Research Publications (Food Safety)

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by species of Penicillium and Aspergillus, and is found in many commodities including cereal grains, nuts, and coffee. OTA is a renal carcinogen and nephrotoxin at high concentrations, targeting the proximal tubules.

Deoxynivalenol(DON) is a ubiquitous trichothecene mycotoxin in food. DON and its modified forms can cross the placental barrier and influence the foetus’ health. Limited information is available on exposure of dietary DON intake of pregnant women in China recently. We estimated the exposure of dietary DON intake of pregnant women in a large sample size(n = 2534) from China.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) induces intestinal epithelial barrier disruption, posing a threat to the body. Curcumin (Cur) possesses pharmacological bioactivities such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that help maintain intestinal health. Here, the protective effects of Cur against DON-induced intestinal epithelial barrier disruption were explored.

The toxicity of mycotoxins containing bisfuranoid structures such as aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) depends largely on biotransformation processes. While the genotoxicity and mutagenicity of several bisfuranoid mycotoxins including AFB1 and sterigmatocystin have been linked to in vivo bioactivation of these molecules into reactive epoxide forms, the metabolites of genotoxic and mutagenic AFB1 precursor versicolorin A (VerA) have not yet been characterized.

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) contamination in feed is of great concern nowadays. The intestine would be the first line when FB1-contaminated food or feed was ingested. However, the intestinal toxicity and mechanism of FB1 have rarely been studied. In this study, we found that FB1 inhibited cell viability, and promoted the severe release of lactate dehydrogenase. Meantime, FB1 destroyed the intestinal physical barrier by reducing the expressions of tight junctions.

Patulin (PAT) is a common food-borne mycotoxin with diverse toxic effects including nephrotoxicity.

Amanita phalloides is one of the most toxic mushrooms worldwide, being responsible for the majority of human fatal cases of mushroom intoxications. α-Amanitin, the most deleterious toxin of A. phalloides, inhibits RNA polymerase II (RNAP II), causing hepatic and renal failure. Herein, we used cyclosporine A that showed potential to displace RNAP II α-amanitin in silico.

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) are fungal metabolites of worldwide concern because of their effect on human and animal health, as both have been classified by IARC as possible carcinogens (Group 2B). Beetroot is a source of dietary fiber, folic acid, and vitamin C, and some studies have demonstrated their antioxidant activity.

Deoxynivalenol (DON), which is one of the prevalent mycotoxins in food and feeds, exerts adverse effects on animal and human health. These effects are mainly associated with its ribotoxic properties, although few studies suggest the involvement of other mechanisms of action. To assess the ability of DON to disrupt estrogen signaling, we conducted an in vitro study using MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.

Arsenic is a persistent environmental contaminant that humans are exposed to primarily through contaminated water supplies. Arsenic has been shown to have numerous immunomodulatory effects, including deleterious effects on T cell function. However, the effect of arsenic on human T cell function in the context of influenza infection remains poorly characterized.

To investigate the maternal genetic effects of cadmium (Cd) -induced apoptotic in ovarian granulosa cells (OGCs). Herein, pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were treated with CdCl2 from day 1 to day 20, F1 and F2 female rats were mated with untreated males to produce F2 and F3 generations. Under this model, significant apoptotic changes were observed in F1 OGCs induced by Cd (Liu et al., 2021).

The mycotoxin zearalenone (ZEA) in food and feed seriously harms human and animal health. How to reduce its toxicity is an important direction of current research on food safety. This study aim to assess the effects of procyanidins (PC) on cell apoptosis caused by ZEA and to clarify the role of Nrf2 in the process. Swine testicle (ST) cells were treated with ZEA (57.5 μmol/L) and/or PC (10 mg/L) for 24 h. Cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay.

The toxic mechanisms of trichothecenes, including T-2 toxin and deoxynivalenol (DON), are closely related with their effects on protein synthesi

3-Acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-Ac-DON), an acetylated derivative of deoxynivalenol (DON), has contaminated grains and grain-based products in general and been harmful to human and animal health. However, the damage effects and regulatory mechanisms to the host immune system have not been well explored.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is an inevitable contaminant in cereals for infants. Indeed, children's growth retardation caused by widespread DON pollution has become a global problem that cannot be ignored. Accumulating evidence has shown that DON stunts growth in children through pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most common mycotoxins in cereals and their by-products. Its adverse effects on animal and human health have been extensively studied in the intestine, but little attention has been paid to another target organ for mycotoxins, the liver that is potentially exposed after intestinal absorption and enterohepatic circulation.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin frequently occurring in human and animal food worldwide, which raises increasing public health concerns. Growing evidence suggests that mitochondria is a pivotal molecular target for DON.

The Fusarium toxins constitute one of the largest groups of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium species, which are major pathogens of cereal plants.

Zearalenone (ZEN) and fumonisins (FUM) jeopardize fertility and health in cattle; yet, their toxigenic effects on rumen health and microbiota, both being crucial for animal health, are not clarified. This study determined the effects of a short-term exposure to ZEN or FUM on the rumen ecosystem, and further evaluated acute implications on health parameters.

Cadmium is toxic to the kidney through mechanisms involving oxidative stress and inflammation. We studied reciprocal crosstalk among the oxidative stress, inflammation, and the nuclear Nrf2 pathway in cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity on HK-2 human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells.

Aflatoxins are produced as secondary metabolites by the toxigenic Aspergillus fungi. Among the aflatoxins, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a common contaminant of global concern in human and animal food products. Prolonged exposure to AFB1 may provoke hepatocyte pyroptosis and oxidative stress, which leads to liver damage. Dietary polyphenols could protect the liver from a wide range of toxins.

Bee pollen contains a diversity of bioactive components. Nevertheless, since pollen is retrieved from a variety of plants, including the cultivated ones which are subjected to agrochemical treatments, its contamination is unavoidable. In this context, 45 samples of pollen were analysed with optimized analytical methods for trace and macro elements (ICP-MS), pesticides and metabolites residues (LC & GC-MS/MS) content.