Production of fumonisins B2 and B4 in Tolypocladium species

• Published in: Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology Vol. 38; no. 9; pp. 1329 - 1335
• Main Authors: Mogensen, Jesper Mølgaard, Møller, Kirsten Amalie, von Freiesleben, Pernille, Labuda, Roman, Varga, Elisabeth, Sulyok, Michael, Kubátová, Alena, Thrane, Ulf, Andersen, Birgitte, Nielsen, Kristian Fog
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01-09-2011; Springer
• Subjects: Aspergillus niger - metabolism; Biochemistry; Bioinformatics; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Fumonisins - chemistry; Fumonisins - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic Engineering; Hypocreales - metabolism; Inorganic Chemistry; Life Sciences; Microbiology; Mycotoxins - biosynthesis; Mycotoxins - chemistry; Original Paper; Temperature; Fumonisin; Cyclosporin; Mycotoxin; Toxin; Elaphocordyceps subsessilis; Tolypocladium inflatum; Production; Ciclosporin
• ISSN: 1367-5435; 1476-5535
• DOI: 10.1007/s10295-010-0916-1

Tolypocladium inflatum
is known primarily for its production of the cyclosporines that are used as an immunosuppressive drug. However, we report here the production of the carcinogenic fumonisins B
2
and B
4
by this biotechnologically relevant fungal genus. These mycotoxins were detected in 11 strains tested from three species:
Tolypocladium inflatum
,
T. cylindrosporum
, and
T. geodes
. Production of fumonisins by
Fusarium
spp. and
Aspergillus niger
is highly medium- and temperature-dependent, so the effect of these parameters on fumonisin production by three
T. inflatum
strains was studied. Maximum production was achieved on media with high sugar content incubated at 25–30°C. Since these results demonstrate that fumonisin production could be widespread within the genus
Tolypocladium
, the potential contamination of commercial cyclosporine preparations with fumonisins needs to be investigated.