News Microbes

How fungi make potent toxins that can contaminate food

Genetically engineering Aspergillus species to delete certain proteins stops mycotoxin production

Color-enhanced scanning electron micrograph of the fungus Aspergillus nidulans shows fungal growths that look like broccoli clusters

Genetically engineering the fungus Aspergillus nidulans (shown in this color-enhanced scanning electron micrograph) to delete certain proteins prevents the production of compounds called mycotoxins.

Eye of Science/Science Source

By Deborah Balthazar

Food contaminated with fungi can be an inconvenience at best and life-threatening at worst. But new research shows that removing just one protein can leave some fungal toxins high and dry, and that’s potentially good news for food safety.

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