< Back to previous page

Project

Comprehensive investigation of human mycotoxin exposure biomarkers using high resolution mass spectrometry to assess possible associations of (multiple) mycotoxin exposure with human kidney and liver diseases.

The term biomarker refers to a characteristic that is objectively measured, and evaluated as an
indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses.
Specific well-characterized biomarkers have shown to predict relevant clinical outcomes across a
variety of treatments and populations. Recent developments in high-resolution mass spectrometry
resulting in more accuracy and new post-acquisition techniques improved the quality of the
metabolite identification process. Mycotoxins are toxic fungal secondary metabolites that
contaminate food and feed. Mycotoxin intake exerts a wide range of toxic effects including
teratogenicity, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, immunotoxicity and death. Nonetheless, chronic or
even acute exposure to mycotoxins remains a daily fact. Thus, it is of crucial importance that
mycotoxins’ metabolism in humans is unraveled, so more understanding on mycotoxin (exposure)
biomarkers is acquired. Understanding the metabolic pathways of mycotoxins will enable
researchers and public health officials to gain insight on how to assess the associated risks of
mycotoxin exposure. Although some mycotoxin metabolites have already been determined, there
are still many undefined metabolites for certain mycotoxins. The aim of this project is to
determine mycotoxin metabolites which could be used as human exposure biomarkers, and to
assess possible associations of (multiple) mycotoxin exposure with human kidney and liver
illnesses.

Date:1 Oct 2018 →  30 Jun 2020
Keywords:mass spectrometry, kidney and liver diseases
Disciplines:Endocrinology and metabolic diseases