Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) identification of Penicillium brevicompactum, a grape contaminant and mycophenolic acid producer.
Penicillium brevicompactum is a ubiquitous fungal species that contaminates diverse substrates and commodities and produces an array of metabolites toxic to human and animals. The present work has obtained evidence, by liquid chromatography (LC)-ion-trap mass spectrometry, of the ability of P. brevicompactum strains isolated from grapes to produce mycophenolic acid, a potent immunosuppressor. In order to facilitate early diagnosis of this species on commodities for human and animal consumption, a rapid, sensitive and specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for P. brevicompactum was developed. The specific primers were designed based on the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacers of rRNA genes) multicopy region. This method provides a useful aid to detect the presence of this fungal species in grapes and other commodities in order to prevent the toxins produced entering the food chain.
Patiño
B
B
Departamento Microbiología III, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Jose Antonia Novais, Madrid 28040 Spain. belenp@bio.ucm.es
Medina
A
A
Doménech
M
M
González-Jaén
M T
MT
Jiménez
M
M
Vázquez
C
C
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D005516:Food Microbiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010407:Penicillium / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D027843:Vitis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*
D009173:Mycophenolic Acid