Das Projekt "Risk Assessment of Fungal Biological Control Agents (RAFBCA)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Innsbruck, Institut für Mikrobiologie durchgeführt. The overall aim of this unique project is to establish whether metabolites produced by fungal BCAs enter the food chain and if they pose a risk to human and animal health. This will be achieved through: 1. development of sensitive tools (e.g. biosensors) and methods (including high throughput assays like ELISA and the Vitotoxin test) for rapid and accurate detection of fungal metabolites, 2. biochemical and molecular studies to elucidate their mode of action, 3. molecular markers to monitor fungal BCAs in the environment, 4. studies to determine if metabolites enter the food chain and, if so, identify the route of entry and type and quantities present.