Novel antibody- and aptamer-based approaches for sensitive detection of mycotoxin fusaric acid in cereal

Food Chem. 2025 Jan 15;463(Pt 2):141245. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.141245. Epub 2024 Sep 11.

Abstract

This study presents the first successful generation of polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) and oligonucleotide aptamers specifically targeting fusaric acid (FA). Utilizing these pAbs and aptamers, three highly sensitive and specific assays were developed for the detection of FA in cereals with limits of detection (LOD) ranging from 5 to 50 ng/g: an antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), an aptamer-based enzyme-linked aptamer-sorbent assay (ELASA), and a hybrid enzyme-linked aptamer-antibody sandwich assay (ELAAA). The recovery rates of FA in spiked cereal samples ranged from 87 % to 112 % across all assays. Analysis of 15 cereal feed samples revealed FA contamination levels of 459 to 1743 ng/g (ELISA), 427 to 1960 ng/g (ELASA), and 381 to 1987 ng/g (ELAAA). These results were further validated by HPLC analysis, confirming high consistency within developed assays. Overall, the ELISA, ELASA, and ELAAA are promising tools for the rapid detection of FA, significantly contributing to food safety monitoring.

Keywords: Aptamer; ELISA; Enzyme-linked aptamer-sorbent assay; Fusaric acid; Hybrid enzyme-linked aptamer-antibody sandwich assay; Polyclonal antibody.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies / chemistry
  • Antibodies / immunology
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide* / chemistry
  • Edible Grain* / chemistry
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* / methods
  • Food Contamination* / analysis
  • Fusaric Acid* / analysis
  • Fusaric Acid* / chemistry
  • Limit of Detection
  • Mycotoxins* / analysis

Substances

  • Fusaric Acid
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • Mycotoxins
  • Antibodies