Detoxication and bioconversion of aflatoxin B1 by yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor): A sustainable approach for valuable larval protein production from contaminated grain
2022
Zhao, Dandan | Xie, Hui | Gao, Lei | Zhang, Jian | Li, Yan | Mao, Guotao | Zhang, Hongsen | Wang, Fengqin | Lam, Su Shiung | Song, Andong
Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) is a supplementary protein source for food and feed and represents a promising solution to manage grain contaminated with Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁). In this study, AFB₁ present in different concentrations in wheat bran was treated and removed via bioconversion by yellow mealworm of different instars, with emphasis on the bioconversion performance and metabolism of AFB₁. Upon application of wheat bran spiked with 100 μg/kg AFB₁ to 5th–6th instar yellow mealworms, the conversion rate of AFB₁ was up to 87.85 %. Low level of AFB₁ (< 2 μg/kg) was accumulated in the larval bodies, and the survival rate, development and nutrition contents of yellow mealworm were not significantly affected. It was revealed that 1 kg of wheat bran contaminated with AFB₁ increased the weight of yellow mealworms from 138 g to 469 g, containing approximately 103 g of protein. The bioconversion of AFB₁ by yellow mealworms led to generation of 13 metabolites in the frass and 3 metabolites in the larvae. AFB₁ was detoxicated and removed via phase I metabolism comprising reduction, dehydrogenation, hydration, demethylation, hydroxylation, decarbonylation and ketoreduction, followed by phase II metabolism involving conjugation of amino acid, glucoside and glutathione (GSH). The toxicity of AFB₁ metabolites was deemed lower than that of AFB₁ according to their structures. This study provides a sustainable approach and theoretical foundation on using yellow mealworms for cleaner grain contamination management and valuable larval protein production via bioconversion of food and feed contaminated by AFB₁.
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