ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview about the laboratory models used to study Aspergillus mycotoxicoses, with a special focus on the most recent publications applying rodent models and mammalian cell lines, the application of which proved especially fruitful to gain more insight into the toxic and carcinogenic effects of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), Ochratoxin A (OTA), and other Aspergillus mycotoxins. The genus Aspergillus is taxonomically divided into 8 subgenera and more than 20 sections consisting of about 300–350 species. The most economically important Aspergillus mycotoxins identified as contaminants in foods and feeds are the aflatoxins, ochratoxins, patulin, and fumonisins. Aspergillus species produce a wide range of other mycotoxins that may contaminate our foods and can be harmful to humans. There is a series of reports available in the literature about the application of invertebrate models for studying the effects of Aspergillus mycotoxins.
