Rapid Detection of Ricin by Sensitising Carboxylated Latex Particles by Ricin Antibodies

Denatured ricin can be detected as native ricin by immunological methods, but nontoxic in vivo

Ricin is a glycoprotein from Ricinus communis seeds. It is known to have diverse toxic effects on cells of different visceral organs. In the present study, we purified and denatured ricin in a boiling water bath for different time intervals. We further made an attempt to identify native and denatured ricin by immunobased detection systems. All the antigen/antibody-based assays identified native and denatured ricin. On SDS-PAGE, only native ricin was observed. In western blotting, ricin boiled for 3.75 min gave a strong band on X-ray film. On native polyacryl amide gel electrophoresis, native and denatured ricin gave ricin band in 60-kDa region. The denatured ricin did not [corrected] cause mortality up to 25 mg/kg, while 5 and 10 microg/kg of native ricin caused 50% and 100% mortality, respectively. Detection of native and denatured ricin is very difficult, and the investigating agencies, forensic scientists, and analysts should be very careful while interpreting the results.

Trends in detection of warfare agents. Detection methods for ricin, staphylococcal enterotoxin B and T-2 toxin

An overview of the different detection methods available for ricin, staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and T-2 toxin is presented here. These toxins are potential biological warfare agents (BWA). The aim of this review is not to cover all the papers that had been published but rather to give an overall picture of the trend in the detection methodologies for potential biological warfare agents as we do see the emerging threats from these three toxins. The advantages and disadvantages of each methodology as well as the detection limit will be reviewed. It seems that mass spectrometry has created a niche for analysis of proteinaceous toxins, ricin and SEB as well as molecular toxin, T-2 toxin given its high sensitivity, high selectivity, high specificity and capability to identify and quantify unknown agents simultaneously in a short time frame. But its main drawbacks are its sophisticated instrumentation and its high cost. Improvised immunoassay may be an alternative.