Advances in molecular detection of Aspergillus: an update

Abstract

Filamentous cosmopolitan fungi of the genus Aspergillus can be harmful in two ways, directly they can be opportunistic pathogens causing aspergillosis and indirectly due to aflatoxin production on food products which can lead to aflatoxicosis. Therefore, a number of methods have been proposed so far for detection of the fungi with lowest possible concentration at the earliest. Molecular methods such as PCR and/or in combination with certain techniques have been found to be useful for Aspergillus detection. We discuss here various technologies that have emerged in recent years and can possibly be used for the molecular detection of Aspergillus in an efficient way. These methods like RSIC, C-probe, and inversion probe with pyrosequencing or direct ss/dsDNA detection have been used for the identification of fungal or bacterial pathogens and thus formulate a 'gold standard' for Aspergillus detection.

A Novel Non Radioactive PCR-DNA Probe for the Detection of Aflatoxin Producing <i>Aspergillus</i> Species from Major Food Crops Grown in India

“…PCR methods have been found useful for detection of toxigenic Aspergillus present in contaminated food samples [24]. However, in PCR assays specificity mainly rely on 20 to 25 bases primer and also the stringent practical conditions that require expertise to standardize a reliable and robust PCR prior to evaluation.…”

On-Farm Demonstrations with a Set of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Proved Cost-Effective in Reducing Pre-Harvest Aflatoxin Contamination in Groundnut

“…According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 25% of the agricultural crops worldwide are affected by aflatoxins [6]. The affected crops include cereals, millets, oilseeds, spices, tree nuts, pulses, and figs [7]. Both human and animal health are affected, due to significant levels of exposure to aflatoxins [8][9][10].…”

Rapid Detection and Identification of Aspergillus from Lower Respiratory Tract Specimens by Use of a Combined Probe–High-Resolution Melting Analysis

“…The number of specimens showing a fungal load lower than this value is expected to be low; in our institution, the average fungal load detected in lower respiratory tract specimens is 10 4 to 10 5 conidia/ml (data not shown), as determined using a quantitative real-time PCR assay such as that described by Loeffler et al (19). However, the broad heterogeneity of the units used to define fungal load make it difficult to compare the analytical sensitivity of this assay with that of other PCR-based strategies (1).…”