A bacterial mixed culture is capable of degrading the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol into a metabolite, which still has a high toxic effect towards eukaryotic cells

The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON), produced in wheat, barley and maize by Fusarium graminearum and F. culmorum, is threatening the health of humans and animals. With its worldwide high incidence in food and feed, mitigation strategies are needed to detoxify DON, while maintaining the nutritional value and palatability of these decontaminated commodities. Biological degradation of mycotoxins is an emerging technology in which microorganisms degrade toxins into non-toxic metabolites. In this study, microorganisms were screened on DON detoxification via an enrichment method, where DON and possible metabolites were monitored by analytical techniques and the remaining toxicity was determined by the implementation of a bioassay using the aquatic plant Lemna minor L. A mixed culture was found capable of degrading DON into a metabolite exposing still a high toxic effect on the growth of the plant. Furthermore, a cytotoxic effect was also observed on the cellular viability of intestinal porcine epithelial cells (IPEC-J2), assessed via a neutral red assay. LC-high resolution MS analysis revealed an unknown compound, tentatively characterized with a molecular weight of 30.0 Da (CH2O) larger than DON. Metabarcoding of the bacterial communities on the V3-V4 fragment of the 16S rRNA gene revealed a shift towards the genera Sphingopyxis, Pseudoxanthomonas, Ochrobactrum and Pseudarthrobacter. More research is needed to elucidate the structure, toxicity and risk assessment of this metabolite.

Jaar van publicatie:2021