Author
E. Schuster
Bio: E. Schuster is an academic researcher from RÖHM GmbH. The author has contributed to research in topics: Aspergillus niger & Ear infection. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 640 citations.
Topics: Aspergillus niger, Ear infection
Papers
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TL;DR: It is concluded that A. niger is a safe production organism and new and unknown isolates should be checked for ochratoxin A production before they are developed as production organisms.
Abstract: Aspergillus niger is one of the most important microorganisms used in biotechnology. It has been in use already for many decades to produce extracellular (food) enzymes and citric acid. In fact, citric acid and many A. niger enzymes are considered GRAS by the United States Food and Drug Administration. In addition, A. niger is used for biotransformations and waste treatment. In the last two decades, A. niger has been developed as an important transformation host to over-express food enzymes. Being pre-dated by older names, the name A. niger has been conserved for economical and information retrieval reasons and there is a taxonomical consensus based on molecular data that the only other common species closely related to A. niger in the Aspergillus series Nigri is A. tubingensis. A. niger, like other filamentous fungi, should be treated carefully to avoid the formation of spore dust. However, compared with other filamentous fungi, it does not stand out as a particular problem concerning allergy or mycopathology. A few medical cases, e.g. lung infections, have been reported, but always in severely immunocompromised patients. In tropical areas, ear infections (otomycosis) do occur due to A. niger invasion of the outer ear canal but this may be caused by mechanical damage of the skin barrier. A. niger strains produce a series of secondary metabolites, but it is only ochratoxin A that can be regarded as a mycotoxin in the strict sense of the word. Only 3-10% of the strains examined for ochratoxin A production have tested positive under favourable conditions. New and unknown isolates should be checked for ochratoxin A production before they are developed as production organisms. It is concluded, with these restrictions, that A. niger is a safe production organism.
713 citations
Cited by
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DSM1, Delft University of Technology2, University of Nottingham3, Technical University of Denmark4, Wageningen University and Research Centre5, University of Sheffield6, Utrecht University7, Biomax Informatics AG8, CLC bio9, University of Liverpool10, Ghent University11, University of Manchester12, University of Provence13, University of Groningen14, Pasteur Institute15, University of Amsterdam16, University of Angers17, Leiden University18, Radboud University Nijmegen19, University of Szeged20
TL;DR: The filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger is widely exploited by the fermentation industry for the production of enzymes and organic acids, particularly citric acid, and the sequenced genome revealed a large number of major facilitator superfamily transporters and fungal zinc binuclear cluster transcription factors.
Abstract: The filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger is widely exploited by the fermentation industry for the production of enzymes and organic acids, particularly citric acid. We sequenced the 33.9-megabase genome of A. niger CBS 513.88, the ancestor of currently used enzyme production strains. A high level of synteny was observed with other aspergilli sequenced. Strong function predictions were made for 6,506 of the 14,165 open reading frames identified. A detailed description of the components of the protein secretion pathway was made and striking differences in the hydrolytic enzyme spectra of aspergilli were observed. A reconstructed metabolic network comprising 1,069 unique reactions illustrates the versatile metabolism of A. niger. Noteworthy is the large number of major facilitator superfamily transporters and fungal zinc binuclear cluster transcription factors, and the presence of putative gene clusters for fumonisin and ochratoxin A synthesis.
1,161 citations
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TL;DR: This review addresses the areas such as the underlying mechanisms, eight different targets such as ergosterol synthesis, chitin synthesis, ergosterols disruptors, glucan synthesis, squalene epoxidase, nucleic acid synthesis, protein synthesis, microtubules synthesis, and the current research work going on worldwide on different heterocycles.
522 citations
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TL;DR: This review focuses on resources, production, detection and control measures of aflatoxins to ensure food and feed safety and provides knowledge on aflatoxin toxicity to help in ensure food safety.
Abstract: The aflatoxin producing fungi, Aspergillus spp., are widely spread in nature and have severely contaminated food supplies of humans and animals, resulting in health hazards and even death. Therefore, there is great demand for aflatoxins research to develop suitable methods for their quantification, precise detection and control to ensure the safety of consumers’ health. Here, the chemistry and biosynthesis of the mycotoxins is discussed their occurrence and the health hazards to humans and livestock. This review focuses on resources, production, detection and control measures of aflatoxins to ensure food and feed safety. The results presented herein will facilitate health-conscious consumers and for experts, while providing knowledge on new and innovative approaches to ensure food safety and meet the future demands of the increasing population by decreasing the incidence of outbreaks by aflatoxins.
485 citations
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TL;DR: The paper includes data for detection and dereplication of > 400 fungal metabolites to facilitate detection and identification when standards are not available, and shows the types of components that can be analysed by positive electrospray (ESI+) mass spectrometry (MS) along with common fragments and adducts of these.
438 citations
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TL;DR: The intention of this review is to collate and discuss the currently available data on OTA-mediated toxicity with particular focus on their relevance for the in vivo situation, and to suggest possible future strategies for unlocking the secrets of ochratoxin A.
Abstract: The mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA) has been linked to the genesis of several disease states in both animals and humans It has been described as nephrotoxic, carcinogenic, teratogenic, immunotoxic, and hepatotoxic in laboratory and domestic animals, as well as being thought to be the probable causal agent in the development of nephropathies (Balkan Endemic Nephropathy, BEN and Chronic Interstitial Nephropathy, CIN) and urothelial tumors in humans As a result, several international agencies are currently attempting to define safe legal limits for OTA concentration in foodstuffs (eg, grain, meat, wine, and coffee), in processed foods, and in animal fodder In order to achieve this goal, an accurate risk assessment of OTA toxicity including mechanistic and epidemiological studies must be carried out Ochratoxin has been suggested by various researchers to mediate its toxic effects via induction of apoptosis, disruption of mitochondrial respiration and/or the cytoskeleton, or, indeed, via the generation of DNA adducts Thus, it is still unclear if the predominant mechanism is of a genotoxic or an epigenetic nature One aspect that is clear, however, is that the toxicity of OTA is subject to and characterized by large species- and sex-specific differences, as well as an apparently strict structure-activity relationship These considerations could be crucial in the investigation of OTA-mediated toxicity Furthermore, the use of appropriate in vivo and in vitro model systems appears to be vital in the generation of relevant experimental data The intention of this review is to collate and discuss the currently available data on OTA-mediated toxicity with particular focus on their relevance for the in vivo situation, and also to suggest possible future strategies for unlocking the secrets of ochratoxin A
378 citations