This five-day International Symposium sponsored by the BMS will cover the whole range of activities of bioactive fungal metabolites and will address the problems and opportunities associated with these compounds.

Fungal metabolites have been used to develop several important medical and agrochemical agents, and continue to be investigated as a source of lead compounds in these industries. Strategies for the successful detection and exploitation of bioactive lead compounds will be examined. Some metabolites also have negative effects, particularly in relation to contamination of food raw materials. The ecology, production and control of mycotoxins will also be addressed in this Symposium.

The meeting will also assess whether metabolites produced by fungal biological control agents pose a risk to human and animal health and will include a review of measures to detect and/or prevent toxic fungal metabolites entering the food chain.

This timely conference will be of considerable interest to scientists, representatives of industry and government health, food and environmental services. A network discussion workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to identify new partners for collaborative research to more fully exploit the potential of bioactive metabolites from fungi.

Sessions include:

• Overview
• Fungi as a source of novel bioactive compounds.
• Tools and methods to study fungal metabolites.
• Optimising the production of Bioactive Metabolites.
• Mycotoxins.
• Risk assessment for Fungal Biological Control Agents.
• Network discussions.

For further information please contact:

Tariq M. Butt,
School of Biological Sciences,
University of Wales Swansea,
Singleton Park,
Swansea,
SA2 8PP, UK.

Tel: +44 (0)1792 295374
Fax: +44 (0)1792 295447
Email: T.Butt@swansea.ac.uk

See also the following websites:

http://www.biomed.man.ac.uk/bmsconference/
http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/iupac.html

Symposium Information updated 2000-MAY-30