出OTA。     

产赭曲霉毒素A黑曲霉的PCR法检测

【目的】快速检测产赭曲霉毒素A(OTA)的黑曲霉。【方法】根据黑曲霉(Aspergillus niger)CBS513.88中An15g07920基因编码聚酮合酶的酰基转移酶(AT)域设计引物,建立针对产OTA黑曲霉的聚合酶链式反应(PCR)检测方法。【结果】对72株曲霉属菌株(黑曲霉、炭黑曲霉、赭曲霉、佩特曲霉、寄生曲霉和塔宾曲霉)进行检测,发现产OTA的黑曲霉能够扩增出特异性条带,而产OTA的其它菌株不能扩增出条带;检测出3株假阳性的产OTA黑曲霉,实时定量PCR分析此3株菌中An15g07920的同源基因表达情况,发现在产毒条件下可正常表达,排除了因基因无法表达导致假阳性的可能。本方法的检测灵敏度为25 pg的DNA含量,在污染所试农产品孢子浓度大于4.0×10~4–4.0×10~5个/g时可有效检测出产毒菌株。【结论】本方法虽会产生4%的假阳性结果,但是仍可作为产毒黑曲霉有效的快速检测方法,并在农产品污染产毒黑曲霉时进行有效预警。     

食品中桔霉素控制方法的研究进展

桔霉素(Citrinin,CIT)是由青霉、曲霉和红曲霉属产生的一种具有肾毒性的真菌毒素。许多食品和饲料中均含有桔霉素,污染范围十分庞大。桔霉素可与其他真菌毒素发生协同作用,如展青霉素(Patulin,PAT)、赭曲霉毒素(Ochratoxin,OTA)等,从而增强其毒性作用,对人及动物健康造成更大的危害。现阶段常用的控制手段主要有物理、化学和生物方法,均取得了一定的成就。本文简单介绍了桔霉素的毒性及污染状况,对桔霉素控制方法的研究进展进行了综述。     

基于碳点的新型无淬灭剂荧光适配体传感器检测赭曲霉毒素A（英文）

赭曲霉毒素A (Ochratoxin A, OTA)是食品中常见致癌性生物毒素，对人类和动物的健康造成威胁。基于新型的荧光硫和氮掺杂的碳点(S-N-CDs),并用特异性识别OTA的适配体修饰，建立了一种用于检测赭曲霉毒素的无淬灭剂的适配体传感器。S-N-CDs通过L-半胱氨酸的水热处理合成。当OTA存在于传感系统中时，CDs对OTA有敏化作用，并形成一个更大的共轭系统，导致荧光增强。通过计算传感器的荧光值变化，可得到传感系统中OTA的浓度。这种高灵敏度的基于荧光的检测方法的检测限为4 ng/mL,线性反应范围为4～1 000 ng/mL,在特异性分析中P<0.01,具有良好的特异性，可用于红酒样品的检测，回收率在80%～96%之间。这项研究成功地开发了一种新型适配体传感器，为快速检测OTA提供了一种有效的方法，也为检测各种生物分析物提供了一种可靠的基于适配体的技术。     

Isolation and identification of ochratoxin A-producing Aspergillus section Nigri strains from California raisins

Aims: To determine incidence and levels of ochratoxin A (OTA) in California raisins and to isolate and characterize OTA‐producing fungi from California raisin vineyard populations. Methods and Results: Forty raisin clusters sampled from four California vineyards in the San Joaquin Valley were analysed for OTA content using immunoaffinity and HPLC methods. OTA was detected in 93% of the samples, at levels from 0·06 to 11·4 ng g^?1. From these raisin samples, a total of 400 strains of Aspergillus were isolated and analysed for OTA production. Twelve isolates (3%), from five raisin samples, produced OTA. These isolates were identified as Aspergillus carbonarius, based on morphological characteristics and multilocus sequence analysis. Levels of OTA produced by these isolates on raisin agar ranged from 0·9 to 15 μg g^?1. Conclusions: OTA is a common contaminant of raisin vineyards, but average levels are much lower than EU regulatory limits for dried fruit. The primary species responsible for OTA contamination in California raisins is A. carbonarius. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study illustrates that low‐level OTA contamination of raisins occurs in California and that ecological studies of A. carbonarius within the Aspergillus section Nigri population on raisins are warranted to monitor ochratoxigenic potential of the crop.     

Mycotoxin Ochratoxin A-induced cell death and changes in oxidative metabolism of Arabidopsis thaliana

We evaluated the phytotoxicity of mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA) from Aspergillus and Penicillium strains on Arabidopsis thaliana. The results demonstrate that the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana on media containing OTA was inhibited significantly. Moreover, OTA induced necrotic lesions in detached leaves, which are reminiscent of hypersensitive response lesions that are activated during plant–pathogen interactions and other abiotic stress factors. From our study, we can see that OTA exposure stimulated a biphasic oxidative burst in the leaves, resulting in the generation of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and superoxide anion radicals (O₂^·−) and in the concomitant down-regulation of antioxidant enzyme defense responses and up-regulation of lipid peroxidation. These results suggested that OTA damage might result from reactive oxygen species pathways. Our experiments provide a useful model plant system for research on OTA-induced plant cell death.     

细菌纤维素合酶的基本特性及作用机理

细菌纤维素是一种天然的生物质高分子聚合物。相较于植物纤维素,其具有更高的纯度和优异的力学性能。有望作为一种绿色的新型高分子材料被广泛应用。细菌纤维素合酶作为合成细菌纤维素的关键酶,其主导细菌纤维素的合成过程。因此,对其合成机理的探索有助于实现细菌纤维素大量生产和广泛应用。本文从细菌纤维素合酶的基本特性出发,综述了菌种筛选、提升产量和合酶的细胞定位等内容;围绕纤维素合酶的作用机理阐述了体外合成方法的影响因素,以及利用该方法探究各亚基相关作用的现状。以此探究细菌纤维素合酶的合成机制,并提出了当前研究中存在的问题。同时,展望了该领域未来的研究方向,以期通过对合成机理的探讨为细菌纤维素的大规模应用提供理论基础。     

Small regulatory RNAs control the multi-cellular adhesive lifestyle of Escherichia coli

Small regulatory RNA molecules have recently been recognized as important regulatory elements of developmental processes in both eukaryotes and bacteria. We here describe a striking example in Escherichia coli that can switch between a single‐cell motile lifestyle and a multi‐cellular, sessile and adhesive state that enables biofilm formation on surfaces. For this, the bacterium needs to reprogramme its gene expression, and in many E. coli and Salmonella strains the lifestyle shift relies on control cascades that inhibit flagellar expression and activate the synthesis of curli, extracellular adhesive fibres important for co‐aggregation of cells and adhesion to biotic and abiotic surfaces. By combining bioinformatics, genetic and biochemical analysis we identified three small RNAs that act by an antisense mechanism to downregulate translation of CsgD, the master regulator of curli synthesis. Our demonstration that basal expression of each of the three RNA species is sufficient to downregulate CsgD synthesis and prevent curli formation indicates that all play a prominent role in the curli regulatory network. Our findings provide the first clue as to how the Rcs signalling pathway negatively regulates curli synthesis and increase the number of small regulatory RNAs that act directly on the csgD mRNA to five.     

Biomonitoring of ochratoxin A in grain workers

Handling agricultural commodities such as grain can result in an inhalation of mycotoxin-containing dusts. Ochratoxin A (OTA) is particularly well suited for biomonitoring studies due to its long half-life in blood, and served as a marker toxin to investigate whether or not exposure to dusts in occupational contexts may result in elevated OTA blood serum levels. OTA analysis was performed for blood samples (n=61) obtained from a cohort of male workers employed at granaries of several grain handling companies in Germany. OTA was analyzed in plasma extracts by HPLC with fluorimetric detection; calibration curves were run for each batch of samples collected between July 2005 and March 2006, and the level of detection was 0.05 ng/ml plasma. The OTA plasma levels of the 61 grain workers ranged between 0.07 ng/ml and 0.75 ng/ml. The mean (0.28±0.13 ng/ml) and median (0.26 ng/ml) OTA value for this cohort was similar to average values previously reported for the German population. Our results gave no indication that OTA in excess of those originating from typical dietary sources was ingested by these workers. Although measurable OTA concentrations have been found in dust samples collected at the corresponding workplaces (Mayeret al, this issue), the biomonitoring data do not provide evidence for a significant inhalatory burden of OTA in grain workers. Since deoxynivalenol and zearalenone were also detected in the dust samples in concentrations much higher than that of OTA, additional research should try to assess the potential relevance of an inhalation exposure to these mycotoxins. Presented at the 28^th Mykotoxin-Workshop, Bydgoszcz, Poland, May 29–31, 2006     

Inhibition of ochratoxin A production and growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus</Emphasis> species by phenolic antioxidant compounds

The phenolic antioxidants, gallic acid, vanillic acid, protocatechuic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, catechin, caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid were studied for their effects on ochratoxin A (OTA) production and fungal growth of ochratoxigenic Aspergilli. Of the 12 strains tested, which included A. alliaceus, A. lanosus, A. ochraceus, A. albertensis, A. melleus, A. sulphureus, A. carbonarius, A. elegans, and A. sclerotiorum, the greatest inhibition of OTA production was seen in A. sulphureus, A. elegans, and A. lanosus. Vanillic acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid were the most inhibitory to both OTA production and growth of most of the strains tested. However, A.␣ochraceus was not inhibited by either compound, and A. carbonarius was not inhibited by vanillic acid. The effect of each compound on OTA production and growth differed among strains and generally was variable, suggesting that species-specific OTA production and response to phenolic compounds may be influenced by different ecological and developmental factors. In addition, inhibition of OTA production by antioxidant compounds may be useful in determining biosynthetic and regulatory genes involved in both OTA production and stress response in ochratoxigenic Aspergilli.     

Allium cepa as a biomonitor of ochratoxin A toxicity and genotoxicity

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a toxin produced by Aspergillus and Penicillum moulds. Since OTA has not yet been evaluated in plant systems, this paper focused on describing the controversial effect OTA in an Allium root test model, which has known sensitivity to genotoxins and could be useful in toxin screening. Analyses of root growth and the root meristematic zone in response to OTA treatment were undertaken. The results show OTA toxicity to root growth at a concentration of 10 ug·ml^?1 associated with inhibition of proliferation activity. Cytological changes observed in the Allium chromosome aberrations assay, at a concentration of 5.0 ug·ml^?1, showed that OTA was able to induce genotoxicity at the chromosome level. These results indicate that plants cells (Allium cepa) are very sensitive to the mycotoxin OTA, as observed at the highest concentration. Under these conditions, OTA produced toxicity and cytogenetic injury. Evidence in vitro and in vivo indicates that OTA can induce damage at the DNA level.     

Various physicochemical and surface properties controlling the bioactivity of cerium oxide nanoparticles

Amidst numerous emerging nanoparticles, cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs) possess fascinating pharmacological potential as they can be used as a therapeutic for various oxidative stress-associated chronic diseases such as cancer, inflammation and neurodegeneration due to unique redox cycling between Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺ oxidation states on their surface. Lattice defects generated by the formation of Ce³⁺ ions and compensation by oxygen vacancies on CNPs surface has led to switching between CeO₂ and CeO_2–x during redox reactions making CNPs a lucrative catalytic nanoparticle capable of mimicking key natural antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase. Eventually, most of the reactive oxygen species and nitrogen species in biological system are scavenged by CNPs via an auto-regenerative mechanism in which a minimum dose can exhibit catalytic activity for a longer duration. Due to the controversial outcomes on CNPs toxicity, considerable attention has recently been drawn towards establishing relationships between the physicochemical properties of CNPs obtained by different synthesis methods and biological effects ranging from toxicity to therapeutics. Unlike non-redox active nanoparticles, variations in physicochemical properties and the surface properties of CNPs obtained from different synthesis methods can significantly affect their biological activity (inactive, antioxidant, or pro-oxidant). Moreover, these properties can influence the biological identity, cellular interactions, cellular uptake, biodistribution, and therapeutic efficiency. This review aims to highlight the critical role of various physicochemical and the surface properties of CNPs controlling their biological activity based on 165 cited references.     

The mechanisms involved in ochratoxin A elimination by Yarrowia lipolytica Y‐2

Biological control of mycotoxin in cereals, fruits and vegetables have emerged as a promising method. In a previous study, Yarrowia lipolytica Y‐2 isolated by our research team showed biocontrol effect on the post‐harvest decay of grapes and ochratoxin A (OTA) elimination in polytoma medium. The aim of this study was to elucidate the possible mechanisms of OTA elimination by Y. lipolytica Y‐2. The results indicated that OTA elimination by Y. lipolytica Y‐2 was attributed to the degradation action of intracellular enzymes but not extracellular enzymes. A degradation product was identified as ochratoxin alpha (OTα) by liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry. The intracellular enzymes precipitated with 65% saturation of ammonium sulphate degrade OTA the most quickly and 97.2% OTA was degraded within 4 h. Analysis of this fraction showed that two proteins of carboxypeptidase were expressed in Y. lipolytica Y‐2 but not in Y. lipolytica Polh without the ability to degrade OTA. The results of the protein identification combined with product identification indicated that OTA was degraded to OTα by Y. lipolytica Y‐2 through the hydrolysis activity of carboxypeptidases. Additionally, many proteins of Y. lipolytica Y‐2 involved in stress response and reactive O₂ species elimination also played essential role in OTA degradation.     

Potential of ochratoxin A production by Aspergillus carbonarius strains isolated from grapes at different ecological factors

Aspergillus carbonarius is known to colonize and produce ochratoxin A (OTA) on grapes and its derived products which is harmful to humans. We screened and tested A. carbonarius strains which isolated from grapes for production of OTA and selected three high OTA producing strains (ACSP1, ACSP2, ACSP3) for this study. These strains were further tested for their ability to produce OTA at different ecological factors [temperature 15, 25, 30, 35°C; water activity (a_w) 0.98, 0.95, 0.90, 0.88; and pH 4.0, 7.0, 9.0, 10.0]. Out of the three strains tested, A. carbonarius ACSP3 produced high levels of OTA than ACSP2 and ACSP1 in all the ecological factors. At 30°C A. carbonarius strains produced the highest OTA compared with other temperature regimes. With reference to water activity, a_w 0.98 favoured mycelial growth and accumulation of more OTA with all the three A. carbonarius strains. Further, pH 4.0 was encouraged the greatest production of OTA in all the strains. No growth was observed at a_w 0.88 and pH 10.0 in all the three strains except the strain ACSP3 at high pH. Our work demonstrated that temperature 30°C, a_w 0.98 and pH 4.0 is optimum for growth and production of OTA by A. carbonarius strains. Maximum amounts of OTA were found at earlier growth stages (7–9 days of incubation) in all the strains of A. carbonarius. The present study revealed that different ecological factors had great impact on OTA production by A. carbonarius which is useful for understanding OTA contamination and to develop proper management practices in future research programmes.