title: Detection of ricin contamination in liquid egg by electrochemiluminescence immunosorbent assay.
abstract: A monoclonal antibody-based electrochemical luminescence method was developed for detecting and quantifying ricin in liquid egg, with a limit of detection of 0.2 ng/mL. Because this highly toxic protein, present in the seeds of Ricinus communis (castor), has been used for intentional poisoning in the past, it is important to have sensitive and reliable analytical methodology to detect ricin in food matrices such as liquid egg. The detection of this quantity of pure or crude ricin spiked into commercial samples of liquid egg provides approximately 50000-fold greater sensitivity than required to detect a toxic dose of ricin (>1 mg) in a 100 g sample.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because ricin has been used for intentional poisoning, there is a need for analytical methodology to detect ricin in food matrices to assure a safe food supply. Using monoclonal antibodies to ricin developed in our laboratory, we explored an assay readout system known as electrochemiluminescence. This technique afforded sensitive and specific analysis of ricin intentionally added to liquid egg and could potentially be used to monitor egg-based vaccine production.
authors.affiliation: Foodborne Contaminants Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Albany, CA 94710, USA. david.brandon@ars.usda.gov
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Brandon
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Korn
authors.forename: Lily L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D004529:Egg White / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D004530:Egg Yolk / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D004531:Eggs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D005506:Food Contamination; D005511:Food Handling; D005513:Food Inspection / Q000379:methods*; D058870:Food, Organic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D057230:Limit of Detection; D049449:Luminescence; D049408:Luminescent Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012276:Ricin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D055314:Seed Storage Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D049408:Luminescent Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D055314:Seed Storage Proteins; D014118:Toxins, Biological; C415768:tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II); D012276:Ricin