MycoCentral: An innovative database to compile information on mycotoxins and facilitate hazard prediction

Abstract

Food and feed production are affected worldwide by contamination with natural substances such as mycotoxins. These toxins are produced by various fungi (Aspergillus, Alternaria, Fusarium, Penicillium, etc.), some of which are responsible for diseases in livestock as well as in humans. Moreover, their increasing presence in food and feed may be favoured by the development of fungi due to climate change, thus raising concern for animal and human health.Except for the regulated mycotoxins, the data available on exposure to and the toxicity of mycotoxins are scarce and scattered across the Web and in the literature. To centralize this information, we developed a database of mycotoxins, named MycoCentral, that currently contains 904 mycotoxins and their metabolites. In addition to data on biosynthesis and metabolic pathways and fungal sources, we compiled data on physico-chemical properties, the key kinetics processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) and toxicity predictors as well as medical chemistry predictors from seven free QSAR/ADME tools and software and harmonized the data for each mycotoxin. When available, experimental data were also included in the database. Moreover, links to other databases referencing information on mycotoxins are provided. We expect that our MycoCentral database will become an essential hub for compiling future information and predictions on mycotoxins. This database is designed to be user-friendly for various types of stakeholders and is available on http://www.MycoCentral.eu.