Trichothecenes

Freeman and Morrison, 1948

Large family of chemically related mycotoxins (cyclic sesquiterterpenes with an epoxy ring) produced by various fungal species, so by the genera:

• Fusarium
• Myrothecium
• Trichoderma (e.g. Trichoderma polysporum, creator of Ciclosporins)
• Trichothecium
• Cephalosporium
• Verticimonosporium
• Stachybotrys

be produced. The initial isolation of the Trichothecenes was carried out from the mould Trichothecium roseum, which also gave it its name.

The trichothecenes are cyclic sesquiterpenes with a characteristic 12,13-epoxy ring, which is responsible for the different biological activities of the trichothecenes, depending on their substitution.

Due to their different chemical structures, trichothecenes have been divided into 4 subgroups (A-D), of which types A and B are the most common.

• Type A trichothecenes include toxins such as mono- and diacetoxyscirpenol, HT-2 toxin, T-2 toxin or neosolaniol.
• Type B trichothecenes include deoxynivalenol and nivalenol.

Trichothecenes are absorbed through skin and food. They have a cytotoxic effect and are strong inhibitors of protein synthesis. Symptoms of poisoning are mainly vomiting, diarrhoea and exanthema. They also have a toxic effect on the CNS and blood formation.

Trichothecenes (including T-2 toxin) have been studied in some countries for military use.

1. Bryła M et al (2018) Modified Fusarium Mycotoxins in Cereals and Their Products-Metabolism, Occurrence, and Toxicity: An Updated Review. Molecules 23. pii: E963.
2. Nleya N et al(2018) Current Status of Mycotoxin Contamination of Food Commodities in Zimbabwe. Toxins (Basel) pii: E89