Project Number: 6612-42000-038-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Feb 08, 2006
End Date: Feb 07, 2011

Objective:
Determine the involvement of fumonisins in neural tube defects in areas where corn consumption is high. Develop methodology to quantitatively detect toxins in plant derived foods and determine the ability of processing methods to reduce toxins in foods and feeds. Develop mechanism¿based bioassays for assessing the efficacy of processing methods to reduce toxicity of deoxynivalenol and other toxins in contaminated foods. Develop improved biomarkers for fumonisin exposure in plants, animals and humans.

Approach:
The approaches involve in vivo and in vitro studies using animal and plant models and epidemiological studies to evaluate human exposure to toxins and risk for mycotoxin associated diseases. For the processing objective mass balance studies will be conducted comparing toxin levels in starting material to that in final product. For other objectives mechanism based bioassays will be developed to assess plant derived toxins in foods and for assessing the efficacy of processing methods. Plant and animal models will be used to develop mechanism-based markers of resistance and susceptibility to disease.