26 Apr 2010
DEVELOPING DETECTION METHODS FOR MYCOTOXINS
The aim of mycotoxin research within CONffIDENCE project is to develop multiplex dipstick tests for the determination of the Fusarium toxins deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEA) and T-2/HT-2 toxins (T-2/HT-2) in wheat and oats; DON, ZEA, T-2/HT-2 and fumonisins (FBs) in maize and maize-feed (corn gluten feed); and DON, ZEA, T-2/HT-2 and FBs in cereal based food (extruded cereals with and without maize). Polyclonal antibodies for the mycotoxin of interest were produced within the project, and tested on dipstick membrane. Preliminary characterization on single toxin dipsticks was carried out to select antibodies with suitable sensitivity and cross-reactivity. During the second year of the project, prototype multiplex dipsticks were assembled by coating the strip with the four antigens (indirect competitive format). Multiplex dipsticks were designed in order to reach detection limits (cut off levels) compatible with the EU legislation in force or expected for Fusarium toxins (EC Regulations No 1881/2006 and 1126/2007). Different simplified sample preparation protocols were developed for a) raw wheat and oat (not containing fumonisins) and b) maize and maize feed (containing fumonisins). In each kind of matrix, no more than 6 min extraction with a mixture of methanol/water were necessary to recover more than 70% of each mycotoxin from spiked samples. Analysis of naturally contaminated maize and maize-feed samples and comparison with reference methods confirmed the trueness of the results obtained with the newly developed procedures. The applicability of the developed protocols to cereal food matrices is under evaluation.
Information supplied by A. Visconti, CNR-ISPA, WP4c leader on Mycotoxins
Source : CONffIDENCE