Tarbiat Modares University Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 1680-7073 25 5 2023 09 01 Mitigating the effects of aflatoxin producing fungus Aspergillus flavus by means of siRNA 1033 1044 16791 10.22034/jast.25.5.1033 EN S. Ansari Department of Plant Molecular Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. A. Mousavi Department of Plant Molecular Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. M. R. Safarnejad Department of Plant Viruses, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. N. Farrokhi Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. S. M. Alavi Department of Plant Molecular Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. Journal Article 1970 01 01 <em>Aspergillus</em> <em>flavus</em> is a major fungal phytopathogen and an opportunistic pathogen to humans and livestock. The fungus produces immunosuppressive and carcinogenic aflatoxins that acts as a burden in food and feed industries. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the cell wall protein, <em>A. flavus </em>mannoprotein 1 (AFLMP1), is exclusively present in Aspergillus section Flavi such as <em>A. flavus</em> and <em>A. parasiticus</em>. This makes AFLMP1 an excellent candidate for siRNA-based control of aflatoxigenic fungi in farms and processing units, and fungal therapy in hospitals. Here and for the first time, mode of action of a chemically synthesized RNA interference (siRNA) was investigated for the control of AFLMP1 synthesis. The efficacy of direct uptake of different concentration of siRNA on spore germination of <em>A. flavus </em>was monitored via Opera High Content Screening confocal microscope. siRNA caused growth inhibition at lower concentrations (0.65 nM) and germination failure (more than 90%) at higher concentrations (5 nM), most likely by interfering in mannoprotein biosynthesis. It is assumed that siRNA technology can be implemented as a promising suppressive agent in treatment of target genes for inactivation. It can be considered as an intervention in food/feed industries to control the development and reproduction of fungi to keep the fungal population below hazard critical points. <strong><span dir="RTL"></span></strong> https://jast.modares.ac.ir/article_16791_e9d3e114b1cf19de5ae8d014512350c2.pdf