Prospecting for microbial transformations of trichothecenes

Authors: Bakker, Matthew; McCormick, Susan

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/22/2018
Publication Date: 11/22/2018
Citation: Bakker, M.G., McCormick, S.P. 2018. Prospecting for microbial transformations of trichothecenes [abstract].

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The production and accumulation of trichothecene mycotoxins is responsible for much of the negative economic impact associated with fusarium head blight. A variety of biochemical transformations to trichothecenes have been described, some of which result in a less toxic product. We expect that continued prospecting will reveal additional microbial transformations to trichothecenes, and eventually microbial enzymes having utility in plant protection or in restoring value to contaminated grain. We have developed methods for producing enrichment cultures in which complex microbial consortia (e.g., seeded from soil dilutions) are directed towards the transformation of deoxynivalenol (DON). While we can reliably produce enrichment cultures that transform DON, deriving from these communities a pure culture of an organism that transforms DON has remained elusive. Separately, we have performed hundreds of screens of individual isolates belonging to dozens of taxa for the ability to reduce the concentration of DON in culture media. Here we highlight two strains that have reliably transformed DON under varied culture conditions, including both broth and solid substrates. These strains both belong to the family Pseudonocardiaceae, within the Actinobacteria.