Abstract
Fumonisins, being common in occurrence in maize-based feeds, pose a great threat to animal and human health. The present study is aimed at determining the antifungal activity of Lactobacillus plantarum MYS6 against a fumonisin producing fungus, Fusarium proliferatum MYS9. The isolate was subjected to standard tests for determining its probiotic attributes and antifungal properties. L. plantarum MYS6 thrived well at pH 3.0 and 6.0, and exhibited strong resistance up to 3% bile. The isolate showed a high degree of cell surface hydrophobicity corresponding to its strong adhesion to chicken crop epithelial cells. Co-inoculation with the fungus on modified de Man Rogosa Sharpe medium revealed the inhibitory effect of L. plantarum MYS6 on fungal growth and biomass. Observation using scanning electron microscopy showed distortion of hyphal structures, swollen tips and disrupted conidia. Conidia germination inhibition assay restrained germination and showed deformed hyphae. The bioprotective feature of the isolate was evident by the inhibition of fungal development in maize-kernel treated with the cell free supernatant of L. plantarum MYS6. Both the isolate and its extracellular metabolites lowered fumonisin content in feed model up to 0.505 mg/Kg of feed and 0.3125 mg/Kg of feed respectively when compared to the level of 0.870 mg/Kg of feed in control. The major antifungal compounds produced by the isolate were 10-Octadecenoic acid, methyl ester; palmitic acid, methyl ester; heptadecanoic acid, 16-methyl ester; stearic acid and lauric acid. L. plantarum MYS6 reduced 61.7% of fumonisin possibly by a binding mechanism. These findings suggest the application of L. plantarum MYS6 as an efficient probiotic additive and biocontrol agent in feed used in poultry industry. Additionally, the antifungal metabolites pose a conspicuous inhibition of Fusarium growth and fumonisin production.
Highlights
Deterioration of food/feed stuffs due to fungal colonization and concomitant production of mycotoxins is a serious problem, especially in the wake of fungi acquiring resistance to many commonly used chemical preservatives
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening using species specific primers has identified the fungus as F. proliferatum
The production of fumonisin toxin by F. proliferatum MYS9 (Fp MYS9) was confirmed by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and the concentration of the toxin was found to be 617.5 mg/ Kg of feed (S1 Fig)
Summary
Deterioration of food/feed stuffs due to fungal colonization and concomitant production of mycotoxins is a serious problem, especially in the wake of fungi acquiring resistance to many commonly used chemical preservatives. In addition to the food losses due to fungal growth, their mycotoxins lead to serious health hazards in human and animals. Fusarium proliferatum is a food contaminant known to colonize and produce fumonisin which is a carcinogenic agent [1]. It is a common contaminant of maize and maize based products worldwide. Fumonisins have been associated with nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic and immunosuppressing effects in various animals including poultry and rats [3]. On account of the structural analogous nature of fumonisins, particulary FB1 to ceramide synthase, it inhibits sphingolipid metabolism and interferes with cell regulation [4]
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