Interactions of saprophytic yeasts with a nor mutant of Aspergillus flavus

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1999 Jun;65(6):2738-40. doi: 10.1128/AEM.65.6.2738-2740.1999.

Abstract

The nor mutant of Aspergillus flavus has a defective norsolorinic acid reductase, and thus the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway is blocked, resulting in the accumulation of norsolorinic acid, a bright red-orange pigment. We developed a visual agar plate assay to monitor yeast strains for their ability to inhibit aflatoxin production by visually scoring the accumulation of this pigment of the nor mutant. We identified yeast strains that reduced the red-orange pigment accumulation in the nor mutant. These yeasts also reduced aflatoxin accumulation by a toxigenic strain of A. flavus. These yeasts may be useful for reducing aflatoxin contamination of food commodities.

MeSH terms

  • Aflatoxins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Aflatoxins / biosynthesis*
  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases / genetics*
  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases / metabolism
  • Anthraquinones / metabolism*
  • Aspergillus flavus / enzymology
  • Aspergillus flavus / genetics
  • Aspergillus flavus / physiology*
  • Culture Media
  • Fungal Proteins*
  • Mutation
  • NAD (+) and NADP (+) Dependent Alcohol Oxidoreductases
  • Trees / microbiology
  • Yeasts / isolation & purification
  • Yeasts / physiology*

Substances

  • Aflatoxins
  • Anthraquinones
  • Culture Media
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases
  • NAD (+) and NADP (+) Dependent Alcohol Oxidoreductases
  • norsolorinic acid ketoreductase
  • norsolorinic acid