Hazards of Aspergillus niger van Tieghem & Penicillium luteum

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the hazards associated with two fungi: Aspergillus niger van Tieghem and Penicillium luteum, particularly in the context of testing their effects on adhesives. Aspergillus niger is documented for its potential hazards, including mycotoxin production, while limited information is available on Penicillium luteum, which is primarily recognized as a fruit mold. The conversation highlights the lack of pathogenic documentation for P. luteum, suggesting it is relatively innocuous compared to other Penicillium species known for mycotoxin production.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of mycotoxins, specifically Ochratoxin and Patulin.
  • Knowledge of fungal biology, particularly the characteristics of Aspergillus and Penicillium species.
  • Familiarity with adhesive testing methods and their implications.
  • Basic microbiological culturing techniques.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the mycotoxin profiles of various Penicillium species.
  • Investigate the pathogenicity of Aspergillus niger in industrial applications.
  • Explore safe handling procedures for fungi in laboratory settings.
  • Learn about the implications of fungal contamination in food products.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for microbiologists, food safety professionals, and researchers involved in adhesive testing or fungal hazard assessment.

lisab
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My work is considering offering a new test method which measures the effect of two types of fungi on adhesives. This test involves two types of fungi, Aspergillus niger van tieghem, and Penicillium luteum.

None of our employees have experience with this kind of test, but the method doesn't look complicated at all.

I'm looking at possible hazards posed by these fungi. http://www.epa.gov/oppt/biotech/pubs/fra/fra006.htm"is a good summary for A. niger.

But I'm not finding much for the Penicillium. Can someone point me in the right direction to find information about possible hazards posed by this organism?
 
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A few Pencillium spp. produce some mycotoxins: Ochratoxin Patulin.

Penicillium is primarily a soft rot fungus. In cereal grains the mycotxins can be bad news for animals or humans consuming moldy grain. I have never seen any documentation on pathogenic conditions (other than the mycotoxins above) for humans. P. luteum is purely a fruit mold - you've seen fuzzy green oranges? It is easy to culture. I do not know if it produces mycotoxins or not.

P. roqueforti is the mold in roquefort cheese, so not all penicilliums are a problem for human ingestion.
 
Thanks, that gives me some confidence. I figured if I couldn't find any information that specifically addressed its risk, then it must be fairly innocuous.
 

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