CNR Advances Food Safety Research on PPB Strains with Novel Cell-Based Testing

PURPLE4LIFE continues to strengthen its scientific foundation for the development of safe and sustainable food and feed solutions based on Purple Phototrophic Bacteria (PPB). At the National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Sciences of Food Production in Lecce, Italy, project researchers are conducting advanced food safety assessments focused on the potential cytotoxicity of selected PPB strains.

As part of this work, CNR researchers are evaluating PPB-derived materials using standardized human cell line systems. The selection of appropriate cell cultures is guided by specific experimental requirements to ensure robust and reproducible results. Among the models used is the Caco-2 epithelial cell line, derived from colorectal adenocarcinoma, widely recognised as a validated intestinal model for food safety studies. In the experimental workflow, cells are seeded into 96-well plates and exposed to extracts from selected PPB strains at varying concentrations. This enables dose-response analysis to assess potential biological effects under controlled laboratory conditions.

To quantify outcomes, researchers apply the MTS assay, a widely used method for measuring cell viability. In parallel, cell morphology is examined to identify any additional biological responses. These combined approaches provide a comprehensive evaluation of PPB interactions at cellular level, supporting the safe development of this novel biological resource.This research activity represents a key step within PURPLE4LIFE’s broader objective of ensuring that PPB-based innovations meet the highest food safety standards while enabling their future application in sustainable food and feed systems.

See the video to learn more about the lab work in action:

By Antonella Leone (CNR)