Eco-friendly antifungal peptides for food preservation

Overview

Nanomik Biotechnology presents innovative antifungal peptides, PepA and PepB, developed as natural bio-preservatives. These peptides are part of the Fungal Defensin group, known for their biopesticidal and biopreservative properties. Our peptides are designed to enhance food preservation by preventing mold growth, particularly in acidic environments such as fruit juices. PepB, with a higher cationic charge, offers superior efficacy in acidic conditions, making it a promising solution for extending the shelf life of acid-tolerant food products.

Technical specifications

• Peptide Characteristics:
  • PepA and PepB contain 6-8 cysteines, are slightly hydrophobic, and exhibit cationic characteristics.
  • Length: 80-130 amino acids with a theoretical pI >+5 and net charge >+1.
  • PepB has three times the cationic charge of PepA, enhancing antimold activity in acidic environments.
• Production Process:
  • Recombinant production using GRAS Pichia pastoris in a fed-batch fermentor system.
  • Purification through Cation Exchange Chromatography, dialysis, and lyophilization.
• Validation Steps:
  • Structural analysis via molecular methods and LC-MS.
  • Kill curve analyses in acidic fruit juice media.
  • Accelerated shelf life testing in fruit juice samples.

Technology readiness level

This technology is currently at TRL 3, indicating experimental proof of concept. The peptides will undergo further validation through a series of work packages, including production, structural analysis, and efficacy testing in realistic food matrix environments.