Research

Currently, several research works in mycology have been developed at MycoTec Lab taking advantage of it modern premises. The facility of MycoTec Lab has been used as a platform to the development of BSc, MSc and PhD thesis, and to Post-doctoral researches in their subject field in mycology. Further, there is a range of courses and training courses to students and professional comes from the mycological field. For more information contact the MycoTec Labs Research Department.
The current research projects ongoing on MycoTec Lab are the follow:

Filamentous Fungi in Drinking Water;

Biodegradation of Organic Pollutants by White Rot Fungi;

Silver Nanoparticles as Antimicrobial Agents;

Study of Fungal Infections in Humans and Domestic Animals Skin;

Fungal Identification Using a Polyphasic Approach;

Mycotoxins;
Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi that have been detected in food commodities, including grapes and wine. They have been associated with disease and also have been included as the cause of the last of the Ten Plagues of Egypt. Because a few of the products of such fungal fermentations were consumed by humans, some interest in the toxicity of these products was developed. The major mycotoxin producing fungi are species of Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium. Currently, hundred mycotoxins are known around the world. However, aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, trichothecenes, zearalenone and fumonisins are the most important groups of mycotoxins. They are associated to health problems for humans and animals, and occur quite often in food. The study of mycotoxins in food commodities, grapes and wine is a strong field developed at MycoTec Lab. These activities are focused on the elucidation of the behaviour of mycotoxigenic filamentous fungi and their main mycotoxins in foods and feeds.