Identification and biodiversity patterns of Aspergillus species isolated from some soil invertebrates at high altitude using morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses

Mohamed Fadl Awad; Bander Albogami; Tarombera Mwabvu; Montaser M Hassan; Alaa Baazeem; Mohamed M Hassan; Mohsen Mohamed Elsharkawy

doi:10.7717/peerj.15035

Identification and biodiversity patterns of Aspergillus species isolated from some soil invertebrates at high altitude using morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses

PeerJ. 2023 Mar 28:11:e15035. doi: 10.7717/peerj.15035. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Mohamed Fadl Awad^{1

2}, Bander Albogami^{1

2}, Tarombera Mwabvu³, Montaser M Hassan^{1

2}, Alaa Baazeem^{1

2}, Mohamed M Hassan^{1

2}, Mohsen Mohamed Elsharkawy⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
² High Altitude Research Centre, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
³ School of Biology & Environmental Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela, South Africa.
⁴ Department of Agricultural Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr Elsheikh, Egypt.

Abstract

Background: The carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic chemicals such as aflatoxin are a worldwide health problem. Aspergillus spp., responsible for most cases of aflatoxin contamination, are common in the environment and spread easily to many different types of food. The objectives of this study were to conduct a survey of fungi associated with three soil invertebrates in Taif, Saudi Arabia, identify these isolates and explore mycotoxins formation.

Methods: In total, 114 fungal isolates were collected from various soil invertebrates (millipedes, Armadillidium vulgare and Porcellio laevis) in Taif, Saudi Arabia, among them, 22 isolates were identified as Aspergillus spp. based on morphological and molecular characteristics followed by both Fusarium and Penicillium.

Results: The sequences of ITS 1 and ITS 4 were utilized. Using bootstrap analysis, phylogenetic tree was split into two distinct clusters. Five sub clusters were included inside the first major cluster, and their bootstrap value was 99%. While, there were two small clusters in the second major cluster. All the tested Aspergillus strains were able to have a single PCR fragment amplified using the primer AspTef. TEF-1 DNA sequence bootstrap analysis with 1,000 replicates revealed two distinct groups. Additionally, the Aspergillus isolates were grouped into two different clusters with about 65% genetic similarity using ISSR-PCR analysis. The standard polymerase chain reaction was used to effectively amplify the Aopks, afl-A and omt-A genes in aflatoxigenic Aspergillus strains. Four Aspergillus strains used in this investigation were shown to generate aflatoxin B1. While, three Aspergillus stains showed ochratoxin genes.

Conclusions: In conclusion, the results indicate significant differences in the fungal community between ecoregions and soil invertebrates. Moreover, mycotoxin detection and identification among Aspergillus isolates were elucidated. This study could shed light on the risk of mycotoxin contamination along the supply chain.

Keywords: Armadillidium vulgare; Aspergillus spp.; Millipedes; Mycotoxins; Porcellio laevis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aflatoxins* / analysis
Altitude
Animals
Aspergillus / genetics
Biodiversity
Invertebrates
Mycotoxins* / analysis
Phylogeny

Substances

Mycotoxins
Aflatoxins

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Dean of Scientific Research through the High-Altitude Research Centre at Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia, under project number 1-442-43. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.