DEGRADATION OF OCHRATOXIN-A BY ACINETOBACTER-CALCOACETICUS

Microorganisms were screened for their ability to degrade ochratoxin A (OTA). Among test microorganisms, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus was found to degrade OTA. The degradation of OTA by A. calcoaceticus was studied in an ethanol-minimal salts medium with an initial OTA concentration of 10 mug/ml at 25 and 30-degrees-C. Under these conditions, A. calcoaceticus was able to degrade OTA with an initial concentration of OTA of 10 mug/ml. The average amounts of OTA removed by A. calcoaceticus in medium with an initial OTA concentration of 10 mug/ml were 0.1005 and 0.0636 mug/ml/h at 25 and 30-degrees-C, respectively. Ochratoxin A was degraded significantly by A. calcoaceticus during and after the log phase of cell growth at both incubation temperatures. It is postulated that degradation of OTA by A. calcoaceticus yielded a less toxic ochratoxin alpha.