Risk assessment of genetically modified lactic acid bacteria using the concept of substantial equivalence.
The use of food-grade microorganisms such as lactic acid bacteria (LAB) is one of the most promising methods for delivering health promoting compounds. Since it is not always possible to obtain strains that have the ability to produce specific compounds naturally or that produce them in sufficient quantities to obtain physiological responses, genetic modifications can be performed to improve their output. The objective of this study was to evaluate if previously studied genetically modified LAB (GM-LAB), with proven in vivo beneficial effects, are just as safe as the progenitor strain from which they were derived. Mice received an elevated concentration of different GM-LAB or the native parental strain from which they were derived during a prolonged period of time, and different health parameters were evaluated. Similar growth rates, hematological values, and other physiological parameters were obtained in the animals that received the GM-LAB compared to those that were fed with the native strain. These results demonstrate that the GM-LAB used in this study are just as safe as the native strains from which they were derived and thus merit further studies to include them into the food chain.
LeBlanc
Jean Guy
JG
CERELA-CONICET, Tucumán, Argentina. jeanguyleblanc@hotmail.com
Van Sinderen
Douwe
D
Hugenholtz
Jeroen
J
Piard
Jean-Christophe
JC
Sesma
Fernando
F
de Giori
Graciela Savoy
GS
D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D059022:Food Safety / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D030781:Organisms, Genetically Modified; D018570:Risk Assessment
Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2002 Oct;13(5):497-507
12459344
BMC Microbiol. 2008 Jan 29;8:22
18230145
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2003 Dec;69(12):7101-7
14660354
J Bacteriol. 1983 Apr;154(1):1-9
6403500
Nutrition. 2010 Jul-Aug;26(7-8):835-41
19931414
J Nutr. 1999 Jun;129(6):1135-9
10356077
Genet Mol Res. 2003 Mar 31;2(1):102-11
12917806
J Bacteriol. 2007 Apr;189(8):3256-70
17307855
Genet Mol Res. 2004 Sep 30;3(3):432-40
15614733
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2004 Oct;70(10):5769-77
15466513
J Dairy Sci. 2005 Oct;88(10):3435-42
16162516
FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2005 Jul 15;248(2):177-82
15990251
Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2005 Oct;68(6):705-17
16088349