The accumulation of mycotoxins in foods and feeds represents a major threat to human and animal health as they are responsible for several chronic health risks, including immunosuppression, cancer induction, and digestive, blood and nerve defects. Mycotoxins negatively impact agriculture and associated industries in different ways and the economic consequences of mycotoxin contamination are profound. Regulations have been established in most countries worldwide to protect consumer health and ensure fair practices in food trade.
Because of the scale of the problem, several research projects have been funded by previous European Union (EU) framework programmes (Vth and VIth FP) to develop strategies for minimizing the risk of toxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in food crops. In this contest the MYCOGLOBE project was supported by the European Commission within the VIth framework programme as a Specific Support Action aiming at the ‘Integration of Mycotoxins and Toxigenic Fungi European Research for Food Safety in the Global System’. The project was set up to share the results of EU research with other countries that have bilateral science and technology agreements with the EU within the wider framework of a global information system on mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi. MYCOGLOBE focused its activity on the participation and cooperation between EU and other countries to gather knowledge on mycotoxin crop contamination, mapping the mycotoxin occurrence in the most widely cultivated and exported crops, networking which includes training, working and expert groups, conferences, seminars and management seminars.
The MYCOGLOBE Conference on ‘Advances in Genomics, Biodiversity and Rapid Systems for Detection of Toxigenic Fungi and Mycotoxins’, held in Monopoli, Bari, Italy, 26–29 September 2006, was the sixth in a series of international meetings organized within the project. In keeping with the goals of the MYCOGLOBE project, the conference brought together experts from various parts of the world engaged in developing knowledge in genomics, biodiversity, and novel technologies aimed to reduce and ultimately eliminate the adverse effects of mycotoxin contamination on the profitability of agriculture and related industries as well as the safety of food and feed supplies worldwide.
The conference was organized in three main oral sessions, and included a poster session and discussion groups.
The first session on ‘Biosynthesis of Mycotoxins and Genomics of Toxigenic Fungi’ included aspects relevant to EST profiling for the elucidation of aflatoxin biosynthesis and the whole genome sequencing of Aspergillus flavus as well as comparative genomics of A. flavus and Fusarium graminearum. Other aspects of functional genomics in the biosynthesis of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A were also discussed.
The second session on ‘Biodiversity of Toxigenic Fungi’ included biodiversity of Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium in different continents as well as the role of biodiversity in plant pathogenicity and biological control.
The third session on ‘Emerging Detection Methods for Toxigenic Fungi and Mycotoxins’ included a variety of molecular methods (real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), microarrays, multiplex) for the detection of toxigenic fungi (producing ochratoxin A, trichothecenes or fumonisins) together with the use of an electronic nose for the differentiation of toxigenic and non-toxigenic fungi. Among the emerging methods for mycotoxins, capillary electrophoresis and fluorescence polarization were introduced together with microsensors and immunological flow-through devices for rapid analysis as well as new immunoaffinity columns or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods for multi-mycotoxin analysis. Analytical methods for biomarkers of exposure to fumonisins were also reviewed.
Five discussion groups were formed among participants (about ten to 15 participants per group) based on the relevant expertise to discuss specific topics of interest aiming: (1) to identify priority areas within specific topics of the discussion group that may be suitable to be part of a proposal to the following call for the VIIth Framework Programme of the European Commission, and (2) to identify at least two different fungi and toxins to be studied. The following topics were selected for the discussion groups: (1) Genomics, (2) Biodiversity, (3) Rapid detection of toxigenic fungi, (4) Rapid detection of mycotoxins, and (5) Regulation of toxin biosynthesis. The following is a list of best ideas or priorities identified by each discussion group:
Genomics:
| • | Create and maintain a database resource including: sequence information; expression data; metabolic profile; evolution/phylogeny; and comparative analyses (strain/genus). | ||||
| • | Develop better tools/high throughput for functional genomics: maintain a repository for mutants/disrupted strains; and harmonize and coordinate functional studies. | ||||
| • | Train researchers to use: databases/bioinformatics/annotation; functional genomics tools and technology; and special emphasis for Third World countries. | ||||
Biodiversity:
| • | Approaches: (1) understand biodiversity of fungal populations at a global level; (2) use fungal biodiversity to inform plant disease-resistance breeding programmes; (3) develop specific markers for the detection of specific toxigenic/pathogenic traits and/or fungal populations; (4) provide a scientific basis for mycotoxin risk assessment; and (5) provide a scientific basis for forecasting new and emerging toxigenic fungi. | ||||
| • | Specific target problems: (1) trichothecenes and Fusarium graminearum in cereals; (2) ochratoxin A genes and Aspergillus niger group in grapes and other plant products; and (3) aflatoxin genes and Aspergillus flavus in maize and other plant products. | ||||
Rapid detection of toxigenic fungi:
| • | Main priorities: (1) develop validated robust tools for trichothecene-producing fungi from biosphere to plate; (2) develop molecular detection systems for ochratoxin A and aflatoxin-producing species from spices from developing countries to avoid trade barriers; (3) develop tools to detect ochratoxin A-producing fungi in cereals; and (4) develop quantitative multiplex methods to analyse interactions, biodiversity, and epidemiology of food- and feed-relevant fungi. | ||||
Rapid detection of mycotoxins:
| • | Method development and performance validation: global validation of methods requiring <30 min with sample preparation or <5 min without sample preparation; and collaborative study of point-of-use methods. | ||||
| • | Applicability and accessibility: improve robustness of assays; reduce cost of assays; training; and especially of Third World personnel, to conduct assays. | ||||
| • | Biomarkers: identify and validate new markers and methods; develop analytical methods to support biomarker identification and monitoring; and utilize biomarkers to monitor exposure and perform intervention strategies. | ||||
| • | Quality assurance and risk management: monitor contamination at critical points in the food chain; identify and monitor breakdown products and ‘masked’ mycotoxins; and improve/develop confirmatory assays. | ||||
Regulation of toxin biosynthesis:
| • | Selected ideas: (1) identify abiotic and biotic factors affecting regulation of mycotoxin biosynthesis and catabolism; (2) identify inter- and intra-cellular signals and transduction pathways/mechanisms; (3) identify specific and global regulatory factors at the DNA and chromatin level; and (4) identify key regulatory factors for targeting to minimize mycotoxins in food and feed. | ||||
The MYCOGLOBE project has been an extraordinary experience of a large and fruitful cooperation at global level between various experts and institutions dealing with prevention and reduction of the mycotoxin problem. This led to the constitution of the International Society for Mycotoxicology that will continue the networking and promotional activity started with MYCOGLOBE. We are deeply grateful to the European Commission for allowing us to share this experience with all participants who contributed to the success of the project.
This special issue of Food Additives and Contaminants is a collection of selected papers that are representative of the various topics discussed at the MYCOGLOBE International Conference.
The Conference was supported by the European Commission Specific Support Action MYCOGLOBE within the VI Framework Programme. For further information on the project, see http://www.mycoglobe.ispa.cnr.it//
Guest Editors: Angelo Visconti and Antonio Logrieco
Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA),
National Research Council (CNR),
Via Amendola 122/O,
I-70126 Bari,
Italy