Combined use of LC/MS and a biological test for rapid identification of marine mycotoxins produced by Trichoderma koningii

Trichoderma koningii Oudemans, a strain isolated from a shellfish farming area, was selected for its high frequency in samples and its ability to produce metabolites when cultured in natural seawater. Combined use of LC/MS and a biological test on blowfly larvae allowed the characterization of four compounds after purification in only two steps (VLC and HPLC). ESI/MS, a powerful tool for rapid identification and sequence determination of peptides, confirmed that these compounds were peptide, α- amino iso butyric acid and amino alcoh ol (peptaibols), the usual metabolites of Trichoderma.