Use of response surface methodology to study the effect of media composition on aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus

• Published in: Mycotoxin research 2013-02, Vol.29 (1), p.39-45
• Main Authors: Ahmad, Mahboob, Ahmad, Malik M, Hamid, Rifat, Abdin, M. Z, Javed, Saleem
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aflatoxins; Aflatoxins - biosynthesis; Ammonium; Ammonium sulfate; Aspergillus flavus; Aspergillus flavus - growth & development; Aspergillus flavus - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology - methods; Chemistry/Food Science; Computer programs; computer software; Culture Media - chemistry; Experimental design; Food industries; Food toxicology; Fructose; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi; Life Sciences; Liquid culture; magnesium sulfate; Media (culture); Medical Microbiology; Medical sciences; Medicine/Public Health; Metabolites; Microbiology; Mycology - methods; Mycotoxins; Nutrients; Original Paper; Plant poisons toxicology; prediction; Research methodology; response surface methodology; Secondary metabolites; software; Sorbitol; Sulfates; Toxicology; Toxins
• ISSN: 0178-7888; 1867-1632
• DOI: 10.1007/s12550-012-0151-x

Aflatoxins are one of the most important secondary metabolites. These extrolites are produced by a number of Aspergillus fungi. In this study, we demonstrate the effect of media components and enhanced aflatoxin yield shown by A. flavus using response surface methodology in response to different nutrients. Different components of a chemically defined media that influence the aflatoxin production were monitored using Plackett–Burman experimental design and further optimized by Box–Behnken factorial design of response surface methodology in liquid culture. Interactions were studied with five variables, namely sorbitol, fructose, ammonium sulfate, KH₂PO₄, and MgSO₄.7H₂O. Maximum aflatoxin production was envisaged in medium containing 4.94 g/l sorbitol, 5.56 g/l fructose, 0.62 g/l ammonium sulfate, 1.33 g/l KH₂PO₄, and 0.65 g/l MgSO₄·7H₂O using response surface plots and the point prediction tool of the DESIGN EXPERT 8.1.0 (Stat-Ease, USA) software. However, a production of 5.25 μg/ml aflatoxin production was obtained, which was in agreement with the prediction observed in verification experiment. The other component (MgSO₄.7H₂O) was found to be an insignificant variable.