title: An electrochemiluminescence assay for the detection of bio threat agents in selected food matrices and in the screening of Clostridium botulinum outbreak strains associated with type A botulism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Specific screening methods for complex food matrices are needed that enable unambiguous and sensitive detection of bio threat agents (BTAs) such as Bacillus anthracis spores and microbial toxins (e.g. staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and clostridial botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs)). The present study describes an image-based 96-well Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) electrochemiluminescence (ECL) assay for simultaneous detection of BTAs in dairy milk products.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The limit of detection of this ECL assay is 40 pg mL⁻¹ for BoNT/A complex, 10 pg mL⁻¹ for SEB and 40000 CFU mL⁻¹ for Bacillus anthracis spores in dairy milk products. The ECL assay was successfully applied to screen type A Clostridium botulinum outbreak strains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the study indicate that this ECL assay is very sensitive, rapid (<6 h) and multiplex in nature. The ECL assay has potential for use as an in vitro screening method for BTAs over other comparable immunoassays.
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology, Office of Regulatory Science, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD, 20740, USA.
authors.forename: Amita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sachdeva
authors.forename: Ajay K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Shashi K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001906:Botulism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D047013:Clostridium botulinum type A / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003611:Dairy Products / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis* / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005506:Food Contamination; D005513:Food Inspection / Q000379:methods*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D049449:Luminescence; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; C030325:anthrax toxin; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A
keywords: Bacillus anthracis; Clostridium botulinum; bio threat agents; botulinum neurotoxins; botulism; electrochemiluminescene; spores; staphylococcal enterotoxin B