Project
Development of Methods for Establishing a Global Network for Aflatoxin Exposure
Details
Project Code:
UGA145
Start Date:
2008/01/01
End Date:
2012
CRSP Phase:
Phase 3
Budget:
$100,000
Countries:
Ghana
Participants
Lead University:
University of Georgia
Other Partners:
University of Science & Technology - Kumasi (Ghana)
Principal Investigator(s):
Jia-Sheng Wang
Co-Principal Investigator(s):
None
Overview
The long-term goal of this project is to enable and establish a global network for assessment of aflatoxin (AF) exposure in high-risk populations and to investigate the efficacy of NovaSil for diminishing incidence and mortality from human aflatoxicoses. The establishment of such a network will allow epidemiological evaluation of the linkage between AF exposure, nutritional deficiency, and infectious diseases and also allow public health agencies to be proactive in responding to food quality issues. Our working hypothesis for this project is that levels of AFB1-albumin adducts in human serum are highly stable and related to AF exposures, and will be a reliable effective biological response indicator for human aflatoxicosis in high-risk populations.
Objectives
1. Measurement of aflatoxin adducts and fumonisin biomarkers on samples to be collected in Ghana and other West Africa sites. The work in this is in support of work conducted in Projects UAB148-Jolly and TAM149-Phillips." 2. Complete analysis of 1500 blood samples collected in West Africa in support of UAB148-Jolly and TAM149-Phillips. 3. To hold training courses in Institutions of Africa, Latin America, and Asia to familiar with the validated method for network participating members. 4. A new rapid and less expensive method for measuring blood serum using lysine adducts rather than the slower and more expensive method of using albumin adducts was developed. Under this , individuals in the host country and possibly other countries (through workshops) will be trained in the new methodology.
Outcomes
Coming soon
