A sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of T-2 toxin with monoclonal antibodies

Six monoclonal antibodies (mAbs, T-2.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) which react with a trichothecene mycotoxin, T-2 toxin (T-2), were prepared. All antibodies specifically reacted with T-2 but less (0.5% of T-2) with the metabolites such as HT-2 toxin and 3'-hydroxy-T-2 toxin. Significant but less than 0.02% cross-reactivity was observed with T-2 triol, 3'-hydroxy-HT-2 toxin and neosolaniol. No significant reaction with other trichothecenes such as deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, fusarenon-X, crotocin, or roridin A was observed. The least detectable amount of T-2 with the best mAb T-2.1 was 2.5 pg T-2 per assay. This specific and highly sensitive assay for T-2 was applied for the quantitation of T-2 in wheat flour spiked with mycotoxin, with combination of a simple extraction procedure.