Thursday, 25 July 2013

Aflatoxin, a fungus can worsen AIDS epidemic

As per a study in World Microtoxin Journal and reported in Science Daily, a type of fungus coatin seen on stored corn, wheat, rice and nut may worsen the AIDS epidemic in developing countries.

Aflatoxin is produced by fungus Aspergillus flavas and parasiticus. Chronic exposure to aflatoxin is linked to liver damage and cancer. The study showed that patients who had the highest exposure of the fungus on the rice were six times more likely to have high HIV virus than those in the lower group.


The fungus toxin may suppress immune system or may increase the expression of genes that results in more copies of virus. 

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