Abstract: The present invention provides a bacterial microorganism, Ochrobactrum anthropi, having the ability to degrade or detoxify moniliformin or structurally related mycotoxins. The present invention further provides a method for detoxification of grain pre- or post-harvest using Ochrobactrum anthropi having the ability to degrade or detoxify moniliformin or derivatives or analogs of moniliformin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bacterial microorganism having the ability to degrade or detoxify zearalenone or derivatives or analogs of zearalenone. The present invention also provides a method for the isolation and utilization of a zearalenone-degradation gene encoding a gene product having the ability to degrade or detoxify zearalenone or derivatives or analogs of zearalenone. In another embodiment, the present invention provides for the generation of transformants into which the zearalenone-degradation gene has been introduced, thereby providing the ability to degrade or detoxify zearalenone or derivatives or analogs of zearalenone to said transformants. The present invention further provides a method for detoxification of plants pre- or post-harvest using microbes having the ability to degrade or detoxify zearalenone or derivatives or analogs of zearalenone. The invention also provides a method for detoxification of plants pre- or post-harvest using the zearalenone-degradation gene.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bacterial microorganism Ochrobactrum having the ability, to degrade or detoxify moniliformin or structurally related mycotoxins. The present invention further provides a method for detoxification of grain pre- or post-harvest using Ochrobactrum bacterium having the ability to degrade or detoxify moniliformin or derivatives or analogs of moniliformin and wherein the preferred bacterium is Ochrobactrum anthropi.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bacterial microorganism of the Rhodococcus or Nocardia species having the ability to degrade zearalenone.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bacterial microorganism having the ability to degrade or detoxify zearalenone or derivatives or analogs of zearalenone. The present invention also provides a method for the isolation and utilization of a zearalenone-degradation gene encoding a gene product having the ability to degrade or detoxify zearalenone or derivatives or analogs of zearalenone. In another embodiment, the present invention provides for the generation of transformants into which the zearalenone-degradation gene has been introduced, thereby providing the ability to degrade or detoxify zearalenone or derivatives or analogs of zearalenone to said transformants. The present invention further provides a method for detoxification of plants pre- or post-harvest using microbes having the ability to degrade or detoxify zearalenone or derivatives or analogs of zearalenone. The invention also provides a method for detoxification of plants pre- or post-harvest using the zearalenone-degradation gene.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bacterial microorganism having the ability to degrade or detoxify beauvericin or derivatives or analogs of beauvericin. The present invention further provides a method for detoxification of plants pre- or post-harvest using microbes having the ability to degrade or detoxify beauvericin or derivatives or analogs of beauvericin.

Abstract: Methods for identifying organisms capable of degrading fumonisin. Fumonisin can be incorporated into culture medium for selection of organisms resistant to fumonisin. Using this method, several organisms have been identified. These organisms can be used to isolate the enzyme and the gene responsible for conferring fumonisin-resistance. The gene can be cloned and inserted into a suitable expression vector so that the protein can be further characterized. Additionally, the DNA encoding for fumonisin-resistance can be used to transform plant cells normally susceptible to Fusarium infection. Plants can be regenerated from the transformed plant cells. In this way, a transgenic plant can be produced with the capability of degrading fumonisin.

Abstract: In the present invention, methods and materials are provided to isolate the coat protein gene from Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus--Strain A (MDMVA). This gene (MDMVA-CP) is then incorporated in an expression cassette designed for suitable expression in a plant cell system. The resulting transformation vector is then introduced into maize callus to provide cross-protection to MDMV or related viral infections.