Mikotoksyny – niebezpieczne metabolity grzybów pleśniowych

© Borgis - Medycyna Rodzinna 4/2010, s. 113-119

*Sylwia Jarzynka, Maria Dąbkowska, Irena Netsvyetayeva, Ewa Swoboda-Kopeć

Summary
Mould fungi that produce mycotoxins can be considered a significant threat to human and animal health. These fungi are ubiquitous in the environment, hence the contact of living organisms with their toxins is widespread through inhalation, skin and ingestion of contaminated food. Spores of fungi are found mainly in the air entering into the composition of bioareozol. Each endospore may contain even several different mycotoxins. Food contaminated with mould toxins may cause food poisoning in humans. Currently, mycotoxins are a very important issue mainly for food safety. Mycotoxins occur, in particular, in products of plant origin, on cereals, processed cereals, vegetables, nuts and other oil seeds. These toxins are usually produced by fungi belonging to the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium. Diseases caused by mycotoxins are called mikotoxicosys. One of the greatest threats to humans are fungi that produce mycotoxins which grow in damp apartment buildings. Of particular importance is a species of Stachybotrys chartarum toxin which produces trichothecenes and the types of Penicillium and Aspergillus that produce for example, ochratoxin A which has neurotoxic and carcinogen properties. The strongest mycotoxin is aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is produced by fungi mainly belonging to the genus Aspergillus. In addition to disturbances in the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, aflatoxin can lead to disturbances in the synthesis of nucleic acids which can cause kidney or liver damage and the development of cancer. Mycotoxins along with protein toxins such as botulinum and staphylococcal, can act as a biological weapon.

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