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Submitted to: Toxins
Publication Type: Review Article Publication Acceptance Date: 12/9/2009 Publication Date: 12/10/2009 Citation: Maragos, C.M. 2009. Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay of Mycotoxins: A Review. Toxins. 1:196-207. Available at: http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/1/2/196. Interpretive Summary: Mycotoxins are a recurring issue, as they can affect animal health and productivity and have the potential to occur in the human food supply. To avoid problems many commodities, feeds, and foods are routinely monitored for the presence of mycotoxins. This requires rapid and accurate methods for their detection. This review describes the basic principles of a detection technology known as fluorescence polarization immunoassay and summarizes recent applications of the technology to mycotoxins in commodities and foods. Technical Abstract: Immunoassays are routinely used in the screening of commodities and foods for fungal toxins (mycotoxins). Demands to increase speed and lower costs have lead to continued improvements in such assays. Because many reported mycotoxins are low molecular weight (below 1 Kdal), immunoassays for their detection have generally been constructed in competitive heterogeneous formats. An exception is fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA), a homogeneous format that does not require the separation of bound and free labels (tracer). The potential for rapid, solution phase, immunoassays has been realized in the development of FPIA for many of the major groups of mycotoxins, including the aflatoxins, fumonisins, group B trichothecenes (primarily deoxynivalenol), ochratoxin A, and zearalenone. This review describes the basic principles of FPIA and summarizes recent research in this area with regard to mycotoxins. |
