Early detection of Toxigenic Fusarium species and Ochratoxigenic Fungi in Plant Products

PROPOSAL: QLK1-1999-01380 ACRONYM DE-TOX FUNGI
AREA: FP5 - QoL, 5/ 1:Food, Nutrition and Health 1 - Development of safe and flexible and new and/or improved manufacturing processes and technologies Call number / date: 1a
PROJECT TYPE: Shared Cost EU CONTRIBUTION: 2,040,000
STARTING DATE: 01/02/00 DURATION: 42 months

Coordinator: Prof.dr. G. Mulé, Istituto Tossine e Micotossine, da Parassiti Vegetali, CNR, Viale Einuadi 51, IT -I-70125, Bari, Italy, Email: g.mule@area.area.ba.cnr.it

Project Description:
The aim of this 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 characterise genes responsible for ochratoxin A synthesis. This multidisciplinary project will assure food safety by detecting and preventing micotoxin risk exposure. It will also provide support to health and environmental policy-making and public information. The objectives are: To clone mating-type genes from Gibberella To obtain molecular detection methods (biochips, species-specific quantitative PCR, NASBA) for detection of fumonisin and beauvericin producing Fusarium species To obtain molecular detection methods (biochips, species-specific quantitative PCR, NASBA) for enniatin and trichothecenes producing Fusarium species To develop specific monoclonal antibodies to beauvericin and enniatin and relative producing Fusarium species To develop Robust quantitative PCR detection system for ochratoxin A producing fungi To clone genes responsible of OTA biosynthesis EXPECTED RESULTS Methodologies 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. APPLICATIONS Provide tools for reducing and controlling the risk of mycotoxins in plant products and in the subsequent food chain obtaining agro-industrial products with a major added value which lead to a better economic development of rural areas (farmers, animal breeders, etc.)

Project URL: http://detox.ba.cnr.it/PROJECT%20WPLAN.htm

Consortium:
Co-ordinator: Department: Ufficio Entrate Organisation: National Research Council of Italy 7 Piazzale Aldo Moro 7 00185 ROMA ITALY Participants Organisation: John Innes Centre Norwich Research Park, Colney NR4 7UH NORWICH UNITED KINGDOM Department: RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR PLANT PROTECTION Organisation: Agricultural Research Department 5 Binnenhaven 5 6709 PD WAGENINGEN NETHERLANDS Department: CENTRAL SCIENCE LABORATORY SAND HUTTON Organisation: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Sand Hutton YO41 1LZ YORK UNITED KINGDOM Department: FACULTAD DE BIOLOGIA Organisation: Universidad Complutense de Madrid Ciudad Universitaria s/n 28040 Madrid SPAIN Department: MYCOLOGY GROUP Organisation: Agricultural Biotechnology Centre Szent-Gyorgyi, 4 PO Box 411 2100 GODOLLO HUNGARY Department: INSTITUT FUER BIOTECHNOLOGIE UND MOLEKULARBIOLOGIE Organisation: Bundesforschungsanstalt fur Ernahrung Haid-und-Neustr.9 76131 KARLSRUHE GERMANY Department: DEPARTAMENTO TECNICO C.V.N.E. Organisation: Compania Vinicola del Norte de Espana SA. B DE LA ESTACION, S/N 26200 Haro (La Rioja) SPAIN Department: PRODUCT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Organisation: Adgen Ltd Nellies Gate, Auchincruive KA6 5HW AYR UNITED KINGDOM Department: LEHRSTUHL FUER TECHNISCHE MIKROBIOLOGIE Organisation: Technische Universitat Munchen Welhenstephaner Steig, 16 85350 FREISING GERMANY Organisation: Baricoop Srlc Viale Einaudi, 15 70125 BARI ITALY Department: CENTRO STUDI INTERNAZIONALE DI RICERCA E SVILUPPO Organisation: Associazione Italiana Consumatori Via Monte Santo, 25 00195 ROMA ITALY Organisation: Estacion Enologica de Castilla y Leon C/ Santisimo Cristo, 16 47490 Rueda (Valladolid) SPAIN Department: LABORATORY Organisation: Bodegas Antano SA CL/ Arribas, 7 47490 Valladolid SPAIN Department: DEPARTMENT OF FEED AND FOOD HYGIENE Organisation: National Veterinary Institute Ullevaalsveien 68 0033 OSLO NORWAY


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