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Molecular characterization of ochratoxin A producing strains of the genus Penicillium

Gemma Castella1, Thomas Ostenfeld Larsen, Javier Cabanes

  • 1Dept. Sanitat i Anatomia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autòmoma de Barcelona, Spain.

Systematic and Applied Microbiology
|June 28, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Molecular methods revealed two distinct groups within Penicillium verrucosum strains. These groups differed in ochratoxin A production and origin, aligning with P. nordicum and P. verrucosum chemotypes.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Food Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Morphological classification of Penicillium verrucosum can be ambiguous.
  • Accurate identification of ochratoxin A producing fungi is crucial for food safety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To molecularly differentiate strains classified as P. verrucosum.
  • To correlate molecular groups with ochratoxin A production and chemotype.

Main Methods:

  • Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis
  • Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) analysis
  • Ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequencing
  • Chemotaxonomical analysis of secondary metabolites

Main Results:

  • RAPD and AFLP analyses identified two distinct, coincident groups of P. verrucosum strains.
  • Group I strains, originating from food, were high ochratoxin A producers with a P. nordicum chemotype.
  • Group II strains, from plants, were moderate to non-producers with a P. verrucosum chemotype.
  • ITS sequences showed high homology, indicating a phylogenetic relationship.

Conclusions:

  • Molecular and chemotypic data support the reclassification of ochratoxin A producing penicillia into P. verrucosum and P. nordicum.
  • The study highlights the importance of molecular techniques for accurate fungal identification and risk assessment.

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