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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #361077

Research Project: Improved Analytical Technologies for Detection of Foodborne Toxins and Their Metabolites

Location: Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research

Title: Immunoassay utilizing imaging surface plasmon resonance for the detection of cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) in maize and cheese

Author
item HOSSAIN, MD ZAKIR - Orise Fellow
item Busman, Mark
item Maragos, Chris

Submitted to: Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/5/2019
Publication Date: 4/25/2019
Citation: Hossain, Z., Busman, M., Maragos, C.M. 2019. Immunoassay utilizing imaging surface plasmon resonance for the detection of cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) in maize and cheese. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. 411:3543–3552. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-019-01835-w.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-019-01835-w

Interpretive Summary: Cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) is a naturally occurring neurotoxin that is produced by certain fungi that can infest a variety of commodities and foods. This toxin can be produced by some of the same fungi that produce the more widely known aflatoxins and the two groups of toxins have been shown to frequently occur together in corn. CPA has also been found at significant levels in certain cheeses, such as camembert, that are deliberately molded. ARS scientists in Peoria, IL developed a method for screening for CPA in corn and in camembert cheese. The method uses a novel biosensor technology known as imaging surface plasmon resonance (iSPR). The assay was designed to rapidly screen for CPA at 40 ug/kg (ppb) in corn and therefore can be used as a tool to quickly determine whether this toxin is present in corn or in camembert cheese.

Technical Abstract: a-Cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) is a tremorgenic mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium fungal species, commonly found on agricultural commodities or fermented food products. A sensitive and rapid imaging surface plasmon resonance (iSPR) assay was developed to detect CPA in corn and cheese by combining an indirect competitive immunoassay and signal amplification based upon a secondary antibody (Ab2) conjugated with gold nanoparticles. Matrix matched calibration curves were used to determine CPA content in corn and cheese samples. Recoveries, at two spiking levels in corn and cheese, were 89 to 126%, with standard deviations of repeatability (RSDr) of less than 16%. The limits of detection were 17 and 6 µg/kg in corn and cheese, respectively. To separate the CPA contaminated samples from uncontaminated samples, a cut-off validation level of 40 µg/kg was introduced. The assay was applied to samples of naturally contaminated corn and was compared with competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CI-ELISA). This is the first report to detect CPA using an immuno-biosensor iSPR format.