The Aspergilli and Their Mycotoxins: Metabolic Interactions With Plants and the Soil Biota
Species of the highly diverse fungal genus Aspergillus are well-known agricultural pests, and, most importantly, producers of various mycotoxins threatening food safety worldwide. Mycotoxins are studied predominantly from the perspectives of human and livestock health. Meanwhile, their roles are far...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2019.02921/full |
| _version_ | 1819130310367903744 |
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| author | Walter P. Pfliegler István Pócsi Zoltán Győri Tünde Pusztahelyi |
| author_facet | Walter P. Pfliegler István Pócsi Zoltán Győri Tünde Pusztahelyi |
| author_sort | Walter P. Pfliegler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Species of the highly diverse fungal genus Aspergillus are well-known agricultural pests, and, most importantly, producers of various mycotoxins threatening food safety worldwide. Mycotoxins are studied predominantly from the perspectives of human and livestock health. Meanwhile, their roles are far less known in nature. However, to understand the factors behind mycotoxin production, the roles of the toxins of Aspergilli must be understood from a complex ecological perspective, taking mold-plant, mold-microbe, and mold-animal interactions into account. The Aspergilli may switch between saprophytic and pathogenic lifestyles, and the production of secondary metabolites, such as mycotoxins, may vary according to these fungal ways of life. Recent studies highlighted the complex ecological network of soil microbiotas determining the niches that Aspergilli can fill in. Interactions with the soil microbiota and soil macro-organisms determine the role of secondary metabolite production to a great extent. While, upon infection of plants, metabolic communication including fungal secondary metabolites like aflatoxins, gliotoxin, patulin, cyclopiazonic acid, and ochratoxin, influences the fate of both the invader and the host. In this review, the role of mycotoxin producing Aspergillus species and their interactions in the ecosystem are discussed. We intend to highlight the complexity of the roles of the main toxic secondary metabolites as well as their fate in natural environments and agriculture, a field that still has important knowledge gaps. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:57:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d4deaf47a3ff48ef89e43d17fdd980fc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:57:35Z |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-d4deaf47a3ff48ef89e43d17fdd980fc2022-12-21T18:31:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2020-02-011010.3389/fmicb.2019.02921488850The Aspergilli and Their Mycotoxins: Metabolic Interactions With Plants and the Soil BiotaWalter P. Pfliegler0István Pócsi1Zoltán Győri2Tünde Pusztahelyi3Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, HungaryDepartment of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, HungaryInstitute of Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, HungaryCentral Laboratory of Agricultural and Food Products, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, HungarySpecies of the highly diverse fungal genus Aspergillus are well-known agricultural pests, and, most importantly, producers of various mycotoxins threatening food safety worldwide. Mycotoxins are studied predominantly from the perspectives of human and livestock health. Meanwhile, their roles are far less known in nature. However, to understand the factors behind mycotoxin production, the roles of the toxins of Aspergilli must be understood from a complex ecological perspective, taking mold-plant, mold-microbe, and mold-animal interactions into account. The Aspergilli may switch between saprophytic and pathogenic lifestyles, and the production of secondary metabolites, such as mycotoxins, may vary according to these fungal ways of life. Recent studies highlighted the complex ecological network of soil microbiotas determining the niches that Aspergilli can fill in. Interactions with the soil microbiota and soil macro-organisms determine the role of secondary metabolite production to a great extent. While, upon infection of plants, metabolic communication including fungal secondary metabolites like aflatoxins, gliotoxin, patulin, cyclopiazonic acid, and ochratoxin, influences the fate of both the invader and the host. In this review, the role of mycotoxin producing Aspergillus species and their interactions in the ecosystem are discussed. We intend to highlight the complexity of the roles of the main toxic secondary metabolites as well as their fate in natural environments and agriculture, a field that still has important knowledge gaps.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2019.02921/fullAspergillusaflatoxinmycotoxinplantinsectmicrobe |
| spellingShingle | Walter P. Pfliegler István Pócsi Zoltán Győri Tünde Pusztahelyi The Aspergilli and Their Mycotoxins: Metabolic Interactions With Plants and the Soil Biota Frontiers in Microbiology Aspergillus aflatoxin mycotoxin plant insect microbe |
| title | The Aspergilli and Their Mycotoxins: Metabolic Interactions With Plants and the Soil Biota |
| title_full | The Aspergilli and Their Mycotoxins: Metabolic Interactions With Plants and the Soil Biota |
| title_fullStr | The Aspergilli and Their Mycotoxins: Metabolic Interactions With Plants and the Soil Biota |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Aspergilli and Their Mycotoxins: Metabolic Interactions With Plants and the Soil Biota |
| title_short | The Aspergilli and Their Mycotoxins: Metabolic Interactions With Plants and the Soil Biota |
| title_sort | aspergilli and their mycotoxins metabolic interactions with plants and the soil biota |
| topic | Aspergillus aflatoxin mycotoxin plant insect microbe |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2019.02921/full |
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