Distribution of Sterigmatocystin-producing Aspergilli in Japan

Abstract

Sterigmatocystin is a genotoxic and hepatocarcinogenic mycotoxin that contaminates foods and environments worldwide. Sterigmatocystin is produced as a precursor to aflatoxin B1 or as an end product by certain Aspergilli. Aspergillus section Versicolores is one of the major sections including sterigmatocystin-producing species and is thus a potential health and environmental hazard. Recently, the taxonomy of this section was revised and classified into 14 species on the basis of molecular phylogenetic analysis. However, investigation of the distribution and sterigmatocystin production of each species has been limited; in particular, its distribution in foods has been scarcely reported. In this study, we collected isolates of Aspergillus section Versicolores from various foods and environments in Japan and investigated their distribution and sterigmatocystin production. The isolates were classified into nine species or species groups, which revealed that A. creber, A. puulaauensis/tennesseensis and A. sydowii are the main species/species groups in Japan. In addition, A. versicolor sensu stricto was detected with some frequency, specifically in foods. Furthermore, the two species A. creber and A. versicolor sensu stricto frequently produced sterigmatocystin. It is therefore important for food safety to intensively monitor these two species and distinguish them from other species, especially A. sydowii, which is not considered to produce sterigmatocystin.

First Characterization and Description of Aspergillus Series Versicolores in French Bioaerosols

“…Among these new species, Aspergillus creber is considered as the most frequent species and was misidentified as Aspergillus versicolor [ 28 ]. The few studies on the relative abundance of species of the Versicolores series in different matrices seem to confirm this hypothesis [ 29 , 30 ]. We also know that the different species in the Versicolores series do not all produce the same metabolites and are not as frequent in human pathology as each other [ 31 ].…”

Five New Records of the Family Aspergillaceae in Korea, Aspergillus europaeus, A. pragensis, A. tennesseensis, Penicillium fluviserpens, and P. scabrosum

“…found in soil, foods items [45], toxic dairy feed [50], and indoor environments [4,52,53], and can cause diseases in humans and animals [54,55]. Some species of this section produce kipukasins, nucleoside derivates, and the mycotoxin, sterigmatocystin [56][57][58]. A. tennesseensis has been reported to produce various compounds such as versicoamides F-H, prenylated indole alkaloids, diorcinol L, and (R)-diorcinol B [59,60].…”

Aspergillus derived mycotoxins in food and the environment: Prevalence, detection, and toxicity

“…A. flavus and A. parasiticus infestation are responsible for trace amounts of STC, which is converted into AFTs [ 87 ]. The structure of the STC is closely related to AFB1, but the lethal potency of the STC is about one-tenth (1/10 th ) of AFB1 [ 197 ]. The STC biosynthesis pathway includes a 60-kb genome region containing a cluster of 25 genes required for STC biosynthesis ( Fig.…”