Summary: | Aflatoxins (AFs) are highly toxic and cancer-causing compounds, predominantly synthesized by the <i>Aspergillus</i> species. AFs biosynthesis is a lengthy process that requires as minimum as 30 genes grouped inside 75 kilobytes (kB) of gene clusters, which are regulated by specific transcription factors, including <i>aflR</i>, <i>aflS</i>, and some general transcription factors. This paper summarizes the status of research on characterizing structural and regulatory genes associated with AF production and their roles in aflatoxigenic fungi, particularly <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> and <i>A. parasiticus</i>, and enhances the current understanding of AFs that adversely affect humans and animals with a great emphasis on toxicity and preventive methods.
|