Explore the vast range of titles available.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) are mycotoxins that contaminate a wide range of grains and crops. In this study, a one-step time-resolved single-channel immunochromatographic test strip based on europium ion polystyrene fluorescence microspheres was first developed for sensitive and quantitative detection of DON and ZEN. The concentration of the artificial antigen and the mass ratio of the monoclonal antibody to fluorescent microspheres for conjugation were optimized to simplify the sample addition process during immunochromatographic assay and improve the on-site detection efficiency. The limits of detection (LOD) of the single-channel immunochromatographic test strip for DON and ZEN detection were 0.17 and 0.54 μg/L, respectively. Meanwhile, the dual-channel immunochromatographic test strip was designed to simultaneously detect DON and ZEN, with LODs of 0.24 and 0.69 μg/L achieved for DON and ZEN, respectively. The developed test strips also yielded recovery results consistent with that obtained by LC-MS/MS for DON and ZEN detection in real samples of wheat and corn flour, confirming the practicability and reliability of the test strip. The developed immunochromatographic test strips realize quick and sensitive detection of DON and ZEN, exhibiting potential for broad applications in the point-of-care testing platform of multiple mycotoxins in agricultural products.

Herein, we developed a sensitive and quantitative flow assay for simultaneous detection of amantadine (AMD) and chloramphenicol (CAP) in chicken samples based on different CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs). In contrast to other reports, the QDs could be excited by the same excitations that lowered the requirements for the matching instruments. Under the optimal conditions, the strategy permitted sensitive detection of AMD and CAP in a linear range of 0.23 to 1.02 ng/g and 0.02 to 0.66 ng/g. The limits of detection were 0.18 ng/g and 0.016 ng/g, respectively. Moreover, the whole detection process could be completed within 20 min with no additional sophisticated instruments and complicated operations. Spiked samples were analyzed using both QD-based lateral flow immunoassay (QD-LFIA) and commercial ELISA kits with good correlation (R2 = 0.96). Moreover, this study laid the foundation and simplified the development of the requisite instrument.

We produced a prometryn-specific monoclonal antibody and propose a strategy for convenient on-site detection of prometryn residues in herbs for the first time. This strategy has perfect applicability in a complex herbal medicine matrix. The strategy combines a semiquantitative immunochromatographic strip assay with a heterologous indirect competitive ELISA. When there was no matrix interference, the ELISA had a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 2.6 ng·mL-1 and a limit of detection of 0.2 ng·mL-1. The immunochromatographic strip assay can be completed within 5 min with a visual limit of detection of 1 ng·mL-1. Although the sample matrix had different effects on the sensitivity of the antibody, excellent repeatability and accuracy were achieved. The method was successfully applied for the screening and determination of prometryn residue in multiple complex herb samples for the first time, and the results were in good agreement with those obtained by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The proposed strategy is rapid, of high-throughput, and of low cost, and may be a promising choice for on-site detection of prometryn in different kinds of herbs.

A rapid, simple, and sensitive fluorescent immunochromatographic strip test (ICST) based on quantum dots (QDs) has been developed to detect 1-aminohydantoin (AHD), a major metabolite of nitrofurantoin in animal tissues. To achieve this, QD-labeled antibody conjugates, which consist of CdSe/ZnS QDs and monoclonal antibodies, were prepared by an activated ester method. Under optimal conditions, with the nitrophenyl derivative of AHD as the target, the ICST had a linear range from 0.1 to 100 ng/mL, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9656 and a 50% inhibitory concentration of 4.51 ng/mL. The limit of detection was 0.14 ng/g, which was below the minimum required performance limit of 1 μg/kg for AHD established by the European Commission. The recoveries for AHD ranged from 81.5% to 108.2%, with coefficients of variation below 13%, based on intraday and interday analysis. Furthermore, for AHD in real samples, the ICST showed high reliability and high correlation with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (correlation coefficient of 0.9916). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a novel and sensitive method based on a fluorescent ICST to detect AHD below the minimum required performance limit. The ICST demonstrated high reliability, and could be ideally suited for rapid, simple, and on-site screening of AHD contamination in animal tissues.

A fluorescent sensing platform using KI3-quenched bovine serum albumin stabilized gold nanoclusters has been designed and used as a fluorescent probe for the turn-on detection of homocysteine/cysteine (Cys/Hcy). The fluorescence of gold nanoclusters was quenched by iodine. The fluorescence of quenched gold nanoclusters was effectively switched on by Cys/Hcy devoid of the interference of glutathione. The transmission electron microscopy image, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, time-correlated single photon counting analysis, and dynamic light scattering data confirmed the aggregation-induced quenching of fluorescence of gold nanoclusters by iodine. The turn-on response of Cys/Hcy shows two linear ranges from 0.0057 to 5 μM and from 8 to 25 μM, with a limit of detection of 9 nM for cysteine and 12 nM for homocysteine. Real samples were analyzed to monitor Cys/Hcy added to human serum. The fluorescence turn-on response of the probe on a paper strip in the presence of Cys/Hcy was studied.

We screened a highly specific monoclonal antibody (McAb), named 6D, against Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli (Aac). Single McAb 6D was used as both nanogold-labeled antibody and test antibody to develop a single self-paired colloidal gold immunochromatographic test strip (Sa-GICS). The detection limit achieved using the Sa-GICS approach was 10 5  CFU/mL, with a result that can be observed by the naked eye within 10 min. Moreover, Sa-GICS can detect eight strains of Aac and display no cross-reactions with other pathogenic plant microorganisms. Artificial contamination experiments demonstrated that Sa-GICS would not be affected by impurities in the leaves or stems of the plants and were consistent with the PCR results. This is the first report on the development of a colloidal gold immunoassay strip with self-paired single McAb for the rapid detection of Aac. Graphical Abstract Schematic representation of the test strip

The use of potential mutagenic nitrofuran antibiotic in food animal production has been banned world-wide. Common methods for nitrofuran detection involve complex extraction procedures. In the present study, magnetic beads functionalized with antibody against nitrofuran derivative were used as both the extraction and color developing media in lateral flow biosensor. Derivatization reagent carboxybenzaldehyde is firstly modified with ractopamine. After reaction with nitrofuran metabolites, the resultant molecule has two functional groups: the metabolite moiety and the ractopamine moiety. Metabolite moiety is captured by the antibody that is coated on magnetic beads. This duplex is then loaded onto biosensor and ractopamine moiety is further captured by the antibody immobilized on the test zone of nitrocellulose membrane. Without tedious organic reagent-based extraction procedure, this biosensor was capable of visually detecting four metabolites simultaneously with a detection limit of 0.1 μg/L. No cross-reactivity was observed in the presence of 50 μg/L interferential components. Graphical abstract Derivatization of nitrofuran metabolites (AHD, AOZ, SEM, or AMOZ) and LFA detection of the derivative products

Multiarray on a test strip (MATS) was developed for the detection of eight important potato pathogens. The proposed assay combines the rapidity of immunochromatography with the high throughput of array techniques. The test zone of the immunochromatographic strip comprises ordered rows of spots containing antibodies specific for different potato pathogens. The assay benefits from the simplicity of immunochromatography; colored immune complexes form at the corresponding spots within the test zone. The presence and intensity of the coloration are used for identification of the target pathogens. The MATS was applied to the simultaneous detection of eight priority potato pathogens, characterized by the following limits of detection: 1 ng/mL for potato virus X and the ordinary type of potato virus Y, 10 ng/mL for potato virus M, 20 ng/mL for potato leaf roll virus, 40 ng/mL for necrotic-type potato virus Y, 100 ng/mL for potato virus S, 300 ng/mL for potato virus A, and 10 4  cells/mL for Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus . Analysis time was 15 min. The observed sensitivity of the MATS was comparable to the traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The developed technique was tested on potato leaf extracts, and its efficiency for on-site control of the pathogens was confirmed in 100 % by commercial LFIA test strips. Graphical abstract Location of binding zones in the developed multiarray on a test strip (MATS) for simultaneous detection of eight pathogens

The format of an immunochromatographic multiassay is first proposed with native antisera and a universal conjugate of antispecies antibodies with gold nanoparticles. This format allows (1) the exclusion of purification and conjugation stages for specific antibodies and (2) significant reduction of the concentration of specific antibodies in the system. The independent use of specific antibodies and a conjugated marker provided a low detection limit and high signal intensity. The proposed format was implemented for the simultaneous detection of two herbicides. The instrumental limits for the detection of atrazine and chlorsulfuron were 0.1 and 0.7 ng/mL, respectively, and the analysis time was 20 min. The suitability of the test system for monitoring these herbicides in nontreated apple and blackcurrant juices is shown. The assay technique is simple, sensitive, and easily transferrable to any other antigen.

The homology between proteins in legumes and tree nuts makes it common for individuals with food allergies to be allergic to multiple legumes and tree nuts. This propensity for allergenic and antigenic cross-reactivity means that commonly employed commercial immunodiagnostic assays (e.g., dipsticks) for the detection of food allergens may not always accurately detect, identify, and quantitate legumes and tree nuts unless additional orthogonal analytical methods or secondary measures of analysis are employed. The xMAP ® Multiplex Food Allergen Detection Assay (FADA) was used to determine the cross-reactivity patterns and the utility of multi-antibody antigenic profiling to distinguish between legumes and tree nuts. Pure legumes and tree nuts extracted using buffered detergent displayed a high level of cross-reactivity that decreased upon dilution or by using a buffer (UD buffer) designed to increase the stringency of binding conditions and reduce the occurrence of false positives due to plant-derived lectins. Testing for unexpected food allergens or the screening for multiple food allergens often involves not knowing the identity of the allergen present, its concentration, or the degree of modification during processing. As such, the analytical response measured may represent multiple antigens of varying antigenicity (cross-reactivity). This problem of multiple potential analytes is usually unresolved and the focus becomes the primary analyte, the antigen the antibody was raised against, or quantitative interpretation of the content of the analytical sample problematic. The alternative solution offered here to this problem is the use of an antigenic profile as generated by the xMAP FADA using multiple antibodies (bead sets). By comparing the antigenic profile to standards, the allergen may be identified along with an estimate of the concentration present. Cluster analysis of the xMAP FADA data was also performed and agreed with the known phylogeny of the legumes and tree nuts being analyzed. Graphical abstract The use of cluster analysis to compare the multi-antigen profiles of food allergens