PHYSICOCHEMICAL ALTERATIONS ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF DAIRY STRAINS OF LACTIC-ACID BACTERIA TO REMOVE AFLATOXIN FROM CONTAMINATED MEDIA

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Lactobacillus rhamnosus LC-705, previou sly shown to effectively bind to anatoxin B-1, were subjected to vario us chemical and physical treatments to examine the effects of these tr eatments on the binding affinity of these strains towards aflatoxin B- 1. Treatment of bacterial pellets of both strains with hydrochloric ac id significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the binding ability when compared to nontreated pellets or pellets treated by other methods. An enhance ment of bacterial ability to bind aflatoxin B-1 was also observed when the bacterial pellets were subjected to heat treatment by either auto claving or boiling at 100 degrees C in a water bath, but the impact of these two treatments was not as effective as the acid treatment. Etha nol, UV radiation, sonication, alkaline, or pH treatments either had n o effect or reduced the binding ability of the bacteria.