Antibodies to maitotoxin elicited by immunization with toxin-fragment conjugates

Maitotoxin is a water-soluble polyether toxin produced by the benthic dinoflagellate, Gambierdiscus toxicus. Toxin fragments generated by periodate oxidation were conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin, and the resulting immunogens were used to elicit maitotoxin-specific antibodies in mice. A competitive immunoassay developed with polyclonal IgG antibodies detected approximately 3 nM purified maitotoxin standard (IC50 approximately 13 nM; 45 ng/ml) but did not detect other polyether marine toxins. These are the first reported maitotoxin-specific antibodies.