Rapid detection of aflatoxin producing fungi in food by real-time quantitative loop-mediated isothermal amplification

Jie Luo, Rudi F. Vogel, Ludwig Niessen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aflatoxins represent a serious risk for human and animal health. They are mainly produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus but also by Aspergillus nomius. Three species specific turbidimeter based real-time LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) assays were developed to quantify the three species individually in conidial solutions and to define contamination levels in samples of shelled Brazil nuts, maize, and peanuts. Standard curves relating spore numbers to time to threshold (Tt) values were set up for each of the species. Assays had detection limits of 10, 100 and 100 conidia per reaction of A.flavus, A.parasiticus, and A.nomius, respectively. Analysis of contaminated sample materials revealed that the A.nomius specific real-time LAMP assay detected a minimum of 10conidia/g in Brazil nuts while assays specific for A.flavus and A.parasiticus had detection limits of 102conidia/g and 105conidia/g, respectively in peanut samples as well as 104conidia/g and 104conidia/g, respectively in samples of maize. The real-time LAMP assays developed here appear to be promising tools for the prediction of potential aflatoxigenic risk at an early stage and in all critical control points of the food and feed production chain.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)142e148
JournalFood Microbiology
Volume44
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2014

Keywords

  • Aflatoxin
  • Aspergillus
  • Food
  • Real-time LAMP
  • Spore

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