Chemische Charakterisierung und Spurenanalytik
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Mykotoxine sind sekundäre Stoffwechselprodukte, die von Schimmelpilzen gebildet werden. Sie sind unvermeidliche Lebensmittelkontaminanten und stellen daher ein ernstes Gesundheitsrisiko für Mensch und Tier dar. Aus diesem Grund hat die Europäische Kommission Vorschriften erlassen, die Höchstwerte für Mykotoxine in bestimmten Lebensmitteln vorsehen. Um die gesetzlichen Grenzwerte einzuhalten, müssen in der Lebensmittelindustrie Mykotoxinanalysen der eingehenden Waren durchgeführt werden.
Gegenwärtig umfasst die Analyse zeitaufwändige Probenvorbereitungsschritte, denen in der Regel eine chromatographische Analyse folgt.
Immunoassays ermöglichen eine Vor-Ort-Analyse, aber in der Regel sind für feste Lebensmittelproben lösungsmittelbasierte Extraktionsschritte erforderlich. Da Immunoassays in der Regel nicht mit den hohen Lösungsmittelkonzentrationen kompatibel sind, die üblicherweise für die Mykotoxinextraktion verwendet werden (z.B. Acetonitril oder Methanol), war es das Ziel dieser Arbeit, ein Extraktionsverfahren für die Mykotoxine Deoxynivalenol und Ochratoxin A aus Weizenmehl und Getreide zu entwickeln, das für Immunoassays und -sensoren verwendet werden kann. Vier verschiedene Lösungsmittel, Methanol (10 %), Ethanol (5 %) und Acetonitril (10 %) sowie Milli-Q-Wasser wurden für die Extraktion des Analyten Deoxynivalenol getestet. Um negative Umweltaspekte zu vermeiden und aufgrund der vergleichbaren Extraktionseffizienz von Milli-Q-Wasser gegenüber den anderen Lösungsmitteln, wurde Milli-Q-Wasser als Extraktionslösung im optimierten Extraktionsprotokoll für Deoxynivalenol verwendet.
Es wurden verschiedene Extraktionsbedingungen, wie die Extraktionszeit, das Lösungsmittel-Feststoff-Verhältnis, der Filtrationsschritt, der Zentrifugationsschritt sowie die Zusammensetzung des Wassers untersucht. Auf der Grundlage der Ergebnisse wurde ein Extraktionsprotokoll festgelegt, mit dem Wiederfindungsraten in einem Bereich von x bis x erzielt wurden. Das Extraktionsprotokoll umfasste die Extraktion von 2 g Weizenmehl mit 40 ml Milli-Q-Wasser für 30 Minuten, die anschließende Zentrifugation bei 3000 U/min für 15 Minuten bei 4 °C und die Filtration des Überstands.
The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in December of 2019, led to a worldwide still on-going pandemic. Since then, several so-called waves of SARS-CoV-2 infections, a time period with a high and fast rising number of new infections, have occurred all over the world. Classic surveillance approaches are hardly applicable, and further, non-detected cases cannot be covered by them. Wastewater-based Epidemiology (WBE) was proven to be a reliable tool for the prediction of new SARS-CoV-2 infection waves, due to the discharge of virus particles in fecal shedding of infectious people. Until now, for the monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is used as analytical tool. Even though PCR is a highly sensitive analytical tool, is presents several disadvantages, such as the need for trained personnel, specific technical equipment, as well as a difficult performance. An analytical tool, to which these disadvantaged do not apply, are immunoassays. In this work, a sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), with the immobilization of the capture antibodies on the surface of a Microtiter Plate (MTP), as well as a sandwich Magnetic Bead-Based Assay (MBBA), with immobilization of the capture antibodies on the surface of Magnetic Beads (MBs), targeting the SARS-CoV-2 N-protein, were developed and optimized. Both assay formats were performed with a colorimetric and chemiluminescent detection. The developed assay is composed of the two monoclonal antibodies (mAb) AH2 and DE6 - which was biotinylated in the course of the work - which bind to two different epitops of the antigen N-protein. As tracer, Neutravidin-HRP was used, which binds, through interaction of the Neutravidin with the biotin, to the mAb DE6-Biotin. The assay development and optimization procedure included the investigation of the surface saturation with the mAb AH2, the concentration and dilution of the mAb DE6-Biotin and Neutravidin-HRP, the ideal MBs, the ideal coating as well as dilution buffers, and the colorimetric and chemiluminescent substrates. For the developed and fully optimized colorimetric ELISA, a test midpoint x0 of 388 μg/L, for the chemiluminsecent ELISA of 371 μg/L, for the colorimetric MBBA of 251 μg/L and for the chemiluminescent MBBA of 243 μg/L was obtained. Validation of the colorimetric MBBA was done by measurement of three wastewater samples collected at the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Potsdam. Whilst no N-protein could be detected in the samples, by spiking of the wastewater samples with certain concentrations of the N-protein, 10- to 18-times lower concentrations could be back-calculated, which can be attributed to matrix-effects of the wastewater sample. Next to the matrix-effects, also several other reason exist, why no N-protein could be determined in the samples. Because of that, further investigation of the handling, and the measurement of the wastewater samples, as well as the improvement of the assay sensitivity through further optimization steps or exchange of the antibodies, is still necessary.
Vergleichende Darstellung SARS-CoV-2-spezifischer Nanobodys aus unterschiedlichen Wirtsorganismen
(2021)
Aufgrund der anhaltenden COVID-19-Pandemie werden neutralisierende Therapeutika benötigt. Eine Möglichkeit zur Behandlung stellt die Verwendung monoklonaler Anti-SARS-CoV-2-Immun-globuline dar. Ihre Produktion in Säugetierzellen ist jedoch schwer skalierbar, um den weltweiten Bedarf zu decken. VHH-Antikörper, auch Nanobodys genannt, bieten hierfür eine Alternative, da sie eine hohe Temperaturstabilität aufweisen und eine kostengünstige Produktion in prokaryotischen Wirtsorganismen ermöglichen.
In 2019 over 30 000 people were killed or injured by explosions caused by explosives like TNT, PETN, HMX and RDX. Therefore, highly sensitive assays for the detection of TNT are needed. In this study we compared two commercially available TNT antibodies: A1.1.1 and EW75C with a highly optimized indirect competitive ELISA based on a BSA-TNA conjugate. As a result, a precision profile for both antibodies was determined with a LOD of 170 pmol L-1 for the clone A1.1.1 and a LOD of 3,2 nmol L-1 for the clone EW75C. The measurements showed that the clone A1.1.1 is a highly sensitive antibody for the detection of TNT while the clone EW75C does show medium performance at most.
In the cross-reactivity characterization of both antibodies many substances, closely related to the structure of TNT were tested. Both antibodies showed strong cross reactivity with trinitroaniline and trinitrobenzene. For the clone A1.1.1, which is known to originate from immunization of mice with an TNP-glycine-KLH conjugate, this has to be expected. Interestingly the clone EW75C, which was not characterized yet, showed similar behavior. This suggests a TNA-conjugate as immunogen for the EW75C antibody as well. None of both antibodies showed cross-reactions to the high explosives PETN, HMX and RDX. Also, the cross-reactions of nitro musks with the antibodies were investigated. Despite their prohibition, nitro musks are still used in Asia especially and are particularly popular in India. The overall superior clone A1.1.1 showed a significant cross-reactivity to musk ambrette. For practical reasons the influence of musk ambrette on this assay when used in natural environment should be investigated.
In further experiments, the highly sensitive TNT antibody A1.1.1 was digested with papain to obtain monovalent Fab-fragments. Due to its high stability against the digestion, a custom protocol for the IgG1 subclass of mice, to which the clone A1.1.1 belongs, was developed, resulting in a quantitative digestion of the intact antibody to Fab fragments. The success of the digestion was determined with MALDI-TOF-MS and SDS-PAGE. It was shown that this protocol worked for many different antibodies of IgG1 subclass as well.
Thousands of antibodies for diagnostic and other analytical purposes are on the market. However, it is often difficult to identify duplicates, reagent changes, and to assign the correct original publications to an antibody. This slows down scientific progress and might even be a cause of irreproducible research and a waste of resources. Recently, activities were started to suggest the sole use of recombinant antibodies in combination with the open communication of their sequence. In this case, such uncertainties should be eliminated. Unfortunately, this approach seems to be rather a long-term vision since the development and manufacturing of recombinant antibodies
remain quite expensive in the foreseeable future. Also, nearly all commercial antibody suppliers may be reluctant to publish the sequence of their antibodies, since they fear counterfeiting. De-novo sequencing of antibodies is also not feasible today for a reagent user without access to the hybridoma clone. Nevertheless, it seems to be crucial for any scientist to have the opportunity to identify an antibody undoubtedly to guarantee the traceability of any research activity using antibodies from a third party as a tool. For this purpose, we developed a method for the identification of antibodies based on a MALDI-TOF-MS fingerprint. To circumvent lengthy denaturation, reduction, alkylation, and enzymatic digestion steps, the fragmentation was performed with a simple formic acid hydrolysis step. Eighty-nine unknown monoclonal antibodies were used for this study to examine the feasibility of this approach. Although the molecular assignment of peaks was rarely possible, antibodies could be easily recognized in a blinded test, simply from their mass-spectral fingerprint. A general protocol is given, which could be used without any optimization to generate fingerprints for a database. We want to propose that in most scientific projects relying critically on antibody reagents, such a fingerprint should be established to prove and document the identity of the used antibodies and to assign a specific reagent to a datasheet of a commercial supplier, a public database record or an antibody ID.
Regardless of its ban in agricultural use, the triazine derivative terbutryn is still used as a biocide against biofouling in building materials, such as façade colors and roof tiles. From there, it is washed off and may contaminate soil and surface waters, where it shows ecotoxicological behavior. For understanding of these leaching processes, analytical methods that can detect terbutryn in traces are necessary. In contrast to separation methods (Gas (GC) or liquid chromatography (LC)) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS), enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) have proven to be adequate tools for environmental monitoring. Compared to GC-or LC-MS, they are cheap, require only limited time and experimental expertise and enable high throughput. For quantification of terbutryn, EIAs have been established, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 50 ng L-1. For leaching experiments however, a lower LOD would be advantageous.
For detection of terbutryn we developed a direct competitive ELISA based on a monoclonal antibody: Terbutryn and an enzyme-terbutryn conjugate (“tracer”) compete for the binding sites of the immobilized antibody. The bound tracer converts a colourless substrate into a blue-coloured product, which can be detected via spectrophotometry. For quantification of terbutryn, a sigmoidal calibration curve is used. For establishing of the EIA, a new tracer based on a terbutryn surrogate (“hapten”) was synthesized. After optimization of the experimental conditions, the immunoassay exhibited a more than ten-fold increased sensitivity (LOD: 3 ng L-1), high stability against sample compounds (Ca2+, NaCl) and lower cross-reactivities against structurally related compounds, than reported before. Analysis of spiked samples was possible with high precision (inter-assay CV: < 10 %) and accuracy (recoveries from spiked samples: 89 % ± 10%). We therefore propose it as quick and reliable method for leaching studies of terbutryn out of building materials.
Estrone (E1), a metabolite of the estrogenic hormones 17β-estradiol (β-E2) and 17α-estradiol (α-E2), is itself a potent estrogen which can have a significant impact on the hormonal balance. Due to ist high potential for adverse effects on human health and aquatic life even at pg/L to ng/L levels, its appearance in water should be monitored. E1 has also been considered a marker substance for the presence of other estrogens. This study presents a newly developed direct competitive enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for quantification of E1 in environmental water samples using new monoclonal antibodies.
The quantification range of the ELISA is 0.15 μg/L to 8.7 μg/L E1, and the limit of detection is around 60 ng/L for not pre-concentrated water samples. A pre-concentration step after careful selection of suitable phases for SPE was developed, too. The influence of organic solvents and natural organic matter on the ELISA was assessed. The high selectivity of the monoclonal antibody was demonstrated by determining the cross-reactivity against 20 structurally related compounds.
For the assessment of matrix effects, a concept (“LC–ELISA”) is thoroughly exploited, i.e., separating complex samples by HPLC into 0.3 min fractions and determination of the apparent E1 concentration. Furthermore, fractions with interferences for nontarget/suspected-target analysis can be assigned. A dilution approach was applied to distinguish between specific interferences (cross-reactants) and non-specific interferences (matrix effects). In the determination of 18 environmental samples, a good agreement of the E1 concentration in the respective fractions was obtained with mean recoveries of 103 % to 132 % comparing ELISA to LC–MS/MS.
Diclofenac (DCF) is a widely used drug against fever, inflammation, pain, and rheumatic diseases. An average of 70 % of the ingested diclofenac is excreted in the urine. Thus, 63 tons per year are introduced into the water cycle in Germany. Due to insufficient removal of diclofenac in wastewater treatment plants, residues of diclofenac can be found in surface water and sometimes in drinking water. In order to establish an immunoassay, an anti-DCF antibody was required. Some antibody developments have been reported, based on an immunogen resulting from direct coupling of diclofenac to proteins via the carboxylic function. Finally, we used a monoclonal antibody, clone F01G21.
Online immunocapture ICP‑MS for the determination of the metalloprotein ceruloplasmin in human serum
(2018)
The human copper-protein ceruloplasmin (Cp) is the major copper-containing protein in the human body. The accurate determination of Cp is mandatory for the reliable diagnosis of several diseases. However, the analysis of Cp has proven to be difficult. The aim of our work was a proof of concept for the determination of a metalloprotein-based on online immunocapture ICP-MS. The immuno-affinity step is responsible for the enrichment and isolation of the analyte from serum, whereas the compound-independent quantitation with ICP-MS delivers the sensitivity,
precision, and large dynamic range. Off-line ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) was used in parallel to confirm the elution profile of the analyte with a structure-selective method. The total protein elution was observed with the 32S mass trace. The ICP-MS signals were normalized on a 59Co signal. The human copper-protein Cp could be selectively determined. This was shown with pure Cp and with a sample of human serum. The good correlation with off-line ELISA shows that Cp could be captured and eluted selectively from the anti-Cp affinity column and subsequently determined by the copper signal of ICP-MS.