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Abstract

Numerous studies on genetically modified food products indicate their safety and their potential to alleviate hunger worldwide. However, the issue of GM products and feeds remains relevant in the realm of food security. The purpose of this study is to present a comprehensive scheme of methods for determining the safety of GM food products and to develop a new method for assessing the safety of GM food products. This new method is based on the use of a biotest and the employment of Paramecium caudatum infusoria. In the study, GTS 40-3 and GTS 40-3-2 (Venus variety) soybeans, MON 00603 (NK 603) maize line, and non-GMO soybeans and maize were used as controls. Infusoria were prepared by culturing them in room temperature water (18-23°C) without direct sunlight, with the addition of non-GMO yeast powder as a nutrient solution and senna extract. Subsequently, the initial material containing approximately 100 infusoria was transferred to 100 ml flasks and incubated for 2-3 days. At the initial stage of the experiment, from day 1 to day 15, daily records and visual assessments were conducted. The assessment included the quantity of infusoria, motility (chemotaxis), size, shape, and the percentage of dead infusoria. Venus soybeans (GTS 40-3-2) exhibited a toxic effect on the protozoa, which died in repeated trials on the 14th-15th day of feeding. It was observed that infusoria fed with soybeans containing the GTS 40-3-2 (Venus) transformation event changed their shape after 3 days from the start of the experiment. Over the course of 10 days from the beginning of the study, a decrease in movement, motility, and the quantity of infusoria was noted. On the 14th-15th day, mortality was observed. Negative changes were also observed in infusoria that were fed with MON 00603 (NK 603) maize. The application of this method in the practice of assessing the safety of GM food products can provide a preliminary evaluation of long-term effects over a relatively short period Keywords: feeds; biotest; infusoria; toxicity; long-term effects the following indicators: toxicokinetics; genotoxicity; the potential allergenicity; potential colonisation in the gastrointestinal tract (in the presence of genetically modified live microorganisms as a source); the results of subchronic (90-day) toxicological experiments on laboratory animals and studies on human volunteers.