title: Identification of Aspergillus nomius in Bees Visiting Brazil Nut Flowers.
abstract: We designed a primer pair (BtubNomF/BtubNomR) specifically for amplifying Aspergillus nomius DNA. In vitro assays confirmed BtubNomF/BtubNomR specificity, corroborating its usefulness in detecting and identifying A. nomius. We then investigated the occurrence of A. nomius in floral visitors of Bertholletia excelsa trees by means of PCR, and A. nomius was detected in the following bees: Xylocopa frontalis, Bombus transversalis, Centris denudans, C. ferruginea, and Epicharis flava. The presence of A. nomius in bees visiting Brazil nuts opens up new avenues for obtaining novel insights into the process whereby Brazil nuts are contaminated by aflatoxin-producing fungi.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Estadual de Londrina.
authors.forename: Fernanda Pelisson
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Massi
authors.forename: Rafael Elias Silva
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Penha
authors.forename: Marcelo Casimiro
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cavalcante
authors.forename: Helena Paula
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Viaro
authors.forename: Josué José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Larissa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Souza Ferranti
authors.forename: Maria Helena Pelegrinelli
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Fungaro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001516:Bees / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D031383:Bertholletia / Q000382:microbiology*; D001938:Brazil; D035264:Flowers / Q000382:microbiology*