Progress in the application of Caenorhabditis elegans in the toxicological research of mycotoxins

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi, which can be accumulated and transmitted through the food chain. Due to their strong stability and difficulty to reduce, high exposure risk to consumers, as well as affect the growth and development of populations such as infants and young children, mycotoxicology research has expanded from the toxicity studies on substantial target organs to long-term toxicity studies on early life populations with high exposure. The Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), with its rapid development, high genetic homology to humans, and clear genetic background, has become the preferred model organism for evaluating the toxicity and toxicological mechanisms of exogenous toxins. To provide a theoretical basis for a comprehensive understanding of the toxic effects and mechanisms of mycotoxins, this article reviews the applications of C. elegans in mycotoxins toxicology research, from the perspectives of developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, and neurodevelopmental toxicity. In detail, this review focuses on analyzing the developmental toxic effects of mycotoxins on the larval stage of C. elegans and exploring the molecular mechanisms of developmental toxicity. This review will contribute to the establishment of accurate toxicological evaluation model for mycotoxins and offer a scientific basis for the screening of food-origin toxin intervention agents.