%0 Journal Article
%T Dual Transcriptional Profile of Aspergillus flavus during Co-Culture with Listeria monocytogenes and Aflatoxin B1 Production: A Pathogen¨CPathogen Interaction
%J Pathogens | An Open Access Journal from MDPI
%D 2019
%R https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens8040198
%X The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of growth temperature and co-culture of Aspergillus flavus with Listeria monocytogenes on the production of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and the transcriptional profile of associated regulatory and biosynthetic genes. The transcription of virulence- and homeostasis-associated genes of L. monocytogenes was also assessed. For this purpose, mono- and co-cultures of L. monocytogenes strain LQC 15257 and A. flavus strain 18.4 were inoculated into Malt Extract broth and allowed to grow for seven days at 25 ˇăC and 30 ˇăC. AFB1 quantification was performed by HPLC analysis and gene expression assessment by RT-qPCR. AFB1 production was lower at 30 ˇăC compared to 25 ˇăC during monoculture and also lower during co-cultures at both temperatures. This was accompanied by downregulation of aflM, aflR, aflP, and aflS during monoculture and aflM and aflS during co-culture at 30 ˇăC. On the other hand, transcription of prfA, plcA, plcB, inlA, inlB, inlJ, murE, accA, acpP, as well as fapR, was not affected. sigB gene was downregulated after co-culture with the fungus at 25 ˇăC and hly was downregulated after monoculture at 30 ˇăC compared to 25 ˇăC. In this work, the molecular interactions between A. flavus and L. monocytogenes were studied for the first time, offering a novel insight into their co-occurrence. Monitoring of their toxigenic and virulence potential at the molecular level revealed a complex dynamic in natural ecosystems. View Full-Tex
%U https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/8/4/198