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Environmental health perspectives2001; 109 Suppl 2(Suppl 2); 239-243; doi: 10.1289/ehp.01109s2239

Discovery and occurrence of the fumonisins: a historical perspective.

Abstract: This article describes the events leading to the discovery of the fumonisins in South Africa in 1988 and highlights the first 10 years (1988-1998) of fumonisin research. The predominant fungus isolated from moldy corn implicated in a field outbreak of equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) in South Africa in 1970 was Fusarium verticillioides (F. moniliforme). This fungus was also prevalent in moldy home-grown corn consumed by people in high-incidence areas of esophageal cancer (EC) in the Transkei region of South Africa. Culture material on corn of F. verticillioides strain MRC 826, which was isolated from moldy corn in Transkei, was shown to cause ELEM in horses, porcine pulmonary edema (PPE) syndrome in pigs, and liver cancer in rats. A short-term cancer initiation/promotion assay in rat liver was used to purify the carcinogen(s) in the culture material. These efforts finally met with success when fumonisins B1 and B2 novel mycotoxins with cancer-promoting activity in rat liver, were isolated from culture material of F. verticillioides MRC 826 at the Programme on Mycotoxins and Experimental Carcinogenesis of the Medical Research Council in Tygerberg, South Africa. Following the elucidation of the chemical structure of the fumonisins, these carcinogenic mycotoxins were shown to occur naturally in moldy corn in Transkei. Shortly thereafter, high levels of fumonisins in the 1989 U.S. corn crop resulted in large-scale field outbreaks of ELEM and PPE in horses and pigs, respectively, in the United States. Subsequently the fumonisins were found to occur naturally in corn worldwide, including corn consumed as the staple diet by people at high risk for EC in Transkei and China. These findings, together with the fact that the fumonisins cause field outbreaks of mycotoxicoses in animals, are carcinogenic in rats, and disrupt sphingolipid metabolism, have resulted in much worldwide interest in these compounds during the first 10 years after the discovery of the fumonisins in 1988.
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Publication Date: 2001-05-22 PubMed ID: 11359691PubMed Central: PMC1240671DOI: 10.1289/ehp.01109s2239Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research study summarizes and highlights the events leading to the discovery of carcinogenic mycotoxins, known as fumonisins, in South Africa in 1988, and the first decade of related research.

Discovering Fumonisins

  • Fumonisins were first discovered in South Africa in 1988 during the investigation of an equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) outbreak in horses, which was traced back to moldy corn infested by Fusarium verticillioides fungus.
  • The same fungus was prevalent in moldy home-grown corn consumed in high-incidence areas of esophageal cancer (EC) in the Transkei region of South Africa.
  • A strain of F. verticillioides named MRC 826 was cultured from the moldy corn from Transkei and was found to induce not only ELEM in horses but also porcine pulmonary oedema (PPE) syndrome in pigs and liver cancer in rats.
  • The carcinogens causing these diseases were then isolated through a short-term cancer initiation/promotion assay in rat liver.
  • The isolation process resulted in the discovery of fumonisin B1 and B2 – novel mycotoxins exhibiting cancer-promoting activity in rat liver.

The Distribution and Impact of Fumonisins

  • After the chemical structure of the fumonisins was determined, the presence of these carcinogenic mycotoxins was confirmed in moldy corn in the Transkei region.
  • In 1989, high levels of fumonisins were found in the U.S. corn crop, leading to large-scale ELEM and PPE outbreaks in horses and pigs in the U.S.
  • Subsequent research found that fumonisins naturally occur in corn worldwide, including in areas with high risk of EC such as Transkei and China, where corn is a staple diet.
  • These findings, combined with the fact that fumonisins can cause mycotoxicoses outbreaks in animals, are carcinogenic, and disrupt sphingolipid metabolism, have resulted in a surge in global interest in these compounds in the decade following their discovery.

This research provides a comprehensive look at the history and impact of the discovery of fumonisins, highlighting the importance of mycotoxin research in the context of public health, agriculture, and disease control.

Cite This Article

APA
Marasas WF. (2001). Discovery and occurrence of the fumonisins: a historical perspective. Environ Health Perspect, 109 Suppl 2(Suppl 2), 239-243. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.01109s2239

Publication

Environmental health perspectives
ISSN: 0091-6765
NlmUniqueID: 0330411
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 109 Suppl 2
Issue: Suppl 2
Pages: 239-243

Researcher Affiliations

Marasas, W F
  • Programme on Mycotoxins and Experimental Carcinogenesis, Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa. wally.marasas@mrc.ac.za

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Carboxylic Acids / history
  • Carboxylic Acids / isolation & purification
  • Disease Outbreaks / history
  • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
  • Encephalomalacia / history
  • Encephalomalacia / veterinary
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / history
  • Female
  • Fumonisins
  • Fusarium / classification
  • Fusarium / isolation & purification
  • Fusarium / pathogenicity
  • History, 20th Century
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mycoses / epidemiology
  • Mycoses / history
  • Mycoses / veterinary
  • Mycotoxins / adverse effects
  • Mycotoxins / history
  • Mycotoxins / isolation & purification
  • Pulmonary Edema / history
  • Pulmonary Edema / veterinary
  • South Africa / epidemiology
  • Zea mays / microbiology

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Citations

This article has been cited 112 times.
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