Abstract
Filamentous fungi occur widely in the environment, contaminating soil, air, food and other substrates. Due to their wide distribution, they have medical and economic implications. Regardless of their use as a source of antibiotics, vitamins and raw materials for various industrially important chemicals, most fungi and filamentous fungi produce metabolites associated with a range of health risks, both in humans and in animals. The association of filamentous fungi and their metabolites to different negative health conditions in humans and animals, has contributed to the importance of investigating different health risks induced by this family of heterotrophs. This review aims to discuss health risks associated with commonly occurring filamentous fungal species which belong to genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium, as well as evaluating their pathogenicity and mycotoxic properties.
Highlights
Over the years, from the 1970s until the present, a range of filamentous fungi species belonging to different genera are being mentioned in relation to many infections affecting different organs such as the eyes, ears, nasal cavity, nails, skin, respiratory tracts, internal organs, etc. [1,2,3,4,5]
Especially those belonging to genus Aspergillus such as Aspergillus niger and genus Penicillium such as Penicillium citrinum are being implemented in the food and pharmaceutical industries as a result of some metabolites they produce [10,11], these filamentous fungi have been reported in association with infections and disease [12,13]
In order to contribute to knowledge of health risks associated with filamentous fungi species, this review aims to discuss the ability of these fungi to exert negative health effects, especially in humans giving cognition to their mycotoxic, cytotoxic, DNA damaging and immune-suppressing and properties
Summary
From the 1970s until the present, a range of filamentous fungi species belonging to different genera are being mentioned in relation to many infections affecting different organs such as the eyes, ears, nasal cavity, nails, skin, respiratory tracts, internal organs, etc. [1,2,3,4,5]. These mycotoxins have negative impacts on the agricultural industry as well as being found in association with a variety of human and animal diseases such as oesophageal cancer, liver cancer and benign endemic nephropathy (BEN) in humans, as well as equine leuco-encephalo malacia (ELEM), hormonal disorders, immunosuppression and even deaths in animals [20,21,22,23] Most of these filamentous fungi have been used and are still manipulated biotechnologically in the food industry and pharmaceutical/medical industry, it is of utmost importance to look extensively at the health risks of these filamentous fungi especially those that commonly occur in the environment, whether in food or in the atmosphere. In order to contribute to knowledge of health risks associated with filamentous fungi species, this review aims to discuss the ability of these fungi to exert negative health effects, especially in humans giving cognition to their mycotoxic, cytotoxic, DNA damaging and immune-suppressing and properties
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