Aspergillus species detection

Choi JK, Mauger J, McGowan KL. Immunohistochemical detection of Aspergillus species in pediatric tissue samples. Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 2004 121 18-25. 

Botrytized wines, being produced from mold-affected grapes, might be expected to be contaminated with OTA. Although Botrytis itself has never been reported to produce mycotoxins, associated Penicillium and Aspergillus species might be involved in toxin production. To date, studies on botrytized wine have either not detected or found low OTA levels. 

Interest in the mycotoxins of Aspergillus species continues, and the structures of several metabolites have been elucidated. Fumitremorgins A and B (FTA and FTB) are accompanied in A. fumigatus by six related indole-containing metabolites (FTC to FTH) which, however, appear to have no detectable tremorgenic properties. The first of these, FTC, exhibits very similar functionality and spectroscopic properties to tryptoquivaline, although the two compounds are not identical. However, FTC acetate and tryptoquivaline acetate (33) are identical hence FTC (34) differs from tryptoquivaline (35) solely in the position of the acetate group.31... 

Plant soil is also a good substrate for molds whose natural environment is soil. In 29 indoor rooms, A. fumigatus was detected in the soil of up to 70% of 181 plants. Aspergillus species can also be released from neglected hydroponics [13]. Other sites of molds in interior spaces are listed in Table 4. 

Penicillium marneffei can cause a disseminated infection in immunocompromised patients.Morphologically the organisms must be differentiated from H. capsulatum, C. neoformans, and C. albicans. The monoclonal antibody EBA-1 against the galactomannan of Aspergillus species cross-reacts with and detects P. marneffei in tissue sections. ° ° Immunohisto-chemistry has also been used to detect Blastomyces, Coccidioides, and Histoplasma. However, the antibodies have significant cross-reactivity with several other fungi. 

Patino, B., Gonzalez-Salgado, A., Gonzalez-Jaen, M. T., and Vazquez, C. (2005). PCR detection assays for the ochrtoxin-producing Aspergillus carbonarius and Aspergillus ochraceus species. Int.. Food Microbiol. 104, 207-214. 

Patulin was originally considered desirable for its antibacterial properties. However, its toxicity to mammals precluded its use as an antibiotic. Patulin (fig. 4), a metabolite of many species of Penicillium and Aspergillus, has been detected in damaged apples, apple juice and apple cider made from partially decaying apples and in other fruit juices as well as in wheat. A heat-resistant fungus Byssochlamys nivea, frequently found in foods also produces patulin [109]. Due to highly reactive double bonds that readily react with sulfhydryl... 

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