Assessment of a new lateral flow immunochromatographic (LFIC) assay for the okadaic acid group of toxins using naturally contaminated bivalve shellfish from the Portuguese coast.

A new rapid assay for the okadaic acid group of toxins, based on lateral flow immunochromatographic (LFIC) test strips developed by Jellett Rapid Testing Ltd., was assessed on naturally contaminated bivalves from the Portuguese coast. One prototype was evaluated using samples harvested during 2005, extracted with 80% methanol, followed by dilution with the running buffer of a methanolic extract after alkaline hydrolysis for esters. The second prototype was assessed using samples harvested during 2006, extracted with 100% methanol and, after alkaline hydrolysis, the methanol was evaporated by a nitrogen stream followed by re-suspension with the running buffer. The first prototype failed to detect 20% of samples that were positive by LC-MS in the range 160-480 microg kg(-1), and were classified as negative or trace level by LFIC. The presence of methanol in the extracts made correct detection of toxins more difficult. The second prototype classified as positive all samples above 160 microg kg(-1), as confirmed by LC-MS. However, in the second prototype, matrix effects were a major drawback and led to 45% false positives, particularly for mussels, due to compounds in shellfish extracts interfering with the antibodies and reducing the test line intensity. Extraction with a higher percentage of methanol was thought responsible for these matrix effects. Regarding sample migration, both prototypes needed one hour before reading. In an attempt to speed-up sample preparation, a direct digestion of bivalve tissues with sodium hydroxide was evaluated. Low recoveries for esters were found by LC-MS with this hydrolysis technique compared to conventional hydrolysis of methanolic extracts. While prototype A was not sensitive enough, prototype B had too many false positives to be of use to the shellfish industry or in a monitoring program.

Multicenter evaluation of PCR methods for detecting CMV DNA in blood donors.

BACKGROUND: CMV DNA screening may be a useful adjunct to serologic tests in distinguishing potentially infectious blood donations from those that are "CMV-safe." However, there is currently no consensus on the optimal assay method for accurate detection of CMV DNA in donors. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A blinded multicenter evaluation of seven CMV PCR assays was performed by five laboratories by using coded sets of analytical controls and donor blood samples. RESULTS: Five assays displayed sufficient sensitivity for donor screening, as judged by consistent detection of a minimum of 25 CMV genome equivalents (geq) in analytical controls constructed to contain from 1 to 100 CMV geq in background DNA from 250,000 cells, while the other two assays displayed inadequate sensitivity. Three sensitive assays, two based on nested PCR directed at the UL93 and UL32 regions of the CMV genome and another test (Monitor Assay, Roche), did not detect CMV DNA in samples from any of 20 pedigreed CMV-seronegative, Western blot-negative (S-/WB-) donors. Two other assays based on nested PCR occasionally detected CMV DNA in S-WB- samples, and one sensitive nested PCR assay directed at UL123 detected CMV DNA in a large proportion (85%) of S-WB- samples. CONCLUSION: Seven CMV PCR assays currently used for research and/or diagnostic applications displayed marked variations in sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility when applied to coded analytical and clinical control samples containing cellular DNA from the equivalent of 250,000 WBCs. These results will be useful in the selection of assays with performance characteristics appropriate to donor screening objectives. They may also help explain discrepant findings from previous studies that used PCR to determine CMV DNA prevalence in seronegative and seropositive blood donors.

Short tandem repeat (STR) haplotypes in HLA: an integrated 50-kb STR/linkage disequilibrium/gene map between the RING3 and HLA-B genes and identification of STR haplotype diversification in the class III region.

We present a dense STR/linkage disequilibrium(LD)/gene map between the RING3 and HLA-B loci, reference allelic sizes on the most prevalent HLA haplotypes and their allelic frequencies in pedigree founders. This resource will facilitate LD, evolution and gene mapping studies, including comparisons of HLA and STR haplotypes and identification of HLA recombinants. The map was constructed by testing novel and previously reported STRs using a panel of 885 individuals in 211 families and 60 DNA samples from cell lines and bone marrow donors homozygous in the HLA-A, -B and -DR loci selected from over 15 000 entries into the registry of Swedish bone marrow donors. We have also analysed the variability of STR alleles/haplotypes on the most prevalent HLA haplotypes to identify STRs useful for fine mapping of disease genes in the region previously implicated in susceptibility to many disorders. The analysis of 40 HLA-A*01, B*0801, DRB1*03011, DQB1*0201 haplotypes in homozygous donors showed a surprising stability in 23 STRs between the class II recombination hot spot and HLA-B, with the average of 1.9% (16/838) variant alleles. However, 40% variant alleles were found at the D6S2670 locus in intron 19 of the tenascin-X gene both in the families and homozygous donors. The nucleotide sequence analysis of this STR showed a complex polymorphism consisting of tetra- (CTTT)(8-18) and penta-nucleotide (CTTTT)(1-2) repeats, separated by an intervening non-polymorphic sequence of 42 bp. The HLA-A1, B*0801, DRB1*03011, DQB1*0201 haplotypes had five (CTTT)(14-18)/(CTTTT)(2) variants with a predominant (CTTT)(16) allele, implicating the tetranucleotide component as the source of this ancestral haplotype diversification, which may be due to the location of D6S2670 in the region of the highest GC content in the human MHC.

Survival of transfused donor white blood cells in HIV-infected recipients.

The appearance and expansion of donor white blood cells in a recipient after transfusion has many potential biologic ramifications. Although patients with HIV infection are ostensibly at high risk for microchimerism, transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD) is rare. The purpose of this study was to search for sustained microchimerism in such patients. Blood samples were collected from 93 HIV-infected women (a subset from the Viral Activation Transfusion Study, an NHLBI multicenter randomized trial comparing leukoreduced versus unmodified red blood cell [RBC] transfusions) before and after transfusions from male donors. Donor lymphocytes were detected in posttransfusion specimens using a quantitative Y-chromosome-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, and donor-specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles were identified with allele-specific PCR primers and probes. Five of 47 subjects randomized to receive nonleukoreduced RBCs had detectable male lymphocytes 1 to 2 weeks after transfusion, but no subject had detectable male cells more than 4 weeks after a transfusion. In 4 subjects studied, donor-specific HLA haplotypes were detected in posttransfusion specimens, consistent with one or more donors' cells. None of 46 subjects randomized to receive leukoreduced RBCs had detectable male lymphocytes in the month after transfusion. Development of sustained microchimerism after transfusion in HIV-infected patients is rare; HIV-infected patients do not appear to be at risk for TA-GVHD.

A simple procedure for sulfation and 35S radiolabelling of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) gonyautoxins.

A method is described to sulfate PSP toxins at various positions in the molecule and to prepare 35S labelled compounds using H2(35)SO4 in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC). The 11-sulfates of saxitoxin and neosaxitoxin, known as gonyautoxins, are often the most abundant of the PSP toxins in algae and contaminated shellfish. Receptor site binding and antibody assays based on these analogues should, therefore, better reflect toxicity than those in which saxitoxin is used. Although the specific activity of 35S-gonyautoxins is lower than that of commercially available 3H-saxitoxin, the label is strongly bound and is not lost through proton exchange with water as occurs with tritiated saxitoxin. The labelling procedure is rapid, inexpensive and can be done on a small scale. Sulfate can be removed from the 11-position of GTX's in methanolic-HCl and from the 21-position by mild acid hydrolysis and H2(35)SO4 added in 5-10-fold excess. Addition or exchange occurs rapidly on mixing DCC in dimethylformamide with dry toxin and sulfate. Reaction conditions were optimized and reaction products identified by capillary electrophoresis, autoradiography and ionspray mass spectrometry. Together with methods for selective removal of sulfate, the sulfation reaction provides an additional way to prepare some of the naturally occurring derivatives of saxitoxin, many of which are sulfates.

Immobilization of small molecules on solid matrices: a novel approach to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay screening for saxitoxin and evaluation of anti-saxitoxin antibodies.

A novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technology was developed for detecting saxitoxin or evaluation of anti-saxitoxin antibodies, which is based on non-covalent immobilization "free' saxitoxin to Maxisorp microtitre plates. The effect of pH on immobilization was studied in media with wide-range buffering capacities (piperazine-glycylglycine and barbiturate buffers). Increasing pH resulted in better responses, although this was mainly due to non-specific interactions. At pH 10.0, however, saxitoxin immobilization was quite effective and specific. The same pattern was found under four different conditions; absence vs presence of bovine serum albumin precoating and absence vs presence of 150 mM NaCl. The best results (high specific response) were achieved with bovine serum albumin precoating in the presence of 150 mM NaCl. The method of choice involved precoating Maxisorp with 5 micrograms/ml albumin followed by addition of 5 microM saxitoxin in 0.01 M piperazine-glycylglycine buffer, pH 10.0. The efficacy of this technology was demonstrated on a polyclonal rabbit anti-saxitoxin antibody and compared with a conventional ELISA of saxitoxin using saxitoxin-bovine serum albumin conjugate as the coating antigen. In the experiments investigating cross-reactivities of various saxitoxin derivatives based on a competitive assay, significantly greater sensitivity was achieved with the novel approach, e.g. 35 pM saxitoxin could be detected (3 x 10(4) times lower concentrations than using the conjugate). The assay works well with mussel tissue homogenates, and because it does not require the use of the covalent saxitoxin-carrier conjugates it offers a simpler alternative to the traditional ELISA for saxitoxin.

Frequency of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among contemporary anti-HIV-1 and anti-HIV-1/2 supplemental test-indeterminate blood donors. The Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study.

BACKGROUND: Follow-up studies from the mid-1980s showed that 1 to 5 percent of blood donors testing reactive in anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and testing indeterminate in Western blot were infected with HIV-1 and were in the process of seroconverting. The present study was conducted to establish the rate of HIV infection among contemporary anti-HIV-1/HIV type 2 (HIV-2) EIA-reactive, Western blot-indeterminate donors. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Donations (n = 607) with indeterminate HIV supplemental test results were identified by screening 3,021,342 donations given from November 1990 through August 1993 at five participating blood centers. Consenting donors were enrolled and samples taken 4 to 8 weeks after donation. Follow-up sera were tested by EIA and Western blot for anti-HIV-1 seroconversion and by type-specific peptide assays for antibodies to HIV-2 and HIV-1 subtype O. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells and/or plasma from the follow-up samples were tested for HIV-1 DNA and/or RNA by polymerase chain reaction. The rate of HIV-1 infection among Western blot-indeterminate donors was also estimated by multiplying the incidence rate of HIV-1 seroconversion in this donor population by the estimated duration of the EIA-reactive and Western blot-indeterminate window during seroconversion (8.5 days). RESULTS: Supplemental test-indeterminate donors (n = 355) enrolled a median of 38 days after donation; 265 (75%) of these donors were identified as indeterminate after an anti-HIV-1/2 EIA-reactive donation. Enrolled and non-enrolled donors had similar distributions of demographic characteristics and band patterns. Follow-up samples from all 355 donors tested negative for HIV-1 in polymerase chain reaction. Follow-up sera tested Western blot-negative in 54 cases (15%) and Western blot-indeterminate in 299 (84%). Two follow-up sera (0.6%) were interpreted, according to manufacturer's package insert criteria, as Western blot positive with p24 and gp41 bands and/or gp120/160 bands; however, paired testing of index and follow-up sera from these two cases showed identical Western blot and EIA reactivity, and polymerase chain reaction was negative for HIV RNA and DNA, which ruled out HIV infection. The absence of HIV infection in 355 Western blot-indeterminate donors was consistent with our incidence-based model analysis, which yielded an estimate of one HIV-1 infection for every 215 Western blot-indeterminate donations (95% CI, 1/39-1/8333). CONCLUSION: Contemporary blood donors classified as indeterminate in supplemental HIV testing are infrequently infected with HIV. Donors whose follow-up samples test negative in anti-HIV-1/2 EIAs and negative or persistently indeterminate in Western blots should be considered eligible for reinstatement.

Two formats of enzyme immunoassay for the detection of saxitoxin and other paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins.

A competitive direct enzyme-linked immunofiltration assay for the detection of saxitoxin was developed, using polyclonal antibodies against saxitoxin and a saxitoxin-horseradish peroxidase conjugate. The test was performed in an eight-well plastic test device, in which antibody-coated nylon membranes were pressed tightly to an absorbent cellulose layer. Saxitoxin standard or sample extract solution, saxitoxin-conjugate, and enzyme substrate/chromogen solution were sequentially added on to the membrane. The test was evaluated visually by comparing the intensity of the resulting coloured (blue) dot with that of a negative control. The detection limits for saxitoxin in buffer solution and in shellfish tissue were 4 ng/ml and 80 ng/g respectively, with an assay time of less than 15 min. Under the conditions of the immunofiltration assay, decarbamoyl-saxitoxin, gonyautoxin 2/3, and neosaxitoxin standards (in buffer) gave a positive response at concentrations of about 10 ng/ml, 40 ng/ml, and 80 ng/ml, respectively. The relative cross-reactivity of the antibody to these PSPs was similar when determined using both direct and indirect (using a saxitoxin-bovine serum albumin conjugate) competitive enzyme immunoassays in microtitre plate format. In competitive direct microtitre plate assays, the 50% binding values found for saxitoxin, decarbamoyl-saxitoxin, gonyautoxin 2/3 and neosaxitoxin were 15 pg/ml, 47.5 pg/ml, 163.5 pg/ml, and 510 pg/ml respectively. In competitive indirect microtitre assay, the respective values were 138 pg/ml, 404 pg/ml, 1582 pg/ml, and 6982 pg/ml.

Toxicological evaluation of saxitoxin, neosaxitoxin, gonyautoxin II, gonyautoxin II plus III and decarbamoylsaxitoxin with the mouse neuroblastoma cell bioassay.

Four major paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins in pure form-saxitoxin (STX), neosaxitoxin (NEO), gonyautoxin II (GTX II), and decarbamoylsaxitoxin (dcSTX), and mixed gonyautoxin II plus III (GTX II/III)-were toxicologically evaluated in the neuroblastoma cell bioassay and compared with the United States Food and Drug Administration standard reference saxitoxin (FDA STX). Mean relative toxicities of these experimental preparations were 99.5 (STX), 128.0 (NEO), 48.4 (GTX II) and 42.6 (dcSTX) when compared with FDA STX set arbitrarily at 100. Two mixtures of GTX II/III with relative concentrations of 1:2.5 and 4:1 had percentage relative toxicities of 52.4 and 54.5, respectively. Except for GTX II/III, which increased in toxicity, the toxicities of the experimental toxin preparations were not affected by boiling for 5 min in equal volumes of either 0.1 or 1.0 N HCl. Detailed examinations of dose-responses of each individual toxin preparation in the cell bioassay revealed some differences in response profiles. The toxicological data presented here support and extend previous information collected with the mouse bioassay and HPLC. The EC(50) values of STX and GTX II/III obtained under different conditions of matrix (acetic acid nu. ethanol), filtration (filtered 0.22 mum or unfiltered) and time in storage at 5 degrees C after opening of the sealed ampoules were largely unaffected by any of the experimental treatments.

Development of a capillary electrophoresis method for the characterization of enzymatic products arising from the carbamoylase digestion of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins.

A sample stacking procedure is presented for the capillary electrophoretic (CE) separation of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins dissolved in high ionic strength buffers. The application of such a stacking procedure prior to the zone electrophoretic separation is demonstrated for the analysis of decarbamoyl toxins arising from the digestion of PSP toxins by an hydrolytic enzyme from little neck clams (Protothaca staminea). Improvements in separation efficiency facilitated identification and quantitation of substrates and enzymatic products present in the digest using CE. The separation conditions developed were found to be entirely compatible with electrospray mass spectrometry, which permitted the analysis of PSP toxins and their decarbamoyl derivatives present in the low micromolar range in crude enzyme digests. The products released during the enzymatic digestion were identified using CE combined with tandem mass spectrometry.

Accuracy of supplementary serologic testing for human T-lymphotropic virus types I and II in US blood donors. Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study.

Blood donations in the United States have been screened for antibody to human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) by HTLV-I enzyme immunoassay (EIA) since November 1988. Specimens repeatedly found to be reactive by EIA undergo confirmation by supplementary serologic tests. We assessed the accuracy of blood center testing of 994 HTLV-I EIA repeat-reactive specimens in five US blood centers between November 1988 and December 1991. Of 410 confirmed HTLV-I/II donations, 407 (99.3%) were infected with HTLV-I/II, as determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (403 cases) and by repeat serologic testing (4 cases). The three false-positive results occurred in the first year of testing. Of 425 HTLV-indeterminate specimens, 6 (1.4%) were found to be infected by PCR (5 with HTLV-II and 1 with HTLV-I). None of 159 confirmatory test-negative donations was PCR positive. Of HTLV-I/II-seropositive specimens, 80.2% to 95.4% could be typed as HTLV-I or HTLV-II by type-specific serologic assays. These results support recommendations that HTLV-I/II-seropositive donors should be advised that they are infected with HTLV-I, HTLV-II, or HTLV-I/II (depending on results of type-specific assays). HTLV-indeterminate donors should be advised that their results only rarely indicate HTLV infection. HTLV confirmatory test-negative donors should be reassured that they are not infected with HTLV-I or HTLV-II.

Kainic acid and 1'-hydroxykainic acid from Palmariales.

The distribution of kainic acid among various red algae was investigated. Analysis of free amino acids from different populations of Palmaria palmata showed that some were unable to accumulate kainic acid to detectable concentrations, whereas in two dwarf mutants it was a major component of the free amino acid composition. The amino acid profiles were also examined for unknown amino acids in the search for possible intermediates in kainic acid biosynthesis. The only unknown amino acid present in P. palmata extracts was isolated and identified by NMR spectroscopy as 1'-hydroxykainic acid. This compound was found in all samples that contained kainic acid. To investigate the effect of growth conditions on kainic acid production different strains of P. palmata were grown at 5, 10, and 15 degrees C with or without added nitrate. No effect on production was observed, suggesting that the growth conditions in these experiments do not affect the level of gene expression in the pathway of kainic acid biosynthesis. Furthermore, changing the growth conditions did not induce synthesis of kainic acid in the non-producing strains of Palmariales.

Isolation and purification procedures for the preparation of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxin standards.

Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is caused by mixtures of saxitoxin analogs of which more than eighteen are known. Reliable and sensitive analytical methods and assays for these toxins are essential to protect the consumer and the shellfish industry, but research has been restricted by a shortage of the pure compounds. Only saxitoxin has so far been generally available as a PSP toxin standard, yet sulfated analogs usually occur in higher concentrations than saxitoxin in toxic marine algae and shellfish. Methods are described for the purification of some of the common PSP toxins, in quantities sufficient for the preparation of PSP standards from the dinoflagellate Alexandrium excavatum, the giant sea scallop (Placopecten megallanicus) hepatopancreas, and the cyanobacterium Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. Purity was monitored by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FD), ionspray mass spectrometry (ISP-MS), capillary electrophoresis (CE), and proton NMR spectroscopy.

Ionspray mass spectrometry of marine toxins. III. Analysis of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins by flow-injection analysis, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and capillary electrophoresis/mass spectrometry.

Ionspray mass spectrometry has been used to monitor the purification of saxitoxin, the parent compound in the family of toxins responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), from a strain of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium excavatum. Quantitative results obtained by flow-injection analysis are compared to those obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography with post-column oxidation and fluorescence detection. The coupling of liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis with ionspray mass spectrometry is described for the separation of mixtures of PSP toxins and the highly potent pufferfish toxin tetrodotoxin. Tandem mass spectrometry is used to provide the structural information, and the ability to distinguish isomeric PSP toxins both chromatographically and mass spectrometrically is demonstrated.

Molecular cloning of three cDNAs that encode cysteine proteinases in the digestive gland of the American lobster (Homarus americanus).

Three clones were isolated from a lobster digestive gland cDNA library, using oligonucleotide probes based on the partial amino terminal sequence of a digestive cysteine proteinase. The cDNAs, LCP1, LCP2 and LCP3 encode preproenzymes of 322, 323 and 321 amino acid residues, and putative mature enzymes of 217, 216 and 215 residues, respectively. Calculated mature protein molecular masses are 23386 (LCP1), 29093 (LCP2) and 23255 (LCP3) Sequence alignments show that the lobster enzymes are more similar to L (55-62% identity) than H (42-44%) or B (22-24%) cathepsins. Southern analysis indicated as many as eleven genes related to the three cDNAs.

Analysis of paralytic shellfish poisons by capillary electrophoresis.

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method with UV detection is described for the separation and determination of underivatized toxins associated with paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). Confirmation of the electrophoretic peaks was facilitated by mass spectrometric (MS) detection using an ionspray CE-MS interface and by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The determination of PSP toxins, such as saxitoxin and neosaxitoxin, in toxic dinoflagellates and scallops is demonstrated and comparisons are made with existing techniques.

Purification and characterization of a digestive cysteine proteinase from the American lobster (Homarus americanus).

A new cysteine proteinase was isolated from the digestive juice of the American lobster (Homarus americanus). The enzyme was purified by a combination of affinity and ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The cysteine proteinase accounted for 80% of the proteolytic activity in the lumen of the hepatopancreas. The most potent heavy-metal inhibitors were Hg, Cu, and Ag ions. Inhibition by organic proteinase inhibitors, including E-64 [L-trans-epoxysuccinyl-leucylamido-(4-guanidino)butane] and activation of the enzyme by 2-mercaptoethanol and dithiothreitol are characteristic of cysteine proteinases. Several similarities to papain are noted and include the N-terminal sequence, of which 22 of the first 28 amino acids are identical. Some notable differences are the higher Mr of 28,000 compared with 23,350 for papain, and the low isoelectric point (pI 4.5) of the lobster enzyme. The effects of pH and temperature on catalytic activity of the lobster proteinase were studied with benzyloxycarbonylalanine p-nitrophenyl ester as the substrate. The kcat./Km value was effectively temperature-independent between 10 and 60 degrees C. The pH-activity profile for the lobster enzyme revealed four apparent protonation states, of which only two are active.

Zinc from oyster tissue as causative factor in mouse deaths in official bioassay for paralytic shellfish poison.

Toxicity (extreme weakness, body temperature drop, cyanosis, some slow deaths) in test mice, upon intraperitoneal injection of standard-method paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) extracts of some PSP-free oysters, is consistent with the relatively high levels of zinc in these extracts. As a rough guideline, the threshold for a toxic response corresponds to a drained tissue zinc level of over 900 micrograms/g. The identification of zinc as the substance responsible has been supported by inducing toxicity in control extracts by spiking with nontoxic levels of zinc, and by eliminating toxicity from toxic extracts by chemical removal (precipitation, ion exchange) of metals.