Aflatoxins
Updates to Article Attributes
Aflatoxins are naturally occuring mycotoxins that are produced by Aspergillus species, especially Aspergillus flavus. They are acutely toxic and carcinogenic.
Acute exposure
High-level aflatoxin exposure can result in acute aflatoxicosis with acute hepatic necrosis, leading to cirrhosis, and potentially hepatocellular carcinoma.
Chronic exposure
Chronic, subclinical exposure doesn't result in afaloxoicosisaflatoxicosis. In children, may cause developmental delay and growth retardation. Chronic exposure can also result in increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Aflatoxin metabolites can intercalate into DNA resulting in mutation of p53, one of the tumour supressorsuppressor genes. Some base pair locations are preferentially affected, e.g. the third base of codon 249 1.
-<p><strong>Aflatoxins</strong> are naturally occuring mycotoxins that are produced by <a href="/articles/aspergillus" title="Aspergillus spp">Aspergillus species</a>, especially <em><a href="/articles/aspergillus-flavus" title="Aspergillus flavus">Aspergillus flavus</a></em>. They are acutely toxic and carcinogenic.</p><h4>Acute exposure</h4><p>High-level aflatoxin exposure can result acute aflatoxicosis with <a href="/articles/acute-hepatic-necrosis" title="acute hepatic necrosis">acute hepatic necrosis</a>, resulting in <a href="/articles/cirrhosis" title="Cirrhosis">cirrhosis</a>, and potentially <a href="/articles/hepatocellular-carcinoma" title="Hepatocellular carcinoma">hepatocellular carcinoma</a>. </p><h4>Chronic exposure</h4><p>Chronic, subclinical exposure doesn't result in afaloxoicosis. In children, may cause <a href="/articles/developmental-delay" title="developmental delay ">developmental delay</a> and <a href="/articles/growth-retardation" title="growth retardation">growth retardation</a>. Chronic exposure can also result in increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. </p><p>Aflatoxin metabolites can intercalate into DNA resulting in mutation of <a href="/articles/p53" title="p53">p53</a>, one of the <a href="/articles/tumour-supressor-genes" title="tumour supressor genes">tumour supressor genes</a>. Some base pair locations are preferentially affected, e.g. the third base of codon 249 <sup>1</sup>.</p>- +<p><strong>Aflatoxins</strong> are naturally occuring mycotoxins that are produced by <a href="/articles/aspergillus">Aspergillus species</a>, especially <em><a href="/articles/aspergillus-flavus">Aspergillus flavus</a></em>. They are acutely toxic and carcinogenic.</p><h4>Acute exposure</h4><p>High-level aflatoxin exposure can result in acute aflatoxicosis with <a href="/articles/acute-hepatic-necrosis">acute hepatic necrosis</a>, leading to <a href="/articles/cirrhosis">cirrhosis</a>, and potentially <a href="/articles/hepatocellular-carcinoma">hepatocellular carcinoma</a>. </p><h4>Chronic exposure</h4><p>Chronic, subclinical exposure doesn't result in aflatoxicosis. In children, may cause developmental delay and growth retardation. Chronic exposure can also result in increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. </p><p>Aflatoxin metabolites can intercalate into DNA resulting in mutation of <a href="/articles/p53">p53</a>, one of the tumour suppressor genes. Some base pair locations are preferentially affected, e.g. the third base of codon 249 <sup>1</sup>.</p>