Bacillus velezensis CL197: a zearalenone detoxifying strain isolated from wheat with potential to be used in animal production

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species, and cause contamination of food and feed, with impacts in animal production and in food production chain. Effective detoxifying methods, such as biodegradation, are therefore required. This study aimed to isolate microorganisms and screen ZEA detoxifying strains. As a result, 197 microorganisms were isolated, and six were initially selected after colorimetric screening. ZEA (1 µg/mL) was added to culture media, and after 24 h, all six microorganisms were able to degrade ZEA, without the formation of α-ZOL. One isolate eliminated ~ 99% of ZEA and was identified as Bacillus velezensis CL197. ZEA metabolites produced by the bacteria were evaluated, and no metabolites with greater or similar toxicity than ZEA were detected. This strain was applied to swine in vitro digestion, and up to 64% of ZEA was degraded. B. velezensis CL197 significantly degraded ZEA, demonstrating potential to be used as a detoxifying agent in the food production chain as a biocontrol agent.

Foreword – special issue Mycotoxins in Latin America

Latin America with its considerable North-South extent is subject to climate that varies from tropical, subtropical and warm temperate to temperate. Different agricultural products are produced in the area including cereals, oilseeds, beans, fruits and nuts together with animal production including cattle for beef and milk, pigs, poultry and fish. The heterogeneity of agriculture in Latin America is reflected in the diversity of the region’s farm structures. While agriculture in the Southern Cone is dominated by large, commercial and export-oriented farms, particularly in Argentina and Brazil, besides increasingly in other countries like Uruguay, much of the rest of the region is characterised by smallholder and family agriculture. The contamination of agricultural products with mycotoxins has impact both human and animal health, as well as the economy due to losses related to rejections of agricultural products and by-products during trade. The economic burden related to the consumption of mycotoxins by animals is especially important, causing productivity losses up to the death of animals. The relevant mycotoxins are fumonisins, deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) in cereals and cereal-based products, aflatoxins in cereals, oily seeds and nuts, aflatoxin M1 in milk and dairy products as well as ochratoxin A (OTA) in coffee, grapes and raisins. Co-occurrence of mycotoxins has also been observed mainly with aflatoxins and fumonisins in different Latin American countries (Torres et al., 2015). Advances on legislation in different countries including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Uruguay have been done to establish maximum limits for mycotoxins including aflatoxins, DON, ZEN, OTA, patulin and ergot alkaloids (ANVISA, 2011/2017; CAA, 2019/2021, Norma Oficial Mexicana, N.-243-S., 2010/2010; Reglamento Sanitario de los Alimentos, 2013).