title: Biological degradation of aflatoxin B1 by Rhodococcus erythropolis cultures.
abstract: Aflatoxin contamination of food and grain poses a serious economic and health problem worldwide, but particularly in Africa. Aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) is extremely mutagenic, toxic and a potent carcinogen to both humans and livestock and chronic exposure to low levels of AFB(1) is a concern. In this study, the biodegradation of aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) by Rhodococcus erythropolis was examined in liquid cultures using thin layer chromatography (TLC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), electro spray mass spectrometry (ESMS) and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS). AFB(1) was effectively degraded by extracellular extracts from R. erythropolis liquid cultures. Results indicated that the degradation is enzymatic and that the enzymes responsible for the degradation of AFB(1) are extracellular and constitutively produced. Furthermore, the biodegradation of AFB(1) when treated with R. erythropolis extracellular fraction coincided with a loss of mutagenicity, as evaluated by the Ames test for mutagenicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Alberts
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Engelbrecht
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Steyn
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Holzapfel
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: van Zyl
mesh_terms: D016604:Aflatoxin B1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer / Q000379:methods; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D012240:Rhodococcus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D016604:Aflatoxin B1