Biomin launches first purified enzyme against fumonisins

Fumzyme is a purified enzyme that biotransforms fumonisins into non-toxic metabolites in the gastrointestinal tract of animals. The detoxifying activity of this revolutionary enzyme was confirmed in numerous in vitro and in vivo experiments.

“Fumonisins elicit a toxic effect on the sphingolipid metabolism. The ratio of the sphingoid bases sphinganine and sphingosine in serum serves as an indicator (biomarker) of the effects of fumonisin on animals” says Ursula Hofstetter, director of the Competence Center Mycotoxins at Biomin. “For the first time, using the sphinganine/sphingosine ratio (Sa/So) as a biomarker, the detoxification of fumonisins by FUMzyme can be clearly demonstrated” continues Hofstetter.

Climate change and the international transportation of raw materials are only two of several factors that increase fumonisin contamination all over the world. Recent findings have revealed natural fumonisin contamination levels of 77 ppm in finished feed. Pig and poultry farmers are not only suffering from unidentified losses in performance and immunosuppressive effects, but also species-specific clinical problems. So far, the only existing possibility of alleviating fumonisin intoxication was to bind fumonisins by adsorptive substances. Unfortunately, due to the molecular structure of these mycotoxins and the pH dependence of the reaction, it can only be insuffiently adsorbed in the gastrointestinal tract.

Fumzyme is available as part of the Mycofix product line.