Updated molecular knowledge about histamine biosynthesis by bacteria

Histamine poisoning is caused by the ingestion of food containing high levels of histamine, a biogenic amine. Histamine could be expected in virtually all foods that contain proteins or free histidine and that are subject to conditions enabling microbial activity. In most histamine-containing foods...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Landete, José María, De Las Rivas, Blanca, Marcobal, Ángela, Muñoz, Rosario
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2008
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/46771
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/46771
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Histamine
Biogenic amines
Histidine decarboxylase
Detection methods
Food poisoning
Descripción
Sumario:Histamine poisoning is caused by the ingestion of food containing high levels of histamine, a biogenic amine. Histamine could be expected in virtually all foods that contain proteins or free histidine and that are subject to conditions enabling microbial activity. In most histamine-containing foods the majority of the histamine is generated by decarboxylation of the histidine through histidine decarboxylase enzymes derived from the bacteria present in food. Bacterial histidine decarboxylases have been extensively studied and characterized in different organisms and two different enzymes groups have been distinguished, pyridoxal phosphate- and the pyruvoyl-dependent. Pyridoxal phosphate-dependent histidine decarboxylases are encountered in Gram-negative bacteria belonging to various species. Pyruvoyl-dependent histidine decarboxylases are found in Grampositive bacteria and specially in lactic acid bacteria implicated in food fermentation or spoilage. The molecular organization of the genes involved in histamine production have been elucidated in several histamine-producer bacteria. This molecular knowledge has led to the development of molecular methods for the rapid detection of bacteria possessing the ability to produce histamine. The detection of histamine-producer bacteria is of great importance for its potential health hazard as well as from an economic point of view since products exceeding recommended limits can be refused in commercial transactions