Source: NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY submitted to
IDENTIFICATION OF REGULATORY GENES IN A. FLAVUS AND A. NIDULANS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN MYCOTOXIN PRODUCTION, MORPHOGENESIS, AND VIRULENCE
Sponsoring Institution
Agricultural Research Service/USDA
Project Status
NEW
Funding Source
USDA COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0426639
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
6054-42000-025-06S
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jun 1, 2014
Project End Date
May 31, 2019
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
CARY J W
Recipient Organization
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
1425 W. LINCOLN HIGHWAY, LOWDEN HALL 305
DEKALB,IL 60115-2825
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
(N/A)
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
0%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
7121219110210%
7121510201062%
7121810110218%
7121830201010%
Knowledge Area
712 - Protect Food from Contamination by Pathogenic Microorganisms, Parasites, and Naturally Occurring Toxins;

Subject Of Investigation
1219 - Edible tree nuts, general/other; 1510 - Corn; 1810 - Cottonseed; 1830 - Peanut;

Field Of Science
1102 - Mycology; 2010 - Physics;
Goals / Objectives
Identify key genes involved in regulation of oxidative stress, nitric oxide production, and nitrogen metabolism in Aspergillus (A.) nidulans and A. flavus whose expression are dependent on the presence of regulatory genes such as veA. Determine role of these genes in regulation of biological activities such as fungal toxin production, morphogenesis, and virulence.
Project Methods
Data acquired from Aspergillus (A.) flavus whole genome microarray/two-hybrid studies will be used to identify key genetic components of signaling pathways that control aflatoxin production and fungal morphogenesis. Using both A. flavus and the model fungus, A. nidulans, gene inactivation studies will determine the role of novel as well as previously characterized genes involved in fungal response to oxidative stress on toxin production and morphogenesis. The role of VeA and other regulatory proteins on production of hydrolytic enzymes involved in fungal pathogenesis of crop plants will be determined using molecular and biochemical techniques.