Grant PDC2023-145935-C21/22 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/
Mycotoxins are naturally occurring contaminants produced as secondary metabolites by filamentous fungi present in food and feed. About 350 species of fungi are known to be responsible for the production of approximately 400 mycotoxins. Due to the existence of mycotoxigenic fungi worldwide and the natural origin of these toxins, their presence in food is often unavoidable and, according to recent studies, up to 80% of crops could be contaminated with mycotoxins. About 30 of them are currently considered a threat to human and animal health because of their toxic effects (especially chronic). Their presence in food can cause everything from gastrointestinal and kidney disorders to immunodeficiencies or even cancer; in addition, mycotoxins are responsible for considerable economic losses worldwide.
On the firm basis of part of the excellent results of the research carried out in the preceding coordinated project (RTI2018-096410-BC21/22, “MICRODOT”), concerning the development of novel sensors for the determination of mycotoxins of high health relevance, social and economic relevance (fumonisin B1, mycophenolic acid and alternariol) based on simple, ultra-sensitive and novel bioluminescent immunoassays and mycotoxin mimetic peptides (“mimotopes” or “mycotopes”), this Proof of Concept proposal aims to demonstrate that a rapid and affordable automatic analyzer of food extracts for detecting such mycotoxins in vegetable and fruit juices, wines, ciders and beers is feasible when combining a tailor-made portable instrumentation based on integrated optofluidic bioCHIPs and amplified optical transduction without the need for excitation source, a solid experience in technology transfer, and an approach tailored to the needs of the end-user. As we demonstrate in the application below, we have some of these elements, the know-how to integrate the components and the determination to succeed in meeting the health, legal, economic and societal needs mentioned above. Producers, distributors and retailers will benefit from this analyzer and the general public will enjoy safer food products.
