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MATPROG-Matprogrammet: Norsk mat fra sjø og land

Rapid DNA-based prediction of mycotoxin levels in food and feed

Tildelt: kr 2,6 mill.

The major mycotoxin producers in foods in Norway and Europe are members of the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium. Two major classes of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium spp. are trichothecenes and fumonisins. The biosynthetic pathways involve gen es organised in (Tri- and Fum-) gene clusters. The presence/absence, genotype and order of genes vary between and within species, and only a few taxa have been studied in detail. The Tri- and Fum- cluster genes will be sequenced from at least one isolate for each of the Fusarium spp. where the genes are present and not yet sequenced. DNA-based multiplex detection of mycotoxin producers is an attractive and potentially cost effective, rapid and reliable alternative to time consuming mycotoxin testing and m orphological detection, which is done only for one or a few mycotoxins/species per analysis. Building on recently developed multiplex methods applying array and capillary electrophoresis for simultaneous discrimination of 16 taxa of Fusarium in 24-48 hour s, housekeeping protein coding genes will be sequenced, followed by phylogenetic analysis and development of diagnostic assays for Penicillium subgenus Penicillium and trichothecene and fumonisin producing Fusarium species. The resulting assays will be co mpared and evaluated, their performance characteristics determined and validated in collaboration with at least one transfer laboratory. The project will be performed in direct collaboration between the National Veterinary Institute, Norway and the Univer sity of Girona, Spain. The collaboration includes bi-lateral exchange of post-doctoral fellows. Invitations to other institutions regularly collaborating with the co-ordinating institution in related projects, to participate to validation of the developed assays, is foreseen. Foreseen results are faster and cost effective tools for prediction of mycotoxin exposure risks for competent and enforcement authorities and food producers, importers and exporters.

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MATPROG-Matprogrammet: Norsk mat fra sjø og land