University of Valencia logo Logo Scientific Technological Offer Logo del portal

Research Group on Mycology, Mycotoxins and Other Microbial Toxins - MICOTOX

Description

Research Group; Mycology, Mycotoxins and Other Microbial Toxins Faculty of Biological Sciences and Faculty of Chemistry Universitat de València

The group is composed of professors from the Departments of Microbiology and Ecology and Analytical Chemistry of the Universitat de València. Its research activity is of a multidisciplinary nature and has been developed in these areas, mainly applied to the fields of Health and Food Science and Technology. The group was formed in 1988, although it had been in existence for many years before. 

Its research in the early years focused on the detection, isolation and identification of fungi and mycotoxins in food as well as fungal secondary metabolites with acaricidal, insecticidal or fungicidal activity, which were identified and transferred to the business sector through University-Business contracts. The group's first work on aflatoxins and aflatoxin-producing fungi was carried out on pre- and post-harvest cereals and marked the beginning of mycotoxin research in Spain. Later, in addition to cereals, its work has focused on other agricultural crops such as citrus fruits, nuts, grapevines, etc. The group has carried out research on the characterisation of the most important toxigenic species of the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium and Alternaria, inter- and intra-specific chemotyping, study of their ecophysiology and their resistance to antifungals (organic, conventional and newly designed). This research has been carried out in parallel with the optimisation of high-resolution analytical methods (GC and LC, LC-MS/MS) for the determination of mycotoxins, both in in vitro bioassays and in agricultural crops and derived foodstuffs. The main mycotoxins studied were aflatoxins, ochratoxins, zearalenone, trichothecenes A and B, fumonisins, patulin and alternariols. 

Other notable aspects of its research have been the study of strategies for the elimination of mycotoxins during the technological transformation of raw materials (fermentation, baking, biological adsorbents, etc.), application of predictive models for the prevention/control of mycotoxins in food in the context of climate change, evaluation of mycotoxins in human biological fluids, design and testing of bioactive films for the sustainable control of fungi and mycotoxins in food, etc. Given the current importance of toxins produced by bacteria and cyanobacteria and the risk they pose to human and animal health, a new line of work has been initiated for the characterisation and detection of cyanotoxins and other toxins produced by unicellular planktonic algae.

The group has published more than 150 articles in high impact factor journals, more than 30 book chapters in international journals and presented more than 300 papers at mainly international conferences. It has directed numerous doctoral theses, undergraduate and master's degree theses, DEA theses, etc. It has participated in 4 projects with companies and in 25 projects on mycotoxins in R&D&I, regional, national and European plans. Several of its members have been members of COST Action 835” as national representatives in the management committee (Misericordia Jiménez) or as members of the working groups (Rufino Mateo and José Vicente Gimeno). They have been coordinators of working groups and members of R&D&I excellence networks (SICURA, EspeciaR, Micofood), participate in the IViSoCA microcluster (VLC/Campus) and have been recognised as a group of excellence by the Valencian Government.

Goals CT
  • Morphological, physiological and molecular characterisation of mycotoxin-producing fungi.
  • Design of methods for the detection of mycotoxins in food.
  • Strategies for the control of fungi and mycotoxins in agricultural crops in the context of climate change.
  • Methodologies for the detection of emerging toxins.
  • Transfer of the knowledge acquired to the agri-food and environmental sector and to society in general.
Research lines
  • Mycotoxins

    This group is composed of professors from the Departments of Microbiology and Ecology and Analytical Chemistry of the Universitat de València. Its research activity is of a multidisciplinary nature and has been developed in applied areas in the fields of health, science and quality control.

  • Cyanotoxins

    This group is made up of lecturers from the Departments of Microbiology and Ecology and Analytical Chemistry at the Universitat de València. Its research activity is of a multidisciplinary nature and has been developed in applied areas in the fields of health, science and environmental quality control.

  • Mycology

    This group is composed of professors from the Departments of Microbiology and Ecology and Analytical Chemistry of the Universitat de València. Its research activity is of a multidisciplinary nature and has been developed in applied areas in the fields of health, science and quality control.

Management
  • JIMENEZ ESCAMILLA, MISERICORDIA
  • PDI-Catedratic/a d'Universitat
View details
Members
  • MATEO JIMENEZ, EVA MARIA
  • PDI-Titular d'Universitat
View details
Collaborators
  • SORIA PERPINYA, XAVIER
  • PI-Invest Doct Senior Prometeo
View details
  • PEREZ GONZALEZ, REBECA
  • PI-Invest No Doctor Uv A1
View details
Scientific production by UV researcher
  • JIMENEZ ESCAMILLA, MISERICORDIA
    PDI-Catedratic/a d'Universitat
    Expandir
Associated structure
Contact group details
Mycology, Mycotoxins and Other Microbial Toxins. (MICOTOX)

Burjassot/Paterna Campus

C/ Doctor Moliner, 50

46100 Burjassot (Valencia)

+34 963 543 144

Geolocation

misericordia.jimenez@uv.es

Contact people
  • JIMENEZ ESCAMILLA, MISERICORDIA
  • PDI-Catedratic/a d'Universitat
View details