A PCR method to identify ochratoxin A-producing Aspergillus westerdijkiae strains on dried and aged foods.
Int J Food Microbiol
; 344: 109113, 2021 Apr 16.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33652337
ABSTRACT
Ochratoxins are a group of mycotoxins that frequently occur as contaminants in agricultural commodities and foods, including dry-cured meats and cheeses. The fungus Aspergillus westerdijkiae is frequently isolated from aged foods and can produce ochratoxin A (OTA). However, individual strains of the fungus can have one of two OTA production phenotypes (chemotypes) OTA production and OTA nonproduction. Monitoring and early detection of OTA-producing fungi in food are the most effective strategies to manage OTA contamination. Therefore, we examined genome sequence data from five A. westerdijkiae strains isolated from the surface of cheese from southern Italy to identify genetic markers indicative of the twoOTA chemotypes. This analysis revealed a naturally occurring deletion of the OTA regulatory gene, otaR, in an OTA-nonproducing isolate.We used this information to design a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method that could identify A. westerdijkiae and distinguish between the two OTA chemotypes. In this method, the PCR primers were complementary to conserved sequences flanking otaR and yielded different-sized amplicons from strains with the different chemotypes. The primers did not yield ota-region-specific amplicons from other OTA-producing species. Because the method is specific to A. westerdijkiae and can distinguish between the two OTA chemotypes, it has potential to significantly improve OTA monitoring programs.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Aspergillus
/
Queijo
/
Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase
/
Alimentos em Conserva
/
Carne
/
Ocratoxinas
Tipo de estudo:
Screening_studies
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Int J Food Microbiol
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article