The effect of fumonisin B1 on the growth of bacteria

Fumonisins are mycotoxins produced by several Fusarium species which are common contaminants of maize and maize products. Their toxicity and carcinogenicity for animals ingesting these toxins have been clearly demonstrated, but, there are no studies on the effect of fumonisins on bacteria. In this study various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including typical representatives of the human intestinal flora were grown in the presence of 50 to 1000 μM fumonisin B1 and the fumonisin concentrations in the culture medium were determined after incubation for a certain period. No inhibition of bacterial growth was observed, indicating that this mycotoxin is non-toxic for the bacteria investigated. There was no indication that fumonisin B1 was metabolized by the bacteria as its concentration in the culture medium did not decrease during the incubation period.