RmZHD Surface-Displayed Escherichia coli for High Efficiency and Low-Cost Degradation of Zearalenone

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Zearalenone (ZEN) is one of the most prevalent mycotoxins in the world, with estrogenic toxicity leading to significant annual economic losses and environmental pollution. RmZHD, a novel ZEN hydrolase, surpasses the efficiency of its predecessors but faces challenges in large-scale industrial application. In this work, an engineered Escherichia coli that can degrade zearalenone is constructed based on synthetic biology and surface display methods. It can degrade 94% of zearalenone at 30 °C in 1 h (the final concentration was 1.898 μg/mL) and effectively degrade ZEN-derived toxins, including zearalanone, β-zearalanol, α-zearalenol, and β-zearalenol. This engineered E. coli requires no additional manipulation for the surface display of RmZHD and is cost-effective to produce. Moreover, it exhibits the capability to degrade ZEN in maize feed while concurrently mitigating inflammation in animal reproductive and digestive organs. In summary, the engineered E. coli with surface-displayed RmZHD presents a novel approach for environmentally sustainable and industrial-scale treatment of ZEN.