The bacterial genes express proteins that are toxic to corn-boring insects, but that are harmless to birds, fish, and mammals, including humans. As the modified corn fends off insect pests, it also reduces the levels of the mold Fusarium, thereby reducing the levels of fumonisin.
其中一个绝佳例子就是那些被植入了来自某种无害细菌的一个或多个基因的商业化玉米品种。这些细菌基因的表达会生成一些只对玉米害虫有毒，却对鸟类鱼类以及包括人类在内的哺乳动物无害的蛋白，当这类玉米将害虫拒之门外的时候，自然也能降低镰孢霉菌的感染程度，从而减低伏马菌素的含量。