Multi-user equipment approved in grant 2019/21603-1: automated solid phase extraction (SPE) system, GX-274 ASPEC, Gilson

• Grant number: 22/01920-5
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program
• Start date: June 01, 2022
• End date: May 31, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Augusto Fernandes de Oliveira
• Grantee: Carlos Augusto Fernandes de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/21603-1 - Biomarker approaches for assessing the early life exposure to multiple mycotoxins in the diet, AP.TEM

Abstract

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi that occur naturally in foodstuffs, which can cause a large variety of toxic effects on vertebrates, including humans. The fact that some mycotoxins are carcinogenic (e.g., aflatoxins) and could be detected in breast milk, food and feedstuffs constitutes a serious human and animal health threat, mainly to children and young animals due to their high physiological vulnerability. This Thematic Project is constituted by 8 work packages (WP), which have independent and complementary objectives for advance in the knowledge concerning the exposure assessment of children to dietary mycotoxins using biomarker approaches and multi-mycotoxin analysis in food, as well as the in vitro determination of mycotoxin bioavailability, and the development of a functional dairy product containing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast biomass to reduce the dietary exposure to aflatoxins. The specific objectives of WPs are: WP-1: To assess de pre-natal exposure of pregnant women to dietary mycotoxins in Ribeirão Preto/SP, using mycotoxin biomarkers in fetus' tissues. WP-2: To assess the exposure of lactating mothers and infant babies to mycotoxins during lactation in Pirassununga/SP (currently ongoing - PhD scholarship FAPESP, Grant 2017/12956-2), and characterize the associated risk. WP-3: To assess the exposure of infants (e 1 year and < 2 years old), preschoolers (e2 and < 6 years old), schoolchildren (e 6 years and < 10 years old) and adolescents (e 10 years and < 19 years old) from Ribeirão Preto/SP to multiple mycotoxins in the diet using food data and biomarkers in urine, and characterize the associated risk. WP-4: To determine the co-occurrence of mycotoxins in infant formula, fruit- and cereal-based foods traded in Pirassununga and Ribeirão Preto/SP. WP-5: To determine the in vitro bioavailability of regulated mycotoxins in Brazil, and adjust the exposure assessment of children to mycotoxins obtained in WP-3 through food data and biomarkers present in the urine. WP-6: To develop innovative functional yoghurt containing yeast and LAB biomass to reduce the bioavailability of aflatoxins. WP-7: To assess efficacy of the functional yoghurt developed in WP-6 to decrease the teratogenic effects of aflatoxins on Wistar rats during pregnancy. WP-8: To assess the efficacy of the functional yoghurt developed in WP-6 to decrease the toxic effects of aflatoxins in feed, alone or in combination with fumonisins, on piglets. (AU)