ELUCIDATING THE MECHANISMS OF AFLATOXIN BIODEGRADATION BY RHODOCOCCUS ERYTHROPOLIS.

The major goal of this project is to provide the necessary information about and improvements upon the aflatoxin degradation machinery in Rhodococcus erythropolis in order to apply this capability in the food production chain to counteract aflatoxin contamination.Objectives:Determine genes involved in the production, regulation, and secretion of the aflatoxin degrading enzyme(s).Identify the gene encoding the degrading enzyme(s) in R. erythropolis.Characterize the working conditions of the enzyme(s). This will identify the range of pH, temperature, oxygen availability, and presence of metal ions that the enzyme functions in and what the optimum conditions for function are.Engineer a food-safe strain with enhanced aflatoxin degradation efficiency.