Fluorescence-based immunoassay for the detection of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae in rice leaf.

The identification of rice bacterial leaf blight disease requires a simple, rapid, highly sensitive, and quantitative approach that can be applied as an early detection monitoring tool in rice health. This paper highlights the development of a turn-off fluorescence-based immunoassay for the early detection of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), a gram-negative bacterium that causes rice bacterial leaf blight disease. Antibodies against Xoo bacterial cells were produced as specific bio-recognition molecules and the conjugation of these antibodies with graphene quantum dots and gold nanoparticles was performed and characterized, respectively. The combination of both these bio-probes as a fluorescent donor and metal quencher led to changes in the fluorescence signal. The immunoreaction between AntiXoo-GQDs, Xoo cells, and AntiXoo-AuNPs in the immuno-aggregation complex led to the energy transfer in the turn-off fluorescence-based quenching system. The change in fluorescence intensity was proportional to the logarithm of Xoo cells in the range of 100-105 CFU mL-1. The limit of detection was achieved at 22 CFU mL-1 and the specificity test against other plant disease pathogens showed high specificity towards Xoo. The detection of Xoo in real plant samples was also performed in this study and demonstrated satisfactory results.

A Colorimetric pH Sensor Based on Clitoria sp and Brassica sp for Monitoring of Food Spoilage Using Chromametry.

A developed colorimetric pH sensor film based on edible materials for real-time monitoring of food freshness is described. The mixed natural dyes from edible plants Clitoria sp and Brassica sp were extracted and incorporated into ι-carrageenan film as a colorimetric pH sensor film for monitoring food spoilage and its freshness. The color changes of the developed colorimetric sensor film were measured with chromametry and UV-vis spectroscopy, respectively. Experimental results show that colorimetric pH sensor film demonstrated statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between CIE-L*a*b* coordinates color system indicated that the developed colorimetric sensor film was able to give a gradual change in color over a wide pH range. The color of the colorimetric sensor film also changes discretely and linearly with factors that contribute to food spoilage using shrimp and durian samples. Moreover, the developed colorimetric pH sensor film has the potential to be used as a safe, non-destructive testing and also a flexibly visual method for direct assessment of food freshness indicator during storage.

A fluorescence quenching based gene assay for Escherichia coli O157:H7 using graphene quantum dots and gold nanoparticles.

A fluorometric assay is described for highly sensitive quantification of Escherichia coli O157:H7. Reporter oligos were immobilized on graphene quantum dots (GQDs), and quencher oligos were immobilized on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Target DNA was co-hybridized with reporter oligos on the GQDs and quencher oligos on AuNPs. This triggers quenching of fluorescence (with excitation/emission peaks at 400 nm/530 nm). On introducing target into the system, fluorescence is quenched by up to 95% by 100 nM concentrations of target oligos having 20 bp. The response to the fliC gene of E. coli O157:H7 increases with the logarithm of the concentration in the range from 0.1 nM to 150 nM. The limit of detection is 1.1 ± 0.6 nM for n = 3. The selectivity and specificity of the assay was confirmed by evaluating the various oligos sequences and PCR product (fliC gene) amplified from genomic DNA of the food samples spiked with E. coli O157:H7. Graphical abstractSchematic representation of fluorometric assay for highly sensitive quantification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 based on fluorescence quenching gene assay for fliC gene of E. coli O157:H7.

Development of Highly Sensitive Immunosensor for Clenbuterol Detection by Using Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/Graphene Oxide Modified Screen-Printed Carbon Electrode.

Clenbuterol (CLB) is an antibiotic and illegal growth promoter drug that has a long half-life and easily remains as residue and contaminates the animal-based food product that leads to various health problems. In this work, electrochemical immunosensor based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/graphene oxide (PEDOT/GO) modified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) for CLB detection was developed for antibiotic monitoring in a food product. The modification of SPCE with PEDOT/GO as a sensor platform was performed through electropolymerization, while the electrochemical assay was accomplished while using direct competitive format in which the free CLB and clenbuterol-horseradish peroxidase (CLB-HRP) in the solution will compete to form binding with the polyclonal anti-clenbuterol antibody (Ab) immobilized onto the modified electrode surface. A linear standard CLB calibration curve with R² = 0.9619 and low limit of detection (0.196 ng mL-1) was reported. Analysis of milk samples indicated that this immunosensor was able to detect CLB in real samples and the results that were obtained were comparable with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).

Development of Polyclonal Antibody against Clenbuterol for Immunoassay Application.

Development of an immunoassay for clenbuterol (CLB) detection required an anti-CLB antibody as an important bioreceptor. In this study, we report our work on production and purification of a rabbit-derived polyclonal anti-CLB antibody. The antibody was then purified by nProtein A Sepharose affinity column and the antibody purity was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis. The activities of purified antibody were evaluated based on high antibody titer determined from enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The sensitivity and selectivity of this antibody was evaluated and exhibits negligible cross-reactivity to antibiotics other than ß-agonist families. Evaluation of the antibody as bioreceptor in immunoassay was performed using direct competitive ELISA and exhibited linear calibration plot (R² = 0.9484). The antibody was used to detect the content of CLB in spiked milk samples and the recovery of more than 92% indicating significant performance as bioreceptor for the development of a rapid and simple immunoassay.

Enhancing a clenbuterol immunosensor based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/multi-walled carbon nanotube performance using response surface methodology.

Clenbuterol (CLB) is an illegal antibiotic for livestock, which is misused as a growth promoter drug. In this study, an immunosensor modified with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and anti-clenbuterol antibody (Ab) was developed for the detection of CLB. A screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) was modified with PEDOT/MWCNT as a sensor platform before immobilizing Ab for specific CLB binding through a competitive-type immunoassay. Free CLB in the sample solution competed with clenbuterol-horseradish peroxide (CLB-HRP) to bind with Ab. A high current signal was obtained after optimization of the electrochemical immunoassay conditions (pH, incubation temperature, antigen (Ag) incubation time and % blocking) using the response surface methodology/central composite design (RSM/CCD). The developed immunosensor is highly reproducible and sensitive with good storage stability, which are necessary for practical application. In real sample application, this immunosensor produces comparable results with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry; thus, it is useful for CLB screening and monitoring in real meat samples.

Antioxidant and Wound Healing Activity of Polyherbal Fractions of Clinacanthus nutans and Elephantopus scaber.

Elephantopus scaber and Clinacanthus nutans are traditionally used as wound healing herb. The objective of the present study is to develop a new polyherbal formulation, by comparison, the herbal combination of Elephantopus scaber and Clinacanthus nutans as an in vitro antioxidant activity with their individual herbal activity followed by fractionation of polyherbal formulation for in vivo wound healing activities and identification of bioactive compounds from their active fractions. Antioxidant activity was performed in vitro by DPPH scavenging antioxidant activity followed by in vivo wound healing activities using excision wound model, incision wound model, and burn wound model. Toxicity of the fractions of the polyherbal formulation was performed by a dermal toxicity test. The result showed that Elephantopus scaber crude extract on the basis of EC50 performs a much faster action (15.67 µg/mL) but with less % inhibition (87.66%) as compared to the combination of the new polyherbal formulation of crude extract (30 µg/mL). The polyherbal formulation has the highest % inhibition (89.49%) at the same dose as compared to Elephantopus scaber (87.66%). In comparison among all crude and fractions of new polyherbal formulation, it was found that the ethyl acetate fraction of polyherbal formulation has the fastest activity (EC50 14.83 µg/mL) with % inhibition (89.28%). Furthermore, during evaluation of wound contraction on excision and incision wound model, ethyl acetate fraction possesses the highest activity with (P < 0.001) and (P < 0.0001), respectively. During burn wound model, aqueous fraction (P < 0.001) possesses the highest activity followed by an ethyl acetate fraction (P < 0.0001). LC-MS analysis discovered the presence of several flavonoid-based compounds that work synergistically with sesquiterpene lactone and other bioactive compounds. In conclusion, flavonoid increases the antioxidant activity that surges the rate of wound contraction and works synergistically with other bioactive compounds.

Real-time and sensitive detection of Salmonella Typhimurium using an automated quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) instrument with nanoparticles amplification.

The accidental contamination of Salmonella in raw and processed foods is a major problem for the food industry worldwide. At present many of the currently used methods for Salmonella detection are time and labour intensive. Therefore, rapid detection is a key to the prevention and identification of problems related to health and safety. This paper describes the application of a new quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) instrument with a microfluidic system for the rapid and real time detection of Salmonella Typhimurim. The QCMA-1 bare gold sensor chip which contain two sensing array was modified by covalently immobilising the monoclonal capture antibody on the active spot and a mouse IgG antibody on the control spot using a conventional amine coupling chemistry (EDC-NHS). The binding of the Salmonella cells onto the immobilised anti-Salmonella antibody alters the sensor frequency which was correlated to cells concentration in the buffer samples. Salmonella cells were detected using direct, sandwich, and sandwich assay with antibody conjugated gold-nanoparticles. The performance of the QCM immunosensor developed with gold-nanoparticles gave the highest sensitivity with a limit of detection (LOD) ~10-20 colony forming unit (CFU) ml(-1) compared to direct and sandwich assay (1.83 × 10(2) CFU ml(-1) and 1.01 × 10(2) CFU ml(-1), respectively). The sensor showed good sensitivity and selectivity for Salmonella in the presence of other bacteria in real food samples and helped in reducing the pre-enrichment step, hence, demonstrating the potential of this technology for the rapid and sensitive microbial analysis.

Detection of Salmonella typhimurium using an electrochemical immunosensor.

An electrochemical immunosensor based on screen-printed gold working electrode with onboard carbon counter and silver-silver chloride pseudo-reference electrode for Salmonella typhimurium detection is described in this paper. Monoclonal anti-S. typhimurium antibody was immobilized using physical and covalent immobilization via amine coupling of carboxymethyldextran on the surface of the gold working electrode. A direct sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) format was then developed and optimized using a polyclonal anti-Salmonella antibodies conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as the enzyme label. 3,3',5,5'-Tetramethylbenzidine dihydrochloride (TMB)/H(2)O(2) was used as the enzyme mediator/substrate system. Electrochemical detection was conducted using chronoamperometry at -200 mV vs. onboard screen-printed Ag-AgCl pseudo-reference electrode. The applied potential was selected through the study of the electrochemical behaviour of bare gold electrode with TMB-H(2)O(2)-IgG-HRP system. S. typhimurium detection of 5x10(3) cells ml(-1) and approximately 20 cells ml(-1) was achieved respectively for physical and covalent antibody immobilization. The developed sensor was then compared to a commercial ELISA kit and a chromogenic agar plating method for meat samples analysis. The sensor format shows a promising technology for simple and sensitive detection system for Salmonella contamination. Rapid detection of Salmonella is a key to the prevention and identification of problems related to health and safety.