Isolation and characterization of Pseudomonas otitidis TH-N1 capable of degrading Zearalenone

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a nonsteroidal estrogenic mycotoxin produced by various Fusarium species and causes hyperestrogenism and related toxicosis of farm animals and humans. The present study aimed to isolate and identify ZEA-resistant bacteria from rumen in order to develop some strategies for detoxifying ZEA-contaminated food and feed. A bacterial strain was isolated from the rumen contents for its ability to utilize ZEA as the sole carbon and energy source. The isolate was an aerobic, Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium with single polar flagellum and was named Pseudomonas otitidis TH-N1 based on the morphology and 16S rRNA gene sequence. Meanwhile, the present study investigated that how various influence factors of P. otitidis TH-N1 could remove ZEA from a liquid medium. The optimal temperature, pH value, and concentrations of bacteria for the biodegradation of ZEA were 37 °C, 4.5, and 109 cfu/ml, respectively. These results suggest that P. otitidis TH-N1 is a new bacterium found from the rumen and exhibited remarkable degradation activity of ZEA. It is probably a new bacterial resource to detoxify ZEA from ZEA-contaminated food and feed.