Random antimicrobial peptide mixtures as non-antibiotic antimicrobial agents for cultured meat industry

Antibiotics, commonly used in cell culture studies to prevent microbial contamination, cannot be employed in Cultured meat (CM) due to potential residues in the final food products. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop novel and safe non-antibiotic antimicrobial agents. Here, we investigated th...

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Main Authors: Idan Yakir, Einav Cohen, Sharon Schlesinger, Zvi Hayouka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Food Chemistry: Molecular Sciences
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666566225000012
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author Idan Yakir
Einav Cohen
Sharon Schlesinger
Zvi Hayouka
author_facet Idan Yakir
Einav Cohen
Sharon Schlesinger
Zvi Hayouka
author_sort Idan Yakir
collection DOAJ
description Antibiotics, commonly used in cell culture studies to prevent microbial contamination, cannot be employed in Cultured meat (CM) due to potential residues in the final food products. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop novel and safe non-antibiotic antimicrobial agents. Here, we investigated the potential of random antimicrobial peptide mixtures (RPMs) as non-antibiotic antimicrobial agents. RPMs are synthetic peptide cocktails that have previously shown strong and broad antimicrobial activity; however, their use in cell culture media and their effect on mammalian cells have not yet been explored. Here we show that RPMs had no significant impact on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) at concentrations that effectively inhibit bacterial growth. RPMs displayed strong bactericidal activity against Gram-positive bacteria, achieving a 6-log reduction of L. monocytogenes in cell culture medium without any cytotoxicity. Additionally, RPMs showed a low occurrence of resistance development with no significant resistance developed in compared with a combination of penicillin and streptomycin. Moreover, LK20 mixture was rapidly digested and a rapid digestion in a simulated digestion model. Our results indicate that RPMs have great potential to serve as safe and effective non antibiotic antimicrobial agents in cultured meat industry.
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spelling doaj-art-e30a226b8fbf489ebf1bdb248ff0577e2025-01-25T04:11:26ZengElsevierFood Chemistry: Molecular Sciences2666-56622025-06-0110100240Random antimicrobial peptide mixtures as non-antibiotic antimicrobial agents for cultured meat industryIdan Yakir0Einav Cohen1Sharon Schlesinger2Zvi Hayouka3Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agricultural, Food & Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, Israel; Singapore-HUJ Alliance for research and enterprise (SHARE), The Cellular Agriculture (CellAg) Programme, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), 138602, SingaporeInstitute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agricultural, Food & Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, IsraelDepartment of Animal Sciences, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agricultural, Food & Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, IsraelInstitute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agricultural, Food & Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, Israel; Singapore-HUJ Alliance for research and enterprise (SHARE), The Cellular Agriculture (CellAg) Programme, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), 138602, Singapore; Corresponding author at: Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agricultural, Food & Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, Israel; Singapore-HUJ Alliance for research and enterprise (SHARE), The Cellular Agriculture (CellAg) Programme, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), 138602, SingaporeAntibiotics, commonly used in cell culture studies to prevent microbial contamination, cannot be employed in Cultured meat (CM) due to potential residues in the final food products. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop novel and safe non-antibiotic antimicrobial agents. Here, we investigated the potential of random antimicrobial peptide mixtures (RPMs) as non-antibiotic antimicrobial agents. RPMs are synthetic peptide cocktails that have previously shown strong and broad antimicrobial activity; however, their use in cell culture media and their effect on mammalian cells have not yet been explored. Here we show that RPMs had no significant impact on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) at concentrations that effectively inhibit bacterial growth. RPMs displayed strong bactericidal activity against Gram-positive bacteria, achieving a 6-log reduction of L. monocytogenes in cell culture medium without any cytotoxicity. Additionally, RPMs showed a low occurrence of resistance development with no significant resistance developed in compared with a combination of penicillin and streptomycin. Moreover, LK20 mixture was rapidly digested and a rapid digestion in a simulated digestion model. Our results indicate that RPMs have great potential to serve as safe and effective non antibiotic antimicrobial agents in cultured meat industry.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666566225000012Cultured meatNon antibiotic antimicrobial agentAntimicrobial peptideCellular agricultureFood safetyFood preservation
spellingShingle Idan Yakir
Einav Cohen
Sharon Schlesinger
Zvi Hayouka
Random antimicrobial peptide mixtures as non-antibiotic antimicrobial agents for cultured meat industry
Food Chemistry: Molecular Sciences
Cultured meat
Non antibiotic antimicrobial agent
Antimicrobial peptide
Cellular agriculture
Food safety
Food preservation
title Random antimicrobial peptide mixtures as non-antibiotic antimicrobial agents for cultured meat industry
title_full Random antimicrobial peptide mixtures as non-antibiotic antimicrobial agents for cultured meat industry
title_fullStr Random antimicrobial peptide mixtures as non-antibiotic antimicrobial agents for cultured meat industry
title_full_unstemmed Random antimicrobial peptide mixtures as non-antibiotic antimicrobial agents for cultured meat industry
title_short Random antimicrobial peptide mixtures as non-antibiotic antimicrobial agents for cultured meat industry
title_sort random antimicrobial peptide mixtures as non antibiotic antimicrobial agents for cultured meat industry
topic Cultured meat
Non antibiotic antimicrobial agent
Antimicrobial peptide
Cellular agriculture
Food safety
Food preservation
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666566225000012
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