ARS | Publication request: Detection of botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A and B using chemiluminescence and electrochemiluninescene immunoassays in food and serum matrices

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 21, 2011
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) are some of the most potent biological toxins with serotypes A and B being most prevalent in foodborne contaminations. BoNTs are also likely targets for use in intentional adulteration of food or animal feeds and are thus classified as Select Agents. In our laboratories, high-affinity monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been developed for the detection of BoNT/A and BoNT/B in traditional sandwich type ELISA assays. To improve toxin detection sensitivity in complex matrices of food and sera, we tested the use of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) type immunoassays using a Meso Scale Diagnostic instrument. Both ELISA and ECL immunoassay formats detected BoNT/A and BoNT/B with better detection sensitivities than the “gold standard” mouse bioassays. Both immunoassays had limits of detection of 5 pg/ml for BoNT/A and 20 pg/ml for BoNT/B in buffer matrices, below mouse lethal dose levels. Although detection sensitivities of ECL and ELISA platforms were similar in buffer matrices, ECL assays outperformed ELISA in detection sensitivity in most liquid food matrices. ELISA and ECL immunoassay platforms remain fast and simple alternatives to the mouse bioassay for use in the routine detection of BoNTs.