This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.

Unclaimed
Gerd Schatzmayr
BIOMIN Research Center, BIOMIN Holding GmbH, Technopark 1, A - 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria

Basic Info


Fingerprints

Mycotoxins
mycotoxin
A
Horses
Pathogenesis
Glucose

Honors and Awards

The user has no records in this section


Career Timeline

The user has no records in this section.


Short Biography

The user biography is not available.
Following
Followers
Co Authors
The list of users this user is following is empty.
Following: 0 users

Feed

Opinion
Published: 11 November 2020 in Toxins
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Affordable and practical tools for farmers and food processors along the chain are required to efficiently reduce the risk of mycotoxin contamination of crops, feeds and foods. Developing new tools and enhancing existing ones was the mission of MyToolBox—a four-year EU-project that included important Chinese partners and joint research efforts. To identify future directions in mycotoxin research and management in China and their role in China–EU relations, a unique stakeholder workshop including group discussions was organized in Beijing. Six related topics: biocontrol, forecasting, sampling and analysis, silo management, detoxification, and the development of safe use options for contaminated materials were covered. The discussions clearly identified a critical need for smart, integrated strategies to address mycotoxin issues to attain safer food and feed, and to minimize losses and export rejections. Managing data on when, where and the size of mycotoxin contamination events and identifying the institution(s) to manage them are complex issues in China. Studies of microbes and novel, genetically-altered enzymes to limit pre-harvest contamination and to manage post-harvest product detoxification and alternate uses of contaminated materials are in the early stages in China. Further efforts are needed to increase the visibility of mycotoxin problems beyond the scientific and research communities.

ACS Style

John Leslie; Birgit Poschmaier; Hans Van Egmond; Alexandra Malachová; Monique De Nijs; Ferenc Bagi; Jing Zhou; Zhen Jin; Songxue Wang; Michele Suman; Gerd Schatzmayr; Rudolf Krska. The MyToolbox EU–China Partnership—Progress and Future Directions in Mycotoxin Research and Management. Toxins 2020, 12, 712 .

AMA Style

John Leslie, Birgit Poschmaier, Hans Van Egmond, Alexandra Malachová, Monique De Nijs, Ferenc Bagi, Jing Zhou, Zhen Jin, Songxue Wang, Michele Suman, Gerd Schatzmayr, Rudolf Krska. The MyToolbox EU–China Partnership—Progress and Future Directions in Mycotoxin Research and Management. Toxins. 2020; 12 (11):712.

Chicago/Turabian Style

John Leslie; Birgit Poschmaier; Hans Van Egmond; Alexandra Malachová; Monique De Nijs; Ferenc Bagi; Jing Zhou; Zhen Jin; Songxue Wang; Michele Suman; Gerd Schatzmayr; Rudolf Krska. 2020. "The MyToolbox EU–China Partnership—Progress and Future Directions in Mycotoxin Research and Management." Toxins 12, no. 11: 712.

Journal article
Published: 05 November 2020 in Food Control
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Fumonisin esterase FumD (EC 3.1.1.87), FUMzyme® (BIOMIN, Austria), effectively detoxifies fumonisin B mycotoxins (FB) by hydrolysis and removal of the tricarballylic acid groups. The current study evaluated FumD detoxification of total FB (FBT) in commercial maize utilising an experimental dry milling plant by introducing the enzyme during the kernel conditioning stage. Total FB and the hydrolysed product of FB1, HFB1, in maize and milling products were determined by LC-MS/MS. During maize conditioning of 4 h 10 min substantial FB1 hydrolysis was achieved between 1 and 4 U FumD/100 g maize. Complete conversion into HFB1 was delayed and only achieved at the highest enzyme concentration (32 U/100 g maize) reaching a 1:1 M conversion ratio. Dry milling of maize containing 3.29 ± 0.20 μmole FBT/kg (2354 ± 140 μg/kg) in the absence of FumD, resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in the FBT concentration in total hominy feed (8.34 ± 0.22 μmol/kg) (5979 ± 158 μg/kg) compared to the levels that prevail in Super (0.52 ± 0.07 μmol/kg) (347 ± 48 μg/kg) and Special (1.70 ± 0.01 μmol/kg) (1213 ± 8 μg/kg) maize meal, and Semolina (1.07 ± 0.14 μmol/kg) (765 ± 100 μg/kg) milling products. Introduction of FumD (40 U/kg) mainly impacted the total hominy feed product (germ + hominy milling fractions), constituting up to 30% of the reconstituted whole maize. A 99% reduction in FBT was obtained in total hominy feed, 48% in Semolina, 7% in Special maize meal, whereas no reduction was recorded in Super maize meal. FB1 reduction rates depend on the contamination level, kernel moisture and the diffusion rate from inner kernel layers to the kernel surface/aqueous interface. Risk modelling in children and adults indicated that FumD-treated whole maize and the resultant Semolina milling product intended for human consumption reduces the risk of exposure to FBT. However, no reduction in the exposure risk was observed when considering the Super and Special maize meal milling products. FB reduction in total hominy feed could open up new applications, such as its dietary incorporation as a source of fibre, minerals and bioactive plant constituents in maize-based food. In addition, the animal feed industry and subsistence maize farming communities using rudimentary milling processes, could also benefit.

ACS Style

Johanna F. Alberts; Ibtisaam Davids; Wulf-Dieter Moll; Gerd Schatzmayr; Hester-Mari Burger; Gordon S. Shephard; Wentzel C.A. Gelderblom. Enzymatic detoxification of the fumonisin mycotoxins during dry milling of maize. Food Control 2020, 123, 107726 .

AMA Style

Johanna F. Alberts, Ibtisaam Davids, Wulf-Dieter Moll, Gerd Schatzmayr, Hester-Mari Burger, Gordon S. Shephard, Wentzel C.A. Gelderblom. Enzymatic detoxification of the fumonisin mycotoxins during dry milling of maize. Food Control. 2020; 123 ():107726.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Johanna F. Alberts; Ibtisaam Davids; Wulf-Dieter Moll; Gerd Schatzmayr; Hester-Mari Burger; Gordon S. Shephard; Wentzel C.A. Gelderblom. 2020. "Enzymatic detoxification of the fumonisin mycotoxins during dry milling of maize." Food Control 123, no. : 107726.

Journal article
Published: 29 September 2020 in Toxins
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), also termed endotoxins, are the major component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. In general, endotoxins in the intestine are considered harmless in healthy animals. However, different stressors, such as heat stress, can lead to a compromised gut barrier, resulting in endotoxin translocation. Chickens are considered to be less sensitive to the effects of LPS compared with other species, for example, humans, pigs, or calves, probably because of the lack of the functional-specific TRAM-TRIF signalling pathway (MyD88-independent). Therefore, six LPS preparations (three different strains with two different preparation methods each) were compared in murine macrophages and characterized according to their MyD88-dependent pathway activation. All tested LPS preparations induced a strong inflammatory response after 4 and 24 h on a murine macrophage cell line. However, there was a similar strong response in the gene expression profile as well as production of nitrite oxide and TNF-alpha from LPS of different strains and preparation methods. On the basis of the results of the in vitro study, one LPS preparation was chosen for the subsequent in vivo study with broilers to assess the effect of an oral LPS bolus (E. coli O55:B5 phenol extracted; 2 mg/kg b.w.) during heat stress conditions (10 h, 36 °C). The most pronounced effects were seen in broilers receiving the oral LPS bolus during heat stress conditions. The endotoxin activity in the intestine as well as the serum concentration of the 3-OH C14 (part of LPS) were increased. In addition, an increased expression of genes related to inflammation and stress response (e.g., IL-6, IL-1beta, HSP70) was observed, whereas the expression of genes associated with gut health (e.g., MUC2, FABP2) was decreased. To conclude, an increase of intestinal LPS combined with heat stress can pose a risk to animal health.

ACS Style

Nicole Reisinger; Caroline Emsenhuber; Barbara Doupovec; Elisabeth Mayer; Gerd Schatzmayr; Veronika Nagl; Bertrand Grenier. Endotoxin Translocation and Gut Inflammation Are Increased in Broiler Chickens Receiving an Oral Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) Bolus during Heat Stress. Toxins 2020, 12, 622 .

AMA Style

Nicole Reisinger, Caroline Emsenhuber, Barbara Doupovec, Elisabeth Mayer, Gerd Schatzmayr, Veronika Nagl, Bertrand Grenier. Endotoxin Translocation and Gut Inflammation Are Increased in Broiler Chickens Receiving an Oral Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) Bolus during Heat Stress. Toxins. 2020; 12 (10):622.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nicole Reisinger; Caroline Emsenhuber; Barbara Doupovec; Elisabeth Mayer; Gerd Schatzmayr; Veronika Nagl; Bertrand Grenier. 2020. "Endotoxin Translocation and Gut Inflammation Are Increased in Broiler Chickens Receiving an Oral Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) Bolus during Heat Stress." Toxins 12, no. 10: 622.

Journal article
Published: 16 April 2020 in Toxins
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Ochratoxin A (OTA), a mycotoxin that is of utmost concern in food and feed safety, is produced by fungal species that mainly belong to the Aspergillus and Penicillium genera. The development of mitigation strategies to reduce OTA content along the supply chains is key to ensuring safer production of food and feed. Enzyme-based strategies are among the most promising methods due to their specificity, efficacy, and multi-situ applicability. In particular, some enzymes are already known for hydrolyzing OTA into ochratoxin alpha (OTα) and phenylalanine (Phe), eventually resulting in detoxification action. Therefore, the discovery of novel OTA hydrolyzing enzymes, along with the advancement of an innovative approach for their identification, could provide a broader basis to develop more effective mitigating strategies in the future. In the present study, a hybrid in silico/in vitro workflow coupling virtual screening with enzymatic assays was applied in order to identify novel OTA hydrolyzing enzymes. Among the various hits, porcine carboxypeptidase B was identified for the first time as an effective OTA hydrolyzing enzyme. The successful experimental endorsement of findings of the workflow confirms that the presented strategy is suitable for identifying novel OTA hydrolyzing enzymes, and it might be relevant for the discovery of other mycotoxin- mitigating enzymes.

ACS Style

Luca Dellafiora; Christoph Gonaus; Barbara Streit; Gianni Galaverna; Wulf-Dieter Moll; Gudrun Vogtentanz; Gerd Schatzmayr; Chiara Dall’Asta; Shreenath Prasad. An In Silico Target Fishing Approach to Identify Novel Ochratoxin A Hydrolyzing Enzyme. Toxins 2020, 12, 258 .

AMA Style

Luca Dellafiora, Christoph Gonaus, Barbara Streit, Gianni Galaverna, Wulf-Dieter Moll, Gudrun Vogtentanz, Gerd Schatzmayr, Chiara Dall’Asta, Shreenath Prasad. An In Silico Target Fishing Approach to Identify Novel Ochratoxin A Hydrolyzing Enzyme. Toxins. 2020; 12 (4):258.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Luca Dellafiora; Christoph Gonaus; Barbara Streit; Gianni Galaverna; Wulf-Dieter Moll; Gudrun Vogtentanz; Gerd Schatzmayr; Chiara Dall’Asta; Shreenath Prasad. 2020. "An In Silico Target Fishing Approach to Identify Novel Ochratoxin A Hydrolyzing Enzyme." Toxins 12, no. 4: 258.

Journal article
Published: 11 December 2019 in Toxins
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Food and feed can be naturally contaminated by several mycotoxins, and concern about the hazard of exposure to mycotoxin mixtures is increasing. In this study, more than 800 metabolites were analyzed in 524 finished pig feed samples collected worldwide. Eighty-eight percent of the samples were co-contaminated with deoxynivalenol (DON) and other regulated/emerging mycotoxins. The Top 60 emerging/regulated mycotoxins co-occurring with DON in pig feed shows that 48%, 13%, 8% and 12% are produced by Fusarium, Aspergillus, Penicillium and Alternaria species, respectively. Then, the individual and combined toxicity of DON and the 10 most prevalent emerging mycotoxins (brevianamide F, cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Tyr), tryptophol, enniatins A1, B, B1, emodin, aurofusarin, beauvericin and apicidin) was measured at three ratios corresponding to pig feed contamination. Toxicity was assessed by measuring the viability of intestinal porcine epithelial cells, IPEC-1, at 48-h. BRV-F, Cyclo and TRPT did not alter cell viability. The other metabolites were ranked in the following order of toxicity: apicidin > enniatin A1 > DON > beauvericin > enniatin B > enniatin B1 > emodin > aurofusarin. In most of the mixtures, combined toxicity was similar to the toxicity of DON alone. In terms of pig health, these results demonstrate that the co-occurrence of emerging mycotoxins that we tested with DON does not exacerbate toxicity.

ACS Style

Abdullah Khan Khoshal; Barbara Novak; Pascal G. P. Martin; Timothy Jenkins; Manon Neves; Gerd Schatzmayr; Isabelle P. Oswald; Philippe Pinton. Co-Occurrence of DON and Emerging Mycotoxins in Worldwide Finished Pig Feed and Their Combined Toxicity in Intestinal Cells. Toxins 2019, 11, 727 .

AMA Style

Abdullah Khan Khoshal, Barbara Novak, Pascal G. P. Martin, Timothy Jenkins, Manon Neves, Gerd Schatzmayr, Isabelle P. Oswald, Philippe Pinton. Co-Occurrence of DON and Emerging Mycotoxins in Worldwide Finished Pig Feed and Their Combined Toxicity in Intestinal Cells. Toxins. 2019; 11 (12):727.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Abdullah Khan Khoshal; Barbara Novak; Pascal G. P. Martin; Timothy Jenkins; Manon Neves; Gerd Schatzmayr; Isabelle P. Oswald; Philippe Pinton. 2019. "Co-Occurrence of DON and Emerging Mycotoxins in Worldwide Finished Pig Feed and Their Combined Toxicity in Intestinal Cells." Toxins 11, no. 12: 727.

Journal article
Published: 14 September 2019 in Toxins
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Feed samples are frequently contaminated by a wide range of chemically diverse natural products, which can be determined using highly sensitive analytical techniques. Next to already well-investigated mycotoxins, unknown or unregulated fungal secondary metabolites have also been found, some of which at significant concentrations. In our study, 1141 pig feed samples were analyzed for more than 800 secondary fungal metabolites using the same LC-MS/MS method and ranked according to their prevalence. Effects on the viability of the 28 most relevant were tested on an intestinal porcine epithelial cell line (IPEC-J2). The most frequently occurring compounds were determined as being cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Tyr), moniliformin, and enniatin B, followed by enniatin B1, aurofusarin, culmorin, and enniatin A1. The main mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol and zearalenone, were found only at ranks 8 and 10. Regarding cytotoxicity, apicidin, gliotoxin, bikaverin, and beauvericin led to lower IC50 values, between 0.52 and 2.43 µM, compared to deoxynivalenol (IC50 = 2.55 µM). Significant cytotoxic effects were also seen for the group of enniatins, which occurred in up to 82.2% of the feed samples. Our study gives an overall insight into the amount of fungal secondary metabolites found in pig feed samples compared to their cytotoxic effects in vitro.

ACS Style

Barbara Novak; Valentina Rainer; Michael Sulyok; Dietmar Haltrich; Gerd Schatzmayr; Elisabeth Mayer. Twenty-Eight Fungal Secondary Metabolites Detected in Pig Feed Samples: Their Occurrence, Relevance and Cytotoxic Effects In Vitro. Toxins 2019, 11, 537 .

AMA Style

Barbara Novak, Valentina Rainer, Michael Sulyok, Dietmar Haltrich, Gerd Schatzmayr, Elisabeth Mayer. Twenty-Eight Fungal Secondary Metabolites Detected in Pig Feed Samples: Their Occurrence, Relevance and Cytotoxic Effects In Vitro. Toxins. 2019; 11 (9):537.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Barbara Novak; Valentina Rainer; Michael Sulyok; Dietmar Haltrich; Gerd Schatzmayr; Elisabeth Mayer. 2019. "Twenty-Eight Fungal Secondary Metabolites Detected in Pig Feed Samples: Their Occurrence, Relevance and Cytotoxic Effects In Vitro." Toxins 11, no. 9: 537.

Journal article
Published: 10 September 2019 in Toxins
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Enzymatic detoxification has become a promising approach for control of mycotoxins postharvest in grains through modification of chemical structures determining their toxicity. In the present study fumonisin esterase FumD (EC 3.1.1.87) (FUMzyme®; BIOMIN, Tulln, Austria), hydrolysing fumonisin (FB) mycotoxins by de-esterification, was utilised to develop an enzymatic reduction method in a maize kernel enzyme incubation mixture. Efficacy of the FumD FB reduction method in "low" and "high" FB contaminated home-grown maize was compared by monitoring FB1 hydrolysis to the hydrolysed FB1 (HFB1) product utilising a validated LC-MS/MS analytical method. The method was further evaluated in terms of enzyme activity and treatment duration by assessing enzyme kinetic parameters and the relative distribution of HFB1 between maize kernels and the residual aqueous environment. FumD treatments resulted in significant reduction (≥80%) in "low" (≥1000 U/L, p < 0.05) and "high" (100 U/L, p < 0.05; ≥1000 U/L, p < 0.0001) FB contaminated maize after 1 h respectively, with an approximate 1:1 µmol conversion ratio of FB1 into the formation of HFB1. Enzyme kinetic parameters indicated that, depending on the activity of FumD utilised, a significantly (p < 0.05) higher FB1 conversion rate was noticed in "high" FB contaminated maize. The FumD FB reduction method in maize could find application in commercial maize-based practices as well as in communities utilising home-grown maize as a main dietary staple and known to be exposed above the tolerable daily intake levels.

ACS Style

Johanna Alberts; Gerd Schatzmayr; Wulf-Dieter Moll; Ibtisaam Davids; John Rheeder; Hester-Mari Burger; Gordon Shephard; Wentzel Gelderblom. Detoxification of the Fumonisin Mycotoxins in Maize: An Enzymatic Approach. Toxins 2019, 11, 523 .

AMA Style

Johanna Alberts, Gerd Schatzmayr, Wulf-Dieter Moll, Ibtisaam Davids, John Rheeder, Hester-Mari Burger, Gordon Shephard, Wentzel Gelderblom. Detoxification of the Fumonisin Mycotoxins in Maize: An Enzymatic Approach. Toxins. 2019; 11 (9):523.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Johanna Alberts; Gerd Schatzmayr; Wulf-Dieter Moll; Ibtisaam Davids; John Rheeder; Hester-Mari Burger; Gordon Shephard; Wentzel Gelderblom. 2019. "Detoxification of the Fumonisin Mycotoxins in Maize: An Enzymatic Approach." Toxins 11, no. 9: 523.

Journal article
Published: 28 June 2019 in Scientific Reports
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The mycotoxin zearalenone (ZEN) poses a risk to animal health because of its estrogenic effects. Diagnosis of ZEN-induced disorders remains challenging due to the lack of appropriate biomarkers. In this regard, circulating microRNAs (small non-coding RNAs) have remarkable potential, as they can serve as indicators for pathological processes in tissue. Thus, we combined untargeted and targeted transcriptomics approaches to investigate the effects of ZEN on the microRNA expression in porcine uterus, jejunum and serum, respectively. To this end, twenty-four piglets received uncontaminated feed (Control) or feed containing 0.17 mg/kg ZEN (ZEN low), 1.46 mg/kg ZEN (ZEN medium) and 4.58 mg/kg ZEN (ZEN high). After 28 days, the microRNA expression in the jejunum remained unaffected, while significant changes in the uterine microRNA profile were observed. Importantly, 14 microRNAs were commonly and dose-dependently affected in both the ZEN medium and ZEN high group, including microRNAs from the miR-503 cluster (i.e. ssc-miR-424-5p, ssc-miR-450a, ssc-miR-450b-5p, ssc-miR-450c-5p, ssc-miR-503 and ssc-miR-542-3p). Predicted target genes for those microRNAs are associated with regulation of gene expression and signal transduction (e.g. cell cycle). Although the effects in serum were less pronounced, receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that several microRNA ratios were able to discriminate properly between non-exposed and ZEN-exposed pigs (e.g. ssc-miR-135a-5p/ssc-miR-432-5p, ssc-miR-542-3p/ssc-miR-493-3p). This work sheds new light on the molecular mechanisms of ZEN, and fosters biomarker discovery.

ACS Style

Bertrand Grenier; Matthias Hackl; Susanna Skalicky; Michaela Thamhesl; Wulf-Dieter Moll; Roger Berrios; Gerd Schatzmayr; Veronika Nagl. MicroRNAs in porcine uterus and serum are affected by zearalenone and represent a new target for mycotoxin biomarker discovery. Scientific Reports 2019, 9, 1 -14.

AMA Style

Bertrand Grenier, Matthias Hackl, Susanna Skalicky, Michaela Thamhesl, Wulf-Dieter Moll, Roger Berrios, Gerd Schatzmayr, Veronika Nagl. MicroRNAs in porcine uterus and serum are affected by zearalenone and represent a new target for mycotoxin biomarker discovery. Scientific Reports. 2019; 9 (1):1-14.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bertrand Grenier; Matthias Hackl; Susanna Skalicky; Michaela Thamhesl; Wulf-Dieter Moll; Roger Berrios; Gerd Schatzmayr; Veronika Nagl. 2019. "MicroRNAs in porcine uterus and serum are affected by zearalenone and represent a new target for mycotoxin biomarker discovery." Scientific Reports 9, no. 1: 1-14.

Journal article
Published: 27 June 2019 in Toxins
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Mycotoxins contaminating animal feed can exert toxic effects in animals and be transferred into animal products. Therefore, mycotoxin occurrence in feed should be monitored. To this end, we performed a large-scale global survey of mycotoxin contamination in feed and assessed regional differences and year-to-year variation of mycotoxin occurrence. Concentrations of aflatoxin B1, zearalenone, fumonisins, ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, and T-2 toxin were analyzed in 74,821 samples of feed and feed raw materials (e.g., maize, wheat, soybean) collected from 100 countries from 2008 to 2017. In total, 88% of the samples were contaminated with at least one mycotoxin. Mycotoxin occurrence showed distinct regional trends and climate was a key determinant governing these trends. In most regions, the majority of samples complied with maximum levels and guidance values for mycotoxins in animal feed that are in effect in the European Union. However, 41.1%, 38.5%, and 20.9% of samples from South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia, respectively, exceeded the maximum level for aflatoxin B1 (20 µg/kg). In several regions, mycotoxin concentrations in maize showed a pronounced year-to-year variation that could be explained by rainfall or temperature during sensitive periods of grain development. A large fraction of samples (64%) was co-contaminated with ≥ 2 mycotoxins. Most frequently observed mycotoxin mixtures were combinations of deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and fumonisins, as well as fumonisins and aflatoxin B1. Deoxynivalenol and zearalenone concentrations were correlated in maize and wheat. In conclusion, according to an extensive global survey, mycotoxin (co-)contamination of animal feed is common, shows regional trends, and is governed in part by climate and weather.

ACS Style

Christiane Gruber-Dorninger; Timothy Jenkins; Gerd Schatzmayr. Global Mycotoxin Occurrence in Feed: A Ten-Year Survey. Toxins 2019, 11, 375 .

AMA Style

Christiane Gruber-Dorninger, Timothy Jenkins, Gerd Schatzmayr. Global Mycotoxin Occurrence in Feed: A Ten-Year Survey. Toxins. 2019; 11 (7):375.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Christiane Gruber-Dorninger; Timothy Jenkins; Gerd Schatzmayr. 2019. "Global Mycotoxin Occurrence in Feed: A Ten-Year Survey." Toxins 11, no. 7: 375.

Immunotoxicology
Published: 31 August 2018 in Archives of Toxicology
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is the most abundant trichothecene in food and feed. It causes both acute and chronic disorders of the human and animal intestine, liver and the immune system. The structural basis for the toxicity of DON has not been fully elucidated. Using the pig as a target and a model species for human, the toxicity of DON and its deepoxy-metabolite (DOM-1) was compared. Animals were exposed by gavage to 1 and 0.5 nmol toxin/kg b.w./day for 2 and 3 weeks respectively. Whatever the dose/duration, DOM-1 was less toxic than DON in terms of weight gain and emesis. In the 3-week experiment, animals were vaccinated with ovalbumin, and their immune response was analyzed in addition to tissue morphology, biochemistry and hematology. DON impaired the morphology of the jejunum and the ileum, reduced villi height, decreased E-cadherin expression and modified the intestinal expression of cytokines. Similarly, DON induced hepatotoxicity as indicated by the lesion score and the blood biochemistry. By contrast, DOM-1 only induced minimal intestinal toxicity and did not trigger hepatotoxicity. As far as the immune response was concerned, the effects of ingesting DOM-1 were similar to those caused by DON, as measured by histopathology of lymphoid organs, PCNA expression and the specific antibody response. Taken together, these data demonstrated that DOM-1, a microbial detoxification product of DON, was not toxic in the sensitive pig model but retained some immune-modulatory properties of DON, especially its ability to stimulate a specific antibody response during a vaccination protocol.

ACS Style

Alix Pierron; Ana Paula Loureiro Bracarense; Anne-Marie Cossalter; Joëlle Laffitte; Heidi Schwartz-Zimmermann; Gerd Schatzmayr; Philippe Pinton; Wulf-Dieter Moll; Isabelle P. Oswald. Deepoxy-deoxynivalenol retains some immune-modulatory properties of the parent molecule deoxynivalenol in piglets. Archives of Toxicology 2018, 92, 3381 -3389.

AMA Style

Alix Pierron, Ana Paula Loureiro Bracarense, Anne-Marie Cossalter, Joëlle Laffitte, Heidi Schwartz-Zimmermann, Gerd Schatzmayr, Philippe Pinton, Wulf-Dieter Moll, Isabelle P. Oswald. Deepoxy-deoxynivalenol retains some immune-modulatory properties of the parent molecule deoxynivalenol in piglets. Archives of Toxicology. 2018; 92 (11):3381-3389.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alix Pierron; Ana Paula Loureiro Bracarense; Anne-Marie Cossalter; Joëlle Laffitte; Heidi Schwartz-Zimmermann; Gerd Schatzmayr; Philippe Pinton; Wulf-Dieter Moll; Isabelle P. Oswald. 2018. "Deepoxy-deoxynivalenol retains some immune-modulatory properties of the parent molecule deoxynivalenol in piglets." Archives of Toxicology 92, no. 11: 3381-3389.

Comparative study
Published: 11 April 2018 in Toxins
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most prevalent mycotoxins, contaminating cereals and cereal-derived products. Its derivative deepoxy-deoxynivalenol (DOM-1) is produced by certain bacteria, which either occur naturally or are supplemented in feed additive. DON-induced impairments in protein synthesis are particularly problematic for highly proliferating immune cells. This study provides the first comparison of the effects of DON and DOM-1 on the concanavalin A-induced proliferation of porcine, chicken, and bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Therefore, isolated PBMCs were treated with DON (0.01–3.37 µM) and DOM-1 (1.39–357 µM) separately, and proliferation was measured using a bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) assay. Although pigs are considered highly sensitive to DON, the present study revealed a substantially higher sensitivity of bovine (IC50 = 0.314 µM) PBMCs compared to chicken (IC50 = 0.691 µM) and porcine (IC50 = 0.693 µM) PBMCs. Analyses on the proliferation of bovine T-cell subsets showed that all major subsets, namely, CD4+, CD8β+, and γδ T cells, were affected to a similar extent. In contrast, DOM-1 did not affect bovine PBMCs, but reduced the proliferation of chicken and porcine PBMCs at the highest tested concentration (357 µM). Results confirm the necessity of feed additives containing DON-to-DOM-1-transforming bacteria and highlights species-specific differences in the DON sensitivity of immune cells.

ACS Style

Barbara Novak; Eleni Vatzia; Alexandra Springler; Alix Pierron; Wilhelm Gerner; Nicole Reisinger; Sabine Hessenberger; Gerd Schatzmayr; Elisabeth Mayer. Bovine Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Are More Sensitive to Deoxynivalenol Than Those Derived from Poultry and Swine. Toxins 2018, 10, 152 .

AMA Style

Barbara Novak, Eleni Vatzia, Alexandra Springler, Alix Pierron, Wilhelm Gerner, Nicole Reisinger, Sabine Hessenberger, Gerd Schatzmayr, Elisabeth Mayer. Bovine Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Are More Sensitive to Deoxynivalenol Than Those Derived from Poultry and Swine. Toxins. 2018; 10 (4):152.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Barbara Novak; Eleni Vatzia; Alexandra Springler; Alix Pierron; Wilhelm Gerner; Nicole Reisinger; Sabine Hessenberger; Gerd Schatzmayr; Elisabeth Mayer. 2018. "Bovine Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Are More Sensitive to Deoxynivalenol Than Those Derived from Poultry and Swine." Toxins 10, no. 4: 152.

Review
Published: 25 May 2017 in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Mycotoxins are secondary fungal metabolites produced mainly by Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium. As evidenced by large-scale surveys, humans and animals are simultaneously exposed to several mycotoxins. Simultaneous exposure could result in synergistic, additive or antagonistic effects. However, most toxicity studies addressed the effects of mycotoxins separately. We present the experimental designs and we discuss the conclusions drawn from in vitro experiments exploring toxicological interactions of mycotoxins. We report more than 80 publications related to mycotoxin interactions. The studies explored combinations involving the regulated groups of mycotoxins, especially aflatoxins, ochratoxins, fumonisins, zearalenone and trichothecenes, but also the “emerging” mycotoxins beauvericin and enniatins. Over 50 publications are based on the arithmetic model of additivity. Few studies used the factorial designs or the theoretical biology-based models of additivity. The latter approaches are gaining increased attention. These analyses allow determination of the type of interaction and, optionally, its magnitude. The type of interaction reported for mycotoxin combinations depended on several factors, in particular cell models and the tested dose ranges. However, synergy among Fusarium toxins was highlighted in several studies. This review indicates that well-addressed in vitro studies remain valuable tools for the screening of interactive potential in mycotoxin mixtures.

ACS Style

Imourana Alassane-Kpembi; Gerd Schatzmayr; Ionelia Taranu; Daniela Marin; Olivier Puel; Isabelle Paule Oswald. Mycotoxins co-contamination: Methodological aspects and biological relevance of combined toxicity studies. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 2017, 57, 3489 -3507.

AMA Style

Imourana Alassane-Kpembi, Gerd Schatzmayr, Ionelia Taranu, Daniela Marin, Olivier Puel, Isabelle Paule Oswald. Mycotoxins co-contamination: Methodological aspects and biological relevance of combined toxicity studies. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 2017; 57 (16):3489-3507.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Imourana Alassane-Kpembi; Gerd Schatzmayr; Ionelia Taranu; Daniela Marin; Olivier Puel; Isabelle Paule Oswald. 2017. "Mycotoxins co-contamination: Methodological aspects and biological relevance of combined toxicity studies." Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 57, no. 16: 3489-3507.

Journal article
Published: 06 December 2016 in Toxins
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Global trade of agricultural commodities (e.g., animal feed) requires monitoring for fungal toxins. Also, little is known about masked and emerging toxins and metabolites. 1926 samples from 52 countries were analysed for toxins and metabolites. Of 162 compounds detected, up to 68 metabolites were found in a single sample. A subset of 1113 finished feed, maize and maize silage samples containing 57 compounds from 2012 to 2015 from 44 countries was investigated using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN) and fumonisins showed large increases of annual medians in Europe. Within a region, distinct trends were observed, suggesting importance of local meteorology and cultivars. In 2015, median DON concentrations increased to 1400 μg·kg−1 in Austria, but were stable in Germany at 350 μg·kg−1. In 2014, enniatins occurred at median concentrations of 250 μg·kg−1 in Europe, at levels similar to DON and ZEN. The latter were frequently correlated with DON-3-glucoside and ZEN-14-sulfate. Co-occurrence of regulated toxins was frequent with e.g., enniatins, and moniliformin. Correlation was observed between DON and DON-3-glucoside and with beauvericin. Results indicate that considerably more than 25% of agricultural commodities could be contaminated with mycotoxins as suggested by FAO, although this is at least partly due to the lower limits of detection in the current survey. Observed contamination percentages ranged from 7.1 to 79% for B trichothecenes and 88% for ZEN.

ACS Style

Paula Kovalsky; Gregor Kos; Karin Nährer; Christina Schwab; Timothy Jenkins; Gerd Schatzmayr; Michael Sulyok; Rudolf Krska. Co-Occurrence of Regulated, Masked and Emerging Mycotoxins and Secondary Metabolites in Finished Feed and Maize—An Extensive Survey. Toxins 2016, 8, 363 .

AMA Style

Paula Kovalsky, Gregor Kos, Karin Nährer, Christina Schwab, Timothy Jenkins, Gerd Schatzmayr, Michael Sulyok, Rudolf Krska. Co-Occurrence of Regulated, Masked and Emerging Mycotoxins and Secondary Metabolites in Finished Feed and Maize—An Extensive Survey. Toxins. 2016; 8 (12):363.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Paula Kovalsky; Gregor Kos; Karin Nährer; Christina Schwab; Timothy Jenkins; Gerd Schatzmayr; Michael Sulyok; Rudolf Krska. 2016. "Co-Occurrence of Regulated, Masked and Emerging Mycotoxins and Secondary Metabolites in Finished Feed and Maize—An Extensive Survey." Toxins 8, no. 12: 363.

Journal article
Published: 19 November 2016 in Toxins
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The human, animal and plant pathogen Fusarium, which contaminates agricultural commodities worldwide, produces numerous secondary metabolites. An example is the thoroughly-investigated deoxynivalenol (DON), which severely impairs gastrointestinal barrier integrity. However, to date, the toxicological profile of other Fusarium-derived metabolites, such as enniatins, beauvericin, moniliformin, apicidin, aurofusarin, rubrofusarin, equisetin and bikaverin, are poorly characterized. Thus we examined their effects—as metabolites alone and as metabolites in combination with DON—on the intestinal barrier function of differentiated intestinal porcine epithelial cells (IPEC-J2) over 72 h. Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) was measured at 24-h intervals, followed by evaluation of cell viability using neutral red (NR) assay. Enniatins A, A1, B and B1, apicidin, aurofusarin and beauvericin significantly reduced TEER. Moniliformin, equisetin, bikaverin and rubrofusarin had no effect on TEER. In the case of apicidin, aurofusarin and beauvericin, TEER reductions were further substantiated by the addition of otherwise no-effect DON concentrations. In all cases, viability was unaffected, confirming that TEER reductions were not due to compromised viability. Considering the prevalence of mycotoxin contamination and the diseases associated with intestinal barrier disruption, consumption of contaminated food or feed may have substantial health implications.

ACS Style

Alexandra Springler; Galina-Jacqueline Vrubel; Elisabeth Mayer; Gerd Schatzmayr; Barbara Novak. Effect of Fusarium-Derived Metabolites on the Barrier Integrity of Differentiated Intestinal Porcine Epithelial Cells (IPEC-J2). Toxins 2016, 8, 345 .

AMA Style

Alexandra Springler, Galina-Jacqueline Vrubel, Elisabeth Mayer, Gerd Schatzmayr, Barbara Novak. Effect of Fusarium-Derived Metabolites on the Barrier Integrity of Differentiated Intestinal Porcine Epithelial Cells (IPEC-J2). Toxins. 2016; 8 (11):345.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alexandra Springler; Galina-Jacqueline Vrubel; Elisabeth Mayer; Gerd Schatzmayr; Barbara Novak. 2016. "Effect of Fusarium-Derived Metabolites on the Barrier Integrity of Differentiated Intestinal Porcine Epithelial Cells (IPEC-J2)." Toxins 8, no. 11: 345.

Comparative study
Published: 08 September 2016 in Toxins
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Deoxynivalenol (DON), produced by the plant pathogens Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium culmorum, is one of the most common mycotoxins, contaminating cereal and cereal-derived products. Although worldwide contamination of food and feed poses health threats to humans and animals, pigs are particularly susceptible to this mycotoxin. DON derivatives, such as deepoxy-deoxynivalenol (DOM-1), are produced by bacterial transformation of certain intestinal bacteria, which are naturally occurring or applied as feed additives. Intestinal epithelial cells are the initial barrier against these food- and feed-borne toxins. The present study confirms DON-induced activation of MAPK p44/42 and inhibition of p44/42 by MAPK-inhibitor U0126 monoethanolate. Influence of DON and DOM-1 on transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), viability and expression of seven tight junction proteins (TJ), as well as the potential of U0126 to counteract DON-induced effects, was assessed. While DOM-1 showed no effect, DON significantly reduced TEER of differentiated IPEC-J2 and decreased expression of claudin-1 and -3, while leaving claudin-4; ZO-1, -2, and -3 and occludin unaffected. Inhibition of p44/42 counteracted DON-induced TEER decrease and restored claudin-3, but not claudin-1 expression. Therefore, effects of DON on TEER and claudin-3 are at least partially p44/42 mediated, while effects on viability and claudin-1 are likely mediated via alternative pathways.

ACS Style

Alexandra Springler; Sabine Hessenberger; Gerd Schatzmayr; Elisabeth Mayer. Early Activation of MAPK p44/42 Is Partially Involved in DON-Induced Disruption of the Intestinal Barrier Function and Tight Junction Network. Toxins 2016, 8, 264 .

AMA Style

Alexandra Springler, Sabine Hessenberger, Gerd Schatzmayr, Elisabeth Mayer. Early Activation of MAPK p44/42 Is Partially Involved in DON-Induced Disruption of the Intestinal Barrier Function and Tight Junction Network. Toxins. 2016; 8 (9):264.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alexandra Springler; Sabine Hessenberger; Gerd Schatzmayr; Elisabeth Mayer. 2016. "Early Activation of MAPK p44/42 Is Partially Involved in DON-Induced Disruption of the Intestinal Barrier Function and Tight Junction Network." Toxins 8, no. 9: 264.

Journal article
Published: 27 July 2016 in Toxins
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisins (FB) are the most frequently encountered mycotoxins produced by Fusarium species in livestock diets. The effect of subclinical doses of mycotoxins in chickens is largely unknown, and in particular the susceptibility of birds to pathogenic challenge when fed these fungal metabolites. Therefore, the present study reports the effects of DON and FB on chickens challenged with Eimeria spp, responsible for coccidiosis. Broilers were fed diets from hatch to day 20, containing no mycotoxins, 1.5 mg DON/kg, 20 mg FB/kg, or both toxins (12 pens/diet; 7 birds/pen). At day 14, six pens of birds per diet (half of the birds) were challenged with a 25×-recommended dose of coccidial vaccine, and all birds (challenged and unchallenged) were sampled 6 days later. As expected, performance of birds was strongly affected by the coccidial challenge. Ingestion of mycotoxins did not further affect the growth but repartitioned the rate of reduction (between the fraction due to the change in maintenance and feed efficiency), and reduced apparent nitrogen digestibility. Intestinal lesions and number of oocysts in the jejunal mucosa and feces of challenged birds were more frequent and intense in the birds fed mycotoxins than in birds fed control feed. The upregulation of cytokines (interleukin (IL) IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10) following coccidial infection was higher in the jejunum of birds fed mycotoxins. Further, the higher intestinal immune response was associated with a higher percentage of T lymphocytes CD4+CD25+, also called Tregs, observed in the cecal tonsils of challenged birds fed mycotoxins. Interestingly, the increase in FB biomarker of exposure (sphinganine/sphingosine ratio in serum and liver) suggested a higher absorption and bioavailability of FB in challenged birds. The interaction of DON and FB was very dependent on the endpoint assessed, with three endpoints reporting antagonism, nine additivity, and two synergism. In conclusion, subclinical doses of DON and FB showed little effects in unchallenged chickens, but seem to result in metabolic and immunologic disturbances that amplify the severity of coccidiosis.

ACS Style

Bertrand Grenier; Ilse Dohnal; Revathi Shanmugasundaram; Susan D. Eicher; Ramesh K. Selvaraj; Gerd Schatzmayr; Todd J. Applegate. Susceptibility of Broiler Chickens to Coccidiosis When Fed Subclinical Doses of Deoxynivalenol and Fumonisins—Special Emphasis on the Immunological Response and the Mycotoxin Interaction. Toxins 2016, 8, 231 .

AMA Style

Bertrand Grenier, Ilse Dohnal, Revathi Shanmugasundaram, Susan D. Eicher, Ramesh K. Selvaraj, Gerd Schatzmayr, Todd J. Applegate. Susceptibility of Broiler Chickens to Coccidiosis When Fed Subclinical Doses of Deoxynivalenol and Fumonisins—Special Emphasis on the Immunological Response and the Mycotoxin Interaction. Toxins. 2016; 8 (8):231.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bertrand Grenier; Ilse Dohnal; Revathi Shanmugasundaram; Susan D. Eicher; Ramesh K. Selvaraj; Gerd Schatzmayr; Todd J. Applegate. 2016. "Susceptibility of Broiler Chickens to Coccidiosis When Fed Subclinical Doses of Deoxynivalenol and Fumonisins—Special Emphasis on the Immunological Response and the Mycotoxin Interaction." Toxins 8, no. 8: 231.

Journal article
Published: 24 March 2016 in Toxins
Reads 0
Downloads 0

One of the most important hoof diseases is laminitis. Yet, the pathology of laminitis is not fully understood. Different bacterial toxins, e.g. endotoxins or exotoxins, seem to play an important role. Additionally, ingestion of mycotoxins, toxic secondary metabolites of fungi, might contribute to the onset of laminitis. In this respect, fumonsins are of special interest since horses are regarded as species most susceptible to this group of mycotoxins. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of fumonisin B1 (FB1) on primary isolated epidermal and dermal hoof cells, as well as on the lamellar tissue integrity and sphingolipid metabolism of hoof explants in vitro. There was no effect of FB1 at any concentration on dermal or epidermal cells. However, FB1 significantly reduced the separation force of explants after 24 h of incubation. The Sa/So ratio was significantly increased in supernatants of explants incubated with FB1 (2.5–10 µg/mL) after 24 h. Observed effects on Sa/So ratio were linked to significantly increased sphinganine concentrations. Our study showed that FB1 impairs the sphingolipid metabolism of explants and reduces lamellar integrity at non-cytotoxic concentrations. FB1 might, therefore, affect hoof health. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are necessary to elucidate the effects of FB1 on the equine hoof in more detail.

ACS Style

Nicole Reisinger; Ilse Dohnal; Veronika Nagl; Simone Schaumberger; Gerd Schatzmayr; Elisabeth Mayer. Fumonisin B1 (FB1) Induces Lamellar Separation and Alters Sphingolipid Metabolism of In Vitro Cultured Hoof Explants. Toxins 2016, 8, 89 .

AMA Style

Nicole Reisinger, Ilse Dohnal, Veronika Nagl, Simone Schaumberger, Gerd Schatzmayr, Elisabeth Mayer. Fumonisin B1 (FB1) Induces Lamellar Separation and Alters Sphingolipid Metabolism of In Vitro Cultured Hoof Explants. Toxins. 2016; 8 (4):89.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nicole Reisinger; Ilse Dohnal; Veronika Nagl; Simone Schaumberger; Gerd Schatzmayr; Elisabeth Mayer. 2016. "Fumonisin B1 (FB1) Induces Lamellar Separation and Alters Sphingolipid Metabolism of In Vitro Cultured Hoof Explants." Toxins 8, no. 4: 89.

Journal article
Published: 01 October 2015 in Current Opinion in Food Science
Reads 0
Downloads 0
ACS Style

Veronika Nagl; Gerd Schatzmayr. Deoxynivalenol and its masked forms in food and feed. Current Opinion in Food Science 2015, 5, 43 -49.

AMA Style

Veronika Nagl, Gerd Schatzmayr. Deoxynivalenol and its masked forms in food and feed. Current Opinion in Food Science. 2015; 5 ():43-49.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Veronika Nagl; Gerd Schatzmayr. 2015. "Deoxynivalenol and its masked forms in food and feed." Current Opinion in Food Science 5, no. : 43-49.

Journal article
Published: 13 April 2015 in Toxins
Reads 0
Downloads 0

In chickens, the effect of mycotoxins, especially fumonisins (FB), in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is not well documented. Thus, this study in broiler chicks determined the effects of consuming diets prepared with Fusarium verticillioides culture material containing FB on intestinal gene expression and on the sphinganine (Sa)/sphingosine (So) ratio (Sa/So; a biomarker of FB effect due to disruption of sphingolipid metabolism). Male broilers were assigned to 6 diets (6 cages/diet; 6 birds/cage) from hatch to 20 days containing 0.4, 5.6, 11.3, 17.5, 47.8, or 104.8 mg FB/kg diet. Exposure to FB altered the Sa/So ratio in all tissues analyzed, albeit to varying extents. Linear dose-responses were observed in the kidney, jejunum and cecum. The liver and the ileum were very sensitive and data fit a cubic and quadratic polynomial model, respectively. Gene expression in the small intestine revealed low but significant upregulations of cytokines involved in the pro-inflammatory, Th1/Th17 and Treg responses, especially at 10 days of age. Interestingly, the cecal tonsils exhibited a biphasic response. Unlike the sphingolipid analysis, the effects seen on gene expression were not dose dependent, even showing more effects when birds were exposed to 11.3 mg FB/kg. In conclusion, this is the first report on the disruption of the sphingolipid metabolism by FB in the GIT of poultry. Further studies are needed to reach conclusions on the biological meaning of the immunomodulation observed in the GIT, but the susceptibility of chickens to intestinal pathogens when exposed to FB, at doses lower than those that would cause overt clinical symptoms, should be addressed.

ACS Style

Bertrand Grenier; Heidi E. Schwartz-Zimmermann; Sylvia Caha; Wulf Dieter Moll; Gerd Schatzmayr; Todd J. Applegate. Dose-Dependent Effects on Sphingoid Bases and Cytokines in Chickens Fed Diets Prepared with Fusarium Verticillioides Culture Material Containing Fumonisins. Toxins 2015, 7, 1253 -1272.

AMA Style

Bertrand Grenier, Heidi E. Schwartz-Zimmermann, Sylvia Caha, Wulf Dieter Moll, Gerd Schatzmayr, Todd J. Applegate. Dose-Dependent Effects on Sphingoid Bases and Cytokines in Chickens Fed Diets Prepared with Fusarium Verticillioides Culture Material Containing Fumonisins. Toxins. 2015; 7 (4):1253-1272.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bertrand Grenier; Heidi E. Schwartz-Zimmermann; Sylvia Caha; Wulf Dieter Moll; Gerd Schatzmayr; Todd J. Applegate. 2015. "Dose-Dependent Effects on Sphingoid Bases and Cytokines in Chickens Fed Diets Prepared with Fusarium Verticillioides Culture Material Containing Fumonisins." Toxins 7, no. 4: 1253-1272.

Journal article
Published: 28 March 2015 in BMC Microbiology
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Ergopeptines are a predominant class of ergot alkaloids produced by tall fescue grass endophyte Neotyphodium coenophialum or cereal pathogen Claviceps purpurea. The vasoconstrictive activity of ergopeptines makes them toxic for mammals, and they can be a problem in animal husbandry. We isolated an ergopeptine degrading bacterial strain, MTHt3, and classified it, based on its 16S rDNA sequence, as a strain of Rhodococcus erythropolis (Nocardiaceae, Actinobacteria). For strain isolation, mixed microbial cultures were obtained from artificially ergot alkaloid-enriched soil, and provided with the ergopeptine ergotamine in mineral medium for enrichment. Individual colonies derived from such mixed cultures were screened for ergotamine degradation by high performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection. R. erythropolis MTHt3 converted ergotamine to ergine (lysergic acid amide) and further to lysergic acid, which accumulated as an end product. No other tested R. erythropolis strain degraded ergotamine. R. erythropolis MTHt3 degraded all ergopeptines found in an ergot extract, namely ergotamine, ergovaline, ergocristine, ergocryptine, ergocornine, and ergosine, but the simpler lysergic acid derivatives agroclavine, chanoclavine, and ergometrine were not degraded. Temperature and pH dependence of ergotamine and ergine bioconversion activity was different for the two reactions. Degradation of ergopeptines to ergine is a previously unknown microbial reaction. The reaction end product, lysergic acid, has no or much lower vasoconstrictive activity than ergopeptines. If the genes encoding enzymes for ergopeptine catabolism can be cloned and expressed in recombinant hosts, application of ergopeptine and ergine degrading enzymes for reduction of toxicity of ergot alkaloid-contaminated animal feed may be feasible.

ACS Style

Michaela Thamhesl; Elisabeth Apfelthaler; Heidi Elisabeth Schwartz-Zimmermann; Elisavet Kunz-Vekiru; Rudolf Krska; Wolfgang Kneifel; Gerd Schatzmayr; Wulf-Dieter Moll. Rhodococcus erythropolis MTHt3 biotransforms ergopeptines to lysergic acid. BMC Microbiology 2015, 15, 73 .

AMA Style

Michaela Thamhesl, Elisabeth Apfelthaler, Heidi Elisabeth Schwartz-Zimmermann, Elisavet Kunz-Vekiru, Rudolf Krska, Wolfgang Kneifel, Gerd Schatzmayr, Wulf-Dieter Moll. Rhodococcus erythropolis MTHt3 biotransforms ergopeptines to lysergic acid. BMC Microbiology. 2015; 15 (1):73.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Michaela Thamhesl; Elisabeth Apfelthaler; Heidi Elisabeth Schwartz-Zimmermann; Elisavet Kunz-Vekiru; Rudolf Krska; Wolfgang Kneifel; Gerd Schatzmayr; Wulf-Dieter Moll. 2015. "Rhodococcus erythropolis MTHt3 biotransforms ergopeptines to lysergic acid." BMC Microbiology 15, no. 1: 73.