A receptor-based chemiluminescence enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for determination of tetracyclines in milk.

This study for the first time reported a receptor based chemiluminescence immunoassay for analysis of tetracyclines. During the experiments, the gene of TetR protein was transformed into Rosetta-gami(DE3) to express a receptor, and its recognition mechanism for 5 tetracyclines was studied by using molecular docking technique. Results showed that hydrophobic interaction and Pi-Pi bond were the main intermolecular forces responsible for TetR-tetracyclines binding, and the D ring was the main receptor binding position in tetracyclines molecules. Then the receptor was used as recognition reagent to develop a direct competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for determination of the 5 drugs in milk, and the light signal was induced with 4-(imidazol-1-yl)phenol enhanced luminol-H2O2 system. The limits of detection for the 5 drugs in milk were in the range of 5-16 pg/mL, and the recoveries from the standards fortified blank milk were in the range of 71.7%-95.8%. Therefore, this method could be used as a simple, rapid, and ultra-sensitive tool to monitor the residues of tetracyclines in milk.

A molecularly imprinted polymer based chemiluminescence array sensor for one-step determination of phenothiazines and benzodiazepines in pig urine.

The residues of phenothiazines and benzodiazepines in foods of animal origin are dangerous to consumers. For inspection of their abuses, this study for the first time reported on the use of a chemiluminescence array sensor for the simultaneous determination of four phenothiazines and five benzodiazepines in pig urine. Two molecularly imprinted polymers were coated in different wells of a conventional 96-well microtiter plate as the recognition reagents. After sample loading, the absorbed analytes were initiated directly by using an imidazole enhanced bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)oxalate-hydrogen peroxide system to emit light. The assay process consisted of only one sample-loading step prior to data acquisition, so one test was finished within 10 min. The limits of detection for the nine drugs in the pig urine were in a range of 0.1 to 0.6 pg/mL, and the recoveries from the fortified blank urine samples were in a range of 80.3 to 95%. Furthermore, the sensor could be reused six times. Therefore, this sensor could be used as a simple, rapid, sensitive and reusable tool for routine screening for residues of phenothiazines and benzodiazepines in pig urine.

Magnetic graphene dispersive solid phase extraction-ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for determination of ß-agonists in urine.

In this study, a magnetic graphene-based dispersive solid phase extraction method was first developed for extraction of ß-agonists in urine. During the experiments, the absorbent amount, sample pH, extraction time, elution solution and elution time were optimized respectively. The optimized extraction method was finished within 10min, and showed high enrichment factors for 9 ß-agonists (20-26 folds). Furthermore, this absorbent could be reused for at least 60 times. Then this extraction method was combined with ultra performance liquid chromatography triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry to determine the 9 drugs in urine. The limits of detection for the 9 drugs were in a range of 0.015-0.023ngmL-1, and the recoveries from the standards fortified blank urine were in a range of 60.2%-109.4%. Therefore, this method could be used as a simple, rapid, sensitive and accurate tool to determine trace level of ß-agonists in urine.

Dummy template molecularly imprinted polymer for solid phase extraction of phenothiazines in meat based on computational simulation.

The 3D structures of two dummy templates and four phenothiazine drugs were studied by using computational simulation method. Then the two dummy templates were used to synthesize two molecularly imprinted polymers respectively. Results showed that the recognition abilities of the two polymers were consistent with the theoretical calculation. Then a solid phase extraction column was developed for extraction of the four phenothiazines in meat (pork, chicken) followed by determination with high performance liquid chromatography. The column showed high adsorption capacities (850-962ng analyte per milligram of polymer) and high recoveries (93-98%) to the four drugs, and could be recycled for sixty times. The limits of detection were in the range of 1.0-10ng/g, and the recoveries from the fortified blank samples were in the range of 70.3-96.1%. This is the first study reporting the use of molecularly imprinted polymer-based method for determination of phenothiazines residues in foods.

Production and Directional Evolution of Antisarafloxacin ScFv Antibody for Immunoassay of Fluoroquinolones in Milk.

A recombinant antisarafloxacin ScFv antibody was produced by direct transformation of its gene into Rosetta-gami(DE3) for expression, and then its recognition mechanisms for 12 fluoroquinolones were studied using the molecular docking method. On the basis of the results of virtual mutation, the ScFv antibody was evolved by directional mutagenesis of contact amino acid residue Tyr99 to His. The ScFv mutant showed highly increased affinity for the 12 drugs with up to sevenfold improved sensitivity. Finally, the mutant was used to develop an indirect competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for determination of the 12 drugs in milk. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.3-8.0 ng/mL; the ties were in the range of 5-106%, and the recoveries from the standard fortified blank milk were in the range of 62.0-89.3%. This is the first study reporting the evolution of an ScFv antibody using a directional mutagenesis strategy based on virtual mutation.

Residue depletion of nifuroxazide in broiler chicken.

BACKGROUND: Several nitrofuran drugs have been prohibited for use in food producing animals due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. However, one of the nitrofurans, nifuroxazide, is still used as a veterinary drug in some countries. This study was conducted to investigate the residue depletion of nifuroxazide in broiler chicken. Chickens were fed with dietary feeds containing 50 mg kg⁻¹ of nifuroxazide for seven consecutive days. Liver, kidney, muscle and plasma samples were collected at different withdrawal periods, and the residues of parent nifuroxazide and its acid-hydrolysable side chain, 4-hydroxybenzhydrazide (HBH), in these samples were determined. RESULTS: Nifuroxazide was metabolised in vivo and its metabolite HBH was formed. Parent nifuroxazide was not detectable in these samples after 14 days of cessation. HBH was detectable in these samples even after 28 days of cessation and the total HBH residues were higher than 1.0 ng g⁻¹. Furthermore, the residue level of tissue bound HBH was much higher than that of free HBH. CONCLUSION: The tissue-bound HBH could be used as a marker to monitor the residue of nifuroxazide in chicken and the best target tissue should be liver. This is the first paper reporting the residue depletion of nifuroxazide in chicken.

Broad specificity indirect competitive immunoassay for determination of nitrofurans in animal feeds.

A generic hapten of nitrofurans was synthesized by derivatization of 5-nitrofurfural with diamine, and the hapten was coupled to carrier protein to prepare different immunogens and coating antigens by using diazotization method and glutaraldehyde method. The obtained novel polyclonal antibodies from immunized rabbits showed broad cross reactivity among seven nitrofurans. After assessment of four coating antigen/antibody combinations, an indirect competitive immunoassay was developed to simultaneously detect the seven nitrofurans in animal feeds. The limits of detection for these analytes were in the range of 5-16 µg kg(-1) depending on the compound. Recoveries from nitrofurans fortified blank feeds at levels of 30 and 100 ng g(-1) were in a range of 82.6-108.4% with coefficients of variation lower than 11.4%. The immunoassay was further validated by a HPLC method and the two methods showed good correlation (r=0.9924). Therefore, the proposed immunoassay could be used as a practical method to monitor the illicit use of nitrofurans in animal feeds.