George A. Bean

Professor Emeritus

The research underway in my laboratory focuses on mycotoxicology or the study of toxins produced bymicroorganisms. Toxins that we work with include macrocyclictrichothecenes produced by species of Myrothecium,aflatoxins produced by members of the genus Aspergillus, and fumonosins produced by species of Fusarium. Aflatoxins. fumonosins and deoxynivalenol are frequently found in peanuts, rice and corn destined for animal and human consumption resulting in acute or toxic responses. Some research projects currently under investigation are as follows:

In 1994-95, the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) was found for the first time in Maryland sweet corn destined for canning. The toxin has been associated with outbreaks of human esophageal cancer in China and parts of Africa. Studies are currently underway on the occurrence and distribution of DON in corn, effects of processing on DON levels plus studies on the influence of weather on its occurrence. We are also investigating the occurrenceof aflatoxins and Fusaarium toxins in transgenic corn that is resistant to insects. This is a direct correlation of insect damage with the levels of microbial F. toxins

In another area of research, the effects of high energy microwave levels on the occurrence of toxin producing fungi is being investigated as a means of controlling mycotoxin in foods and feeds prior to their storage or processing prior to consumption by humans.

Teaching Interests

I teach or am involved in the teaching of 3 courses: Environmental Science (CORE, nonscience), Medicinal & Poisonous Plants (UL and graduate students) and Introduction to Food Science [team taught].

Current Graduate Students:

• Michael Tims (Ph.D.)
• Kathy D'Ovidio (Ph.D.)
• Steve Emche (Ph. D.)

Representative Publications

Bean, G.A. and B.B. Jarvis. 1987. Mycotoxin produced Myrothecium roridum, a fungus pathogenic to tomatoes. Biodeter. Res. 1:127-134.

Jarvis, B.B., J.O. Midiwo, G.A. Bean, M.B. Aboul-Nasr and C.S. Barros. 1988. The mystery of trichothecene antibiotics in Baccharis species. J. Natr. Prod. 51:736-744.

Bean, G.A. and R. Echandi. 1989. Maize mycotoxins in Latin America. Plant Disease 73:597-600.

Kuti, O.J., B.B. Jarvis, N. Molchtari-Rejoli and G.A. Bean. 1990. Allelochemical regulation of reproduction and seed germination of two Brazilian Baccharis species by phytotoxic trichothecenes. J. Chem. Ecol. 16:3441-3453.

El Maghraby, O.M.O., G.A. Bean, B.B. Jarvis and M.B. Aboul-Nasr. 1991.

Macrocyclic trichothecenes produced by Stachybotrys isolates from Egypt and Eastern Europe. Mycopathologia. 113:109-115.

Bean, G.A., B. Jarvis and B. Aboul-Nasr. 1992. A biological assay for the detection of Myrothecium spp. produced macrocyclic trichothecenes. Mycopath. 116:175-180.

LaGrenade, C.E.F. and G.A. Bean. 1994. Studies on Fusarium moniliforme, causal agent of equine eucoencephalomalacia. Biodet. Res. 4:105-114.

Abeywickrama, K. and G. Bean. 1996. Cytotoxic effects of Fusarium moniliforme extracts and fumonosin on a baby hamster kidney cell line. 24(3): 211-216.

Fadl-Allah, M.E. Stock, R.W. Goth and G.A. Bean. 1996. Production of fumonosins B₁, B₂ and B₃ by Fusarium proliferatum isolated from rye grains. Mycotoxin Research (Accepted for publication).

Fernando, L., K. Abeywickrama and G. Bean. 1997. Evaluation of aflatoxin producing potential of Aspergillus species on medicinal plants Asterocantha longifolia and Alyssicarpus vaginalis and the effect of control agents on aflatoxins. J. at. Sci. Counc., Sri Lanka (Accepted).