Aflatoxin B₁ Binding by Dairy Strains of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Bifidobacteria

¹ Key Centre for Applied and Nutritional Toxicology, School of Medical Sciences, RMIT-University, Buundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia, Department of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
² Key Centre for Applied and Nutritional Toxicology, School of Medical Sciences, RMIT-University, Buundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
³ Department of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland

Current address: Department of Clinical Nutrition, University of Kuopio, 70211 Kuopio, Finland, Molecular Cancer Research Program, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, 00014, Finland, Australian Water Quality Centre, Private mail Bag 3, Salisbury, South Australia 5108, Australia

Various food commodities including dairy products may be contaminated with aflatoxins, which, even in small quantities, have detrimental effects on human and animal health. Several microorganisms have been reported to bind or degrade aflatoxins in foods and feeds. This study assessed the binding of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) from contaminated solution by 20 strains of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria. The selected strains are used in the food industry and comprised 12 Lactobacillus, five Bifidobacterium, and three Lactococcus strains. Bacteria and AFB₁ were incubated (24 h, +37°C) and the amount of unbound AFB₁ was quantitated by HPLC. Between 5.6 and 59.7% AFB₁ was bound from solution by these strains. Two Lactobacillus amylovorus strains and one Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain removed more than 50% AFB₁ and were selected for further study. Bacterial binding of AFB₁ by these strains was rapid, and more than 50% AFB₁ was bound throughout a 72-h incubation period. Binding was reversible, and AFB₁ was released by repeated aqueous washes. These findings further support the ability of specific strains of lactic acid bacteria to bind selected dietary contaminants.

Key Words: aflatoxin B₁ • lactobacilli • bifidobacteria • lactococci

Submitted on November 20, 2000
Accepted on June 4, 2001

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