Immunoassays as high-throughput tools: Monitoring spatial and temporal variations of carbamazepine, caffeine and cetirizine in surface and wastewaters

Carbamazepine (CBZ), caffeine and cetirizine were monitored by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in surface and wastewaters from Berlin, Germany. This fast and cost-efficient method enabled to assess the spatial and temporal variation of these anthropogenic markers in a high-throughput screening. CBZ and cetirizine were detected by the same antibody, which selectively discriminates between both compounds depending on the pH value used in the incubation step. To our best knowledge, this is the first dual-analyte immunoassay working with a single antibody.The frequent sampling with 487 samples being processed allowed for the repeated detection of unusually high concentrations of CBZ and caffeine. ELISA results correlate well with the ones obtained by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Caffeine concentrations found in surface waters were elevated by combined sewer overflows after stormwater events. During the hay fever season, the concentrations of the antihistamine drug cetirizine increased in both surface and wastewaters.Caffeine was almost completely removed during wastewater treatment, while CBZ and cetirizine were found to be more persistent. The maximum concentrations of caffeine, CBZ and cetirizine found in influent wastewater by LC-MS/MS were 470, 5.0 and 0.49 μg L⁻¹, while in effluent wastewater the concentrations were 0.22, 4.5 and 0.51 μg L⁻¹, respectively. For surface waters, concentrations up to 3.3, 4.5 and 0.72 μg L⁻¹ were found, respectively.     

酶联免疫快速检测技术在太湖流域微囊藻毒素污染调查中的应用研究

采用酶联免疫(ELISA)法对2008年5～11月环太湖水域及太湖下游嘉兴河网水体中微囊藻毒素(MC)的污染状况进行了调查.结果表明,ELISA法对环太湖水样的加标回收率为(98.0±6.5)%,相对标准偏差≤10.0%,准确性和再现性均良好,且具有通量高、检测速度快的特点,适于太湖流域MC污染的普查和初筛.环太湖水样中的MC-LR在2008年8、10月较高;太湖下游嘉兴河网水样中的MC-LR自2008年7月开始有检出,最高质量浓度出现在9月,为0.772μg/L;各饮用水源地水样中的MC-LR亦有检出,但未超过<地表水环境质量标准>(GB 3838-2002)规定的限值(1.0μg/L).     

Suitability of a magnetic particle immunoassay for the analysis of PBDEs in Hawaiian euryhaline fish and crabs in comparison with gas chromatography/electron capture detection-ion trap mass spectrometry

A gas chromatograph/electron capture detector-ion trap mass spectrometer (GC/ECD-ITMS) was used for the determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in euryhaline fish and crabs. GC/ECD-ITMS results showed that average recoveries from the spiked fish samples are in a range of 58-123% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 5-19%. PBDE concentrations obtained from GC/ECD-ITMS ranged from 28 ng/g to 1845 ng/g lipid weight (lw) in all aquatic species collected from Hawaiian brackish waters. The general BDE congener concentration profile observed in this study is BDE-47 > BDE-100 > BDE-154 > BDE-99 > BDE-153 > BDE-28 > BDE-183. The ELISA results expressed as BDE-47 equivalents correlated well with those of GC/ECD-ITMS, with a correlation coefficient (R² = 0.68) and regression coefficient (slope = 0.82). Comparison of ELISA with GC/ECD-ITMS results demonstrated that ELISA provides a timely and cost-effective method to screen PBDEs in fish and crab samples.     

Production of the broad specific monoclonal antibody against sarafloxacin for rapid immunoscreening of 12 fluoroquinolones in meat

The objective of this study was to produce a generic antibody for immunoassay of fluoroquinolone drugs in meat. Two novel haptens of sarafloxacin were synthesized that were used to produce the monoclonal antibodies. The obtained monoclonal antibodies simultaneously recognized 12 fluoroquinolone drugs (sarafloxacin, diflocaxin, marbofloxacin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, norfloxacin, pefloxacin, lomefloxacin, amifloxacin, enofloxacin and danofloxacin). After evaluation of different coating antigen/antibody combinations, a heterologous competitive indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to determine the 12 drugs. The crossreactivities to these analytes were in the range of 18%–113% and the limits of detection were in the range of 0.8–6.5 ng/mL depending on the compound. Eight fluoroquinolones licensed as veterinary drugs in China were fortified into blank chicken for ELISA analysis. The recoveries were in the range of 67.6%–94.6% with coefficients of variation lower than 12.4%. Therefore, this method could be used as a screen tool for routine monitoring of the residues of these fluoroquinolone drugs in animal derived foods.     

Development of a sensitive,competitive, indirect ELISA for the detection of fumonisin B1 in corn originating from Anhui province,China

Fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) is a secondary metabolite produced by Fusarium verticillioides or Fusarium proliferatum, which present in food and feed. It causes hazardous effects on human and animal health. A monoclonal antibody (mAb) against FB₁ was produced and a simple, reliable and sensitive, competitive, indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ci-ELISA) for detection of FB₁ was developed and the experiment conditions were optimized. The coating concentration of FB₁-ovalbumin (FB₁-OVA) was 500 ng mL^?1, the action concentrations of anti-FB₁ mAb and goat anti-mouse IgG were 1.28 × 10⁴ and 1:5000, respectively. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) was 11 ng mL^?1, with a detectable range of 1.25–250 ng mL^?1, and a limit of determination (LOD) of 1.15 ng mL^?1. The cross-reactivity (CR) of the antibody against fumonisin B₂ (FB₂) was 60.4, and <1% against deoxynivalenol (DON), aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁), ochratoxin A (OTA) or zearalenone (ZEN). In spiked samples (250 ng g^?1, 500 ng g^?1, 1000 ng g^?1), the mean recoveries ranged from 86.7 ± 5% to 102 ± 4%, and the coefficient of variation (CV) ranged from 3% to 10%. A survey of 96 corn samples from Bozhou, Fuyang, Bengbu, and Hefei, in Anhui province, China, was performed. Frequencies of FB₁ contamination were 83.3%, 95.8%, 20.8% and 91.7%, and the mean concentrations of positive samples were 0.702 μg kg^?1, 0.883 μg kg^?1, 0.074 μg kg^?1, and 0.276 μg kg^?1, respectively. The results of this study suggest that the ci-ELISA developed in this study can be used to identify FB₁ in corn, furthermore, further study is needed to investigate FB₁ contamination in food and feed to prevent its harmful health effects.     

单克隆抗体酶免疫分析法测定大米中杀虫脒残留量

用抗杀虫脒单克隆抗体为试剂,建立了间接竞争法,直接竞争法和标记抗原的竞争法等３种测定大米中杀生脒残留量的ＥＬＩＳＡ法,标准曲线上抑制率为５０％时对应的杀虫脒浓度分别为１．３、１．７和５．３ｎｇ／ｍｌ,大米样品用甲醇提到,提取液经吸附剂柱简单净化后即可用上述ＥＬＩＳＡ对痕量杀虫脒进行定量,使用直接竞争法时,样品加标回收率为９０％－１１６％,平行测定的相对标准偏差为５．１％－１６％,方法检出限为０．５     

Is avian humoral immunocompetence suppressed by testosterone?

A key issue in sexual selection theory is how a correlation between male secondary sexual characters and male genetic quality can be maintained. The immunocompetence-handicap hypothesis proposes that testosterone-dependent male characters remain honest signals because of the immunosuppressive effect of elevated steroid hormone levels. The hypothesis requires that physiological levels of testosterone depress immune system function. We quantified testosterone titers and humoral immunocompetence of captive male and female red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) at three points in the annual cycle (autumn, prebreeding, and breeding). We also conducted an implant experiment on the males to assess the effects of prolonged, above-normal testosterone titers on humoral immune responses. Humoral immunocompetence was measured as secondary antibody production to a non-pathogenic protein antigen, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay we developed for A. phoeniceus. Secondary antibody responses of individuals were highly repeatable between sampling periods. Neither physiological nor above-normal levels of plasma testosterone suppressed secondary antibody production. In paired tests of the same individuals between prebreeding and breeding, and between breeding and implant, plasma testosterone increased significantly but secondary antibody responses were unaffected. We are confident in these results because with 80% power, an 11–14% difference in antibody titers would have been detected. There was no relationship between plasma testosterone levels and humoral immunocompetence in free-ranging males tested at the peak of breeding. These results cast doubt on a key assumption of the immunocompetence-handicap hypothesis. Received: 13 April 1998 / Accepted after revision: 7 October 1998     

海河天津段微囊藻及其毒素的空间分布及与水环境因子的关系

采取荧光定量PCR技术及ELISA酶联免疫吸附法,以mcyD基因和PC-IGS基因为靶基因对夏季蓝藻暴发期间海河天津市区段的产毒微囊藻种群丰度和毒素含量进行了研究.结果表明：夏季海河天津市区段微囊藻种群丰度具有明显差异性：产毒微囊藻种群丰度为1.16×10⁴~2.48×10⁷copies/mL占总微囊藻种群的4.25%~28.59%.藻毒素含量最高点为8号采样点天津站,每升水体中藻细胞共含毒素195.51μg,除去藻细胞水中毒素浓度为0.97μg/L.总的来说,海河天津市区段微囊藻总基因拷贝数较高,产毒微囊藻丰度在不同采样点间差异较大,影响水体中微囊藻丰度的最主要环境因素是pH值.海河水体中毒素含量没有超过安全阈值,但是单位体积水体中藻细胞内毒素含量很高,具有较高的毒素释放潜力,可能对下游河口生态系统造成潜在威胁.     

污水中大肠杆菌的酶联免疫检测方法研究

以城市污水处理厂二沉池出水为检测目标,比较了夹心法和直接法2种酶联免疫反应方式,分析包被抗体和酶标抗体浓度、菌液预处理等因素对检测灵敏度的影响,确定了ELISA的最佳工作条件.结果表明,检测大肠杆菌的线性区间为10CFU/mL～6×10⁴CFU/mL,最低检测限达到10CFU/mL.与传统检测方法相比,该技术具有操作简单,节省时间和费用,反应灵敏度高等优点.     

Molecular level toxicological evaluation of a dental composite implanted in albino rats

Dental composite (DC) resins are synthetic resins which are used as restorative material or adhesives in dentistry. Monomers and other components released into the oral environment from the DC material even after polymerization might affect the surrounding tissues and even the whole body gradually. Biocompatibility of DC has to be stringently evaluated since the fillings are in close contact with mucosa, tooth, and pulp. Common difficulties with various current dental materials include allergies, chemical leakage from the material, and pulpal irritation which are due to the byproducts of chemical reactions during different stages of material hardening. Dental Products Laboratory of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology developed a new BIS-GMA-based DC. In this study the oxidative stress induced by this DC material in vivo was tested for a period of 1, 4, 8, 26, or 52 weeks in albino rats. Dental materials were implanted intramuscularly into the gluteus muscle and oxidative biomarkers such as lipid peroxidation, 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) concentration, and total glutathione content analyzed. Data showed no significant changes in antioxidant defense system and 8-OHdG levels in nuclear DNA of the tissue. Serum biochemical results confirmed that animals were in normal functioning physiological state.