This unique project is to prevent and reduce consumer’s health risk derived from mycotoxin contamination in food and feed. This will be achieved through:

(1) development of molecular diagnostic methods for an early detection of toxigenic Fusarium species and ochratoxigenic fungi in plant products, 

(2) new and more sensitive immunological tests for detection of mycotoxins in food,

(3) biochemical and molecular studies to characterize gene/s responsible for ochratoxin A synthesis. This multidisciplinary project will assure food safety by detecting and preventing mycotoxin risk exposure (key action 1). It will also provide support to health and environmental policy-making and public information (key action 4).

(1) To clone mating-type genes from Gibberella

(2) To obtain molecular detection methods (biochips, species-specific quantitative PCR, NASBA) for detection of fumonisin and beauvericin producing  Fusarium species,

(3) To obtain molecular detection methods (biochips, species-specific quantitative PCR, NASBA) for enniatin and trichothecenes producing Fusarium species,

(4) To develop specific monoclonal antibodies to beauvericin and enniatin and relative producing Fusarium species, 

(5) To develop Robust quantitative PCR detection system for ochratoxin

European research centers, including two SMEs, from six different European countries together with five agro-food companies and two consumer associations will participate in this multidisciplinary and multifaced project. The work is divided in two work packages (WP1-WP2). In WP1 will be studied: (a) the mating type genes of the Gibberella complex (anamorph: Fusarium) as a step towards understanding the importance of sexual reproduction in toxin/gene segregation and in the epidemiology of toxigenic Fusarium species, (b) recent molecular techniques for an early, robust and user-friendly detection of the most social and economical important toxigenic Fusarium species (producing fumonisins, trichothecenes, beauvericin and enniatins) in various plant products (e.g. wheat, corn, sorghum, asparagus), (c) monoclonal antibodies useful for an early detection of beauvericin and enniatins mycotoxins in cereals. In WP 2 will be: (a) investigate the genetics of  OTA biosynthesis in Aspergillus ochraceous and Penicillium verrucosum, two of the principal OTA producing fungi and the expression of genes in various European strains including others species recently described as OTA producers, (b) develop rapid and specific detection kit by molecular characterization of OTA producers. The detection kits obtained will be then tested in comparison with conventional methods by agro-food industries and consumers association present as assistant contractors in the project.

Methologies and tools (biochips, probes, monoclonal antibodies) to detect and prevent fungal and toxin contamination in food and feed. Knowledge regarding the gene/s involved in toxin biosinthesis and fungal sexual reproduction. Data which could help agro-food SMEs and consumer association in reducing mycotoxin risks in plant products and agro-food chain.