BAOJ Microbiology Molecular Affirmation of Aspergillus luchuensis a Niger Group Species as a Non- Ochratoxigenic Fungus

Amongst the various species of Aspergillus section Nigri; Aspergillus luchuensis, associated with food and beverage fermentation in East Asia, is evaluated by multiple researchers as nonochratoxigenic based on the extrolite analysis. Beyond extrolite analysis, in the present study, A. luchuensis strain was analyzed by a rapid Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. The Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS), Intergenic Spacer (IGS) and β-tubulin gene region were PCR amplified from A. luchuensis. The digestion of amplicons ITS and β-tub with Rsa I resulted in uncut and two bands (420 and 130 bp) respectively, while IGS with Hinf I produced three bands (250, 80 and 60 bp). The restriction profile obtained, resembled the profile of strains which lack the ability to produce ochratoxin A (OTA). A clear correlation between the extrolite analysis and PCRRFLP technique is established, confirming the usability of PCRRFLP method for the rapid affirmation of non-ochratoxigenic property of A. luchuensis.