Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Monitoring the Fusarium Toxin Zearalenone

András Székács

Plant Protection Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences H-1525 Budapest, FOB 102, Hungary

Article history:
Received October 28, 1997 
Accepted April 7, 1998

Key words:
ELISA, Fusarium species, immunoassay, mycotoxin, zeralenone

Summary:
Results of the development and optimization of an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are presented and compared to corresponding literature data. A competitive indirect immunoassay based on polyclonal antibodies allowed quantitative detection of zearalenone in the concentration range of 1 to 70 ng/mL. Assay conditions have been optimized for coating antigen concentration and serum dilution. Cross-reactivities of various zearalenone derivatives (α-zearalenol, β-zearalenol, zearalanone, α-zearalanol and β-zearalanol) and a trichothecene type mycoloxin (deoxynivalenol) were determined. The system showed preferential sensitivity lo zearalenone: cross-reactivities with other resorcylic lactone derivatives were found between hi- 22%, while no cross-reactivity was seen with deoxynivalenol. To monitor in vivo toxin production in various Fusarium species, the optimized immunoassay has been applied to fungal colonies. Slight matrix effects were seen in the potato dextrose agar culture media, but the effect of the matrix was readily diluted out, and toxin production in various species of the genus has been detected. Thus, the assay was found to be applicable to early detection of fungal infections.

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