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Utilization and optimization of white rot fungi's inhibitory effects on foodborne pathogens
Date
2025
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAO) provide risk for foodborne contamination. Although BSAAOs provide benefits to soil and crops, raw and treated BSAAOs are a potential risk for contamination via zoonotic bacteria, protozoa, and viruses. Not only are BSAAOs an increasing concern for foodborne contamination but also agricultural water, which is crucial for a number of practices, including irrigation. The possibility of contamination of agricultural water by foodborne pathogens has raised concerns regarding food safety and the potential for crop contamination which can lead to foodborne illness. One potential novel technique to address concerns is utilizing mycofiltration. Filamentous and white rot fungi species, Pleurotus ostreatus and Phanerochaete chrysosporium, are known to break down pollutants, chemicals, and pathogens in the environment when in a nutrient limiting condition. By utilizing novel mycoremediation techniques and exploring nutrient limiting growth matrices, P. ostreatus and P. chrysosporium could be utilized as a pre-harvest food safety measure. ☐ This study explored the use of three different matrices (spent mushroom compost, reticulated polyurethane foam, and woodchips) to support fungal growth and to determine their nutrient values and capabilities at aiding white rot fungus at entering ligninolytic activity to break down and inactivate E. coli in a novel bioreactor system and then applied these findings to a novel filtration system. Overall, woodchips were proven to be the most effective matrix at supporting ligninolytic activity and increasing bacterial inhibition with greater bacterial reduction with a reduction of 2.1 log-CFU/mL (p< 0.0001), when compared to spent mushroom compost (reduction of 0.6 log CFU/mL) (p=0.0325) and reticulated polyurethane foam (reduction of 1.1 log CFU/mL) (p<0.0001). When applying these findings to a novel filtration system three different filter matrices (biochar, ZVI:sand, and P. chrysosporium inoculated onto woodchips) and their ability to retain various foodborne pathogens, E. coli, Salmonella, Hepatitis A virus, Tulane virus, Cryptosporidium parvum, and Eimeria tenella, were evaluated to better understand the interactions occurring within these novel filtration systems and filter matrices. Overall, when P. chrysosporium was present, biochar retained more E. coli (2.9-log CFU/mL, p<.0001) when compared to ZVI and woodchips, while the filter matrix ZVI with P. chrysosporium present retained more Salmonella (4.5-log CFU/mL, p<.0001), HAV (3.3-log copies/rxn, p<.0001), C. parvum (2.2-log-copies/µL, p<.0001) and E. tenella (3.6-log copies/ µL, p=0.0008). Exploring novel mycofiltration and biofiltration systems that utilize various filter media bridges the gap between conventional technologies and low-cost treatment alternatives for pre-harvest food safety. A combination filtration system utilizing all three of these suggested filter matrices (white-rot fungi, ZVI:sand, and biochar) could aide on-farm mitigation practices and provide a low-cost treatment alternative to promote pre-harvest food safety.
Description
"At the request of the author or degree granting institution, this graduate work is not available to view or purchase until July 21 2026."--ProQuest abstract/details page.
Keywords
Bioremediation, Food safety, Mycoremediation, Preharvest food safety, White rot fungi