Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Food and Feed Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #226435
Title: Aspergillus flavus whole genome and EST sequence releases and construction of homologous gene search blast server

Author
item Yu, Jiujiang
item Moore Flanagan, Mary
item Scheffler, Brian
item King Jr, Edgar
item Bhatnagar, Deepak
item Cleveland, Thomas

Submitted to: Germplasm Release
Publication Type: Germplasm Release
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/11/2007
Publication Date: 2/1/2007
Citation: Yu, J., Moore Flanagan, M.E., Scheffler, B.E., King Jr, E.G., Bhatnagar, D., Cleveland, T.E. 2007. Aspergillus flavus whole genome and EST sequence releases and construction of homologous gene search blast server. Germplasm Release. Web Blast Server for Gene Homology Search and Genome Sequence Releases at USDA/ARS/MSA, Stoneville, MS. (http://199.133.182.124:4443/blast/Unique.html).

Interpretive Summary: Aflatoxins are toxic and cancer-inducing compounds produced by the fungal mold Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. Contamination of agricultural commodities by aflatoxins poses serious health hazard to animals and human beings. Due to health and food safety concerns, the mechanism of aflatoxin formation and prevention of aflatoxin contamination have been investigated in great detail. Aspergillus flavus genomics, including expressed sequenced tags (EST) and whole genome sequencing, provides a rapid and effective method for identification of the genes involved in aflatoxin formation and promises effective control strategy being developed through biotechnology. The Aspergillus flavus genome sequence data will help scientists in investigating the mechanism of aflatoxin formation for devising strategies to control aflatoxin contamination.

Technical Abstract: Aflatoxins are toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites. These compounds, produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, contaminate pre-harvest agricultural crops in the field and post-harvest grains during storage. In order to reduce and eliminate aflatoxin contamination of food and feed, Aspergilllus flavus whole genome sequencing and Expressed Sequence Tags have been completed. A database for sequence access and gene homology comparison has been constructed at the ARS/MSA Stoneville location, which host 19,618 high quality ESTs and 36.5Mb whole genome sequence prior to its release to the public. These sequence data allow access to limited ARS scientists and collaborators working in mycotoxin control in their research. The data has a significant impact to the research community studying fungal biology, field ecology, structural genomics, comparative genomics, and functional genomics.