Fusaproliferin Research Articles

Emerging Fusarium Mycotoxins Fusaproliferin, Beauvericin, Enniatins, and Moniliformin in Serbian Maize.

Emerging mycotoxins such as moniliformin (MON), enniatins (ENs), beauvericin (BEA), and fusaproliferin (FUS) may contaminate maize and negatively influence the yield and quality of grain. The aim of this study was to determine the content of emerging Fusarium mycotoxins in Serbian maize from the 2016, 2017, and 2018 harvests. A total of 190 samples from commercial maize production operations in Serbia were analyzed for the presence of MON, ENs, BEA, and FUS using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The obtained results were interpreted together with weather data from each year. MON, BEA, and FUS were major contaminants, while other emerging mycotoxins were not detected or were found in fewer samples (<20%). Overall contamination was highest in 2016 when MON and BEA were found in 50–80% of samples. In 2017 and 2018, high levels of MON, FUS, and BEA were detected in regions with high precipitation and warm weather during the silking phase of maize (July and the beginning of August), when the plants are most susceptible to Fusarium infections. Since environmental conditions in Serbia are favorable for the occurrence of mycotoxigenic fungi, monitoring Fusarium toxins is essential for the production of safe food and feed.

Fusaproliferin, a Fungal Mycotoxin, Shows Cytotoxicity against Pancreatic Cancer Cell Lines.

As a part of our ongoing research on endophytic fungi, we have isolated a sesterterpene mycotoxin, fusaproliferin (FUS), from a Fusarium solani strain, which is associated with the plant Aglaonema hookerianum Schott. FUS showed rapid and sub-micromolar IC50 against pancreatic cancer cell lines. Time-dependent survival analysis and microscopy imaging showed rapid morphological changes in cancer cell lines 4 h after incubation with FUS. This provides a new chemical scaffold that can be further developed to obtain more potent synthetic agents against pancreatic cancer.

Ecophysiology of Fusarium temperatum isolated from maize in Argentina

ABSTRACTThe effect of water activity (aw = 0.95, 0.98 and 0.995), temperature (15, 25 and 30°C), incubation time (7, 14, 21 and 28 days), and their interactions on growth and moniliformin (MON), beauvericin (BEA), fusaproliferin (FUS) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) production by two strains of Fusarium temperatum isolated from Argentinean maize were determined in vitro on sterile layers of maize grains. The results showed that there was a wide range of conditions for growth and mycotoxins production by F. temperatum. Both strains were found to grow faster with increasing aw and at 30°C. In relation to mycotoxin production, the two strains produced more FUS than the other mycotoxins regardless of aw or temperature evaluated (maximum = 50 000 μg g−1). For FUS, MON and BEA, the maximum levels were observed at 0.98 aw and 30°C (50 000, 5000 and 2000 μg g−1 respectively). The lowest levels for these three mycotoxins were detected at 15°C and 0.95 aw (1700 and 100 μg g−1 for FUS and MON respectively), and at 0.98 aw (400 μg g−1 for BEA). The maximum levels of FB1 were produced at 15°C and 0.98 aw (1000 μg g−1). At all aw and temperatures combinations evaluated there was an increase in toxin concentrations with time incubation. The maximum levels were detected at 21 days. Statistical analyses of aw, temperature, incubation time, and the two- and three-way interactions between them showed significant effects on mycotoxins production by F. temperatum. For its versatility on growth and mycotoxin production, F. temperatum represents a toxicological risk for maize in the field and also during grain storage.

Role of the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) on contamination of maize with 13 Fusarium mycotoxins

The European corn borer (ECB) plays an important role in promoting Fusarium verticillioides infections and in the consequent fumonisin contamination in maize grain in temperate areas. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the ECB feeding activity could also affect the occurrence of emerging mycotoxins in maize kernels. During the 2008–10 period, natural infestation of the insect was compared, in field research, with the protection of infestation, which was obtained by using an entomological net. The ears collected in the protected plots were free from ECB attack, while those subject to natural insect attacks showed a damage severity that varied from 10% to 25%. The maize samples were analysed by means of an LC-MS/MS-based multi-mycotoxin method, which led to the detection of various metabolites: fumonisins (FUMs), fusaproliferin (FUS), moniliformin (MON), bikaverin (BIK), beauvericin (BEA), fusaric acid (FA), equisetin (EQU), deoxynivalenol (DON), deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside (DON-3-G), zearalenone (ZEA), culmorin (CULM), aurofusarin (AUR) and butenolide (BUT). The occurrence of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium spp. of Liseola section was affected significantly by the ECB feeding activity. The presence of ECB injuries increased the FUMs from 995 to 4694 µg kg–1, FUS from 17 to 1089 µg kg–1, MON from 22 to 673 µg kg–1, BIK from 58 to 377 µg kg–1, BEA from 6 to 177 µg kg–1, and FA from 21 to 379 µg kg–1. EQU, produced by F. equiseti section Gibbosum, was also increased by the ECB activity, by 1–30 µg kg–1 on average. Instead, the content of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium spp. of Discolor and Roseum sections was not significantly affected by ECB activity. As for FUMs, the application of a strategy that can reduce ECB damage could also be the most effective solution to minimise the other mycotoxins produced by Fusarium spp. of Liseola section.

Risk assessment of beauvericin, enniatins and fusaproliferin present in follow-up infant formula by in vitro evaluation of the duodenal and colonic bioaccessibility

Abstract In this study, 72 samples of follow-up infant formula of Spanish origin were analyzed for the presence of the mycotoxins beauvericin (BEA), enniatins (ENs) (A, A1, B, B1), and fusaproliferin (FUS). The samples analyzed were extracted three times with ethyl acetate and then the mycotoxins were identified and quantified using a liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to a diode array detector (DAD). The positive samples analyzed in this study were digested through a simulated gastrointestinal digestion model, which permit to simulate the physiological condition of the human gastrointestinal tract (duodenal and colonic compartments) in order to assess the bioaccessibility of the bioactive compounds contained in the follow-up infant formula, and to perform the approach to the risk assessment related to the intake of these bioactive compounds. The EN B, was detected in 12 of the totally positive samples with a mean value of 32.3 ± 1.2 mg/kg, whereas the EN A was evidenced only in one sample with a value of 149.62 ± 2.36 mg/kg. The EN A1 presented a mean contamination of 55.36 ± 2.1 mg/kg. The duodenal bioaccessibility of the bioactive compounds present in the analyzed samples ranged from 0.37 to 22.41%, whereas employing the duodenal + colonic digestion the mean bioaccessibility of the mycotoxins studied ranged from 1.63 to 29.00%.

Mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins associated with stored maize from different regions of Lesotho

Samples of stored maize from villages located in five different agroecological zones (southern lowlands, northern lowlands, Senqu river valley, foothills and mountains) of Lesotho were collected in 2009/10 and 2010/11 and assessed for contamination with toxigenic fungi. The water activity of all samples collected during the two seasons was <0.70. The total fungal populations of the maize from different regions in the two seasons was not significantly different (p > 0.05). Fusarium verticillioides, F. proliferatum and F. subglutinans predominated in different regions in both seasons based on molecular analyses. In the 2009/10 season, the isolates of these species all produced FB1, while in the 2010/11 season, very few produced FB1. A. flavus isolates (2009/10) were recovered from mountains and Senqu river valley samples while the 2010/11 isolates were predominantly from the foothills and northern lowlands. The mountain isolates of Aspergillus section Flavi produced the highest levels of AFB1 (20mgkg(-1)). Aspergillus parasiticus was only isolated from the foothills, Senqu river valley and southern lowlands samples, and the AFB1 levels produced ranged from 'none detected' to 3.5mgkg(-1). The Aspergillus ochraceous isolates were least frequently encountered in both seasons. In the 2009/10 season, the isolates from the northern lowlands produced ochratoxin A (OTA) in culture. No isolates of A. niger from different regions in both seasons produced any OTA. Multi-mycotoxin analyses of the maize samples were done for a range of mycotoxins. At least one sample from each region in both seasons was FB1-positive. FB1 levels for 2010/11 samples (7-936μgkg(-1)) were higher than in the 2009/10 season (2-3μgkg(-1)). In both seasons, the mountains registered the highest levels of FB1. Deoxynivalenol (DON) was recovered from all the samples analysed, with the highest mean contamination of 1,469μgkg(-1) in samples from the northern lowlands. Moniliformin (MON) was detected from all agroecological zones in the two seasons (5-320μgkg(-1) in 2009/10; 15-1,205μgkg(-1) in 2010/11). Emerging toxins such as fusaproliferin (FUS) and beauvericin (BEA) were also detected. OTA was not detected in any of the samples analysed. Only one 2009/10 sample in the Senqu river valley was positive for AFB1. This is the first report on toxigenic fungi and multi-mycotoxin contamination of maize samples from subsistence farmers' stores in different agroecological zones of Lesotho.

Emerging Fusarium mycotoxins in organic and conventional pasta collected in Spain

One of the main sources of emerging Fusarium mycotoxins in human nutrition is the cereals and cereal products. In this study, an analytical method to determine enniatins A, A1, B and B1 (ENs), beauvericin (BEA) and fusaproliferin (FUS) based on Ultra-Turrax extraction followed by liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometer detector (MS/MS QqQ), was applied for the analysis of pasta. For this purpose, 114 commercial samples of pasta were acquired from supermarkets located in Valencia. The results showed higher frequencies of contamination in organic pasta than in conventional pasta, while the concentration levels were variable for both types of pasta. In positive samples, BEA levels varied from 0.10 to 20.96μg/kg and FUS levels varied from 0.05 to 8.02μg/kg. ENs levels ranged from 0.25 to 979.56μg/kg, though the majority of the values were below 25μg/kg. Besides, it was observed the simultaneous presence of two or more mycotoxins in a high percentage of the samples. Finally, an evaluation of the dietary exposure of the emerging Fusarium mycotoxins was performed in the Spanish population. The prevalence of ENs, BEA and FUS in cereal products suggests that the toxins may pose a health risk to Spanish population.

Risk assessment associated to the intake of the emerging Fusarium mycotoxins BEA, ENs and FUS present in infant formula of Spanish origin

Forty-five samples of Spanish follow-up infant formula with different chemical compositions were analyzed determining the emerging Fusarium mycotoxins beauvericin (BEA), enniatins (ENs) (A, A1, B, B1), and fusaproliferin (FUS). The samples were extracted three times with ethyl acetate using an Ultra-turrax homogenizer. Mycotoxins were identified and quantified using a liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to a diode array detector (DAD). Results showed that the percentage of the samples contaminated with ENs and FUS were 46.6 and 20.0% respectively, whereas all analyzed samples were free of BEA. The ENs A and B were detected only in one sample with 149.6 and 39.4 mg/kg respectively. The ENB1 was the more detected mycotoxin with levels ranging from 11.4 to 41.9 mg/kg. The ENA1 was detected at levels ranging from 6.3 to 101.7 mg/kg. The minor Fusarium mycotoxin FUS was detected in a range variable from 0.7 to 1.7 mg/kg. Finally, dietary exposure of Spanish infants (between 6 and 12 months) to ENs, BEA and FUS, was estimated through the consumption of commercial follow-up infant formula by the calculation of the estimated daily intake (EDI). Considering the sum of the mycotoxins studied, the data evidenced that the EDI was 236.2 μg/kg bw/day.

Study of the cytotoxic activity of beauvericin and fusaproliferin and bioavailability in vitro on Caco-2 cells

Beauvericin (BEA) is a cyclohexadepsipeptide mycotoxin which has insecticidal properties and produces cytotoxic effects in mammalian cells. Fusaproliferin (FUS) is a mycotoxin that has toxic activity against brine shrimp, insect cells, and teratogenic effects on chicken embryos. The aim of this study was to determine the cytotoxicity of BEA and FUS in human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 and Caco-2 cells, the transepithelial transport and the bioavailability using Caco-2 cells as a simulated in vitro gastrointestinal model of the human intestinal epithelium. The inhibitory concentration (IC50) evidenced by BEA in the Caco-2 cells was 24.6 and 12.7μM at 24 and 48h exposure, respectively, whereas the IC50 values evidenced in HT-29 cells were 15.0 and 9.7μM, respectively. FUS was cytotoxic, but no IC50 data were observed in the range of concentration tested. BEA bioavailability was variable from 50.1% to 54.3%, whereas FUS presented a bioavailability variable from 80.2% to 83.2%. Results obtained demonstrated a potential risk for human health.

Presence of Fusarium emerging mycotoxins in tiger-nuts commercialized in Spain

Tiger-nuts are tubers from the plant Cyperus esculentus which are commercialized in some regions of West and Central Africa, USA and Spain. These tubers have a high microbial charge such as bacteria, moulds and yeasts which could remain until the finished product. In this study we examined 47 samples of tiger-nut tubers purchased from Spanish supermarkets for contamination with the emerging Fusarium mycotoxins: Enniatins ENs (EN A, EN A1, EN B and EN B1), beauvericin (BEA) and fusaproliferin (FUS). The extraction of the samples was carried out with methanol using an Ultraturrax homogenizer. Mycotoxins were analyzed with a liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to a diode array detector (DAD).The percentage of contaminate samples with one or more emerging mycotoxins was 21.3%. EN A1 result the most common EN found with the highest prevalence of 17% with levels ranging from 32.3 to 4400 μg/g. EN B1 and BEA were present simultaneously in 5 samples, whereas the maximum contamination observed of the EN B1 was of 346 μg/g. The lowest incidence were observed for the ENs A and B evidenced only in one sample of the total studied. Only one emerging mycotoxin, fusaproliferin (FUS), has not been detected in any sample studied.The present work is the first one ever drafted on the presence of the emerging Fusarium mycotoxins in Spanish tiger-nuts.

Impact of fusaproliferin on primary roots of maize cultivars differing in their susceptibility to Fusarium

Effects of fusaproliferin (FUS) on membrane potential (EM), electrolyte leakage, enzymes activity and respiration of roots, were studied in two maize cultivars (Zea mays L.), differing in their susceptibility to this toxin. In short-term experiments (≤ 6 h), EM has been rapidly and significantly depolarized by FUS. The rapidity of EM depolarization in tolerant cv. Lucia was more expressive in comparison with susceptible cv. Pavla, but the extent of EM depolarization was higher in cv. Pavla. In both maize cultivars, higher depolarization of EM was registered in cells of root zone I. In long-term experiments after the first EM depolarization, which occurred during the first 6 h of FUS treatment, gradual depolarization continued up to 24 h and was represented not only by the active component (EP) but also by the passive component (ED) of EM. The decrease in EM and ED was followed by a loss of K+ ions from FUS treated roots of both cultivars. The leak of K+ ions from the root cells of both root zones as well as both maize cultivars increased with the time of FUS treatment and was significantly higher in susceptible cv. Pavla than in tolerant cv. Lucia. FUS treatment of maize roots resulted in a significant decrease of root respiration which was higher in susceptible cv. Pavla than in tolerant cv. Lucia.

Fusarium species (section Liseola) occurrence and natural incidence of beauvericin, fusaproliferin and fumonisins in maize hybrids harvested in Mexico

Fusarium species can produce fumonisins (FBs), fusaric acid, beauvericin (BEA), fusaproliferin (FUS) and moniliformin. Data on the natural occurrence of FBs have been widely reported, but information on BEA and FUS in maize is limited. The aims of this study were to establish the occurrence of Fusarium species in different maize hybrids in Mexico, to determine the ability of Fusarium spp. isolates to produce BEA, FUS and FBs and their natural occurrence in maize. Twenty-eight samples corresponding to seven different maize hybrids were analyzed for mycobiota and natural mycotoxin contamination by LC. Fusarium verticillioides was the dominant species (44-80%) followed by F. subglutinans (13-37%) and F. proliferatum (2-16%). Beauvericin was detected in three different hybrids with levels ranging from 300 to 400ng g(-1), while only one hybrid was contaminated with FUS (200ng g(-1)). All samples were positive for FB1 and FB2 contamination showing levels up to 606 and 277ng g(-1), respectively. All F. verticillioides isolates were able to produce FB1 (13.8-4,860μg g(-1)) and some also produced FB2 and FUS. Beauvericin, FUS, FB1 and FB2 were produced by several isolates including F. proliferatum and F. subglutinans and co-production was observed. This is the first report on the co-occurrence of these toxins in maize samples from Mexico. The analysis of the presence of multiple mycotoxins in this substrate is necessary to understand the significance of these compounds in the human and animal food chains.

First report on the presence of emerging Fusarium mycotoxins enniatins (A, A1, B, B1), beauvericin and fusaproliferin in rice on the Moroccan retail markets

Seventy samples of rice purchased from local markets in six cities from Morocco (Rabat, Casablanca, Kénitra, Mohammadia, Tanger and Errachidia) were analyzed for the presence of six emerging mycotoxins: four enniatins ENs (ENA, ENA1, ENB and ENB1), beauvericin (BEA) and fusaproliferin (FUS). Samples were extracted with a mixture of acetonitrile/water (85/15, v/v) by using an ultra-turrax homogenizer. Mycotoxins were then identified and quantified with liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to diode array detector (DAD). Positive samples were confirmed with an LC-MS/MS. Analytical results showed that BEA was present in 75.7% of total analyzed samples. BEA levels varied between 3.8 and 26.3 mg/kg. The frequencies of contamination of samples with total ENs and FUS were 50% and 4.3%, respectively. Among the ENs, ENB was the mycotoxin much more found (30% of total samples), while ENB1, ENA and ENA1 were found in 24.6%, 22.8% and 5.7% of total samples, respectively. The high ENs value was registered in a rice sample from kénitra (448.7 mg/kg of ENA1). This is the first study that describes the presence of emerging Fusarium mycotoxins in rice available in Morocco.

Determination of Fusarium mycotoxins enniatins, beauvericin and fusaproliferin in cereals and derived products from Tunisia

In this study, 51 samples of cereals (wheat, Barley, maize and Sorghum) and by-products (mainly pasta and couscous) purchased from Tunisian supermarkets were examined for contamination with the emerging Fusarium mycotoxins: Enniatins ENs (EN A, EN A1, EN B and EN B1), beauvericin (BEA) and fusaproliferin (FUS).The extraction of the samples was performed with methanol using an Ultra-turrax homogenizer. Mycotoxins were analyzed with a liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to a diode array detector (DAD).The frequencies of contamination of total samples with ENs were 96%. EN A1 was the most common EN found with the highest prevalence of 92.1%, levels ranged between 11.1 and 480 mg/kg. EN B was evidenced in 35 samples and levels ranged from 1.5 to 295 mg/kg. EN B1 was detected in 20 samples (39.2%) and levels varied from 4.8 to 120.1 mg/kg and EN A was detected in 14 samples with contamination levels ranging between 19.6 and 121.3 mg/kg. The maximum concentration of total ENs in a single sample was 683.9 mg/kg (sorghum). The analytical results also showed that all the analyzed samples were free of BEA and FUS.The present work is the first one ever drafted on the presence of the emerging Fusarium mycotoxins in Tunisian cereals and derived products.

Further data on the occurrence of Fusarium emerging mycotoxins enniatins (A, A1, B, B1), fusaproliferin and beauvericin in raw cereals commercialized in Morocco

In this study, 64 samples of raw cereals (wheat, maize and barley) purchased from local markets in Rabat–Salé area from Morocco were analyzed for the occurrence of six emerging mycotoxins: four enniatins ENs (ENA, ENA1, ENB and ENB1), beauvericin (BEA) and fusaproliferin (FUS). Samples were extracted with a mixture of water/acetonitrile (85/15, v/v) by using an Ultra-turrax homogenizer. Mycotoxins were then identified and quantified with a liquid chromatography (LC) with diode array detector (DAD). Positive samples were confirmed with an LC–MS/MS. Analytical results showed that the frequencies of contamination of total samples with ENs, BEA and FUS were 50, 26.5 and 7.8%, respectively. ENA1 was the most common EN found with a percentage of contamination of 39%, levels ranged between 14 and 445 mg/kg. ENB contaminated 14 samples (21.8%) and levels ranged from 5 to 100 mg/kg. ENB1 was present in four samples (6.2%) and levels varied from 8 to 32 mg/kg. ENA was detected in only one sample with 34 mg/kg. BEA levels ranged from 1 to 59 mg/kg and FUS levels varied from 0.6 to 2 mg/kg. The present report is the first one ever drafted on the presence of emerging Fusarium mycotoxins in raw cereals available in Morocco.

Further data on the levels of emerging Fusarium mycotoxins enniatins (A, A1, B, B1), beauvericin and fusaproliferin in breakfast and infant cereals from Morocco

Sixty-eight samples of cereals products, including breakfast cereals ( n = 48) and infant cereals ( n = 20), purchased from supermarkets and pharmacies in Rabat-Salé area from Morocco were analysed for the determination of six emerging mycotoxins: four enniatins ENs (ENA, ENA1, ENB and ENB1), beauvericin (BEA) and fusaproliferin (FUS). Samples were extracted with a mixture of acetonitrile:water (85:15, v/v), using an Ultra-Turrax® homogeniser. Mycotoxins were then identified and quantified by liquid chromatography (LC) with diode array detection (DAD). Positive samples were confirmed by LC–MS/MS. Analytical results showed that the percentages of analysed samples contaminated with total ENs, FUS and BEA were 30.8%, 10.3% and 5.8%, respectively. ENA1 was the mycotoxin most often found: ENA1 levels ranged between 37.5 and 688 mg/kg. FUS and BEA were present in levels lower than 7.4 and 10.6 mg/kg, respectively. This is the first international report on the presence of emerging Fusarium mycotoxins in breakfast cereals and infant cereals.

Identification, mycotoxin risk and pathogenicity of Fusarium species associated with fig endosepsis in Apulia, Italy

In a survey carried out on 87 rotted fig fruits samples collected in the Apulia region of Italy, the authors isolated 126 Fusarium strains identified as F. ramigenum (69 strains), F. solani (49), F. proliferatum (five) and three not identified. Investigation on the fertility of the strains belonging to F. proliferatum and F. ramigenum revealed that only strains of F. proliferatum were fertile. The identity of F. ramigenum strains was confirmed by sequencing a portion of the translation elongation factor-1α gene. When Fusarium species were analysed for their toxigenicity, 37/69 strains of F. ramigenum produced fusaric acid (FA) up to 525 mg kg−1; 30 strains produced beauvericin (BEA) up to 190 mg kg−1; 60 strains produced fumonisin B1 (FB1) and fumonisin B2 (FB2) up to 1575 mg kg−1 of total FBs; and two strains produced fusaproliferin (FUP) up to 345 mg kg−1; all five strains of F. proliferatum produced FA at low levels; two strains produced BEA up to 205 mg kg−1; one strain produced FB1 and FB2, 1100 and 470 mg kg−1, respectively; and one strain produced FUP, 820 mg kg−1; F. solani (30 strains) produced FA, 13 strains up to 215 mg kg−1. Few fungal extracts showed high toxicity toward brine shrimp larvae and in some cases in relation to BEA and FA content. A pathogenic assay on fig fruits showed that all three species were pathogenic, with higher virulence of F. ramigenum. These data report for the first time the production of BEA and FB1/FB2 by F. ramigenum and show that it is a main agent of fig endosepsis in Apulia and can contribute to fumonisin contamination of fresh and dried figs.

Further data on the presence of Fusarium emerging mycotoxins enniatins, fusaproliferin and beauvericin in cereals available on the Spanish markets

In this work, 64 samples of cereals purchased from local markets in the Valencian community (Spain) were investigated for the presence of six emerging mycotoxins: enniatins ENs (ENA, ENA1, ENB and ENB1), beauvericin (BEA) and fusaproliferin (FUS). Samples were extracted with a mixture of water/acetonitrile (85/15, v/v) by using an Ultra-turrax homogenizer. Mycotoxins were then identified and quantified with a liquid chromatography (LC) with diode array detector (DAD). Positive samples were confirmed with an LC–MS/MS. Analytical Results showed that the frequencies of contamination of samples with ENs, BEA and FUS were 73.4%, 32.8% and 7.8%, respectively. ENA1 was the most mycotoxin found and levels ranged from 33.38 to 814.42 mg/kg. ENB levels ranged between 2.23 and 21.37 mg/kg. ENB1 levels varied from 4.34 to 45.94 mg/kg. All samples were free of ENA. BEA levels ranged from 0.51 to 11.78 mg/kg and FUS levels varied between 1.01 and 6.63 mg/kg. It could be concluded from this study that the high contamination levels found especially for ENs could be of a negative impact on the population. This is the first paper on the presence of emerging mycotoxins in cereals available in Spain.

Isolation, purification and antibacterial effects of fusaproliferin produced by Fusariumsubglutinans in submerged culture

To evaluate the fusaproliferin (FUS) production, Fusarium subglutinans ITEM 2404 was grown in a liquid medium of potato being this mycotoxin purified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a C18 semipreparative column using a mobile phase of acetonitrile/H 2O using gradient conditions. The purity of the fusaproliferin was verified by analytical HPLC, ultraviolet absorbance measurements, LC/MS–MS, 1H NMR spectroscopy. The isolated FUS was shown to be free of impurities and can be used as a standard for routine analysis. The pure fusaproliferin was utilized to study the biological activity on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. This study demostred that FUS not showed significant antimicrobial activity against these microorganisms.

Accumulation of fumonisins, beauvericin and fusaproliferin in maize hybrids inoculated under field conditions with Fusarium proliferatum

The ear rot severity of 15 maize hybrids and the accumulation of fumonisin B 1 (FB 1 ), fumonisin B 2 (FB 2 ), beauvericin (BEA) and fusaproliferin (FP) after artificial inoculation in the field with a toxigenic strain of Fusarium proliferatum has been investigated in Poland during the seasons 1996, 1997 and 1999. The year of inoculation proved a significant influence on ear infection degree and mycotoxin accumulation. Inoculated ears contained 11–71% Fusarium -damaged kernels. Mycotoxins were detected in all hybrids at levels of 18–231.9 μg g −1 for FB 1 , 0.4–26.5 μg g −1 for FB 2 , 0.2–19.6 μg g −1 for BEA and 0.3–6.4 μg g −1 for FP. Mycotoxin concentrations were higher in Fusarium -damaged kernels (up to 361.5, 41.1, 44.3 and 10.0 μg g −1 for FB 1 , FB 2 , BEA and FP, respectively) than in healthy-looking kernels (up to 26.0, 2.3, 1.9, 0.3 μg g −1 for FB 1 , FB 2 , BEA and FP, respectively). All hybrids showed high susceptibility to the fungal infection and high toxin content in kernels during the three years of investigation.