Research Article Open Access

Production of Selenium-Enriched Yeast (Kluyveromyces marxianus) Biomass in a whey-based Culture Medium

Nicolás Gurdo1, Mario Calafat2, Diego Gabriel Noseda1 and Isabel Gigli2
  • 1 Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM), Argentina
  • 2 Universidad Nacional de La Pampa, Argentina

Abstract

Two important aspects of agriculture intensification are the reduction in the concentration of specific soil minerals that affects livestock production and the increase of agricultural by-products, which produce environmental pollution. In this regard, whey - a cheese by-product-often is considered a wasted-product. Due to its lactose concentration, (4.5%), when whey is discarded without treatment generates a high Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and a high Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). Taking into account these two issues, we developed a whey-based culture medium to produce selenium-enriched Kluyveromyces biomass. Then, we evaluated the effect of its supplementation on calves blood selenium concentration. Kluyveromyces marxianus DSM 11954 and Kluyveromyces lactis DSM 3795 strains were used in this study. Different culture media were prepared using whey as a main component and supplemented with peptone, yeast extract, (NH4)2SO4 and K2HPO4 as appropriate. In the selected whey culture medium, three sodium selenite concentrations between 10-30 μg/mL were tested to produce selenium-enriched biomass. After that, a scaled up to 5 L stirred-tank bioreactor was carried out to increase final yeast biomass levels. Finally, dietary supplementation experiments with selenium-enriched yeast were conducted to increase selenium content in calves. K. marxianus DSM 11954 showed a better growth performance than K. lactis DSM 3795 in a medium composed by whey, (NH4)2SO4 5 g/L, K2HPO4 1 g/L (pH 6.5) so, this strain was chosen to continue the experiments. The results showed that sodium selenite addition at 20 μg/mL was adequate to generate selenium-enriched biomass. Our study demonstrated that whey is an optimal and economical culture medium to produce selenium-enriched- yeast biomass. Also, we proved that 10 days of yeast-biomass supplementation raised blood-selenium level in calves.

American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Volume 14 No. 2, 2018, 175-182

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajbbsp.2018.175.182

Submitted On: 21 April 2018 Published On: 28 June 2018

How to Cite: Gurdo, N., Calafat, M., Noseda, D. G. & Gigli, I. (2018). Production of Selenium-Enriched Yeast (Kluyveromyces marxianus) Biomass in a whey-based Culture Medium. American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 14(2), 175-182. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajbbsp.2018.175.182

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Keywords

  • Whey
  • Selenium
  • Kluyveromyces Marxianus
  • Supplementation
  • Calves