Aspergillus flavus and cancer risks

Lethal aflatoxin secreted by the mould Aspergillus flavus, poses a significant risk of liver cancer throughout the world. Approximately a quarter of the food produced by tropical countries may contain this chemical. Until now, there has been no easy way of testing the level of contamination Professor John Smith, an aplied microbiologist, and Professor Bill Stimson, an immunologist of Strathclyde University, have developed antibodies to the toxin that can be used to detect its presence in even small quanti The experiments were based on the classical technique of innoculating mice with the toxin. The researchers have teamed up with Glasgow-based chemical company May & Baker, to develop a test that uses the toxin capacity of the anti-bodies. About 30 to 40 imported samples of crops could be tested every hour. The company is also marketing a much simpler kit to test the presence of the toxin for use in the producing countries themselves. The test is currently being implemented in the Far East and it should promise a complete decontamination in the short term.

Bibliographic Details

Main Author:	Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation
Format:	News Item biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation 1987
Online Access:	https://hdl.handle.net/10568/44620 http://collections.infocollections.org/ukedu/en/d/Jcta08e/
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