A Novel Cost-Effective Nanobody against Fumonisin B1 Contaminations: Efficacy Test in Dairy Milk and Chickens

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a secondary metabolite produced mainly by Fusarium verticillioides or Fusarium proliferatum. It poses a huge threat to the sustainable animal industry and human health as well via food chains (egg, meat and milk). Although E. coli-expressed nanobodies are documented for diagnostic applications, nanobodies remain elusive as FB1 detoxifiers in feed and food.

In the present study, the E. coli-expressed nanobody was assessed to remove FB1 in fresh milk, embryonated eggs and broilers. Firstly, 2 alpacas received intramuscularly FB1-adjuvanted BSA 6 times, and then the variable domain of the heavy-chain antibody (VHH) of fb1 genes were amplified to clone into the pCANTAB 5 E vector in order to generate a VHH-FB1 phage antibody display library, yielding 3.4 × 10¹⁰ capacity with 96.7% positivity. Afterwards, 5 anti-FB1 nanobodies were expressed and identified. Furthermore, maximal 43.2% FB1 was removed from milk by 1:2000 concentration of nanobody 5 (Nb5). Furthermore, SPF-embryonated eggs were inoculated into albumens with nanobody-treated FB1. The Nb5 group yielded an 83.3% hatching rate, higher body weight, lower gizzard ulceration and fewer FB1 residuals. In order to warrant the above results, 50 broilers aged 10 days were received orally with 20 ppm of FB1 for 20 days. At the same time, birds were fed orally with 50 μg of Nb5 or bivalent nanobody 11 (BiNb11). Finally, the Nb5 group showed a higher relative body weight gain and lower gastric ulcerations and fewer inflammations in the thymus and bursa.

Based on the above evidence, the Nb5 nanobody may be considered as an additional FB1 detoxifier, contributing to FB1 decontamination.