Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Plant Science

Mycotoxins in Agriculture and Food

A common pig-feed toxin disrupts gut fungi and fermentation in piglets

Researchers found that the feed toxin deoxynivalenol, or DON, selectively disrupted gut fungi in piglets while leaving bacterial diversity intact. The changes were linked to altered microbial activity, lower butyrate and reduced total short-chain fatty acids in the colon.

4 days ago·40 views

Abstract editorial illustration accompanying the article: Gamma or electron-beam radiation can cut aflatoxin in peanuts—at higher doses, quality shifts

Biology

Gamma or electron-beam radiation can cut aflatoxin in peanuts—at higher doses, quality shifts

Irradiating contaminated peanuts with gamma rays or an electron beam reduced aflatoxin B1 and microbial contamination. But at higher doses—especially 10 kGy—the treated peanuts showed signs of lipid oxidation and color changes, suggesting a tradeoff between safety and quality.

2 weeks ago·19 views