Trichothecenes: from simple to complex mycotoxins

Toxins (Basel). 2011 Jul;3(7):802-14. doi: 10.3390/toxins3070802. Epub 2011 Jul 1.

Abstract

As the world's population grows, access to a safe food supply will continue to be a global priority. In recent years, the world has experienced an increase in mycotoxin contamination of grains due to climatic and agronomic changes that encourage fungal growth during cultivation. A number of the molds that are plant pathogens produce trichothecene mycotoxins, which are known to cause serious human and animal toxicoses. This review covers the types of trichothecenes, their complexity, and proposed biosynthetic pathways of trichothecenes.

Keywords: Type A; Type B; d-type; macrocyclic; mycotoxins; t-type; toxin biosynthesis; trichothecenes.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Edible Grain / microbiology
  • Food Contamination / analysis
  • Fusarium / genetics
  • Fusarium / metabolism
  • Fusarium / pathogenicity
  • Plant Diseases / microbiology
  • Trichoderma / genetics
  • Trichoderma / metabolism
  • Trichoderma / pathogenicity
  • Trichothecenes / biosynthesis*
  • Trichothecenes / chemistry*
  • Trichothecenes / classification
  • Trichothecenes / genetics*

Substances

  • Trichothecenes