Fast Deoxynivalenol Determination in Cereals Using a White Light Reflectance Spectroscopy Immunosensor

Pyroptosis-Mediated Damage Mechanism by Deoxynivalenol in Porcine Small Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is known as a vomitoxin, which frequently contaminates feedstuffs, such as corn, wheat, and barley. Intake of DON-contaminated feed has been known to cause undesirable effects, including diarrhea, emesis, reduced feed intake, nutrient malabsorption, weight loss, and delay in growth, in livestock. However, the molecular mechanism of DON-induced damage of the intestinal epithelium requires further investigation. Treatment with DON triggered ROS in IPEC-J2 cells and increased the mRNA and protein expression levels of thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP). To investigate the activation of the inflammasome, we confirmed the mRNA and protein expression levels of the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC), and caspase-1 (CASP-1). Moreover, we confirmed that caspase mediates the mature form of interleukin-18, and the cleaved form of Gasdermin D (GSDMD) was increased. Based on these results, our study suggests that DON can induce damage through oxidative stress and pyroptosis in the epithelial cells of the porcine small intestine via NLRP3 inflammasome.

Recent Advances in Mycotoxin Determination in Fish Feed Ingredients

Low-cost plant-based sources used in aquaculture diets are prone to the occurrence of animal feed contaminants, which may in certain conditions affect the quality and safety of aquafeeds. Mycotoxins, a toxic group of small organic molecules produced by fungi, comprise a frequently occurring plant-based feed contaminant in aquafeeds. Mycotoxin contamination can potentially cause significant mortality, reduced productivity, and higher disease susceptibility; thus, its timely detection is crucial to the aquaculture industry. The present review summarizes the methodological advances, developed mainly during the past decade, related to mycotoxin detection in aquafeed ingredients, namely analytical, chromatographic, and immunological methodologies, as well as the use of biosensors and spectroscopic methods which are becoming more prevalent. Rapid and accurate mycotoxin detection is and will continue to be crucial to the food industry, animal production, and the environment, resulting in further improvements and developments in mycotoxin detection techniques.

Simultaneous determination of procalcitonin and interleukin-6 in human serum samples with a point-of-care biosensing device

The simultaneous determination of two inflammatory diseases biomarkers, namely procalcitonin (PCT) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), in human serum samples employing a Point-of-Care device based on Multi Area Reflectance Spectroscopy is presented. Dual-analyte detection was achieved using silicon chips with two silicon dioxide areas of different thickness, one functionalized with an antibody specific for PCT and the other with an antibody specific for IL-6. The assay included reaction of immobilized capture antibodies with mixtures of PCT and IL-6 calibrators with the biotinylated detection antibodies, streptavidin and biotinylated-BSA. The reader provided for the automated execution of the assay procedure, as well as for the collection and processing of the reflected light spectrum, the shift of which is correlated to analytes concentration in the sample. The assay was completed in 35 min and the detection limits for PCT and IL-6 were 2.0 and 0.01 ng/mL respectively. The dual-analyte assay was characterized by high reproducibility (the intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were less than 10% for both analytes) and accuracy (the percent recovery values ranged from 80 to 113% for both analytes). Moreover, the values determined for the two analytes in human serum samples with the assay developed were in good agreement with the values determined for the same samples by clinical laboratory methods. These results support the potential of the proposed biosensing device application for inflammatory biomarkers determination at the Point-of-Need.

Biosensors for Deoxynivalenol and Zearalenone Determination in Feed Quality Control

Mycotoxin contamination of cereals used for feed can cause intoxication, especially in farm animals; therefore, efficient analytical tools for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of toxic fungal metabolites in feed are required. Current trends in food/feed analysis are focusing on the application of biosensor technologies that offer fast and highly selective and sensitive detection with minimal sample treatment and reagents required. The article presents an overview of the recent progress of the development of biosensors for deoxynivalenol and zearalenone determination in cereals and feed. Novel biosensitive materials and highly sensitive detection methods applied for the sensors and the application of these sensors to food/feed products, the limit, and the time of detection are discussed.