Production of fumonisins B2 and B4 in Tolypocladium species
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Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Quantification of Fungal Colonization, Sporogenesis, and Production of Mycotoxins Using Kernel Bioassays
Published on: April 23, 2012
Jesper Mølgaard Mogensen1, Kirsten Amalie Møller, Pernille von Freiesleben
1Center for Microbial Biotechnology, Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads 221, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark. jemo@bio.dtu.dk
Abstract:
Tolypocladium inflatum is known primarily for its production of the cyclosporines that are used as an immunosuppressive drug. However, we report here the production of the carcinogenic fumonisins B(2) and B(4) by this biotechnologically relevant fungal genus. These mycotoxins were detected in 11 strains tested from three species: Tolypocladium inflatum, T. cylindrosporum, and T. geodes. Production of fumonisins by Fusarium spp. and Aspergillus niger is highly medium- and temperature-dependent, so the effect of these parameters on fumonisin production by three T. inflatum strains was studied. Maximum production was achieved on media with high sugar content incubated at 25-30°C. Since these results demonstrate that fumonisin production could be widespread within the genus Tolypocladium, the potential contamination of commercial cyclosporine preparations with fumonisins needs to be investigated.
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