Enzymatic degradation of Ochratoxin A by a novel bacterium, Microbacterium esteraromaticum ASAG1016

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a toxic compound of fungal origin that frequently contaminates agricultural products and food, posing a threat to animal and human health. In this study, a species Microbacterium esteraromaticum, designated as strain ASAG1016 and originating from corn soil, has shown great potential to degrade OTA into non-toxic derivative, (ochratoxin alpha) OTα. The strain showed a degradation rate of 100 % in 100 ng/mL OTA solution in 12 h. When applied to naturally moldy feeds and grapes, this strain degraded 97.0 % of the OTA within 12 h. We reported that M. esteraromaticum ASAG1016 primarily removes OTA through the production of carboxypeptidase. We also found that this strain has the potential to inhibit the growth of Penicillium digitatum by 88.5 %. Moreover, M. esteraromaticum ASAG1016 simultaneously degraded 35.05 % and 48.59 % of deoxynivalenol (DON) and T-2, respectively, in grapes and animal feed. The results indicate that M. esteraromaticum ASAG1016 possesses significant potential for OTA in the food and feed industry, suggesting its promising use as a biological control agent in these agricultural products.