Molecular study of aflR gene in the Aspergillus flavus, isolated from Pistachios of Rafsanjan by RT-PCR
Subject Areas : microbiology
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2 - دانشجوی کارشناسی ارشد میکروبیولوژی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، واحد قم، قم، ایران
Keywords: RT-PCR, aflR gene, Aspergillus flavus, Pistachio,
Abstract :
Aflatoxins are carcinogenic secondary metabolites produced primarily by the fungal species Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Foods and feeds especially in warm climates, are susceptible to invasion by aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species and the subsequent production of aflatoxins during preharvesting, processing, transportation or storage. Since Iran is one of the largest producers of pistachios in the world, the aim of this study is investigation of the expression of aflR gene, one of the most essential genes for producing of Aflatoxin, by molecular method in toxigenic Aspergillus flavus isolated from Rafsanjan’s Pistachio, First time in Iran. Randomly, 1000 Pistachios, were collected from 10 dried fruits wholesales in Rafsanjan city. The species of A. flavus were identified morphologically. In the next step RNA of the A. flavus was extracted. RT-PCR technique was used for amplifying of aflR gene. Consequently, 41 Aspergillus flavus species were isolated from pistachioes. Overall, 9 samples (21.4%) were positive for aflR expression gene. Toxigenic fungus like Aspergillus flavus can grow on nuts which appropriately stored, such as pistachio, corn, peanuts, nuts, wheat and etc. So a molecular method is necessary for exact and rapid detection of these toxigenic fungi. The genes which participate in toxin maturity pathway, like aflR, can be used for valid probing and also were used for this study.
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