The application of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays for the rapid diagnosis of food-borne mycotoxigenic fungi

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Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi that toxic effects in vertebrates when administered via a natural route. More than 400 different compounds can be produced by a variety of molds during growth and storage of food commodities as well as during processing and storage of food products. In order to protect consumers, the most hazardous mycotoxins have been subject to legal regulations in the majority of countries world wide. In order to meet legal and quality requirements for commodities, production processes and products there is need for rapid, sensitive and reliable methods that can detect the presence of mycotoxigenic fungi during quality control and for the application of HACCP concepts in the food and feed industry. Based on the results of rapid testing, proper methods of chemical analysis can be deviced to check samples for presence and concentrations of mycotoxins in accordance with regulatory guidelines to reach the goal of reducing the concentrations of mycotoxins in the food and feed supply chain. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification is a DNA-based technology that enables rapid, specific and sensitive diagnosis of microorganisms with a minimum of technical apparatus and sample processing effort. This article gives an overview over the application of this novel technology for the diagnosis of mycotoxin producers, in species-specific and group-specific assays and gives an outlook on future developments.