Application of monoclonal antibodies in quantifying fungal growth dynamics during aerobic spoilage of silage. Issue 4 (10th March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Le Cocq, Kate; Brown, Bethany; Hodgson, Christopher J.; McFadzean, Jamie; Horrocks, Claire A.; Lee, Michael R. F.; Davies, David R.
• Is Part Of: Microbial biotechnology. Volume 13:Issue 4(2020:Jul.)
• Page Start: 1054
• Page End: 1065
• Publication Date: 2020-03-10
• Subjects: Microbial biotechnology -- Periodicals; Biotechnology; Microbiology; 660.62
• DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13552
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-7915

Abstract

Summary: Proliferation of filamentous fungi following ingress of oxygen to silage is an important cause of dry matter losses, resulting in significant waste. In addition, the production of mycotoxins by some filamentous fungi poses a risk to animal health through mycotoxicosis. Quantitative assessment of fungal growth in silage, through measurement of ergosterol content, colony‐forming units or temperature increase is limiting in representing fungal growth dynamics during aerobic spoilage due to being deficient in either representing fungal biomass or being able to identify specific genera. Here, we conducted a controlled environment aerobic exposure experiment to test the efficacy of a monoclonal antibody‐based enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the proliferation of fungal biomass in six silage samples. We compared this to temperature which has been traditionally deployed in such experiments and on‐farm to detect aerobic deterioration. In addition, we quantified ergosterol, a second marker of fungal biomass. After 8 days post‐aerobic exposure, the ergosterol and ELISA methods indicated an increase in fungal biomass in one of the samples with a temperature increase observed after 16 days. A comparison of the methods with Pearson's correlation coefficient showed a positive association between temperature and ergosterol and both markers of fungal biomass. This work indicates that the technology has potential to be used as an indicator of microbial degradation in preserved forage. Consequently, if it developed as an on‐farm technique, this could inform forage management decisions made by farmers, with the goal of decreasing dry matter losses, improving resource and nutrient efficiency and reducing risks to animal health. Abstract : Current techniques for detection of aerobic spoilage in silage include measurement of changes in temperature and ergosterol concentration. Here, we investigate a novel approach to detection of fungal proliferation in silage through application of a monoclonal antibody based method previously described for detection of fungi in soil and medical settings.