Review and assessment of in vitro detection methods for algal toxins

Algal toxins produced by marine and freshwater microalgae present a significant analytical challenge because of their complex structures and frequent occurrence as mixtures of structural congeners, which differ in toxic potencies and are present at varying proportions in contaminated samples. Rapid, sensitive in vitro detection methods specific for each class of algal toxins have been developed over the past decade, including immunoassays, enzyme inhibition assays, receptor assays, and cell assays. This review discusses the conceptual approaches to assay development and provides a detailed assessment of the use of in vitro detection methods for marine and freshwater algal toxins.     

Multidimensional detection methods for separations and their application in food analysis

The use of the multidimensional detection systems, mass spectrometry and NMR, with separation techniques is discussed with a consideration of their actual or potential application in food analysis. The features of the most commonly used interfaces for coupling liquid chromatography (LC) and mass spectrometry (MS) are briefly examined and examples from the literature on the use of LC-MS in the analysis of natural components in foodstuffs are reported. The potential capabilities for food analysis of LC-NMR, supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC)-MS and capillary electrophoresis (CE)-MS are highlighted.     

Polymerase chain reaction techniques for food allergen detection

Food allergies represent an important health problem in industrialized countries. Undeclared allergenic foods as contaminants in food products pose a major risk for sensitized persons. Reliable detection and quantification methods for food allergens are necessary to ensure compliance with food labeling and improve consumer protection. The methods currently used for the detection of potential allergens in foods are to target either the allergen itself or a marker that indicates the presence of the offending food. As markers for the presence of potentially allergenic foods or ingredients, specific proteins or DNA fragments are targeted. In routine food analysis, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the form of a real-time PCR or in combination with an ELISA have been used. The availability, the characteristics, and some future aspects of DNA-based methods in the rapid and sensitive detection of potentially allergenic food constituents or contaminations are discussed in this review.     

Polymerase chain reaction-based methods for detection of Listeria monocytogenes: toward real-time screening for food and environmental samples

A review is presented of nucleic acid amplification-based methodology, specifically polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays, for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in food and environmental samples. Until recently, developmental challenges including poor sensitivity, due in part to reaction inhibition by components of the sample matrix, and the potential for false-positive reactions have limited routine application of PCR-based screening assays. Commercial assays address these challenges while offering convenient, standardized protocols, a high level of automation, and results within 2 days after the sampling date. Although sample enrichment is necessary to achieve desired detection limits, continued efforts toward template purification will facilitate the development of assays offering real-time, quantitative results. The development of ribonucleic acid (RNA) amplification-based assays may increase in importance, particularly if end-product testing is prioritized by regulatory agencies, as messenger RNA appears to serve as an accurate indicator of cell viability. Further, the increase in target copy number may improve assay sensitivity. PCR-based screening methods offer efficient, reliable results and are ideal for monitoring the presence of L. monocytogenes in foods and in the food processing environment.     

ELISA and LC-MS/MS methods for determining cyanobacterial toxins in blue-green algae food supplements

The use of natural products as a diet supplement is increasing worldwide but sometimes is not followed by adequate sanitary controls and analyses. Twenty samples of pills and capsules of lyophilised cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), commercialised in Italy as dietary supplements, were found positive at the Vibrio fischeri bioassay. Further analyses with ELISA and LC-MS/MS methods revealed the presence of four microcystin (MC) analogues, MC-LR, -YR, -LA, -RR and two demethylated forms of MC-RR. The highest total microcystin content was 4.5 and 1.4 microg g-1 in pills and capsules, respectively. The ELISA measurements, compared to the LC-MS/MS analyses, showed significantly lower concentrations of microcystins in pills, this confirming a possible ELISA underestimate of mixed microcystins, due to different sensitivities for some toxic analogues.     

生物样品中大田软海绵酸类毒素代谢规律及检测方法的研究进展

近年来,中国赤潮污染日趋严重,因此引发多起贝类毒素中毒事件,威胁消费者的食用安全。大田软海绵酸（okadaic acid,OA）及其衍生物鳍藻毒素（dinophysistoxins,DTXs）是分布最广、危害最大的一类腹泻性贝类毒,具有急性腹泻毒性及多种慢性毒性。建立生物体液样品中OA类毒素残留的检测方法对辅助诊断患者的中毒情况极为必要。文章简要介绍了OA类毒素的理化性质、中毒事件、毒理作用,并详细总结了生物样品中OA类毒素代谢规律及检测方法的研究进展。     

Molecular methods for identification and detection of bacterial food pathogens

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) shortens conventional microbiological methods for the detection of food pathogens either by replacing the conventional biochemical and serological identification or by its direct use on pre-enrichment media or food products. PCR allows fast and highly reliable identification of bacterial taxa, particularly phenotypically atypical bacterial strains. For reliablity, PCR primers and reaction conditions must be thoroughly optimized and evaluated, appropriate sample preparations must be developed, and a stringent laboratory protocol must be followed. Positive control systems are used to monitor possible inhibition of the reaction and negative controls are needed to monitor for contamination. The most recent developments involve messenger RNA-based (mRNA-based) detection of viable bacterial pathogens and real-time PCR quantitation of pathogens.     

食品中邻苯二甲酸酯类化合物的分析方法研究进展

邻苯二甲酸酯是应用最广泛的增塑剂,具有生殖、发育毒性及致癌性,是近年来食品污染的一个重要来源。该类化合物种类多、同系物和同分异构体性质接近、在基体中含量范围宽,高效样品前处理、高选择性分离和高灵敏检测、降低本底干扰等技术是食品中邻苯二甲酸酯类化合物准确测定面临的挑战。本文综述了液液萃取、液液微萃取、固相萃取、固相微萃取、基质固相萃取等传统及新型的提取与净化技术在食品样品分析中的应用,比较分析了气相色谱、液相色谱、串联质谱、高分辨质谱以及酶联免疫、离子迁移谱等快速检测技术的特点,并展望了发展趋势。     

Electroanalytical biosensors and their potential for food pathogen and toxin detection

The detection and identification of foodborne pathogens continue to rely on conventional culturing techniques. These are very elaborate, time-consuming, and have to be completed in a microbiology laboratory and are therefore not suitable for on-site monitoring. The need for a more rapid, reliable, specific, and sensitive method of detecting a target analyte, at low cost, is the focus of a great deal of research. Biosensor technology has the potential to speed up the detection, increase specificity and sensitivity, enable high-throughput analysis, and to be used for monitoring of critical control points in food production. This article reviews food pathogen detection methods based on electrochemical biosensors, specifically amperometric, potentiometric, and impedimetric biosensors. The underlying principles and application of these biosensors are discussed with special emphasis on new biorecognition elements, nanomaterials, and lab on a chip technology.     

Method development in relation to regulatory requirements for detection of GMOs in the food chain

This is a summary report of a joint workshop held in Brussels, Belgium, in December 2000. The workshop was organized by the ILSI Europe Novel Food Task Force in collaboration with the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) and ILSI International Food Biotechnology Committee. The purpose was to investigate progress in the development of analytical methods since the last workshop was held in June 1998.     

Capillary electrophoresis for the analysis of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins in shellfish: Comparison of detection methods

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) are produced by marine and freshwater microalgae and accumulate in shellfish including mussels, oysters, and scallops, causing possible fatalities when inadvertently consumed. Monitoring of PST content of shellfish is therefore important for food safety, with currently approved methods based on HPLC, using pre‐ or postcolumn oxidation for fluorescence detection (HPLC‐FLD). CE is an attractive alternative for screening and detection of PSTs as it is compatible with miniaturization and could be implemented in portable instrumentation for on‐site monitoring. In this study, CE methods were developed for C⁴D, FLD, UV absorption detection, and MS—making this first report of C⁴D and FLD for PSTs detection. Because most oxidized toxins are neutral, MEKC was used in combination with FLD. The developed CZE‐UV and CZE‐C⁴D methods provide better resolution, selectivity, and separation efficiency compared to CZE‐MS and MEKC‐FLD. The sensitivity of the CZE‐C⁴D and MEKC‐FLD methods was superior to UV and MS, with LOD values ranging from 140 to 715 ng/mL for CZE‐C⁴D and 60.9 to 104 ng/mL for MEKC‐FLD. With the regulatory limit for shellfish samples of 800 ng/mL, the CZE‐C⁴D and MEKC‐FLD methods were evaluated for the screening and detection of PSTs in shellfish samples. While the CZE‐C⁴D method suffered from significant interferences from the shellfish matrix, MEKC‐FLD was successfully used for PST screening of a periodate‐oxidized mussel sample, with results confirmed by HPLC‐FLD. This confirms the potential of MEKC‐FLD for screening of PSTs in shellfish samples.     

Stability-indicating methods for determining omeprazole and octylonium bromide in the presence of their degradation products.

Four stability-indicating assays were developed for determining omeprazole and octylonium bromide. Omeprazole is photodegraded and estimated in the presence of its degradation products sulphenamide (I) and benzimidazole sulphide (II) by 2 methods. The first method depends on use of first-, second-, and third-derivative spectrophotometry at 290.4, 320.6, and 311.6 nm, respectively. The second method is based on applying the charge-transfer technique with chloranil as pi acceptor to form a complex with omeprazole, the absorbance of which is measured at 377 nm. These methods determine omeprazole in concentration ranges of 5-20 micrograms/mL by first-, second-, and third-derivative spectrophotometry and 10-50 micrograms/mL by charge-transfer complexation with mean accuracies of 99.92 +/- 0.73, 99.71 +/- 1.02, 99.64 +/- 0.66, and 100.24 +/- 0.81%, respectively. Octylonium bromide is determined by a densitometric method using thin-layer chromatography in the presence of its degradation products p-[2-(n-octyoxy)benzoyl]-aminobenzoic acid (III) and diethyl-(2-hydroxyethyl)-methyl ammonium bromide (IV) without any interferences. Alternatively, octylonium bromide is evaluated by a colorimetric method using the acid dye rose bengal. The ion pair formed is extracted in chloroform at pH 4, and its absorbance is measured at 562 nm. These methods determine octylonium bromide in the presence of its degradation products in concentration ranges of 0.1-0.5 microgram/microL by densitometry and 4.5-22.5 micrograms/mL by colorimetry, with mean accuracies of 100.21 +/- 0.93 and 99.73 +/- 0.89%, respectively. The suggested methods were used to determine drugs in bulk powder, laboratory-prepared mixtures, and pharmaceutical dosage forms. Results were compared statistically with those obtained with reference methods.     

Multiresidue method for determination of algal toxins in shellfish: single-laboratory validation and interlaboratory study

A method that uses liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) has been developed for the highly sensitive and specific determination of amnesic shellfish poisoning toxins, diarrhetic shellfish poisoning toxins, and other lipophilic algal toxins and metabolites in shellfish. The method was subjected to a full single-laboratory validation and a limited interlaboratory study. Tissue homogenates are blended with methanol-water (9 + 1), and the centrifuged extract is cleaned up with a hexane wash. LC/MS/MS (triple quadrupole) is used for quantitative analysis with reversed-phase gradient elution (acidic buffer), electrospray ionization (positive and negative ion switching), and multiple-reaction monitoring. Ester forms of dinophysis toxins are detected as the parent toxins after hydrolysis of the methanolic extract. The method is quantitative for 6 key toxins when reference standards are available: azaspiracid-1 (AZA1), domoic acid (DA), gymnodimine (GYM), okadaic acid (OA), pectenotoxin-2 (PTX2), and yessotoxin (YTX). Relative response factors are used to estimate the concentrations of other toxins: azaspiracid-2 and -3 (AZA2 and AZA3), dinophysis toxin-1 and -2 (DTX1 and DTX2), other pectenotoxins (PTX1, PTX6, and PTX11), pectenotoxin secoacid metabolites (PTX2-SA and PTX11-SA) and their 7-epimers, spirolides, and homoYTX and YTX metabolites (45-OHYTX and carboxyYTX). Validation data have been gathered for Greenshell mussel, Pacific oyster, cockle, and scallop roe via fortification and natural contamination. For the 6 key toxins at fortification levels of 0.05-0.20 mg/kg, recoveries were 71-99% and single laboratory reproducibilities, relative standard deviations (RSDs), were 10-24%. Limits of detection were <0.02 mg/kg. Extractability data were also obtained for several toxins by using successive extractions of naturally contaminated mussel samples. A preliminary interlaboratory study was conducted with a set of toxin standards and 4 mussel extracts. The data sets from 8 laboratories for the 6 key toxins plus DTX1 and DTX2 gave within-laboratories repeatability (RSD(R)) of 8-12%, except for PTX-2. Between-laboratories reproducibility (RSDR) values were compared with the Horwitz criterion and ranged from good to adequate for 7 key toxins (HorRat values of 0.8-2.0).     

Rubidium in the food chain

In spite of its abundant occurrence in the earth's crust (310 mg Rb/kg) and its composition of a stable (72.2%) and a radioactive (27.8%) isotope, rubidium (Rb) belongs to the forgotten ultratrace elements. The interest in this ultratrace element grew considerably after Rb deficiency experiments with goats had shown that their growth was depressed, that >80% of them aborted their kids. The geological origin of the site takes significant effect on the Rb content of the flora. Granite and gneiss weathering soils produce the by far Rb-richest plant populations, and drinking water. The water of the gneiss sites contained 18 g Rb/l, that of diluvial sands 3 g/l. Herbivores store most Rb whereas carnivores and omnivores accumulate significantly less Rb. The analysis of 137 foodstuffs and beverages in 15-fold repetition showed that the starch-and sugar-rich cereals, pasta, bread and confectionary are poor in Rb (1 mg/kg dry mater (DM)). Fruit and vegetables accumulate between 5 and >60 mg Rb/kg (asparagus). Boiling drastically reduces the Rb content of vegetables. Animal foodstuffs are relatively poor in Rb. Poultry meat as well as freshwater fish are relatively rich in Rb. Coffee (40 mg/kg DM) and black tea (100 mg Rb/kg DM) store much Rb, 85% of which pass into the beverage.     

Rubidium in the food chain

In spite of its abundant occurrence in the earth's crust (310 mg Rb/kg) and its composition of a stable (72.2%) and a radioactive (27.8%) isotope, rubidium (Rb) belongs to the forgotten ultratrace elements. The interest in this ultratrace element grew considerably after Rb deficiency experiments with goats had shown that their growth was depressed, that >80% of them aborted their kids. The geological origin of the site takes significant effect on the Rb content of the flora. Granite and gneiss weathering soils produce the by far Rb-richest plant populations, and drinking water. The water of the gneiss sites contained 18 μg Rb/l, that of diluvial sands 3 μg/l. Herbivores store most Rb whereas carnivores and omnivores accumulate significantly less Rb. The analysis of 137 foodstuffs and beverages in 15-fold repetition showed that the starch-and sugar-rich cereals, pasta, bread and confectionary are poor in Rb (1 mg/kg dry mater (DM)). Fruit and vegetables accumulate between 5 and >60 mg Rb/kg (asparagus). Boiling drastically reduces the Rb content of vegetables. Animal foodstuffs are relatively poor in Rb. Poultry meat as well as freshwater fish are relatively rich in Rb. Coffee (40 mg/kg DM) and black tea (100 mg Rb/kg DM) store much Rb, 85% of which pass into the beverage.     

Analytical methods for the detection of viruses in food by example of CCL-3 bioagents

This critical review presents challenges and strategies in the detection of viral contaminants in food products. Adenovirus, caliciviruses, enteroviruses, and hepatitis A are emerging contaminant viruses. These viruses contaminate a variety of food products, including fruits, vegetables, shellfish, and ready-to-eat processed foods. The diversity of targets and sample matrices presents unique challenges to virus monitoring that have been addressed by a wide array of processing and detection methods. This review covers sample acquisition and handling, virus recovery/concentration, and the determination of targets using molecular biology and mass-spectrometric approaches. The concentration methods discussed include precipitation, antibody-based concentration, and filtration; the detection methods discussed include microscopy, polymerase chain reaction, nucleic acid sequence-based amplification, and mass spectrometry.     

Stability indicating methods for the determination of some fluoroquinolones in the presence of their decarboxylated degrades

Two stability-indicating methods, namely densitometric TLC and derivative spectrophotometry for the determination of the fluoroquinolone antibacterials lomefloxacin (Lfx), moxifloxacin (Mfx), and sparfloxacin (Sfx) in the presence of their acid degrades are described. Acid degradation was adopted and the main decarboxylated product separated by TLC. Degradation products were identified confirming a previously mentioned degradation scheme. The densitometric method is based on the separation of the intact drug from its acid degradation product on silica gel G plates using different mobile phases and the spots of the intact drugs were scanned at 288, 290, and 292 nm for Lfx, Mfx, and Sfx, respectively. The derivative spectrophotometric method utilizes first derivative D(1) UV spectrophotometry with zero crossing points at 295.2 nm for Lfx, 280.4 and 303.4 nm for Mfx, and 280.8 nm for Sfx. Regression analysis of Beer's plots showed good correlation in the concentration ranges 0.2-1.2, 0.1-1.4, and 0.5-2.0 microg/spot for Lfx, Mfx, and Sfx, respectively, in the densitometric method and 2-16 microg/ml for all drugs in the derivative spectrophotometric method. The proposed methods were successfully applied for the determination of the investigated drugs in bulk powder with mean percentage accuracy ranges from 98.93 to 101.25% for the TLC method and from 98.18 to 100.35% for the D(1) method. The proposed methods were also applied for the determination of the investigated drugs in their pharmaceutical dosage forms and their validity was assessed using the standard addition technique with mean percentage recovery ranging from 100.25 to 101.70% in the TLC method and from 99.27 to 102.12% in the D(1) method. The selectivity of the proposed methods was tested by the analysis of laboratory-prepared mixtures containing different percentages of the studied drugs and their acid degrades. The proposed methods were found selective for the determination of the intact drugs in the presence of up to 90% of their degrades in the TLC method and 70% for Lfx and 90% for Mfx and Sfx in the D(1) method.     

Determination of organotins in aquatic food by gas chromatography with pulsed flame photometric detection

A method based on gas chromatography (GC)-pulsed flame photometric detection (PFPD) was developed to determine the levels of organotins in aquatic food. After being purified by gel-permeation chromatography in ethyl actate-tetrahydrofuran, the organotin compounds were derivatized by pentylmagnesium bromide. The derivative products were injected into the GC system and detected by PFPD (sulfur mode). The method was validated by analysis of the certified reference material and spiked samples. Recoveries of organotins ranged from 84.1 to 116.6% with relative standard deviation between 1.3 and 16.0% when spiked at levels of 2, 10, and 40 microg/kg. The limits of detection varied from 0.1 to 1.2 microg/kg for shellfish and 0.1 to 0.5 microg/kg for fish. The proposed method was suitable for determining organotins in aquatic foods.     

Heavy metal determination in aquatic species for food purposes

New analytical procedures and sample mineralizations are proposed regarding the determination of arsenic, selenium, copper, lead, cadmium, zinc and mercury in matrices involved in food chain as mussel, clams and fishes. As regard As, Se, Cu, Pb, Cd and Zn determinations, H2SO4-HNO3 acidic mixture is used for the digestion of each matrix. In the case of Hg the sample digestion is performed using a concentrated suprapure H2SO4-K2Cr2O7 mixture and the results are compared with those from other conventional methods. Differential pulse cathodic (DPCSV) and anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) are employed for determining simultaneously selenium, arsenic and copper, lead, cadmium, zinc, respectively, while mercury determination is carried out by the cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS) with reduction with SnCl2. The voltammetric measurements were performed using a conventional three-electrode cell and the ammonia-ammonium chloride buffer (pH 9.3) as supporting electrolyte. For all the elements, in addition to the detection limits, precision and accuracy data are also reported: the former, expressed as relative standard deviation (Sr), and the latter, expressed as relative error (e), are in all cases between 3 to 6%.     

食品安全分析样品前处理-快速检测联用方法研究进展

综述了近年来传感器、可视化分析、便携光谱、酶联免疫检测及便携气相色谱等食品安全快速检测技术的研究现状,以及食品安全分析中样品前处理-快速检测联用技术的研究进展,为发展选择性好、准确度高、可定量的新型食品安全快速检测技术提供参考。