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Aim: Cereals and cereal-based products are prone to be infected by mycotoxin-producing fungi. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of contamination caused by 11 major mycotoxins in wheat samples collected from wheat silos in Tehran and Alborz provinces using UHPLC-MS/MS device.
Materials & Methods: Samples preparation was performed based on the extraction and purification procedures using acetonitrile/water/acetic acid solvents and Myco6in1 immunoaffinity columns, respectively. Selected mycotoxins were detected simultaneously using reversed phase ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) with electrospray ionization technique in positive-ion mode in a 15-minute run in the MRM program. Spiked samples calibration curve was used to overcome the matrix effects and to determine the residual mycotoxins.
Findings: Quantification and detection limits for AFB1 and OTA mycotoxins were 2 and 0.7 ppb; for DON, FB1, and FB2 were 100 and 33.3 ppb; for ZER were 50 and 16.6 ppb: for AFB2, AFG1, AFG2, and T-2 were 5 and 1.6 ppb; and for HT-2 were 20 and 6.6 ppb, respectively. Good precision and linearity was observed for mycotoxins. The average recovery rate of mycotoxins was in the range of 72-123 %, and the relative standard deviation (RSDr), indicating the method accuracy, was between 0.6-24.2 %. The validated method for analyzing the 30 wheat samples was used to evaluate the residual mycotoxins. OTA, T-2, and HT-2 mycotoxins were found in wheat samples. Only in one sample, the level of residual OTA exceeded the allowable limit set by the Iranian National Standards Organization.
Conclusion: The present study results highlighted the need for monitoring wheat and wheat-based products and the implementation of control and preventive measures in wheat fields, storage warehouses, and flour factories.

 

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Background: The outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which began in Wuhan, China, has rapidly spread in many countries and is currently considered a pandemic. The virus (SARS-CoV-2) causes severe acute respiratory syndrome and is related to SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV.
Methods: In this review, an introduction to SARS-CoV-2 was provided comprising the following items: general features; pathogenesis; the existing knowledge on immunological properties; transmission routs; diagnostic features, especially discussion about new approaches for treatment and prevention; and different diagnostic methods including nucleic acid based assays, serological testing, and MALDI TOF-MS and LC-MS technologies.
Findings and Conclusion: Introducing the different methods for SARS-CoV-2 detection may be useful to provide new insights into the development and improvement of detection primers, probes, methods/techniques, potential targets for drug designation, and therapeutic candidates against the virus.

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Sorghum Sorghum bicolor L. releasing allelochemicals in the soil through their root exudation that functional their associated soil microorganisms and can help in building disease control strategy for increasing sustainability. The obtained results of sorghum rhizospheric exudates exhibited markedly effect on bacterial count in rhizosphere soil. The extract of root exudates profile was tested by two prepared concentrations; 500 ppm and 1000 ppm against the Bipolaris sorokiniana compared to untreated control. The reduction percentages were calculated after four and seven days of fungus growth, the results represented that the reduction over control were 17.53, 45.63% after four days, however after seven days the reductions over control were 17.28, 36.40%. For sorghum root parts, the reduction increase with increasing concentration ranged from 49.71 to 71.67%, the highest reduction was afforded by conc. 1600 ppm while the lowest reduction by 200 ppm. The analysis to identify sorghum allelochemicals was conducted by LC-MS/MS and FTIR afforded; proline, coumaric acid, cinnamic acid, hydroxycoumarin, benzoxazolone, ferulic acid and sorgoleone. While, sorghum root parts extract compounds were; coumaric acid, cinnamic acid, vanillic acid, luteolin3-Hydroxycoumarin, gallic acid, ferulic acid and sorgoleone. It could be used sorghum root exudates and root parts extract in disease bio-control due the effect of secreted biochemical molecules as step toward sustainable agriculture.

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