Biodegradation of aflatoxin B1 by Aspergillus terreus HNGD-TM15 and its degradation mechanism

Abstract

Abstract The Aspergillus terreus strain HNGD-TM15 that was isolated from soil grown with rosemary was shown to efficiently degrade aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Specifically, AFB1 was degraded by the strain’s fermentation broth at a maximum degradation rate of 98.3%. HPLC and LC-MS analyses detected a degradation product with an m/z ion value of 312.0636. Its molecular formula was C18H39NO3, which was tentatively identified as 2-amino-1, 3,4-octadecatriol. Based on LC-MS results and further analysis, it was revealed that a series of reactions, such as decomposition, reduction (lactone ring hydrogenation) and substitution (hydrolysis), occurred during the degradation of AFB1. Therefore, A. terreus HNGD-TM15 has a great potential for application in the detoxification of AFB1 contaminating food and feed products.