A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) based assay for the rapid and sensitive group-specific detection of fumonisin producing Fusarium spp

• Published in: International journal of food microbiology 2020-07, Vol.325, p.108627-108627, Article 108627
• Main Authors: Wigmann, Évelin F., Meyer, Karsten, Cendoya, Eugenia, Maul, Ronald, Vogel, Rudi F., Niessen, Ludwig
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Assaying; Biosynthesis; Conidia; Corn; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Diagnosis; DNA; Edema; Esophagus; FFSC; Food; Food chains; Food production; Food sources; fum1; Fumonisins; Fusarium; Fusarium fujikuroi; Gene amplification; Gene detection; Genomes; Horses; Livestock; Lysis; Mycotoxin; Mycotoxins; Neural tube defects; Polyketide synthase; Species; Swine
• ISSN: 0168-1605; 1879-3460
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2020.108627

Fumonisins are mycotoxins that contaminate maize and maize-based food products, and feed. They have been associated with nerve system disorders in horses, pulmonary edema in swine as well as neural tube defects and esophageal cancer in humans. The fum1 gene codes for a polyketide synthase involved in the biosynthesis of fumonisins. It is present in the genomes of all fumonisin producing Fusarium spp. Reliable detection of fum1 can provide an estimate of the toxicological potential of cultures and food sources. Therefore, a fum1 specific LAMP assay was developed and tested with purified DNA of 48 different species from the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC). The fum1 gene was detected in 22 species among which F. fujikuroi, F. globosum, F. nygamai, F. proliferatum, F. subglutinans and F. verticillioides were the most prominent fumonisin producers. None out of 92 tested non-Fusarium species showed cross reactions with the new assay. The lowest limit of detection (LOD) was 5 pg of genomic DNA per reaction for F. fujikuroi, F. nygamai and F. verticillioides. Higher LODs were found for other LAMP positive species. Apart from pure genomic DNA, the LAMP assay detected fumonisin-producers when 103 conidia/reaction were used as template after mechanical lysis. LAMP-results were well correlated with FB1 production. This is the first report on fumonisin production in strains of F. annanatum, F. coicis, F. mundagurra, F. newnesense, F. pininemorale, F. sororula, F. tjataeba, F. udum and F. werrikimbe. Usefulness of the LAMP assay was demonstrated by analyzing fumonisin contaminated maize grains. The new LAMP assay is rapid, sensitive and reliable for the diagnosis of typical fumonisin producers and can be a versatile tool in HACCP concepts that target the reduction of fumonisins in the food and feed chain. •LAMP primers binding to FUM1 gene were designed for potential fumonisin producers.•Positive reactions occurred with DNA of 22 species belonging to FFSC•Fluorescence and visible-light were used for signal detection•Detection limit of the assay was 5 pg of gDNA and 105 conidia per reaction•Naturally contaminated samples of rice and maize were successfully analyzed