Advances in Food Mycology

12 Jens C. Frisvad et al.
3.4. Cyclic Peptides
The two groups of cyclic peptides, beauvericin and enniatins, are
structurally related and they show antibiotic and ionophoric activities
(Kamyar et al., 2004). Both groups of cyclic peptides have been
detected in agricultural products (Jestoi et al., 2004).
3.4.1. Beauvericin
Beauvericin was originally found in entomopathogenic fungi
such as Beauveria bassiana and Isaria fumosorosea (formerly
Paecilomyces fumosoroseus; Luangsa-Ard et al., 2005) but has also
been detected in several Fusarium species occurring on food
(Logrieco et al., 1998).
Major sources. Fusarium subglutinans, F. proliferatum and F. oxysporum
are consistent producers of beauvericin and have often been
found to produce high quantities under laboratory conditions. These
species are often found on maize and fruits.
Minor sources. Several species of the Gibberella fujikuroi complex
have been reported to produce beauvericin in low amounts, including
F. nygamai, F. dlaminii and F. verticillioides from cereals and fruits.
The systematics of these Fusaria has developed dramatically during
the last years, so a lot of species specific information of toxin production
is not available.
F. avenaceum, F. poae and F. sporotrichioides on cereal grain, fruits
and vegetables are known to produce beauvericin in low amounts
(Morrison et al., 2002; Thrane et al., 2004). In addition, F. sambucinum
and a few strains of F. acuminatum, F.equiseti and F. longipes
from agricultural products have also been reported low producers of
beauvericin (Logrieco et al., 1998).
3.4.2. Enniatins
Enniatins are a group of more than 15 related compounds produced
by several Fusarium species, but also from Halosarpeia sp. and
Verticillium hemipterigenum; however these are not of food origin.
Major sources. Fusarium avenaceum is the most important enniatin
producer in cereals and other agricultural food plants, because this
species is a very frequent and consistent producer of enniatin B
(Morrison et al., 2002). Fusarium sambucinum is a consistent producer
of enniatin B and diacetoxyscirpenol and causes dry rot in potatoes;
however the role of these toxins has not been examined.