Dr. Edward Sionov's Mycology Lab

Mycotoxin Regulation and Resistance Mechanisms of Pathogenic Fungi

About

The Sionov lab is part of the Institute of Postharvest and Food Sciences at ARO (Agricultural Research Organization), situated at the center of Israel (only 15 minutes drive from Tel Aviv).

Our lab studies the molecular drivers and environmental conditions associated with development of mycotoxigenic fungi and the production of mycotoxins in agricultural commodities, processed food and feed. We also investigate the genomic and genetic resistance mechanisms of pathogenic fungi against anti-fungal drugs.

We use diverse tools including classic microbiology techniques, analytical chemistry (HPLC, LC-MS/MS), physiological research and advanced molecular biology methods (whole-genome sequencing, comparative transcriptomics, genetic engineering of various fungal organisms, microbiome analysis and quantitative real-time PCR).

Selected Projects

Azole Stress Drives Aneuploidy Formation in Aspergillus flavus

We found that an aflatoxin-producing A. flavus strain adapted to voriconazole exposure at levels above the minimum inhibitory concentration through whole or segmental aneuploidy of specific chromosomes. Our discovery of aneuploidy-mediated resistance in a filamentous fungus represents a paradigm shift as this type of resistance was previously thought to occur only in yeasts.