Safety and efficacy profile of a phytase produced by fermentation and used as a feed additive

Optimization of phytase production by Penicillium oxalicum in solid-state fermentation for potential as a feed additive

The study aims to statistically optimize the phytase production by Penicillium oxalicum PBG30 in solid-state fermentation using wheat bran as substrate. Variables viz. pH, incubation days, MgSO4, and Tween-80 were the significant parameters identified through the Plackett-Burman design (PBD) that majorly influenced the phytase production. Further, central composite design (CCD) method of response surface methodology (RSM) defined the optimum values for these factors i.e., pH 7.0, 5 days of incubation, 0.75% of MgSO4, and 3.5% of Tween-80 that leads to maximum phytase production of 475.42 U/g DMR. Phytase production was also sustainable in flasks and trays of different sizes with phytase levels ranging from 394.95 to 475.42 U/g DMR. Enhancement in phytase production is 5.6-fold as compared to unoptimized conditions. The in-vitro dephytinization of feed showed an amelioration in the nutritive value by releasing inorganic phosphate and other nutrients in a time-dependent manner. The highest amount of inorganic phosphate (33.986 mg/g feed), reducing sugar (134.4 mg/g feed), and soluble protein (115.52 mg/g feed) was achieved at 37 °C with 200 U of phytase in 0.5 g feed for 48 h. This study reports the economical and large-scale production of phytase with applicability in enhancing feed nutrition.

Evaluation of a novel phytase derived from Citrobacter braakii and expressed in Aspergillis oryzae on growth performance and bone mineralization indicators in nursery pigs

A total of 297 pigs (DNA 241 × 600; initially 8.64 ± 0.181 kg) were used in a 21-d trial to determine the efficacy of a novel phytase derived from Citrobacter braakii and expressed in Aspergillis oryzae (HiPhorius; DSM Nutritional Products, Animal Nutrition & Health, Parsippany, NJ) on pig growth and bone mineralization indicators. Pens of pigs were assigned to 1 of 5 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with 5 pigs per pen and 12 pens per treatment. The trial was initiated 14-d after weaning. The first three treatments were formulated to contain 0.09% aP; without added phytase (control), or the control diet with 600 or 1,000 FYT/kg of added phytase (considering a release of 0.15% or 0.18% aP, respectively). The remaining two treatments were formulated to contain 0.27% aP, one without added phytase and the other with 1,000 FYT/kg. From days 0 to 21, pigs fed increasing phytase in diets containing 0.09% aP had increased (linear, P ≤ 0.002) ADG, ADFI, and G:F, but added phytase in the 0.27% aP diet did not impact growth performance. Increasing phytase in diets containing 0.09% aP increased percentage bone ash in metacarpals and 10th ribs (linear, P < 0.001; quadratic, P = 0.004, respectively), and increased grams of Ca and P in metacarpals, 10th ribs, and fibulas (linear, P ≤ 0.027). Adding 1,000 FYT/kg phytase in diets with 0.27% aP increased (P ≤ 0.05) percentage bone ash and grams of Ca and P in fibulas and 10th ribs compared with pigs fed 0.27% aP without added phytase. Increasing aP from 0.09% to 0.27% in diets without added phytase increased (P < 0.001) ADG, ADFI, and G:F. Increasing aP from 0.09% to 0.27% in diets without added phytase increased bone density (P ≤ 0.002) in fibulas and metacarpals, percentage bone ash in all bones (P ≤ 0.074), and increased (P < 0.05) grams of Ca and P in fibulas and 10th ribs. Pigs fed diets containing 0.09 or 0.27% aP, both with 1,000 FYT added phytase, had increased (P < 0.05) bone density in fibulas and metacarpals, percentage bone ash in all bones, and increased grams of Ca and P in fibulas and 10th ribs. For growth performance (average of ADG and G:F), aP release was calculated to be 0.170% for 600 FYT/kg and 0.206% for 1,000 FYT/kg. For the average of all bone measurements (average of 3 bones for both bone density and percentage bone ash), aP release was calculated to be 0.120% and 0.125% for 600 and 1,000 FYT/kg, respectively.

Insight into phytase-producing microorganisms for phytate solubilization and soil sustainability

The increasing demand for food has increased dependence on chemical fertilizers that promote rapid growth and yield as well as produce toxicity and negatively affect nutritional value. Therefore, researchers are focusing on alternatives that are safe for consumption, non-toxic, cost-effective production process, and high yielding, and that require readily available substrates for mass production. The potential industrial applications of microbial enzymes have grown significantly and are still rising in the 21st century to fulfill the needs of a population that is expanding quickly and to deal with the depletion of natural resources. Due to the high demand for such enzymes, phytases have undergone extensive research to lower the amount of phytate in human food and animal feed. They constitute efficient enzymatic groups that can solubilize phytate and thus provide plants with an enriched environment. Phytases can be extracted from a variety of sources such as plants, animals, and microorganisms. Compared to plant and animal-based phytases, microbial phytases have been identified as competent, stable, and promising bioinoculants. Many reports suggest that microbial phytase can undergo mass production procedures with the use of readily available substrates. Phytases neither involve the use of any toxic chemicals during the extraction nor release any such chemicals; thus, they qualify as bioinoculants and support soil sustainability. In addition, phytase genes are now inserted into new plants/crops to enhance transgenic plants reducing the need for supplemental inorganic phosphates and phosphate accumulation in the environment. The current review covers the significance of phytase in the agriculture system, emphasizing its source, action mechanism, and vast applications.

Immobilized phytases: an overview of different strategies, support material, and their applications in improving food and feed nutrition

Phytases are the most widely used food and feed enzymes, which aid in nutritional improvement by reducing anti-nutritional factor. Despite the benefits, enzymes usage in the industry is restricted by several factors such as their short life-span and poor reusability, which result in high costs for large-scale utilization at commercial scale. Furthermore, under pelleting conditions such as high temperatures, pH, and other factors, the enzyme becomes inactive due to lesser stability. Immobilization of phytases has been suggested as a way to overcome these limitations with improved performance. Matrices used to immobilize phytases include inorganic (Hydroxypatite, zeolite, and silica), organic (Polyacrylamide, epoxy resins, alginate, chitosan, and starch agar), soluble matrix (Polyvinyl alcohol), and nanomaterials including nanoparticles, nanofibers, nanotubes. Several surface analysis methods, including thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and FTIR analysis, have been used to characterize immobilized phytase. Immobilized phytases have been used in a broad range of biotechnological applications such as animal feed, biodegradation of food phytates, preparations of myo-inositol phosphates, and sulfoxidation by vanadate-substituted peroxidase. This article provides information on different matrices used for phytase immobilization from the last two decades, including the process of immobilization and support material, surface analysis techniques, and multifarious biotechnological applications of the immobilized phytases.