Mycotoxicology
Encyclopedia
Mycotoxicology is the branch of mycology
that focuses on analyzing and studying the toxins produced by fungus
, known as Mycotoxins. As many microorganisms, fungus produce toxins as a response of biological stress in the environment, like lower nutrients or competitions for those available, conditions that trigger the secondary metabolism. Under this secondary path the fungus produces a wide array of compounds, usually enzymes, produced them in order to gain some level of advantage, like incrementing the efficiency of metabolic process to gain more energy from less food, or attacking another microorganism and being able to use their remains as a food source. Mycotoxicology is important in industrial processes that involves the production of food (for human or animal consumption) via the use of fungus and yeast, or with machinery in contact of these microorganisms because many of these enzymes manage to survive sterilization and can be harmful for human and animals.
Mycology
Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and their use to humans as a source for tinder, medicinals , food and entheogens, as well as their dangers, such as poisoning or...
that focuses on analyzing and studying the toxins produced by fungus
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
, known as Mycotoxins. As many microorganisms, fungus produce toxins as a response of biological stress in the environment, like lower nutrients or competitions for those available, conditions that trigger the secondary metabolism. Under this secondary path the fungus produces a wide array of compounds, usually enzymes, produced them in order to gain some level of advantage, like incrementing the efficiency of metabolic process to gain more energy from less food, or attacking another microorganism and being able to use their remains as a food source. Mycotoxicology is important in industrial processes that involves the production of food (for human or animal consumption) via the use of fungus and yeast, or with machinery in contact of these microorganisms because many of these enzymes manage to survive sterilization and can be harmful for human and animals.