Summary
A nontoxigenic isolate of Aspergillus flavus (NRRL 5565) contains a viral genome consisting of 3 double-stranded RNA (ds-RNA) components with molecular weights of approximately 3 kb each. It thus shares a characteristical feature with a virus occuring in strains of Penicillium chrysogenum.
Application of known inhibitors of doublestranded RNA virus synthesis results in stable aflatoxin formation by this originally nontoxigenic strain and the simultaneous loss of its ds-RNA traits. Since the inhibitor induced toxicity can be completely reverted by incubation with a virus from Penicillium chrysogenum (PcV), it is presumed that PcV or a functional related virus possibly constitutes the aflatoxin repressing determinant in Aspergillus flavus.
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Schmidt, F.R., Lemke, P.A. & Esser, K. Viral influences on aflatoxin formation by Aspergillus flavus . Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 24, 248–252 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00261546
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00261546