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White ovals indicate acute FPIES to the indicated food, light grey ovals indicate IgE-mediated food allergy, and dark grey ovals indicate non-IgE-mediated food allergy other than acute FPIES. FPIES, food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome gl We analysed the potential association between having acute FPIES to certain food groups and having other concomitant food allergies (see Table S3). Acute FPIES in children from Spain and Italy is vastly caused by a single food (fish/egg/cow's milk) with no associated food allergies. Children with acute food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome from Spain and Italy usually tolerate all other food groups. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract: The effect of temperature and different solute (Ψ s) and matric potentials (Ψ m) on growth and sporulation of three aflatoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus isolated from contaminated maize in northern Italy was determined. The Ψ s of maize-based media were modified ionically (NaCl) and non-ionically (glycerol) and the Ψ m with PEG 8000 in the range −1.4 to −21.0MPa at 25 and 30°C. Both temperature and Ψ s/Ψ m stress had statistically significant effects on growth rates of the three strains. Faster growth occurred at 30°C and −1.4 and −2.8MPa. A. flavus strains were more sensitive to Ψ m than Ψ s stress with limits of −9.8MPa and −14 to−18MPa, respectively. Sporulation was significantly influenced by Ψ s potential, solute type and temperature. This suggests that these aflatoxigenic strains of A. flavus isolated from aflatoxin-contaminated maize are probably able to colonise crop debris rapidly at prevailing temperatures and water stress conditions. This type of information on the ecology of aflatoxin producing A. flavus strains isolated in Italy will contribute to the development of a systems model to predict their activity in crop residue and colonisation of maize grain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In 2003, for the first time in Italy, significant problems arose with colonization and contamination of maize destined for animal feed with Aspergillus section Flavi and aflatoxins (AFs). This resulted in milk and derived products being contaminated with AFM1 at levels above the legislative limit. There was little knowledge and experience of this problem in Italy. The objectives of this research were thus to study the populations of Aspergillus section Flavi in six northern Italian regions and obtain information on the relative role of the key species, ability to produce sclerotia, production of the main toxic secondary metabolites, aflatoxins and cyclopiazonic acid, and tolerance of key environmental parameters. A total of 70 strains were isolated and they included the toxigenic species A. flavus and A. parasiticus. A. flavus was dominant in the populations studied, representing 93% of the strains. Seventy percent of strains of Aspergillus section Flavi produced AFs, with 50% of strains also producing cyclopiazonic acid. Sixty-two percent of A. flavus strains and 80% of A. parasiticus were able to produce sclerotia at 30 °C. Using 5/2 agar, only 1 strain developed S sclerotia and 19 L sclerotia. With regard to ecological studies, growth of Aspergillus section Flavi was optimal at between 25 and 30 °C, while AFB1 production was optimal at 25 °C. Regarding water availability (water activity, a w), 0.99 a w was optimal for both growth and AFs production, while the only aflatoxin produced in the driest condition tested (0.83 a w) was AFB1. This information will be very useful in identifying regions at risk in northern Italy by linking climatic regional information to levels of fungal contamination present and potential for aflatoxin production in maize destined for animal feed. This would be beneficial as part of a prevention strategy for minimising AFs in this product. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Little is known on the impact that climate change (CC) may have on Aspergillus carbonarius and Ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination of grapes, especially in the Mediterranean region where in CC scenarios temperature are expected to increase by +2–5 °C and CO 2 from 400 to 800/1200 ppm. This study examined the effect of (i) current and increased temperature in the alternating 11.5 h dark/12.5 h light cycle (15–28 °C vs 18–34 °C), representative of the North Apulia area, South Italy and (ii) existing and predicted CO 2 concentrations (400 vs 1000 ppm), on growth, expression of biosynthetic genes (AcOTApks , AcOTAnrps , AcOTAhal , AcOTAp450 , AcOTAbZIP) and regulatory genes of Velvet complex (laeA / veA / velB , "velvet complex") involved in OTA biosynthesis and OTA phenotypic production by three strains of A. carbonarius. The experiments made on a grape-based matrix showed that elevated CO 2 resulted in a general stimulation of growth and OTA production. These results were also supported by the up-regulation of both structural and regulatory genes involved in the OTA biosynthesis. Our work has shown for the first time that elevated CO 2 concentration in the Mediterranean region may result in an increased risk of OTA contamination in the wine production chain. • Influence of alternate T° and increase of CO 2 on ecophysiology of A spergillus carbonarius. • In vitro simulation of a climate change scenario in Apulia region. • Respect to other aspergilli, A. carbonarius grown faster under increased CO 2. • Relative expression of structural and regulatory genes paralleled OTA production. • Increased ochratoxigenic risk in grapes under higher CO 2 concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]