Application of a new anti-zearalenone monoclonal antibody in different immunoassay formats

Comparison of monoclonal antibody performance characteristics for the detection of two representatives of A- and B-trichothecenes: T-2 toxin and deoxynivalenol

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi belonging mainly to the Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium genera. They represent a relevant source of danger to human and animal health causing food- and feedborne intoxication. One group, produced by Fusarium spp., are the trichothecenes, of which T-2 toxin belongs to the type-A trichothecenes and deoxynivalenol to the type-B trichothecenes. As these mycotoxins are ubiquitous, the testing of products is required to keep our food and feed safe. For this purpose, sensitive and reliable tests are needed to detect contaminations. One detection possibility is an immunoanalytical based test which needs antibodies as reagents. Cell culture facilities allow cell line selection and production of monoclonal antibodies for further immunological test development. Especially for mycotoxins antibody development for further use in immunoassays is a crucial task. T-2 toxin and deoxynivalenol specific monoclonal antibodies were developed and further characterised to test stability and solvent resistance properties. Especially cross-reactivities were determined to related mycotoxins also belonging to the trichothecene family, e.g. HT-2 toxin or 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol.

An immunochemical test for rapid screening of zearalenone and T-2 toxin

An immunochemically based test for non-instrumental simultaneous detection of zearalenone (ZEA) and T-2 toxin (T2) in feed was developed. The method combines clean-up of sample extract, pre-concentration of analytes by immunoextraction and immunodetection through the enzymatic reaction of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The test is housed inside a standard 1-mL solid-phase extraction column and consists of three layers: two test layers (one for ZEA and another for T2) with immobilised specific antibodies and one control layer with bound anti-HRP antibodies. Feed extract was passed through an additional column with clean-up layer, which was disconnected after extract application. Total assay time was about 15 min for six samples and detection time was 4 min after chromogenic substrate application. Under optimised conditions a cut-off level for ZEA and T2 of 100 microg/kg was established. Different feed types were analysed for ZEA and T2 contamination by the proposed method and results were confirmed by LC-MS/MS.