A Monoclonal Antibody-Based Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for 5-Formyltetrahydrofolate Detection in Maize Kernels

Maize is one of the most important staple food crops worldwide. 5-Formyltetrahydrofolate (5-F-THF), the most dominant and stable folate derivative in maize kernels, is important to human health and acts key roles in several metabolic pathways and biological processes. To assist investigating maize germplasm and subsequent breeding of maize varieties containing high levels of 5-F-THF, a cost-effective and high-throughput methodology for 5-F-THF detection is required. In the present study, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against 5-F-THF were raised in mice, followed by establishment of an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA). The icELISA showed an IC₅₀ of 35.10 ng/mL and a working range of 7.90–263.89 ng/mL for 5-F-THF. The analytical recovery for 5-F-THF in the maize kernels with icELISA was 66–111 %, and that with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was 57–114 %, indicating a good consistency between these two methods (Slope, 0.92; R ², 0.98). We conclude that the sensitive and versatile icELISA can be used for high-throughput detection of 5-F-THF in maize kernels.     

Development of a Monoclonal Antibody-Based Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for the Analysis of Diclazuril in Chicken Tissues

A highly sensitive and specific monoclonal antibody (Mab) against diclazuril was produced. The hapten with diclazuril coupled to diazotised 4-aminobenzoic acid was synthesized and conjugated to bovine serum albumin by the active ester method to form an immunogen for antibody generation. A novel diclazuril carboxymethyloxime derivative used in an ovalbumin conjugate was applied as a heterologous coating antigen and was expected to improve the immunoassay sensitivity. A sensitive and simple indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) based on the Mab for the determination of diclazuril was developed. Under the optimized conditions, the icELISA for diclazuril showed a half maximum inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) value of 1.8 ng/mL, with limit of detection of 0.24 ng/mL and negligible cross-reactivities with other coccidiostat compounds including toltrazuril, robenidine, nicarbazin, halofuginone, amprolium, monensin, and maduramycin. The icELISA was successfully applied to diclazuril residue analysis in spiked chicken tissues. The average recoveries, intra-assay, and inter-assay coefficients of variation were in a range from 77.6 to 103.7 %, 3.7 to 13.0 %, and 5.6 to 18.3 %, respectively.     

Specific Monoclonal Antibody-Based Enzyme Immunoassay for Sensitive and Reliable Detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alternaria</Emphasis> Mycotoxin Iso-Tenuazonic Acid in Food Products

In this paper, we report the development of a sensitive and specific monoclonal antibody-based immunodiagnostic method for the detection of iso-tenuazonic acid (ITeA), an Alternaria mycotoxin, in food samples. The ITeA was derivatized with hydrazine hydrate to produce the antigen (E)-3-(1-hydrazonoethyl)-4-hydroxy-5-isobutyl-1H-pyrrol-2(5H)-one (ITeAH) which was further reacted with glyoxalic acid to generate the hapten (E)-2-((Z)-(1-(4-hydroxy-5-isobutyl-2-oxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)ethylidene) (ITeAHGA) which was used as an immunogen after conjugation to bovine serum albumin (BSA). A highly specific monoclonal antibody selectively binding to ITeAH was generated via the hybridoma technique and subsequently used to construct a heterologous indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) using ITeAH as the competitive antigen for the detection of ITeA with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.5 ng/mL. Under the optimum conditions, the developed icELISA is highly sensitive (IC₅₀ = 7.8 ng/mL) with recovery rates ranged from 82.3 to 109.8% for spiked food samples. The comparative analysis of results revealed a good correlation between the icELISA and the standard HPLC-MS/MS method, confirming the suitability of the developed icELISA for screening and detection of mycotoxin ITeA in food samples.     

Development of a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the analysis of the new fungicide 2-allylphenol in strawberry fruits

2-Allylphenol (2-AP) is a recently registered fungicide in China to control fungal diseases on tomato, strawberry and apple. Four haptens were designed to produce 2-AP specific antibodies in the present work. A sensitive and specific indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) was developed with mAb225^# for the analysis of 2-AP after it is derivatized with 4-aminobenzoic acid. The icELISA showed a concentration of 4-carboxy-3′-allyl-4′-hydroxyazobenzene (CAH) as 2-AP equivalent producing 50% inhibition (IC₅₀) and a calibration range of 0.29 and 0.09–1.09 ng/mL, respectively. No competitive inhibition was observed up to 10,000 ng/mL of 4-aminobenzoic acid, 2(2-hydroxypropyl) phenol, salicylic acid, and 4-butanoylphenol. Average recoveries of 2-AP from strawberry samples spiked at concentrations from 156 to 5000 ng/g ranged from 83% to 95%. Comparable concentrations (R², 0.996) of 2-AP in strawberry samples determined with the icELISA and high performance liquid chromatography suggest that the icELISA is suitable for analyses of 2-AP residues in strawberry.     

Evaluation of extraction methods for ochratoxin A detection in cocoa beans employing HPLC

Cocoa is an important ingredient for the chocolate industry and for many food products. However, it is prone to contamination by ochratoxin A (OTA), which is highly toxic and potentially carcinogenic to humans. In this work, four different extraction methods were tested and compared based on their recoveries. The best protocol was established which involves an organic solvent-free extraction method for the detection of OTA in cocoa beans using 1% sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO₃) in water within 30 min. The extraction method is rapid (as compared with existing methods), simple, reliable and practical to perform without complex experimental set-ups. The cocoa samples were freshly extracted and cleaned-up using immunoaffinity column (IAC) for HPLC analysis using a fluorescence detector. Under the optimised condition, the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for OTA were 0.62 and 1.25 ng ml^–1 respectively in standard solutions. The method could successfully quantify OTA in naturally contaminated samples. Moreover, good recoveries of OTA were obtained up to 86.5% in artificially spiked cocoa samples, with a maximum relative standard deviation (RSD) of 2.7%. The proposed extraction method could determine OTA at the level 1.5 µg kg^–1, which surpassed the standards set by the European Union for cocoa (2 µg kg^–1). In addition, an efficiency comparison of IAC and molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) column was also performed and evaluated.     

Determination of Ochratoxin A in Cereals and Feeds by Ultra-performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Tandem Mass Spectrometry with Immunoaffinity Column Clean-up

This paper describes the preparation of reusable immunoaffinity columns and the development of an ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method combined with immunoaffinity column clean-up (IAC-UPLC-MS/MS) for the determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) in cereals and feeds. The monoclonal antibody (mAb) was produced from a stable hybridoma cell line (4H10), which belongs to the immunoglobulin G1 (κ-light chain) isotype. A competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to characterize the mAb. The concentrations causing 50 % inhibition of binding of mAb to OTA-ovalbumin by free OTA, ochratoxin B, and ochratoxin C were 1.29, 4.78, and 0.94 ng mL^?1, respectively. The IAC-UPLC-MS/MS method offers a limit of quantification (LOQ, S/N >10) ranging from 0.5 to 1.0 μg kg^?1 and a limit of detection (LOD, S/N >3) ranging from 0.2 to 0.3 μg kg^?1 in cereal and feed samples. The IAC-UPLC-MS/MS method offers a good LOQ and LOD for OTA in cereal and feed samples. The accuracy and precision at this level fall within the EU regulatory limit. This methodology has been validated in four different matrices (millet, maize, soybean, and swine finisher diet) with highly satisfactory results and applied to the analysis of samples collected from the markets.     

Determination of Ochratoxin A in Bread: Evaluation of Microwave-Assisted Extraction Using an Orthogonal Composite Design Coupled with Response Surface Methodology

An analytical method using microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and liquid chromatography (LC) with fluorescence detection (FD) for the determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) in bread samples is described. A 2⁴ orthogonal composite design coupled with response surface methodology was used to study the influence of MAE parameters (extraction time, temperature, solvent volume, and stirring speed) in order to maximize OTA recovery. The optimized MAE conditions were the following: 25 mL of acetonitrile, 10 min of extraction, at 80 °C, and maximum stirring speed. Validation of the overall methodology was performed by spiking assays at five levels (0.1–3.00 ng/g). The quantification limit was 0.005 ng/g. The established method was then applied to 64 bread samples (wheat, maize, and wheat/maize bread) collected in Oporto region (Northern Portugal). OTA was detected in 84 % of the samples with a maximum value of 2.87 ng/g below the European maximum limit established for OTA in cereal products of 3 ng/g.     

Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay for Rapid, Accurate and Sensitive Determination of Ochratoxin A in Wheat

A sensitive and accurate fluorescence polarization (FP) immunoassay has been developed for the determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) in naturally contaminated wheat samples. A fluorescein-labeled OTA tracer was synthesized, and its binding response with three monoclonal antibodies was tested. The most sensitive competitive FP immunoassay showed an IC₅₀ value of 0.48 ng/mL with a negligible cross-reactivity for ochratoxin B (1.7 %) and no cross-reactivity with other mycotoxins commonly occurring in wheat. The wheat sample was extracted with acetonitrile/water (60:40, v/v) and purified by a rapid solid-phase extraction procedure using an aminopropyl column prior to the FP immunoassay. The overall time of analysis was less than 20 min. The average recovery from spiked wheat samples (3 to 10 μg/kg) was 87 %, with relative standard deviations generally lower than 6 %. Limits of detection and quantification were 0.8 and 2.0 μg/kg, respectively. The trueness of the method was assessed by using two reference materials for OTA showing good accuracy and precision. A good correlation (r?=?0.995) was observed between OTA contamination of 19 naturally contaminated wheat samples analyzed by both FP immunoassay and high-performance liquid chromatography/immunoaffinity clean-up used as reference method. These results show that the developed FP method is suitable for high-throughput screening, as well as for reliable quantitative determination of OTA in wheat at level far below the EU regulatory limits.     

Comparison of Chicken IgY and Mammalian IgG in Three Immunoassays for Detection of Sulfamethazine in Milk

Antibodies are the most important reagents for the development of highly sensitive and specific immunoassays to quantify analytes of interest in food and environmental samples. While immunoglobulin G (IgG)-derived antibodies from rabbit and mouse are traditionally employed in immunoassays, recent findings suggest that chicken egg yolk antibody (immunoglobulin Y (IgY)) provides several advantages over mammalian IgG. However, limited studies to date have examined the possibility of replacing IgG with IgY in immunoassays. In the current investigation, the performance of chicken IgY and IgG derived from rabbit and mouse was systematically compared in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and matrix effect under parallel conditions with three typical assay formats, specifically, indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA), fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA), and colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay (GICA), for detection of sulfamethazine (SMZ) as the reference molecule. We evaluated and discussed the influence of different coating antigens, tracers, and physicochemical factors on the performance of IgY and IgG in the immunoassays. Under optimized conditions, the sensitivities of icELISA (IC₅₀ values of 6.70, 4.76, and 1.66 ng mL^?1 with recoveries of 86.1–131.8% and precision of <?12%) and FPIA (IC₅₀ values of 24.79, 20.87, and 10.83 ng mL^?1 with recoveries of 81.8–120.2% and precision of <?17.3%) based on both IgY and IgG were sufficient to detect SMZ in milk while only GICA based on mouse IgG provided acceptable sensitivity. Our collective data indicate that IgY could be an acceptable alternative to mammalian antibodies in some situations (in icELISA and FPIA) for use in the development of effective immunoassays for screening and detection of veterinary drug residues in food samples.     

Analysis of Ochratoxin A in Wine by High-Resolution UHPLC-MS

A method for determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) in wines using a new-solid phase extraction clean-up procedure followed with ultra performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)-Orbitrap MS based on two scan events (full-scan Fourier transform mass spectrometer [FTMS] and higher energy-induced collision dissociation[HCD] data-dependent MS/MS) in positive ionization mode has been developed. The limit of detection (LOD) was estimated at 0.46 μg l^?1 for white wine, 0.53 and 0.54 μg l^?1 for rosé and red wines, respectively. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was estimated at 1.57 μg l^?1 in white wine, 1.77 and 1.81 μg l^?1 in rosé and red wines. Recovery experiments were carried out with spiked samples at three concentration levels (2, 5 and 10 μg l^?1). The OTA recoveries in spiked white wine samples varied from 69.6 % to 99.8 %, while the recoveries for rosé and red wine samples were in the range of 63.0–110.2 % and 63.6–103.2 %, respectively. Finally, based on the results, it is concluded that the combination of C18 cartridge with conventional particle packed columns and UHPLC LTQ-Orbitrap XL is an appropriate procedure for OTA analysis in wines.     

Natural co-occurrence of ochratoxin A,ochratoxin B and aflatoxins in Sicilian red wines

The natural occurrence of ochratoxin A, ochratoxin B, aflatoxin B₁, aflatoxin B₂, aflatoxin G₁ and aflatoxin G₂ (OTA, OTB, AFB₁, AFB₂, AFG₁, AFG₂) in red wines was investigated by HPLC/FLD after immunoaffinity column clean-up in 57 market samples produced in Sicily (Italy). The results showed a very low incidence of these mycotoxins in analysed samples, confirming the high degree of quality and safety of Sicilian red wines. The results indicated 71.9% and 64.9% positive samples for OTA and OTB respectively, with an average level of 0.13 μg l^–1, well below the European maximum permitted levels (MLs). The aflatoxin most frequently detected in the samples was AFG₁, present in 57.9% of samples, while the other aflatoxins were rarely present. Recovery experiments were carried out on eight mycotoxin-free red wines spiked with OTA, OTB, AFB₁, AFB₂, AFG₁ and AFG₂ at two different levels. The limits of detection (LODs) in wines were 0.02 µg l^–1 for OTA, 0.04 µg l^–1 for OTB, 0.03 µg l^–1 for AFG₁, AFG₂ and AFB₂, and 0.05 µg l^–1 for AFB₁. A good correlation was found, with good performances in term of precision for the method.     

Development of a sensitive polyclonal antibody-based competitive indirect ELISA for determination of citrinin in grain-based foods

ABSTRACT

A sensitive competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ciELISA) was developed for the detection and quantification of citrinin (CIT) in grain-based food samples. The limit of quantification (IC₂₀) of the established method was 0.10 ± 0.02 ng mL^?1, with the limit of detection (IC₁₀) being 0.04 ± 0.007 ng mL^?1 in wheat and corn flour matrices with a coefficient of variation (CV) less than 20%. The assay was very specific to CIT and showed no cross-reactivity with other mycotoxins (OTA, T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, DON, patulin and zearalenone). In spiked wheat and corn flours, the recoveries ranged from 86.6% to 115.6% with CVs of less than 20%. The effectiveness of this method was verified by participating in a proficiency test (PT) from the Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme (FAPAS) 17181 corn flour. A successful z-score (?0.6) for this PT sample showed that the present method is comparable to the instrumental methods used by other laboratories in the PT testing scheme. A small survey of grain-based foods was conducted using this method and CIT was detected in 43% of the samples up to a concentration of 17.7 ng g^?1. This method is suitable for sensitive and rapid quantitation of citrinin in wheat and corn matrices.     

Reduction of ochratoxin A in dry-cured meat products using gamma-irradiation

This study investigated the efficiency of gamma (γ)-irradiation in the reduction of ochratoxin A (OTA) present in dry-cured meat products prepared from intentionally contaminated raw materials from OTA-treated pigs. OTA concentrations determined in the samples (n = 24) ranged from 25.8 μg kg^–1 in bacon to 17.8 μg kg^–1 in smoked ham. After γ-irradiation at doses of 3, 7 and 10 kGy (i.e. the doses used in the food industry), a dose-depended OTA reduction was observed; however, it was not statistically significant. The mean OTA reduction achieved with 3-, 7- and 10-kGy γ-doses was approximated to 8.5%, 13.9% and 22.5%, respectively. The storage of irradiated samples (1 month, 4°C) did not significantly affect OTA levels. Based on the correlation between the OTA reduction level and basic chemical composition of dry-cured meat samples, OTA reduction may be linked to the samples’ fat content. The results indicate that γ-irradiation can reduce OTA levels in dry-cured meat products, but only to a limited extent due to the complexity of the matrix.     

Ochratoxin A reduction in meat sausages using processing methods practiced in households

The aim of this study was to investigate the possibilities of ochratoxin A (OTA) reduction in home-made meat products. Meat sausages (n = 50) produced from raw materials coming from pigs exposed to OTA-contaminated feed, were subject to common heat processes practiced in households (cooking, frying and baking). Concentrations of OTA in pre- and post-processed products were quantified using a validated immunoassay method, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and confirmed using a high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. In line with the differences in recipes used and the degree of OTA accumulation in raw materials, OTA concentrations established in Mediterranean and roast sausages were lower than those found in liver and blood sausages. Baking of contaminated sausages at the temperatures of 190–220°C (for 60 min) resulted in significant reduction of OTA levels (75.8%), while 30-min cooking (at 100°C) and frying (at 170°C) proved to be significantly less effective (e.g. yielding OTA reductions of 7.4% and 12.6%, respectively). The results pointed out that despite high OTA stability, heat processes are capable of reducing its concentration in home-made meat products, depending on the processing modality used.     

Ochratoxin A in traditional dry-cured meat products produced from sub-chronic-exposed pigs

The presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) was determined in traditional dry-cured meat products made from sub-chronically OTA-exposed pigs. The experimental group of pigs (n = 5) was treated with 300 µg OTA kg^–1 of feed during 30 days, whereas the control group (n = 5) remained untreated. After the household production of six types of dry-cured meat products based on traditional recipes, OTA residues were determined in final products produced from each treated and untreated animal using an immunoenzymatic technique (ELISA) and HPLC with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FD). The analytical methods showed acceptable analytical performance results and high correlation coefficients. Mean OTA concentrations ranged from 4.51 ± 0.11 µg kg^–1 in smoked ham to 6.87 ± 2.01 µg kg^–1 in home-made Slavonian sausage. The study demonstrated that pig exposure to OTA leads to the accumulation of OTA residues in muscle and adipose tissue used for the production, and consequently results in contamination of the final meat products.     

Fluorescence polarization immunoassay based on a monoclonal antibody for the detection of ochratoxin A

A fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) based on a monoclonal antibody for the determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) was developed. Fluorescein‐labelled OTA derivative (tracer) was synthesized and purified by thin‐layer chromatography. The optimized OTA FPIA had a dynamic range from 5 to 200 ng mL^?1 with IC₅₀ value of 30 ng mL^?1 and a detection limit of 3 ng mL^?1. The method developed was characterized by high specificity and reproducibility. Cross‐reactivity with other mycotoxins (zearalenone, aflatoxins, patulin and T‐2 toxin) was negligible (<0.1%). Methanol extracts of barley samples were used for the analysis. The results of OTA determination in barley were compared with those determined by indirect competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Recoveries for the samples spiked at 50, 100 and 500 ng g^?1 levels were 91, 90 and 97%, respectively, for FPIA, and 98, 98 and 102%, for ELISA. Naturally contaminated barley samples were analysed by these methods but some disagreement was observed between the results. The FPIA method can be applied for screening of food samples for OTA residues without a complicated clean‐up.     

磁控双色上转换荧光适配体传感器同时检测玉米和燕麦粉中的赭曲霉毒素A与玉米赤霉烯酮

目的 建立磁控双色上转换荧光法同时检测玉米和燕麦粉中赭曲霉毒素A(ochratoxin A,OTA)与玉米赤霉烯酮(zearalenone,ZEN)的含量。方法 利用溶剂热法合成了两种油酸封端的核壳型上转换纳米材料,通过表面改性法和戊二醛法制备了表面分别偶联OTA、ZEN适配体的核壳型上转换荧光探针。同时制备了表面原位生长四氧化三铁纳米颗粒的二硫化钼纳米片,作为淬灭剂。OTA、ZEN和适配体特异性结合后,通过磁分离后检测溶液的荧光强度值,从而实现OTA和ZEN的检测。结果 在最佳检测条件下,OTA与ZEN的质量浓度在0.05～500.00 ng/mL范围内与两种上转换荧光探针的荧光强度的对数值呈良好的线性关系,相关系数分别为0.9949和0.9972,对OTA的检出限为3.97×10^-2ng/mL,对ZEN的检出限为3.11×10^-2ng/mL,应用于玉米粉和燕麦粉中OTA和ZEN的检测,加标回收率为91.7%～109.4%。结论 该方法检测灵敏度较高,并具有较好的特异性,可用于玉米和燕麦粉中OTA和ZEN的高灵敏检测。     

Blood,breast milk and urine: potential biomarkers of exposure and estimated daily intake of ochratoxin A: a review

The purposes of this review are to study potential biomarkers of exposure for ochratoxin A (OTA) in biological fluids (blood, urine and breast milk) for the period 2005–14, calculate the estimated daily intake (EDI) of OTA by using database consumption for the Spanish population, and, finally, to correlate OTA levels detected in blood and EDI values calculated from food products. The values of OTA detected in potential biomarkers of exposure for blood, breast milk and urine ranged from 0.15 to 18.0, from 0.002 to 13.1, and from 0.013 to 0.2 ng ml^–1, respectively. The calculated EDI for OTA in plasma ranged from 0.15 to 26 ng kg^–1 bw day^–1, higher than that obtained in urine (0.017–0.4 ng kg^–1 bw day^–1). All these values are correlated with the range of EDI for OTA calculated from food products: 0.0001–25.2 ng kg^–1 bw day^–1.     

赭曲霉毒素A直接竞争ELISA试剂盒的研制

在多克隆抗体的基础上研制了赭曲霉毒素A(OTA)直接竞争酶联免疫检测(cd-ELISA)试剂盒.在0 ～ 10 ng/mL范围内,该试剂盒50％抑制率(IC50)为1.09 ng/mL,检测灵敏度(IC15)为0.08 ng/mL;与赭曲霉毒素B、C的交叉反应率分别为6.28％和0.16％,而与黄曲霉毒素B1等生物毒素未见有交叉反应;板内与板间平均变异系数分别为2.21％和2.79％;花生、玉米和玉米粉3种样品中OTA的检测低限分别为1.71,1.26和1.85 μg/kg,平均添加回收率在83.80％～ 91.40％;与HPLC检测方法具有较高的相关性,相关系数(R2)分别为0.94、0.88和0.90;检测时间只需20 min,可用于花生、玉米及玉米粉中OTA的批量快速筛查.     

Aflatoxins,ochratoxins and zearalenone in sorghum and sorghum products in Sudan

This survey examined 60 samples of sorghum and 30 samples of sorghum products from three states (Khartoum, Kordofan and Gadarif) of Sudan for aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2 (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2), ochratoxin A and B (OTA, OTB) and zearalenone (ZEN), using high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The limits of detection and limits of quantification were in the range 0.01–0.6 µg kg^–1 and 0.03–2.0 µg kg^?1, respectively. The frequency of contaminated samples with AFB1 from Khartoum, Gadarif and Kordofan state was 38.1%, 22.2% and 23.8%, respectively. Only two samples of sorghum from Khartoum state were contaminated with OTA (3.3%). Concentrations of OTA and OTB were low and may not cause problems. No sample of sorghum or sorghum products was contaminated with ZEN. Some sorghum samples contained AFB1 concentrations above the European Union regulatory limits. The highest contaminated samples were found in Khartoum state.