title: A liposome-PCR assay for the ultrasensitive detection of biological toxins.
abstract: We describe an ultrasensitive immunoassay for detecting biotoxins that uses liposomes with encapsulated DNA reporters, and ganglioside receptors embedded in the bilayer, as a detection reagent. After immobilization of the target biotoxin by a capture antibody and co-binding of the detection reagent, the liposomes are ruptured to release the reporters, which are quantified by real-time PCR. Assays for cholera and botulinum toxins are several orders of magnitude more sensitive than current detection methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, 1413 Research Boulevard, Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA. mason@afip.osd.mil
authors.forename: Jeffrey T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zong-mei
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: O'Leary
mesh_terms: D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000032:analysis; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000032:analysis; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000737:chemistry; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005732:Gangliosides; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008081:Liposomes; D014118:Toxins, Biological; D004247:DNA; D002772:Cholera Toxin; D001905:Botulinum Toxins