Fusarium

Fusarium is a genus of filamentous fungi widely distributed on plants and in the soil. Fusarium may produce mycotoxins in cereal crops that can affect human and animal health, when it enters the food chain. The main toxins produced by Fusarium are fumonisins related to esophageal cancer in humans, and trichothecenes, toxic metabolites which inhibit eukaryotic protein biosynthesis.

Pathogenesis

As well as being common contaminants and a well-known plant pathogens, Fusarium spp. can cause a range of opportunistic infections in humans that occur in the nails (onychomycosis) and in the cornea (keratomycosis or mycotic keratitis - fungal keratitis). They are also responsible for causing ulcers, necrosis, and other lesions of the skin in addition to infections in some organs and tissues.