[Studies on immunoassay for detecting fumonisin B1]

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Chemistry
• Food Safety
• Immunology

Background:

• Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a prevalent mycotoxin found in corn, posing significant risks to human and animal health.
• Accurate and sensitive detection methods are crucial for monitoring FB1 contamination in agricultural products.
• Existing detection methods may lack the sensitivity or practicality required for widespread screening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a direct competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the quantitative determination of fumonisin B1 (FB1).
• To assess the prevalence and concentration of FB1 in corn samples from various regions in China.

Main Methods:

• Development of a direct competitive inhibition ELISA utilizing a specific anti-FB1 monoclonal antibody.
• Establishment of assay sensitivity with a minimum detectable concentration of 10 ng/ml.
• Linear standard curve generated between 10 ng/ml and 5 µg/ml.
• Analysis of 156 corn samples collected from Xinjiang, Anhui, and Heilongjiang provinces, and Haerbin city.

Main Results:

• The developed ELISA demonstrated a minimum detectable concentration of 10 ng/ml for FB1.
• A total of 34 out of 156 corn samples (21.8%) tested positive for FB1 contamination.
• Detected FB1 concentrations ranged from 0.18 to 31.32 µg/g, with an average concentration of 12.04 µg/g.

Conclusions:

• The direct competitive inhibition ELISA is a sensitive and reliable method for determining FB1 in corn.
• A significant proportion of tested corn samples were contaminated with FB1, highlighting potential food safety concerns.
• Regional monitoring of FB1 contamination in corn is essential for mitigating health risks.