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Biomedical Sensing Applications of Microspherical Resonators
Published in Giancarlo C. Righini, Glass Micro- and Nanospheres, 2019
Silvia Soria, Simone Berneschi, Andrea Barucci, Alessandro Cosci, Daniele Farnesi, Gualtiero Nunzi Conti, Stefano Pelli, Giancarlo C. Righini
Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a milk contaminant and potent carcinogen, which is regulated by the European Commission (EC No. 1881/2006) limiting the maximum allowable concentration of aflatoxin in milk products to 50 ng/kg. Thus, aflatoxin contamination represents a hazard for human health and an economic loss for the dairy industry. At present, the screening procedure involves enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests, and the suspicious samples need further investigations with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) tests [51], which are costly and time-consuming processes. The WGMR approach was based on the use of a ring resonator, functionalized by using a wet silanization process and a DNA aptamer that recognizes AFM1 with high affinity and specificity. The preliminary tests demonstrated the selective binding at different aflatoxin concentrations, as well as a very good regeneration efficacy when using a glycine solution (100 mM glycine-HCl, pH 2) [36].
Microbial Food-borne Diseases Due to Climate Change
Published in Javid A. Parray, Suhaib A. Bandh, Nowsheen Shameem, Climate Change and Microbes, 2022
John Mohd War, Anees Un Nisa, Abdul Hamid Wani, Mohd Yaqub Bhat
Mycotoxins are the metabolites secreted by fungi that thrive on a number of crops, such as corns, cereals, oilseeds, spices, tree nuts, etc. Animals fed with infected feed also contain toxin in milk as aflatoxin M1. These are less common cause of food-borne illness that are likely to increase if the changing climatic trends remain unchecked (Smith and Fazil, 2019). It has been estimated that about 25% of global crop production is exposed and contaminated with mycotoxins (Food safety, 2019). Human population may get exposed to mycotoxin intoxication either directly by consumption of toxin-infected crops or indirectly by consuming foods derived from livestock animals that have used up the toxin-contaminated feed (Tirado et al., 2010). Mycotoxins are highly toxic chemical substances responsible for a number of diseases in humans including various forms of cancer and death. The five classes of fungal toxins that are agriculturally important and major concern for public health are ochratoxin A (OTA), aflatoxins (AFTs), trichothecenes (TCT), fumonisins (FUMs), and zearalenone (ZEA) secreted by Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Fusarium species (Lee and Rye, 2017; Milicevic et al., 2014). AFTs are among the most poisonous toxins secreted by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, which are the known contaminants of agricultural commodities (Reddy et al., 2009). These are most potent hepatocarcinogens and hence may prove fatal to both animal and human life (IARC, 1993, 2012). FUMs, ZEA and TCT are the mycotoxins produced by many Fusarium species that are associated with a number of life-threatening diseases including cancer. The exposure of FUMs (FB1) is responsible for hepatic and food pipe cancers (IARC, 2002) and neural tube defects in humans (Marasas et al., 2002). TCT are known for the suppression of immunity, exhibit renal and neuro toxicity. ZEA, a lactone with estrogen-like properties produces the most predominant form of the mycotoxicosis in domestic animals (Kos et al., 2017). Ochratoxin, secreted by Aspergillus and Penicillium species (Milicevic et al., 2009), is a potent nephrotoxin responsible for porcine nephropathy (Milicevic et al., 2008). Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) in 1998 concluded that it possesses nephrotoxic, carcinogenic, immunotoxic, teratogenic, and probably neurotoxic properties. In Africa, the prevalence of mycotoxin intoxication is common, with the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) detailing numerous food safety events yearly, each involving morbidities or mortalities among mostly vulnerable populations (Savelli et al., 2019).
Prevalence and concentration of Aflatoxin M1 in human breast milk in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis, and cancer risk assessment
Published in International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 2023
Robel Hussen Kabthymer, Girum Gebremeskel Kanno, Mekonen Birhane Aregu, Susana Paixão, Tefera Belachew
Aflatoxins are associated with several adverse health outcomes, such as malnutrition, and reduced immune activities (Turner et al. 2003; Williams et al. 2004; Tchana et al. 2010; Khaneghah et al. 2018). Aflatoxins are one of the most common types of mycotoxins that can enter the body via the consumption of contaminated food products by mothers; they can further appear in their milk (Sulzberger et al. 2017; Altun et al. 2017). Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is also one of the most significant contaminants of human milk, primarily responsible for the most severe form of adverse health outcome mainly carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic effects on infant health (Sulzberger et al. 2017). Infants are considered a particularly sensitive group to AFM1 due to their less well-developed detoxification systems and higher food intake based on body weight (Diaz and Sánchez 2015; Altun et al. 2017). Because of this, the consumption of contaminated breast milk with AFM1 by infants can cause some adverse health effects such as hepatocellular carcinoma, impaired child growth, encephalopathy, and fatty degeneration of the viscera (Olson et al. 1971; Gong et al. 2016).
Overview of biological mechanisms of human carcinogens
Published in Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B, 2019
Nicholas Birkett, Mustafa Al-Zoughool, Michael Bird, Robert A. Baan, Jan Zielinski, Daniel Krewski
The largest proportion of aflatoxins found in foodstuffs globally is produced by the common fungus Aspergillus flavus which produces only B aflatoxins and the closely related species A. parasiticus which generates both B and G aflatoxins. Aflatoxin M1 is a metabolite of aflatoxin B1 that occurs in milk from animals consuming feed contaminated with B aflatoxins. The fungi grow as a contaminant on foodstuffs, primarily maize, peanuts and cottonseed. Aflatoxins produce hepatocellular carcinoma. Concurrent infection with HBV increases the cancer risk.