Immunoassays and biosensors for monitoring environmental and human exposure to pyrethroid insecticides

Prenatal pyrethroid exposure and lung function among school-aged children

BACKGROUND

Previous epidemiological evidence mainly focused on the adverse effects of prenatal exposure to pyrethroid insecticides (PYRs) on respiratory health during childhood. It remains unclear whether the PYR exposures can also impact on children's lung function.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the potential effects of prenatal PYR exposures on lung function in a population of Chinese children.

METHODS

This study included 233 mother-child dyads from the Laizhou Wan Birth Cohort (LWBC), Shandong province, northern China, between September 2010 and December 2013. Three metabolites of PYRs [3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), and cis- and trans-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (cis-DCCA and trans-DCCA)] were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in maternal urine samples collected at recruitment. Lung function was assessed with spirometry in children aged 6-8 years. Multivariable linear regression and generalized linear models (GLMs) assessed the associations of prenatal PYR exposures with lung function in children.

RESULTS

Among the PYR metabolites, 3-PBA (81.5%) were most frequently detected, followed by trans-DCCA (55.4%) and cis-DCCA (21.9%). The 3-PBA concentration was associated with a 1% decrease in FEV₁/FVC in the highest quartiles of exposure compared to the lowest quartile, with a potential dose response association (p-trend = 0.085). Our findings provide a suggestive effect modification by sex, with girls being more susceptible than the boys (p-trend = 0.011). However, there were no associations between the trans-DCCA concentration and lung function parameters.

CONCLUSION

Prenatal 3-PBA concentrations were associated with a modest decrease in FEV₁/FVC among school-aged children, and the association was slightly more pronounced for the girls than for the boys.

Effects of prenatal exposure to pyrethroid pesticides on neurodevelopment of 1-year- old children: A birth cohort study in China

Pregnant women have been ubiquitously exposed to pyrethroid pesticides. Previous studies, mainly based on third trimester measurements of maternal urinary pyrethroid metabolites, have reported inconsistent findings in the effects of prenatal pyrethroid exposure on children's neurodevelopmental outcomes. The purpose of this study was to clarify if pyrethroid exposure during the entire three trimesters of pregnancy may be associated with deleterious effects on infant neurodevelopmental status, particularly at a high dosage of exposure. We measured maternal urinary concentrations of pyrethroid metabolites in all trimesters of pregnancy and assessed children's neurodevelopment at one year of age using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (BSID-III). Multiple linear regression models were used to estimate the effects of metabolites (3-PBA, 4 F-3-PBA, cis-DBCA) in each trimester on BSID-III composite scores. Logistic regression analyses were applied to predict developmental delay vs non-delayed status (cut-off composite score of below 80 for developmental delay) based on the maternal levels of pyrethroid metabolites. In the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy, the detection rates of pyrethroid metabolites were 94.7%, 90.7%, and 89.0%; the 50th percentiles of exposure level were 0.24 μg/g, 0.24 μg/g and 0.21 μg/g for 3-PBA, 0.14 μg/g, 0.17 μg/g and 0.15 μg/g for 4 F-3PBA, 0.21 μg/g, 0.25 μg/g and 0.19 μg/g for cis-DBCA respectively. In the second trimester, 3-PBA was inversely associated with Cognition and Language scores [β = -3.34 (95% CI = -6.11, -0.57) and β = -2.90 (95% CI = -5.20, -0.61), respectively], and significantly increased the risk of Cognition and Language developmental delay [OR= 1.64 (95% CI = 1.03, 2.62) and OR = 1.52 (95% CI = 1.06, 2.19), respectively]; cis-DBCA was inversely associated with Adaptive Behavior scores [β = -0.73 (95% CI = -1.27, -0.19)], and significantly increased the risk of Adaptive Behavior developmental delay [OR= 1.11 (95% CI = 1.02, 1.21)]. When the maternal levels of pyrethroid metabolites were stratified into the regression models according to the 90th percentile of exposure, in the first trimester, Cognition and Motor scores were inversely associated with higher cis-DBCA [β = -7.19 (95% CI = -12.97, -1.41) and β = -8.20 (95% CI = -13.35, -3.05), respectively], Language scores were inversely associated with higher 3-PBA [β = -6.01 (95% CI = -10.96, -1.06)]; in the second trimester, Cognition scores were inversely associated with higher cis-DBCA [β = -6.64 (95% CI = -12.51, -0.76)], Language scores were inversely associated with higher 3-PBA [β = -5.17 (95% CI = -10.07, -0.27)] and cis-DBCA [β = -5.40 (95% CI = -10.28, -0.52)]. We concluded that pyrethroid exposure in the first and second trimesters was associated with poorer infants neurodevelopmental outcomes at one year of age, and these effects were particularly pronounced at high levels of pyrethroid exposure.

Evaluation and selection of potent fluorescent immunosensors by combining fluorescent peptide and nanobodies displayed on yeast surface

Quenchbody (Q-body) is a quench-based fluorescent immunosensor labeled with fluorescent dye(s) near the antigen-binding site of an antibody. Q-bodies can detect a range of target molecules rapidly and directly. However, because Q-bodies show different antigen responses depending on the antibody used, time-consuming optimization of the Q-body structure is often necessary, and a high-throughput screening method for discriminating and selecting good Q-bodies is required. Here, we aimed to develop a molecular display method of nanobody-based “mini Q-bodies” by combining yeast surface display and coiled-coil forming E4/K4 peptide-based fluorescence labeling. As a result, the yeast-displayed mini Q-body recognizing the anti-cancer agent methotrexate (MTX) showed significant quenching and MTX-dependent dequenching on cells. To demonstrate the applicability of the developed method to select highly responsive mini Q-bodies, a small nanobody library consisting of 30 variants that recognize human serum albumin was used as a model. The best variant, showing a 2.4-fold signal increase, was obtained through selection by flow cytometry. Furthermore, the same nanobody prepared from Escherichia coli also worked as a mini Q-body after dye labeling. The described approach will be applied to quickly obtain well-behaved Q-bodies and other fluorescent biosensors for various targets through directed evolutionary approaches.

Smartphone-Based Dual-Channel Immunochromatographic Test Strip with Polymer Quantum Dot Labels for Simultaneous Detection of Cypermethrin and 3-Phenoxybenzoic Acid

Currently, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-MS (LC-MS) are the primary methods used to detect pesticides and their metabolites for biomonitoring of exposure. Although GC-MS and LC-MS can provide accurate and sensitive measurements, these techniques are not suitable for point-of-care or in-field biomonitoring applications. The objective of this work is to develop a smartphone-based dual-channel immunochromatographic test strip (ICTS) for on-site biomonitoring of exposure to cypermethrin by simultaneous detection of cypermethrin and its metabolite, 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA). Polymer carbon dots (PCDs) with ultrahigh fluorescent brightness were synthesized and used as a signal amplifier in ICTS assay. Cypermethrin (a representative pyrethroid pesticide) and its major metabolite 3-PBA were simultaneously detected to provide more comprehensive analysis of cypermethrin exposure. After competitive immunoreactions between the target sample and the coating antigens preloaded on the test line, the tracer antibody (PCD-conjugated antibody) was quantitatively captured on the test lines. The captured PCDs were inversely proportional to the amount of the target compound in the sample. The red fluorescence on the test line was then recorded using a smartphone-based device capable of conducting image analysis and recording. Under optimal conditions, the sensor showed excellent linear responses for detecting cypermethrin and 3-PBA ranging from 1 to 100 ng/mL and from 0.1 to 100 ng/mL, respectively, and the limits of detection were calculated to be ∼0.35 ng/mL for cypermethrin and ∼0.04 ng/mL for 3-PBA. The results demonstrate that the ICTS device is promising for accurate point-of-care biomonitoring of pesticide exposure.

Biosensors in Occupational Safety and Health Management: A Narrative Review

A sensor is a device used to gather information registered by some biological, physical or chemical change, and then convert the information into a measurable signal. The first biosensor prototype was conceived more than a century ago, in 1906, but a properly defined biosensor was only developed later in 1956. Some of them have reached the commercial stage and are routinely used in environmental and agricultural applications, and especially, in clinical laboratory and industrial analysis, mostly because it is an economical, simple and efficient instrument for the in situ detection of the bioavailability of a broad range of environmental pollutants. We propose a narrative review, that found 32 papers and aims to discuss the possible uses of biosensors, focusing on their use in the area of occupational safety and health (OSH).

Pyrethrum extract encapsulated in nanoparticles: Toxicity studies based on genotoxic and hematological effects in bullfrog tadpoles

The environment receives about 2.7 kg.ha^-1 annually of pesticides, used in crop production. Pesticides may have a negative impact on environmental biodiversity and potentially induce physiological effects on non-target species. Advances in technology and nanocarrier systems for agrochemicals led to new alternatives to minimize these impacts, such as nanopesticides, considered more efficient, safe and sustainable. However, it is important to evaluate the risk potential, action and toxicity of nanopesticides in aquatic and terrestrial organisms. This study aims to evaluate genotoxic and hematological biomarkers in bullfrog tadpoles (Lithobates catesbeianus) submitted to acute exposure (48 h) to pyrethrum extract (PYR) and solid lipid nanoparticles loaded with PYR. Results showed increased number of leukocytes during acute exposure, specifically eosinophils in nanoparticle-exposed groups, and basophil in PYR-exposed group. Hematological analysis showed that PYR encapsulated in nanoparticles significantly increased the erythrocyte number compared to the other exposed groups. Data from the comet assay indicated an increase in frequency of the classes that correspond to more severe DNA damages in exposed groups, being that the PYR-exposed group showed a high frequency of class-4 DNA damage. Moreover, erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities were triggered by short-time exposure in all treatments, which showed effects significantly higher than the control group. These results showed genotoxic responses in tadpoles, which could trigger cell death pathways. Concluding, these analyses are important for applications in assessment of contaminated aquatic environments and their biomonitoring, which will evaluate the potential toxicity of xenobiotics, for example, the nanoparticles and pyrethrum extract in frog species. However, further studies are needed to better understand the effects of nanopesticides and botanical insecticides on non-target organisms, in order to contribute to regulatory aspects of future uses for these systems.

Development of label-free plasmonic Au-TiO2 thin film immunosensor devices

This work reports on the development of a label-free immunosensor technology, based on nanoplasmonic Au-TiO₂ thin films. The Au-TiO₂ thin films were prepared by cost-effective reactive DC magnetron sputtering, followed by a thermal annealing procedure. The latter promoted the growth of the Au nanoparticles throughout the TiO₂ matrix and induced some morphological changes, which are the base for the immunosensor device functionality. A posterior plasma etching treatment was required to partially expose the nanoparticles to the biological environment. It gave rise to a 6-fold increase of the total area of gold exposed, allowing further possibilities for the sensor sensitivity enhancement. Experimental results demonstrated the successful functionalization of the films' surface with antibodies, with the immobilization occurring preferentially in the exposed nanoparticles and negligibly on the TiO₂ matrix. Antibody adsorption surface coverage studies revealed antibody low affinity to the film's surface. Nevertheless, immunoassay development experiments showed a strong and active immobilized antibody monolayer at an optimized antibody concentration. This allowed a 236 signal-to-noise-ratio in a confocal microscope, using mouse IgG and 100 ng/ml of Fab-specific anti-mouse IgG-FITC conjugated. Label-free detection of the optimized antibody monolayer on Au-TiO₂ thin films was also tested, revealing an expected redshift in the LSPR band, which demonstrates the suitability for the development of cost-effective, label-free LSPR based immunosensor devices.

Simultaneous Determination of Pyrethroid, Organophosphate and Carbamate Metabolites in Human Urine by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GCMS)

We have developed a rapid, sensitive, and reliable method for simultaneous determination of the urinary metabolites of common insecticides in a single analytical run using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GCMS). Thirteen metabolites, one originating from carbamate, six from organophosphates, and seven from pyrethroids, were selected for method validation. Samples at different concentrations (0.5–15 µg/L) were prepared by mixing working solutions containing the analytes with blank urine. After acid hydrolysis for 45 min at 90 °C, samples were processed with liquid–liquid extraction and derivatization by N-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA) before analysis on GCMS. The limits of detection for all thirteen analytes were below 0.1 µg/L. The recovery rates, evaluated at two concentrations (1, 10 µg/L), were found to be 90.48%, on average. The precision of multiple analyses at three different concentrations (0.5, 5, 15 µg/L) within one day or between 10 days was evaluated, and the resultant relative standard deviations were 8.1% or under. We also applied this method to analyze genuine urine samples collected from 30 human subjects, and successfully detected all the metabolites, with detection frequencies more than 50% for pyrethroid metabolites. In summary, this method is not only as good as others in performance, but is advantageous in terms of cost effectiveness and multiplicity of analytes.

Fluxapyroxad Haptens and Antibodies for Highly Sensitive Immunoanalysis of Food Samples

Fluxapyroxad is a new-generation carboxamide fungicide, with residues increasingly being found in food samples. Immunochemical assays have gained acceptance in food quality control as rapid, cost-effective, sensitive, and selective methods for large sample throughput and in situ applications. In the present study, immunoreagents to fluxapyroxad were obtained for the first time, and competitive immunoassays were developed for the sensitive and specific determination of fluxapyroxad residues in food samples. Two carboxyl-functionalized analogues of fluxapyroxad were prepared, and antibodies with IC₅₀ values in the low nanomolar range were generated from both haptens, though a dissimilar response was observed concerning specificity. A robust direct assay was set up, with a calibration curve exhibiting a limit of detection of 0.05 nM (0.02 μg/L). Limits of quantitation of 5 μg/L were obtained for peach, apple, and grape juices using samples diluted in water. The direct immunoassay was also successfully applied to the determination of fluxapyroxad in grapes from in-field treated grapevines.

Fenpropathrin biodegradation pathway in Bacillus sp. DG-02 and its potential for bioremediation of pyrethroid-contaminated soils

The widely used insecticide fenpropathrin in agriculture has become a public concern because of its heavy environmental contamination and toxic effects on mammals, yet little is known about the kinetic and metabolic behaviors of this pesticide. This study reports the degradation kinetics and metabolic pathway of fenpropathrin in Bacillus sp. DG-02, previously isolated from the pyrethroid-manufacturing wastewater treatment system. Up to 93.3% of 50 mg L(-1) fenpropathrin was degraded by Bacillus sp. DG-02 within 72 h, and the degradation rate parameters qmax, Ks, and Ki were determined to be 0.05 h(-1), 9.0 mg L(-1), and 694.8 mg L(-1), respectively. Analysis of the degradation products by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry led to identification of seven metabolites of fenpropathrin, which suggest that fenpropathrin could be degraded first by cleavage of its carboxylester linkage and diaryl bond, followed by degradation of the aromatic ring and subsequent metabolism. In addition to degradation of fenpropathrin, this strain was also found to be capable of degrading a wide range of synthetic pyrethroids including deltamethrin, λ-cyhalothrin, β-cypermethrin, β-cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, and permethrin, which are also widely used insecticides with environmental contamination problems with the degradation process following the first-order kinetic model. Bioaugmentation of fenpropathrin-contaminated soils with strain DG-02 significantly enhanced the disappearance rate of fenpropathrin, and its half-life was sharply reduced in the soils. Taken together, these results depict the biodegradation mechanisms of fenpropathrin and also highlight the promising potentials of Bacillus sp. DG-02 in bioremediation of pyrethroid-contaminated soils.

Chemiluminescence accompanied by the reaction of acridinium ester and manganese (II)

An acridinium ester (AE) alkaline solution can react with Mn(II) to generate a strong chemiluminescence (CL) centered at 435 nm. The effects of reaction conditions such as pH and Mn(II) concentration on CL intensity were examined. In order to explore the CL mechanism, the effect of oxygen on the CL reaction was examined and an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study of the reaction precipitate was carried out. The results indicated that oxygen participated in the CL reaction and Mn(IV) was the primary product in the system. A possible mechanism was proposed that involved two pathways: (1) dissolved oxygen was reduced to reactive oxygen radicals by Mn(II), these reactive intermediates then reacted with AE to produce excited state acridone; (2) Mn(II) could reduce AE to partly reduced AE, which then reacted with oxygen to form excited state acridone. The reactions of other metal ions with AE were also tested, and only Mn(II) was shown to trigger strong CL emission of AE, which indicated that the system had good selectivity for Mn(II).

An immunoassay to evaluate human/environmental exposure to the antimicrobial triclocarban

A sensitive, competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of the antimicrobial triclocarban (TCC) was developed. The haptens were synthesized by derivatizing the para position of a phenyl moiety of TCC. The rabbit antisera were screened and the combination of antiserum 1648 and a heterologous competitive hapten containing a piperidine was further characterized. The IC(50) and detection range for TCC in buffer were 0.70 and 0.13-3.60 ng/mL, respectively. The assay was selective for TCC, providing only low cross-reactivity to TCC-related compounds and its major metabolites except for the closely related antimicrobial 3-trifluoromethyl-4,4'-dichlorocarbanilide. A liquid-liquid extraction for sample preparation of human body fluids resulted in an assay that measured low part per billion levels of TCC in small volumes of the samples. The limits of quantification of TCC were 5 ng/mL in blood/serum and 10 ng/mL in urine, respectively. TCC in human urine was largely the N- or N'-glucuronide. TCC concentrations of biosolids measured by the ELISA were similar to those determined by LC-MS/MS. This immunoassay can be used as a rapid, inexpensive, and convenient tool to aid researchers monitoring human/environmental exposure to TCC to better understand the health effects.

Affinity chromatography as a tool for antibody purification

The global antibody market has grown exponentially due to increasing applications in research, diagnostics and therapy. Antibodies are present in complex matrices (e.g. serum, milk, egg yolk, fermentation broth or plant-derived extracts). This has led to the need for development of novel platforms for purification of large quantities of antibody with defined clinical and performance requirements. However, the choice of method is strictly limited by the manufacturing cost and the quality of the end product required. Affinity chromatography is one of the most extensively used methods for antibody purification, due to its high selectivity and rapidity. Its effectiveness is largely based on the binding characteristics of the required antibody and the ligand used for antibody capture. The approaches used for antibody purification are critically examined with the aim of providing the reader with the principles and practical insights required to understand the intricacies of the procedures. Affinity support matrices and ligands for affinity chromatography are discussed, including their relevant underlying principles of use, their potential value and their performance in purifying different types of antibodies, along with a list of commercially available alternatives. Furthermore, the principal factors influencing purification procedures at various stages are highlighted. Practical considerations for development and/or optimizations of efficient antibody-purification protocols are suggested.

In vitro metabolism of trans-permethrin and its major metabolites, PBalc and PBacid, in humans

To estimate the metabolic profile of trans-permethrin in humans, a comparison of the in vitro metabolism of trans-permethrin in humans and rats was conducted using hepatic microsomes, and cytochrome P450 and UDP-glucuronyltransferase isoforms, which catalyze the metabolism of 3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol (PBalc) and 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (PBacid), respectively. In humans and rats, the major metabolic reaction of trans-permethrin in microsomal incubations was the cleavage of ester linkage to give PBalc, followed by oxidation to 4'-OH-PBalc, 4'-OH-PBacid, and PBacid. As to 4'-hydroxylation of PBalc, several CYPs were able to catalyze the reaction, and CYP2E1 was identified as a predominant isoform. PBacid and its conjugates (glucuronide and glycine) are major urinary metabolites of trans-permethrin in mammals. PBacid is also a metabolite of several pyrethroids, and has been used as a biomarker of human exposure to pyrethroids. Our study indicated that there was no difference in glucuronyltransferase activity of PBacid between humans and rats, and that only UGT1A9 can catalyze the glucuronidation of PBacid among human UGTs. Some UGT1A9 variants are known to have poor glucuronidation activity. From these results, it was assumed that deficiency or polymorphism of UGT1A9 might affect the profile of PBacid and its conjugates in urine collected from persons exposed to trans-permethrin or other pyrethroids. These results are helpful for understanding the metabolism of trans-permethrin in humans and determining methods for quantification of target analytes for assessment of human exposure to trans-permethrin and other pyrethroids that give PBacid and its conjugates as urinary metabolites.