• Toxicological Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 1993

The chromosomal aberration of the trichothecene mycotoxins such as T-2 toxin (T-2), HT-2 toxin (HT-2), nivalenol (NIV) and deoxynivalenol (DON) which are one of the most important food borne contaminants produced by Fusarium species fungi, was investigated in the chinese hamster lung cells. These trichothecene mycotoxins showed high cytotoxicity in order of T-2, HT-2, NIV, and DON to the chinese hamster lung cells. Nevertheless high cytotoxicity of these trichothecene mycotoxins, no clastogenicity of T-2 and HT-2 in the range of 0.01-0.0025 ng/ml, of NIV in that of 0.3-0.075ng/ml, and of DON in that of 1.0-0.25 ng/ml was observed in both with and without metabolic activation system.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.354-360
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• 2018

This study presents a method validation for extraction and quantitative analysis of trichothecene mycotoxins in nuts based on quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) approach for extraction and enhanced matrix removal (EMR)-lipid-disperive-SPE (d-SPE) cleanup method, with detection and quantification by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in positive- and negative-ion modes. Linearity, precision, and accuracy were validated for LC-MS/MS methods. Results obtained with LC-MS/MS were linear, with correlation coefficient ($R^2$) of 0.998. Limits of detection and quantification for mycotoxins were $0.41-3.57{\mu}g/kg$ and $1.23-10.82{\mu}g/kg$, respectively. Intra- and inter-day precisions (RSD, %) were 0.40-8.44% and 1.93-12.46%, respectively. Results indicated to be rapidly and accurately identifying trichothecene mycotoxins and may be used as a suitable safety management method for nuts and nuts related commodities.

• Safe Food
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.18-21
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• 2012

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.23-32
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• 1993

Species of the genus Fusarium are worldwide in their distribution. They are saprophytes as soil inhabitants and parasites of cultivated plants. Some isolates of certain species car capable of producing mycotoxins. Mycotoxicoses, including moldy corn toxicosis, alimentary toxic aleukia, fusariotoxicosis, and rel mold disease are known to be associated with trichothecene-producing fungi. Historically severe epidemic of cereal scab occred in the southern part of Korea in 1963. The epidemic caused a social problem because of not only heavy economic losses but also mycotoxicoses to humans and farm animals. However the toxic principles were remained unknown until some publications in 1980's indicated that trichothecenes and zearalenone were major mycotoxins in Korea cereals contaminated with Fusarium moniliforme have been found to be associated with human and animal disease such as leukoencephalomalacia in horses, pulmonary edema in swine and esophageal cancer in humans. High concentrations of fumonisins have been detected in corn samples from high espohoageal cancer risk areas of South Africa and China. Thus fumonisins have been implicated in the etiolgy of human esophageal cancer in those high incidence countries. Recently increase of imported cereals from foreign countries demands to assess the safety of mycotoxins in Korea. The informations on the natural occurrence of mycotoxins are needed to solve the toxicological problems in humans and farm animals associated with the consumption of moldy cereals.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.226-244
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• 2015

Fusarium head blight is one of the most important and most common diseases of winter wheat. In order to better understanding this disease and to assess the correlations between different factors, 30 cultivars of this cereal were evaluated in a two-year period. Fusarium head blight resistance was evaluated and the concentration of trichothecene mycotoxins was analysed. Grain samples originated from plants inoculated with Fusarium culmorum and naturally infected with Fusarium species. The genetic distance between the tested cultivars was determined and data were analysed using multivariate data analysis methods. Genetic dissimilarity of wheat cultivars ranged between 0.06 and 0.78. They were grouped into three distinct groups after cluster analysis of genetic distance. Wheat cultivars differed in resistance to spike and kernel infection and in resistance to spread of Fusarium within a spike (type II). Only B trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol and nivalenol) produced by F. culmorum in grain samples from inoculated plots were present. In control samples trichothecenes of groups A (H-2 toxin, T-2 toxin, T-2 tetraol, T-2 triol, scirpentriol, diacetoxyscirpenol) and B were detected. On the basis of Fusarium head blight assessment and analysis of trichothecene concentration in the grain relationships between morphological characters, Fusarium head blight resistance and mycotoxins in grain of wheat cultivars were examined. The results were used to create of matrices of distance between cultivars - for trichothecene concentration in inoculated and naturally infected grain as well as for FHB resistance Correlations between genetic distance versus resistance/mycotoxin profiles were calculated using the Mantel test. A highly significant correlation between genetic distance and mycotoxin distance was found for the samples inoculated with Fusarium culmorum. Significant but weak relationships were found between genetic distance matrix and FHB resistance or trichothecene concentration in naturally infected grain matrices.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 1996.12a
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• pp.73-73
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• 1996

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2014

Nivalenol (NIV) and deoxynivalenol (DON) are predominant Fusarium-producing mycotoxins found in grains, which are mainly produced by Fusarium asiaticum and F. graminearum. NIV is found in most of cereals grown in Korea, but the genetic basis for NIV production by F. asiaticum has not been extensively explored. In this study, 12 genes belonging to the trichothecene biosynthetic gene cluster were compared at the transcriptional level between two NIV-producing F. asiaticum and four DON-producing F. graminearum strains. Chemical analysis revealed that time-course toxin production patterns over 14 days did not differ between NIV and DON strains, excluding F. asiaticum R308, which was a low NIV producer. Both quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Northern analysis revealed that the majority of TRI gene transcripts peaked at day 2 in both NIV and DON producers, which is 2 days earlier than trichothecene accumulation in liquid medium. Comparison of the gene expression profiles identified an NIV-specific pattern in two transcription factor-encoding TRI genes (TRI6 and TRI10) and TRI101, which showed two gene expression peaks during both the early and late incubation periods. In addition, the amount of trichothecenes produced by both DON and NIV producers were correlated with the expression levels of TRI genes, regardless of the trichothecene chemotypes. Therefore, the reduced production of NIV by R308 compared to NIV or DON by the other strains may be attributable to the significantly lower expression levels of the TRI genes, which showed early expression patterns.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2012

T-2 toxin and HT-2 toxin, belong to type A trichothecences, are the most toxic mycotoxins among the trichothecene family. These mycotoxins are commonly found in cereals such as maize, wheat, barley, oats and rice, and their occurrence in food can be of concern. This review investigated the current trends of patents and researches on T-2 toxin and HT-2 toxin pertaining to natural occurrence, toxicity, metabolism, risk assessment, analytical and screening methods, and reduction/detoxification techniques. As compared with other $Fusarium$ mycotoxins, there are limited data for natural occurrence and risk assessment, and regulatory limit and official analytical methods on T-2 toxin and HT-2 toxin in domestic and foreign countries. In particular, selective deacetylation at the C3 and/or C4 positions of T-2 toxin by carboxyesterase present in foods was reported to cause the disappearance of T-2 and the extremely high HT-2 recoveries. Currently, regulatory limits for T-2 and HT-2 are under discussion in EU. For enforcement purposes it is essential to have available precise and reliable analytical methods applicable at the regulatory levels for the T-2 toxin and HT-2 toxin and relevant commodities. In addition, a further study on natural occurrence, risk assessment and reduction/detoxification techniques will be recommended.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2016.05a
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• pp.33-33
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• 2016

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi. They can be present in where agricultural-based commodities are contaminated with toxigenic fungi. These mycotoxins cause various toxicoses in human and livestock when consumed. Small grains including corn, barley, rice or wheat are frequently contaminated with mycotoxins due to infection mainly by toxigenic Fusarium species and/or under environment favorable to fungal growth. One of the most well-known Fusarium toxin groups in cereals is trichothecenes consisting of many toxic compounds. Deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), T-2 toxin, and various derivatives belong to this group. Zearalenone and fumonisin (FB) are also frequently produced by many species of the same genus. In order to monitor Korean cereals for contamination with Fusarium and other mycotoxigenic fungal species as well, barley, corn, maize, rice grains, and soybean were collected from fields at harvest or during storage for several years. The fungal colonies outgrown from the grain samples were identified based on morphological and molecular characteristics. Trichothecene chemotypes of Fusarium species or presence of FB biosynthetic gene were determined using respective diagnostic PCR to predict possible toxin production. Heavy grain contamination with fungi was detected in barley, rice and wheat. Predominant fungal genus of barley and wheat was Alternaria (up to 90%) while that of rice was Fusarium (~40%). Epicoccum also appeared frequently in barley, rice and wheat. While frequency of Fusarium species in barley and wheat was less than 20%, the genus mainly consisted of Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) which known to be head blight pathogen and mycotoxin producer. Fusarium composition of rice was more diverse as FGSC, Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC), and Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC) appeared all at considerable frequencies. Prevalent fungal species of corn was FFSC (~50%), followed by FGSC (<30%). Most of FFSC isolates of corn tested appeared to be FB producer. In corn, Fusarium graminearum and DON chemotype dominate within FGSC, which was different from other cereals. Soybeans were contaminated with fungi less than other crops and Cercospora, Cladosporium, Alternaria, Fusarium etc. were detected at low frequencies (up to 14%). Other toxigenic species such as Aspergillus and Penicillium were irregularly detected at very low frequencies. Multi-year survey of small grains revealed dominant fungal species of Korea (barley, rice and wheat) is Fusarium asiaticum having NIV chemotype.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.50-54
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• 2015

Podostroma cornu-damae is a rare species of fungus belonging to the Hyocreaceae family. Its fruit body is highly toxic, as it contains trichothecene mycotoxins. The morphology is similar to that of immature Ganoderma lucidum, making identification difficult for non-experts. We experienced such a case of a 56- year-old male who picked and consumed podostroma cornu-damae, and consumed. Later that day, he developed digestive system symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. He presented to the emergency room (ER), there were no abnormal physical findings, symptoms improved after gastric lavage, and the patient voluntarily discharged himself on the same day. The following day, as the symptoms gradually deteriorated, he was admitted via the ER. He was presented with severe pancytopenia, alopecia, desquamation of skin, and acute renal failure. He recovered without any complications after conservative care, antibiotics therapy, and granulocyte colony stimulating factor administration. The most commonly reported complications of podostroma cornu-damae intoxication were reported pancytopenia, infection, disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute renal failure, etc. since Prevention is especially important because its toxicity can be lethal and there is no particular treatment to date, prevention is especially important. Promotion and education for the public are needed.