Robust and sensitive monoclonal enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the herbicide molinate

This paper reports on the generation of monoclonal antibodies and the development of a new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of molinate (S-ethyl hexahydroazepine-1-carbothioate). Hybridoma cells were generated using spleen and lymph node cells from a mouse immunized with S-2-carboxyethyl hexahydroazepine-1-carbothioate conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. After screening with a competitive ELISA, two monoclonal antibodies, mAbs 16C11 and 14D7, with IC(50) values of 82 +/- 2 and 173 +/- 8 ng/mL, respectively, were selected. MAb 16C11 can detect molinate concentrations of 1 ng/mL with no cross-reactivity to any other thiocarbamate pesticides; however, it was susceptible to the presence of organic solvents and to variation in buffer ionic strength. MAb 14D7 tolerated concentrations up to 5% of propylene glycol and 12.5% of acetonitrile in the assay buffer. The sensitivity of mAb 14D7 was further improved by decreasing the amount of coating antigen in the ELISA; the final inhibition assay showed an IC(50) of 69.2 +/- 1.4 ng/mL. In summary, mAb14D7 provided a more sensitive and robust assay, as compared with previous polyclonal antibody-based assays, with the additional advantage of being based upon a consistent and unlimited source of a defined reagent.     

Monoclonal antibody-based ELISA and colloidal gold immunoassay for detecting 19-nortestosterone residue in animal tissues

This article presents the generation of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with high specificity against 19-nortestosterone (NT) through cell fusion techniques and the development of a mAb-based indirect competitive ELISA (icELISA) method and colloidal gold-based immuno-chromatographic assay to detect NT residues in beef and pork samples. A modified carbodiimide method was employed to synthesize the artificial antigen, and BALB/c mice were used to produce anti-NT mAbs. On the basis of the checkerboard titration, an indirect competitive ELISA standard curve was established. This assay was sensitive and had a linear range from 0.03 to 38 ng/mL in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), with IC(50) and LOD values of 0.52 ng/mL and 0.01 ng/mL, respectively. Of all the competitive analogues, the produced mAb exhibited a high cross-reactivity to 17α-nortestosterone (83.6%), the main metabolite of NT in animal tissues. Except for moderate cross-reactivities with trenbolone (22.6%) and β-boldenone (13.8%), the other interference to the assay was negligible (<0.05%). In contrast, the strip test had a visual detection limit of 1 ng/mL in PBS, 2 μg/kg in beef, and 2 μg/kg in pork, respectively, and the results can be judged within 10 min. The ELISA and GC-MS results showed close correlation in beef (R2=0.9945) and in pork (R2=0.9977). Therefore, the combination of two immunoassays provides a useful screening method for quantitative or qualitative detection of NT residues in animal-origin products.     

Production and characterization of a monoclonal anti-anti-idiotype antibody against fumonisin B(1).

A monoclonal anti-anti-idiotype antibody (mAb3) against fumonisin B(1) (FmB1) was produced from the hybridoma cell line 7C7F4, which was generated by the fusion of P3/NS-1/1-AG4-1 myeloma cells with spleen cells isolated from a Balb/c mouse that had been immunized with the Fab fragments of affinity-purified anti-idiotype antibodies. The mAb3 belongs to the immunoglobulin M, kappa light chain. A direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (dc-ELISA) and an indirect competitive ELISA (idc-ELISA) were established for antibody characterization and toxin analysis. In an idc-ELISA using FmB1-ovalbumin (OVA) as the coating antigen, the concentrations causing 50% inhibition of binding (IC(50)) of mAb3 to the solid-phase FmB1-OVA by free FmB1, FmB2, and FmB3 were found to be 75, 95, and 450 ng/mL, respectively. In the dc-ELISA, the concentration causing IC(50) of FmB1-horseradish peroxidase to the solid-phase mAb3 by free FmB1 was found to be 233 ng/mL. Analysis of 12 samples naturally contaminated with fumonisins with mAb3-based idc-ELISA and polyclonal-based dc-ELISA showed a good correlation between these two methods with a correlation coefficient of 0.76 at p < 0.02. The linear regression slope was found to be y[polyclonal ELISA] = 0.87x[mAb3 ELISA] - 52 ppb.     

Development of a monoclonal antibody against domoic acid and its application in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and colloidal gold immunostrip

A monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific to domoic acid was produced from a stable hybridoma cell line, 9F1F11, generated by the fusion of P3/NS1/1-AG4-1 myeloma cells with spleen cells isolated from a Balb/c mouse immunized with domoic acid--keyhole limpet hemocyanin. The 9F1F11 mAb belongs to the immunoglobulin G1 (kappa-chain) isotype. A competitive direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cdELISA) and a competitive indirect ELISA were established for antibody characterization. In the cdELISA, the concentration causing 50% inhibition (IC50) of binding of domoic acid-horseradish peroxidase to the antibody by domoic acid was found to be 0.58 ng/mL. A sensitive and rapid mAb-based colloidal gold immunostrip was also developed. The immunostrip assay, which has a detection limit of 5 ng/mL for domoic acid, can be completed in 10 min. Analysis of domoic acid in blue mussel samples revealed that data obtained from immunostrip were in a good agreement with those obtained from cdELISA. The mAb-based cdELISA and immunostrip assay established in this study were sensitive and accurate for rapid screening of domoic acid in shellfish samples.     

Hapten syntheses and antibody generation for a new herbicide, metamifop

To develop a competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for metamifop, a new aryloxyphenoxypropionic acid herbicide, three structurally related haptens were synthesized. Hapten conjugates to keyhole limpet hemocyanin and bovine serum albumin were used as immunogens and plate-coating antigens, respectively. Various sets of polyclonal antibodies from rabbits and the coating antigens were screened for the assay in simple homologous and heterologous ELISA formats. A selected heterologous ELISA was optimized to show an average IC50 value as low as 20.1 ng/mL, detection ranges of 1.0-350 ng/mL, and a lowest detection limit of 0.1 ng/mL. The cross-reactivities of other aryloxyphenoxypropionic acid herbicides to the antibodies were less than 0.5% in the assays except fenoxaprop-P and fenoxaprop-P ethyl, having a diaryl ether group identical to that of metamifop. Molecular modeling studies revealed that the physicochemical properties of the diaryl ether group are the most important determinants of sensitivity and selectivity. The results strongly indicate that the selected set of ELISA is a highly sensitive and convenient tool for detecting metamifop.     

Production and characterization of a monoclonal antibody against the beta-adrenergic agonist ractopamine

A monoclonal antibody was generated toward the beta-adrenergic agonist ractopamine hydrochloride ?(1R,3R),(1R, 3S)-4-hydroxy-alpha-[[[3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methylpropyl]amino]methy l]benzenemethanol hydrochloride?. Ractopamine-glutarate-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) was used as the antigen for antibody generation in mice. Clone 5G10, secreted antibody with isotype IgG1kappa, was used for the development of an immunoassay. The selected antibody was specific for racemic ractopamine with an IC(50) of 2.69 +/- 0.36 ng/mL (n = 15). Antibody binding toward ractopamine was stereoselective with (1R,3R)-ractopamine having an IC(50) of 0.55 +/- 0.09 ng/mL (n = 3). IC(50) values for the (1S, 3R)-, (1S,3S)-, and (1R,3S)-ractopamine stereoisomers were 2.00 +/- 0.37, 140 +/- 23, and 291+/- 32 ng/mL (n = 3), respectively. Phenethanolamine beta-agonists showed low cross-reactivity. Studies using a series of ractopamine metabolites and ractopamine analogues demonstrated structural requirements for the antibody binding. A free phenolic group on the N-butylphenol moiety was required for high-affinity binding because methoxylated analogues and metabolites glucuronidated at this phenol generally had IC(50) values greater than 200 ng/mL. Ractopamine analogues methoxylated or glucuronidated at the ethanolamine phenol had IC(50) values of 0.7-2.6 ng/mL. Lack of a benzylic hydroxyl group was of less importance to antibody binding than was the correct stereochemical orientation (3R) of ractopamine's N-phenylalkyl group. In conclusion, a highly specific monoclonal antibody to ractopamine hydrochloride was developed that could be of potential utility in screening assays.     

Enzyme immunoassay for tenuazonic acid in apple and tomato products

The Alternaria mycotoxin tenuazonic acid was derivatized with succinic anhydride and conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and to horseradish peroxidase (HRP), respectively. The KLH conjugate was used to produce polyclonal antibodies in rabbits. A competitive direct enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for tenuazonic acid was established, which was moderately sensitive for tenuazonic acid [50% inhibition concentration (IC(50)): 320 ± 130 ng/mL] but strongly reacted with tenuazonic acid acetate (IC(50): 23.3 ± 7.5 ng/mL). Therefore, an optimized EIA protocol was established, which employed acetylation of standard and sample extract solutions. The mean standard curve detection limit (IC(30)) for tenuazonic acid acetate was 5.4 ± 2.0 ng/mL, enabling detection limits for tenuazonic acid in apple and tomato products of 25-50 ng/g (150 ng/g in tomato paste). Recoveries in a concentration range of 50-2000 ng/g were 60-130% in apple juice and tomato juice and 40-150% in other tomato products. Tenuazonic acid was detected in apple juice and tomato products from German retail shops at levels of 50-200 ng/g. In conclusion, this novel EIA for tenuazonic acid could be useful within a screening program for Alternaria mycotoxins in food.     

Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of the fungicide fenarimol

To develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the fungicide fenarimol, two synthesized haptens, haptens-1 and -2, and the purchased 4,4'-DDA were conjugated to carrier proteins (BSA, KLH, and OVA). Polyclonal antibodies raised against hapten-1,2-KLH conjugates in rabbits and the coating antigens of hapten-1,2-BSA conjugates, hapten-2-OVA conjugate, and 4,4'-DDA-BSA conjugate were screened and selected for the homologous and/or heterologous ELISA formats. Two competitive indirect ELISAs were selected: assays I and II. The optimized ciELISAs of assays I and II showed average IC(50) values of fenarimol of 5.4 and 9.4 ng/mL, detection ranges of 1.1-25.9 and 1.1-82.7 ng/mL, and lowest detection limits of 0.3 and 0.3 ng/mL, respectively. The cross-reactivities with several structurally related compounds indicated the importance of the steric fitness in the antigen-antibody interaction. Recoveries of fenarimol from apple and pear samples spiked with the analyte by assay I were in the range of 93-113% by simple extraction, concentration, and dilution. This assay could be a convenient and supplemental analytical tool for monitoring fenarimol residues in environmental and agricultural samples.     

Development of an immunoassay for the residues of the herbicide bensulfuron-methyl

To develop a competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on polyclonal antibodies for the detection of the sulfonylurea herbicide bensulfuron-methyl, seven structurally related haptens were synthesized. Four of them mimicking the target analyte were conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin by the N-hydroxysuccinimide activated ester method to use as immunogens, and all of them were conjugated to bovine serum albumin to use as plate-coating antigens. Polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbits and the coating antigens were screened and selected for the assay in simple homologous and heterologous ELISA formats. Three sensitive heterologous ELISAs were selected and optimized, showing the average IC(50) values of bensulfuron-methyl as low as 0.17, 0.09, and 0.09 ng/mL, the detection ranges of 0.04-0.60, 0.01-0.60, and 0.04-0.25 ng/mL, and the lowest detection limits of 0.03, 0.002, and 0.03 ng/mL, respectively. The cross-reactivities of other sulfonylurea herbicides and metabolites of bensulfuron-methyl to the antibodies were less than 15% in the two assays. Recoveries from the analyte-fortified water samples in assay I were in the range of 81-125% by simple dilution. The correlation between the ELISA and HPLC was 0.999 (n = 15) with a slope of 1.37 in the analysis of groundwater samples fortified with bensulfuron-methyl. The results obtained strongly indicate that the ELISA can be a highly sensitive and convenient tool for detecting bensulfuron-methyl residues in agricultural and environmental samples.     

Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of glyphosate

A competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CI-ELISA) was developed to quantitate the herbicide glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] in water. The ELISA has a detection limit of 7.6 microg mL(-1) and a linear working range of 10-1000 microg mL(-1) with an IC(50) value of 154 microg mL(-1). The glyphosate polyclonal antisera did not cross-react with a number of other herbicides tested but did cross-react with the glyphosate metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid and a structurally related herbicide, glyphosine [(N,N-bis(phosphonomethyl)glycine]. The assay was used to estimate, quantitatively with accuracy and precision, glyphosate concentrations in water samples. Water samples were analyzed directly, and no sample preparation was required. To improve detection limits, water samples were concentrated prior to analysis, resulting in the increase of the detection limits by 100-fold. After the sample preconcentration step, the detection limit improved to 0.076 microg mL(-1) with an IC(50) value of 1.54 microg mL(-1), and a linear working range was 0.1-10 microg mL(-1). Glyphosate concentrations determined by ELISA correlated well with those determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography (r(2) = 0.99). This assay contributes to reducing the costs associated with conventional residue analysis techniques for the quantitation of glyphosate in water.     

土壤无机阴离子的毛细管电泳分析

采用以铬酸钠为背景电解质、十六烷基三甲基溴化铵为电渗流改性剂的间接紫外检测法电泳系统 ,研究了分离电压、缓冲液的酸碱性等毛细管电泳测定氯离子、硫酸根、硝酸根和磷酸根的基本条件 ,可在 5min内对以上 4个离子实现准确定量。测定了 5个采自全国不同地区的土壤样品水提取液中的无机阴离子。结果显示 ,毛细管电泳可对提取液中的氯离子、硫酸根和硝酸根实现较准确的定量 ,测定结果与离子色谱比较一致 ;对硝态氮的测定结果与KCl提取 流动分析结果相关性达到p <0 10水平 ,表明测定结果可在一定程度上反映土壤氮素养分状况。但土壤用水静止提取 2 4h ,提取液中的磷未达到毛细管电泳和离子色谱法的检测限 ,毛细管电泳的测定精确度不及离子色谱     

Development of sensitive immunoassays for the detection of the glucuronide conjugate of 3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol, a putative human urinary biomarker for pyrethroid exposure

Pyrethroids are widely used in agriculture as insecticides. This study describes a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of the glucuronide conjugate of 3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol, a putative pyrethroid metabolite that may be used as a biomarker of exposure to pyrethroids. Four antisera were elicited against two different immunizing haptens. Antisera were characterized in combination with several coating haptens. The lowest IC50 value (0.5 ng/mL) was obtained with antiserum 1891 and 3-phenoxybenzoic acid-BSA conjugate as the coating antigen. Antiserum 1891 was highly selective for the target compound with an overall cross-reactivity of <0.3% to structurally related compounds. The assay sensitivity was negligibly affected by pH 4-9. A 5-fold improvement in IC50 was observed using a 10-fold concentrated phosphate-fuffered saline as the assay buffer. Compared to assays conducted in normal phosphate-fuffered saline, the maximal absorbance was almost identical. A good correlation (r 2 = 0.99 and 0.97 for urine samples A and B, respectively) was observed between spiked levels and the levels detected by the immunoassay.     

Identification of monoclonal antibodies against 2,4-D herbicide by ELISA and DNA sequencing

Seven hybridoma clones, E2/G2, E2/B5, E4/C2, G5/E10, F6/C10, B5/C3, and B7, produced within one fusion experiment in 1991 and the clone E4/C2 originated from 1995 were characterized by sequencing of genes coding for variable domains of the antibodies against 2,4-D herbicide. Amino acid sequences of selected antibodies, deduced from DNA analysis, were confirmed by mass spectrometry. Surprisingly, nucleotide sequence analysis of the clones E2/G2 and E2/B5, producing the most sensitive antibodies, proved to have sequence homology of their variable domains, although the IC(50) values determined for these antibodies 9 years prior to the DNA analysis were 2.0 and 8.2 ng/mL, respectively. The same findings arose from the comparison of the immunochemical to DNA data established for G5/E10, F6/C10, and B5/C3 clones producing antibodies with IC(50) values in the range of 26.3-43.1 ng /mL. The clone E4/C2, originating from the later fusion experiment, did not share nucleotide homology with any of the examined clones. Data obtained by ELISA, immunosensor, and DNA analysis within a 9 year period are discussed with respect to hybridoma stability, methodic artifacts, measurement reliability, and other possible factors influencing the result interpretation.     

Comparison of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays with chemiluminescent and colorimetric detection for the determination of ochratoxin A in food

A direct competitive chemiluminescent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CL-ELISA) for the determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) was developed using soybean peroxidase (SbP) in combination with 3-(10'-phenothiazinyl)propane-1-sulfonate (SPTZ) and 4-morpholinopyridine (MORPH) as a detection system. By varying the concentrations of the capture monoclonal anti-OTA antibody, a conjugate of OTA with SbP, and the composition of blocking buffers, the conditions of the immunoassay were optimized. Advantages of CL-ELISA were demonstrated by comparison with ELISA with colorimetric detection (COL-ELISA). The values of IC??, IC??, and working range (IC??-IC??) for CL-ELISA and COL-ELISA were 0.01, 0.08, and 0.02-0.3 ng/mL and 0.08, 0.58, and 0.17-2.2 ng/mL, respectively. The recovery values of CL-ELISA from three soybean spiked samples with OTA concentrations of 0.07, 0.1, and 0.15 ng/mL ranged from 72 to 125%. Determination of OTA in 21 various agricultural commodities showed that OTA in 8 examined samples was not detected by COL-ELISA. Furthermore, it was found that in 4 of these 8 samples the developed CL-ELISA determined OTA at levels from 0.96 to 4.64 ng/g.     

西马特罗杂交瘤细胞株的建立及其单克隆抗体制备和鉴定

用重氮化法将牛血清白蛋白（BSA）和卵清蛋白（OVA）分别与西马特罗（CIM）偶联作为免疫原或包被原,用BSA-CIM免疫BALB/c小鼠,经过3次免疫后,OVA-CIM包被后用间接ELISA和阻断ELISA选择细胞融合备用鼠,选择高效价、高敏感性和高特异性的小鼠进行抗原超强免疫;取脾细胞应用杂交瘤技术与骨髓瘤细胞建立分泌CIM单克隆抗体（Monoclonal antibody,mAb）的杂交瘤细胞株;用体内诱生腹水法制备CIM mAb,对CIM mAb的效价、敏感性和特异性等免疫学特性进行鉴定。结果显示免疫的6只小鼠血清抗体效价均达到10-3;融合后筛选出3B11-H4、2A11-G11和4F5-F11共3株敏感特异的杂交瘤细胞,其细胞培养上清液效价分别为1∶800、1∶1600和1∶1600,腹水效价分别为1∶2.56×106、1∶1.02×107和1∶2.56×107,3B11-H4株对CIM的IC50为040ng/ml,与瘦肉精、莱克多巴胺等其他β2激动剂交叉反应性小于02%。本试验获得了高效价、敏感、特异的抗CIM mAb,为CIM残留ELISA检测试剂盒和试纸条的建立奠定了坚实的基础。     

Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the organophosphorus insecticide bromophos-ethyl

A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the quantitative detection of the organophosphorus insecticide bromophos-ethyl. Four bromophos-ethyl derivatives (haptens) were synthesized and were coupled to carrier proteins through the pesticide thiophosphate group to use as an immunogen or as a coating antigen. Rabbits were immunized with either one of two haptens coupled to bovine serum albumin for production of polyclonal antibodies, and the sera were screened against one of the haptens coupled to ovalbumin. Using the serum with highest titer, an antigen-coated ELISA was developed, which showed an IC(50) of 3.9 ng/mL with a detection limit of 0.3 ng/mL (20% inhibition). An antibody-coated ELISA using an enzyme tracer was also developed, which showed an IC(50) of 6.5 ng/mL with a detection limit of 1.0 ng/mL (20% inhibition). The antibodies showed negligible cross-reactivity with other organophosphorus pesticides except with the insecticides bromophos-methyl and chlorpyrifos in the antibody-coated assay only. Recoveries of bromophos-ethyl from fortified crop and water samples ranged from 82 to 128% and from 95 to 127%, respectively.     

Curcuma longa L. constituents inhibit sortase A and Staphylococcus aureus cell adhesion to fibronectin

The inhibitory activity of Curcuma longa L. (turmeric) rhizome constituents against sortase A, a bacterial surface protein anchoring transpeptidase, from Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538p was evaluated. The activity of the isolated compounds (1-4) was compared to that of the positive control,p-hydroxymecuribenzoic acid (pHMB). The biologically active components of C. longa rhizome were characterized by spectroscopic analysis as the curcuminoids curcumin (1), demethoxycurcumin (2), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (3). Curcumin was a potent inhibitor of sortase A, with an IC50 value of 13.8 +/- 0.7 microg/mL. Bisdemethoxycurcumin (IC50 = 31.9 +/- 1.2 microg/mL) and demethoxycurcumin (IC50 = 23.8 +/- 0.6 microg/mL) were more effective than pHMB (IC50 = 40.6 +/- 1.2 microg/mL). The three isolated compounds (1-3) showed no growth inhibitory activity against S. aureus strain Newman, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) greater than 200 microg/mL. Curcumin also exhibited potent inhibitory activity against S. aureus cell adhesion to fibronectin. The suppression of fibronectin-binding activity by curcumin highlights its potential for the treatment of S. aureus infections via inhibition of sortase activity. These results indicate that curcumin is a possible candidate in the development of a bacterial sortase A inhibitor.     

Molecular and immunochemical characteristics of monoclonal and recombinant antibodies selective for the triazine herbicide simetryn and application to environmental analysis

A monoclonal antibody (mab) selective for the thiomethyl-s-triazine herbicide simetryn was obtained and characterized in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). An IC(50) value for simetryn was 8.5 ng/mL, and the detection range extended from 1.1 to 70 ng/mL in ELISA. The cDNAs encoding variable heavy chain (VH) and variable light chain (VL) of the mab were cloned to produce various recombinant antibodies. Single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies derived from the mab were characterized in ELISA and showed similar reactivities and specificities to the parent mab. A urea denaturation test revealed that the scFv antibodies bound to simetryn were more stable than those in the absence of antigen. A sandwich ELISA based on VH and VL fragments of the mab was successfully developed and showed similar sensitivity to those based on the mab and scFv antibodies in ELISA. In the recovery experiments using spiked environmental samples, the results obtained in ELISA based on the mab were favorably correlated with those by HPLC.     

Determination of ractopamine in cattle and sheep urine samples using an optical biosensor analysis: comparative study with HPLC and ELISA

A biosensor method, using the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) principle, was developed for the determination of ractopamine in cattle and sheep urine. A monoclonal antibody was used to compete with ractopamine in the sample and ractopamine immobilized on the sensor chip. Addition of bovine serum albumin (BSA, 1 mg/mL) as an antibody stabilizer to the incubation buffer was required to achieve a stable biosensor response throughout each sample set. The calibration curve gave a mean IC(50) of 4.7 +/- 0.21 ng/mL (n = 7). Over sample concentrations from 2.5 to 10 ng/mL recoveries were typically approximately 100-110%, whereas inter- and intra-assay reproducibilities (% CV) were usually less than 10 and 6%, respectively. Comparison of biosensor results with results obtained from high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) using enzyme-hydrolyzed urine (to convert ractopamine conjugates to free ractopamine) gave correlation coefficients of 0.94 for sheep and 0.86 for cattle. Slopes of the lines, with zero intercepts, equaled 0.80 for sheep and 0.74 for cattle. For untreated (nonhydrolyzed) urine samples, the correlations between biosensor and HPLC results were 0.95 for sheep and 0.72 for cattle with slopes of 1.18 (sheep) and 1.69 (cattle). The slopes greater than unity indicate that the biosensor responded to ractopamine metabolites in addition to free ractopamine. The biosensor assay is an excellent analytical tool to screen ractopamine residues in sheep or cattle urine, and the results should be extendible to other species with suitable validation.     

Synthesis of haptens and conjugates for ELISAs of phytoestrogens. Development of the immunological tests

Seven carboxylic acid haptens of isoflavonoids were synthesized, with the spacer arm on the oxygen atom at the C7 position for one series, with formononetin, daidzein, equol, biochanin A, and genistein, and at the C8 position for a second series, with only formononetin and daidzein. The different haptens were coupled to bovine serum albumin (BSA) and to swine thyroglobulin (Thyr). Polyclonal antibodies were generated against the BSA conjugates. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed based on competition between free phytoestrogens and the Thyr-hapten conjugates for specific antibodies. IC(50) values of the standard curves ranged between 0.8 and 20 ng/mL that is, 0.3 and 9.2 pmol/well. The antibodies obtained should be useful for assays in vegetable matter as well as in biological fluids after a separation step. These ELISAs should be valuable also in the food industry to control phytoestrogen concentrations prior to and after processing.