Vessela Atanasova

Contacts : vessela.atanasiva@inrae.fr,            https://cv.hal.science/vessela-atanasova

Career and Expertises

• Since 2005: Research Engineer, INRAE, UR1264 MycSA, Villenave-d'Ornon, France
• 2004 – 2005 (6 months): Postdoctoral Researcher, UMR1083, Sciences for Oenology (SPO), INRA Montpellier, France
• 1999 – 2003: Ph.D. Student, UMR1083, SPO, INRA Montpellier, France
• 2012–2025: Expert for the French Association for Standardization (AFNOR), biotoxin group.
• Since 2012: Occasional lecturer for the University of Tours, France: Professional Bachelor's degree in "Methods and Techniques in Sensory Analysis" and Master's degree in "Integrative Biology".

My activities within MycSA focus on two main missions. The first concerns the development of a biochemical approach to identify and understand the modulation events of mycotoxin biosynthesis produced by Fusarium and other toxigenic pathogens. The second concerns the development of specialized analytical methodologies to support research programs.

Research interests: With a background in food engineering, my early research focused on studying phenolic compound reactions in red wines, as well as developing a purification method and structural characterization for a polysaccharide fraction extracted from grape pomace with oenological potential.

Since 2005, my investigation focuses on the biochemical approaches of mechanisms leading to toxin biosynthesis by Fusarium spp. and the regulation of this biosynthesis under biotic and abiotic stresses. Currently, my research is centered on the comprehension of plant resistance mechanisms to the Fusarium disease and mycotoxin accumulation, especially, biochemical resistance related to the endogenous metabolites of cereals. I also work on the development of biocontrol strategies in order to fight toxigenic pathogenic species such as Fusarium, Aspergillus and Penicillium and their mycotoxins.

Ongoing projects and collaborations

• BIOFUS (2026–2029): Active biosolutions against Fusarium species and their mycotoxin production on cereals. Coordinator.
• FUSASTOP (2026–2028): In planta and in vitro evaluation of a natural molecule against Fusarium Head Blight and mycotoxin contamination in wheat. Coordinator.
• PERTIFUS (2025–2026): Phenol_P, a natural molecule for the control of Fusarium Head Blight and deoxynivalenol contamination in wheat. Coordinator.
• TEAMTOX (2022–2026): Taking a meta-view at Fusarium: breaking habits in order to fight contaminations by mycotoxins. Florence Forget.

Keywords

Pathogenic fungi, Mycotoxins, Biochemistry, Analytical chemistry, Biocontrol