Aflatoxins are a group of polyketide mycotoxins that are produced during fungal development as secondary metabolites mainly by members of the fungal genus Aspergillus. Contamination of food, feed and agricultural commodities by aflatoxins impose an enormous economic concern, as these chemicals are highly carcinogenic, they can directly influence the structure of DNA, they can lead to fetal misdevelopment and miscarriages, and are known to suppress immune systems. In a global context, aflatoxin contamination is considered a perennial concern between the 35N and 35S latitude where developing countries are mainly situated. With expanding these boundaries, aflatoxins more and more become a problem in countries that previously did not have to worry about aflatoxin contamination. Given continuing the problems arise from aflatoxin contamination of food and agricultural commodities in the world, aflatoxins research becomes one of the most exciting and rapidly developing areas of microbial toxins with applications in many disciplines from medicine to agriculture. This research topic highlights the current knowledge on the global health issues of aflatoxins and aflatoxigenic fungi and covers all aspects of aflatoxin contamination of food and agricultural crops from epidemiology to molecular biology and management strategies. Research papers, case reports, reviews, perspectives and opinion papers on these themes are welcome.
Aflatoxins are a group of polyketide mycotoxins that are produced during fungal development as secondary metabolites mainly by members of the fungal genus Aspergillus. Contamination of food, feed and agricultural commodities by aflatoxins impose an enormous economic concern, as these chemicals are highly carcinogenic, they can directly influence the structure of DNA, they can lead to fetal misdevelopment and miscarriages, and are known to suppress immune systems. In a global context, aflatoxin contamination is considered a perennial concern between the 35N and 35S latitude where developing countries are mainly situated. With expanding these boundaries, aflatoxins more and more become a problem in countries that previously did not have to worry about aflatoxin contamination. Given continuing the problems arise from aflatoxin contamination of food and agricultural commodities in the world, aflatoxins research becomes one of the most exciting and rapidly developing areas of microbial toxins with applications in many disciplines from medicine to agriculture. This research topic highlights the current knowledge on the global health issues of aflatoxins and aflatoxigenic fungi and covers all aspects of aflatoxin contamination of food and agricultural crops from epidemiology to molecular biology and management strategies. Research papers, case reports, reviews, perspectives and opinion papers on these themes are welcome.