Aspergillus flavus

Aspergillus flavus

Aspergillus flavus (including Penicillium rubrum ) is a fungus of the genus Aspergillus. Aspergillus flavus has been discussed as a cause for the " Curse of the Pharaoh ".

Occurrence

A. flavus is spreading worldwide in the air and in the ground. It forms colonies mainly on fat and starchy seeds such as peanuts, cottonseed, corn, grain or pistachios. About this reach the fungus and the byproducts produced by the fungus in the human food chain.

By-products

The most important by-products of the lethal fungus are mycotoxins, aflatoxins B1 and B2. The amount of the aflatoxins, produced by A. flavus, depends on external factors such as temperature and humidity. The production of aflatoxins at its maximum, for example, at 20 ° C, while it is relatively low at 9 ° C.

Effect

Aflatoxins have a strong carcinogenic effect. The fungus itself can damage weak organs in the body, which has the consequence that there are many different causes of death in diseases caused by Aspergillus flavus ( aspergillosis ), such as kidney bleeding, cancer or heart failure. Aflatoxin B accumulated in the liver and is the causative agent of hepatocellular carcinoma small cell, which ( because of poor hygienic conditions ) in Africa, the most common cancer.