Antimicrobial effect of the FK-1000 fraction on Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli and phytophatogenic bacteria

• Grant number: 23/05870-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2023
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Marta de Oliveira Domingos
• Grantee: Marta de Oliveira Domingos
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Daniel Carvalho Pimenta ; Daniela Luz Hessel da Cunha ; Luis Fernando dos Santos ; Marcia Regina Franzolin ; Rosa Maria Chura Chambi ; Roxane Maria Fontes Piazza ; Suzete Aparecida Lanza Destéfano

Abstract

The increase in the number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria represents a global threat to public health, food safety, and the sustainability of the agricultural sector. This problem is exacerbated by bacteria responsible for food poisoning outbreaks such as STEC (Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli), which not only cause public health problems but also severe restrictions on food trade, thus representing a serious threat to the food industry. The increase in the number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in healthcare and rural production makes it urgent to develop new formulations that can replace the use of antibiotics in these sectors. In this search, an antimicrobial fraction called FK-1000 was isolated at the Bacteriology Laboratory of the Butantan Institute, which showed bactericidal effect against multidrug-resistant bacteria at a much lower concentration than that required to induce cytotoxicity in human cells. Regarding its physicochemical characteristics, the fraction is soluble, odorless, colorless, can be lyophilized, autoclaved, and incorporated into substrates without losing its antimicrobial property. In addition, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the fraction was established after more than ten years of basic research. Given the importance of finding new products that can combat pathogens that represent a threat to food safety and the sustainability of the agricultural sector, the objective of this work is to determine the antimicrobial capacity of the FK-1000 fraction against the STEC pathogen and phytopathogens responsible for significant losses in essential crops to agribusiness. (AU)