Fumonisins are polyketide-derived mycotoxins produced by Fusarium verticillioides, a fungal pathogen of corn plants. Although a gene cluster for the biosynthesis of fumonisins has been cloned, the biosynthetic pathway is still not clear. We have used three gene-disrupted mutants, designated DeltaFUM1, DeltaFUM6, and DeltaFUM8, to study the early steps of the pathway. Fumonisins were not produce...

The filamentous fungus Fusarium verticillioides can cause disease of maize and is capable of producing fumonisins, a family of toxic secondary metabolites linked to esophageal cancer and neural tube defects in humans and lung edema in swine and leukoencephalomalacia in equines. The expression of fumonisin biosynthetic genes is influenced by broad-domain transcription factors (global regulators)...

The occurrence of aflatoxins and fumonisins in Incaparina was investigated. Incaparina is a mixture of corn and cottonseed flour with added vitamins, minerals and a preservative. It has been marketed as a high-protein food supplement, particularly for children on protein-deficient diets. According to estimates, 80% of Guatemalan children in their first year are given Incaparina to provide an ad...

s of 42 papers given at the Fumonisin Risk Assessment Workshop are presented. Topics covered include occurrence, analytical methods, toxicity and risk assessment of fumonisins and control of fumonisin production. PETERSEN, A. and THORUP, I. 2001. Preliminary evaluation of fumonisins by the Nordic countries and occurrence of fumonisins (FB 1 and FB 2 ) in cornbased foods on the Danish market . F...

Fusarium verticillioides is the primary causal agent of Fusarium ear and kernel rot in maize, producing fumonisin mycotoxins that are toxic to humans and domestic animals. Rapid detection and monitoring of fumonisin-producing fungi are pivotally important for the prevention of mycotoxins from entering into food/feed products. Chicken-derived single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) against cell ...

Grain products are a staple of diets worldwide and therefore, the ability to accurately and efficiently detect foodborne contaminants such as mycotoxins is of importance to everyone. Here we describe an indirect competitive fluid array fluoroimmunoassay to quantify the mycotoxins, fumonisin B1 and ochratoxin A. Both toxins were immobilized to the surface of microspheres using a variety of inter...

For years scientists have suspected that the environment plays a role in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. Mycotoxin fumonisin B 1 (FB 1 ) is produced by several Fusarium species, mainly by Fusarium verticilioides, which is one of the most common fungi associated with corn worldwide. Fumonisins are known to cause equine leukoenc...

Maize is by quantity the most important C4 cereal crop; however, future climate changes are expected to increase maize susceptibility to mycotoxigenic fungal pathogens and reduce productivity. While rising atmospheric [CO2 ] is a driving force behind the warmer temperatures and drought, which aggravate fungal disease and mycotoxin accumulation, our understanding of how elevated [CO2 ] will effe...