title: Development of a monoclonal antibody binding okadaic acid and dinophysistoxins-1, -2 in proportion to their toxicity equivalence factors.
abstract: Okadaic acid (OA) and structurally related toxins dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX-1), and DTX-2, are lipophilic marine biotoxins. The current reference method for the analysis of these toxins is the mouse bioassay (MBA). This method is under increasing criticism both from an ethical point of view and because of its limited sensitivity and specificity. Alternative replacement methods must be rapid, robust, cost effective, specific and sensitive. Although published immuno-based detection techniques have good sensitivities, they are restricted in their use because of their inability to: (i) detect all of the OA toxins that contribute to contamination; and (ii) factor in the relative toxicities of each contaminant. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were produced to OA and an automated biosensor screening assay developed and compared with ELISA techniques. The screening assay was designed to increase the probability of identifying a MAb capable of detecting all OA toxins. The result was the generation of a unique MAb which not only cross-reacted with both DTX-1 and DTX-2 but had a cross-reactivity profile in buffer that reflected exactly the intrinsic toxic potency of the OA group of toxins. Preliminary matrix studies reflected these results. This antibody is an excellent candidate for the development of a range of functional immunochemical-based detection assays for this group of toxins.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agri-food and Land Use, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 5AG, Northern Ireland, UK. l.stewart@qub.ac.uk
authors.forename: Linda D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Rhonda M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Connolly
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000633:toxicity; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D019319:Okadaic Acid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000633:toxicity / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D011714:Pyrans / Q000276:immunology* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D008387:Marine Toxins; D011714:Pyrans; D019319:Okadaic Acid; C051904:dinophysistoxin 1; C076221:dinophysistoxin 2