Safety Evaluation of Fermotein: Allergenicity, Mycotoxin Production, Biochemical Analyses and Microbiology of a Fungal Single-cell Protein Product

Aim: Single-cell proteins (SCPs) are considered as innovative and sustainable alternatives to animal-based products. Fermotein is an innovative SCP obtained from fermentation of the filamentous fungus Rhizomucor pusillus. The toxicity, capability to produce secondary metabolites and allergenic potential of this fungus has never been assessed before. Like other filamentous fungi, there is a lack of information on this species to assess its safety for human consumption. The objective of the current study was to investigate the safety of Fermotein and its source Rhizomucor pusillus regarding toxicity, capability to produce secondary metabolites and allergenicity. In addition, possible contaminants were also examined. Methodology: The genome of Rhizomucor pusillus was sequenced and annotated in order to screen for production of common mycotoxins, antibiotic synthesis pathways, mucormycosis-related virulence factors and in silico potential cross-reactivity with known food allergens. The presence of mycotoxins and allergens were validated by laboratory analysis. The level of RNA, heavy metals and microbiological contaminants were also determined. Results: No mycotoxin production-related genes were identified in the genome of Rhizomucor pusillus nor were mycotoxins found in Fermotein. Six proteins present in Fermotein showed high homology with five known food allergens. No gene clusters were found that corresponded with antibiotic synthesis pathways. Although 10 proteins in the genome of Rhizomucor pusillus may represent mucormycosis-related virulence factors, no cases of mucormycosis after oral intake are reported. The level of heavy metals and microbiological contaminants were below legislative limits, whereas RNA content was 4.9 ± 0.2% of dry matter. Conclusion: No safety concerns were identified for Fermotein or its source Rhizomucor pusillus, except the potential for cross-reactivity with five known food allergens. This should be taken into account for communication with consumers. Information from the current study contributes to the body of evidence for determination of Qualified Presumption of Safety status of Rhizomucor pusillus.

Green synthesized selenium doped zinc oxide nano-antibiotic: synthesis, characterization and evaluation of antimicrobial, nanotoxicity and teratogenicity potential

A facile, green synthesis of selenium doped zinc oxide nano-antibiotic (Se-ZnO-NAB) using the Curcuma longa extract is reported to combat the increased emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Classification and characterization of endophytic actinomycetes isolated from cinnamomum cassia presl

Currently, antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria is a significant clinical problem with the increase of deseases and a serious public health concern. Thus, the identification of new antimicrobial agents, especially the secondary metabolites products by endophytic actinobacteria from medical plants could be promising sources of biologically active compounds in medical fields. This study focused on identification and evaluation of antimicrobial activity against pathogens; genes involved in their secondary metabolisms, and screening of anthracycline producing capacity (mainly presented in anti-cancer antibiotics) of YBQ75 isolated from Cinnamomum cassia Presl. plants in Yen Bai province. Based on manual of bacterial classification, method in International Streptomyces Project (ISP) and the 16S rRNA gene sequence (GenBank Acc. No. KR814822), the endophytic actinomycetes YBQ75 was named Streptomyces cavourensis YBQ75 with 100% identity. The strain S. cavourensis YBQ75 showed the remarkable antibacterial activities against 5 tested pathogens (Salmonella enterica ATCC 14028 (22.0 mm); Pseudomonas aeruginosa CNLM (19.3 mm); Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228 (19.3 mm); Enterobacter aerogenes ATCC 13048 (17.7 mm) and Proteus vulgaris CNLM (16.3 mm)) in the total of 9 tested pathogens. The detection of genes involved in antibiotic synthesis indicated that the strain S. cavourensis YBQ75 consists of all three genes related to antibiotic synthesis including polyketide synthase (pks-I) type I, polyketide synthase type II (pks-II) and nonribosomal peptide synthetase (nrps). Premarilly result showed that the strain S. cavourensis YBQ75 also present as an anthracycline productive actinomycetes. The resutls demonstrated that the endophytic actinomycetes S. cavourensis YBQ75 from medical plants could be promising sources for the production of antibiotics and anthracycline anticancer compounds.