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.     

High-throughput analysis of amnesic shellfish poisoning toxins in shellfish by ultra-performance rapid resolution LC-MS/MS

The application of ultra-performance rapid resolution LC on a 1.8 microm particle-size column coupled with tandem MS (RRLC-MS/MS) is described for the analysis of amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) toxins in shellfish. Complete resolution among domoic acid (DA) and the isomers was achieved in less than 3 min. The method was intralaboratory validated for direct analysis of crude extracts without further cleanup. It showed LODs ranging from 0.05 to 0.09 mg/kg and a working range that complied with the current regulatory level for DA of 20 mg/kg, and with the level of 4.5 mg/kg recently proposed by the European Food Safety Authority. Confirmatory capabilities were demonstrated according to the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC criteria. The results obtained by RRLC-MS/MS agreed with those provided by the reference LC-UV method, both intralaboratory for the analysis of blind samples (R2 = 0.9751) and interlaboratory through participation in the proficiency test for ASP toxins during 2009 (z-score = -0.962 and 0.177 for low- and high-contaminated samples, respectively). RRLC-MS/MS provided fast analysis and additional confirmatory capabilities for direct analysis of crude extracts while the performance and reliability of the results were maintained, even in very complex matrixes.     

Rapid postcolumn methodology for determination of paralytic shellfish toxins in shellfish tissue

A rapid liquid chromatographic (LC) method with postcolumn oxidation and fluorescence detection (excitation 330 nm, emission 390 nm) for the determination of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) in shellfish tissue has been developed. Extracts prepared for mouse bioassay (MBA) were treated with trichloroacetic acid to precipitate protein, centrifuged, and pH-adjusted for LC analysis. Saxitoxin (STX), neoSTX (NEO), decarbamoylSTX (dcSTX), and the gonyautoxins, GTX1, GTX2, GTX3, GTX4, GTX5, dcGTX2, and dcGTX3, were separated on a polar-linked alkyl reversed-phase column using a step gradient elution; the N-sulfocarbamoyl GTXs, C1, C2, C3, and C4, were determined on a C-8 reversed-phase column in the isocratic mode. Relative toxicities were used to determine STX-dihydrochloride salt (diHCl) equivalents (STXeq). Calibration graphs were linear for all toxins studied with STX showing a correlation coefficient of 0.999 and linearity between 0.18 and 5.9 ng STX-diHCI injected (equivalent to 3.9-128 microg STXeq/100 g in tissue). Detection limits for individual toxins ranged from 0.07 microg STXeq/100 g for C1 and C3 to 4.1 microg STXeq/100 g for GTX1. Spike recoveries ranged from 76 to 112% in mussel tissue. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of repeated injections of GTX and STX working standard solutions was < 4%. Uncertainty of measurement at a level of 195 microg STXeq/100 g was 9%, and within-laboratory reproducibility expressed as RSD was 4.6% using the same material. Repeatability of a 65 microg STXeq/100 g sample was 3.0% RSD. Seventy-three samples were analyzed by the new postcolumn method and both AOAC Official Methods for PST determination: the MBA (y = 1.22x + 13.99, r2 = 0.86) and the precolumn LC oxidation method of Lawrence (y = 2.06x + 12.21, r2 = 0.82).     

Fit-for-purpose shellfish reference materials for internal and external quality control in the analysis of phycotoxins

The need for reference materials for quality control of analysis of foodstuffs has been stressed frequently. This has been particularly true in the phycotoxins field, where there is a great shortage of both pure calibration standards and reference materials. Worldwide there are very few independent bodies that produce certified reference materials for phycotoxins, the main producers currently being the National Research Council Canada and the Japanese Food Research Laboratory. Limited availability of contaminated shellfish and algae, as well as the time and knowledge necessary for the production of adequate reference materials, continuously lead to limited editions of certified reference materials and even more limited production of in-house reference materials. The restricted availability of in-house quality control materials promotes the rapid use of the limited certified reference materials, which in turn hampers the production of the suite of materials required globally for complete protection of public health. This paper outlines the various options that analysts can pursue in the use of reference materials for internal and external quality control, with a view to optimising the efforts of both reference materials users and reference materials producers. For this purpose, the logical sequence is reviewed from the discovery of a new bioactive compound in shellfish, through initial method development up to regulation for food safety purposes including accepted reference methods. Subsequently, the requirements for and efforts typically spent in the production and characterisation of laboratory reference materials, certified reference materials and other test materials used in inter-laboratory studies or proficiency testing, in the area of marine biotoxins are evaluated. Particular emphasis is put on practical advice for the preparation of in-house reference materials. The intricate link between reference material characterisation and method performance is outlined to give guidance on the appropriate in-house method validation in the rapidly developing field of phycotoxins.      

Proficiency testing of eight French laboratories in using the AOAC mouse bioassay for paralytic shellfish poisoning: interlaboratory collaborative study

In an interlaboratory study, 8 French laboratories were tested for their proficiency in using the AOAC mouse bioassay for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). Each laboratory received 1 saxitoxin (STX) standard solution, 1 STX acidified water solution for determination of the titer, 1 noncontaminated shellfish sample, 1 naturally contaminated shellfish sample, and 2 shellfish samples spiked, respectively, at low (152.8 microg STX/100 g meat) and moderate (334.7 microg STX/100 g meat) levels. All samples were analyzed in duplicate. Mean recoveries were 35.1% for the low level and 46.6% for the moderate level. Relative standard deviations (RSD) for within-laboratory variations (repeatability) ranged from 5.4 to 9.8%; RSD for between-laboratory variations (reproducibility) varied from 7.8 to 39.6%, depending on STX level. On the basis of overall performance, all 8 participating laboratories were proficient in their use of the AOAC mouse bioassay.     

Materials engineering for optoelectronic crystals related to III–V compounds

An introductory glimpse of modern approaches to the application of productive and reasonable techniques for the defined electronic materials will be presented. The paper is divided into four parts. Each is supplemented with illustrations. The first part explains the meaning of materials engineering for electronics (MEE) and for optoelectronic crystals in particular. Its interdisciplinarity is shown and also the range of problems it can solve. Graduate courses of someMEE disciplines are also given. The second part of the paper related to the feasible solution withMEE as to the optimal realization of the application requirements. The physical modelling, databases and characterization techniques are given. The third part deals with particular materials: III–V semiconductors. A brief survey of the best methods of crystal growth is given, stressing those which imply a possibility of creating crystals defined up to the atomic range. The last part is devoted to our team's orginal crystal growth methods:CAM-S (A Crystallization Method Providing Composition Autocontrol in Situ) andCOM-S (Calculation Method of Optimal Molten-Solution Composition). The combination of these methods, further modified with vibrational and magneto-hydrodinamical stirring (VS, MHD-S), allows us to grow crystalline ingots of ternary solid solutions (TSS) possessing extreme homogeneity. Illustrations on In?Ga?Sb system are supplied. We conclude with a discussion of the impact of such methods and approaches on a device quality and to other fields.     

Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography--mass spectrometry for the analysis of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins

Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) was examined for the separation of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins using the stationary phase TSK-gel Amide-80. The parameters tested included type of organic modifier and percentage in the mobile phase, buffer concentration, pH, flow rate and column temperature. Using mass spectrometric (MS) detection, the HILIC column allowed the determination of all the major PSP toxins in one 30 min analysis with a high degree of selectivity and sensitivity. The high percentage of organic modifier in the mobile phase and the omission of ion pairing reagents, both favored in HILIC, provided limits of detection (LOD) in the range 50-100 nM in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode on a single quadrupole LC-MS system. LOD in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode on a sensitive triple quadrupole system were as low as 5-30 nM. Excellent linearity of response was observed.     

Effect of pH on the oxidation of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins for analysis by liquid chromatography

The effect of pH on the oxidation of individual PSP toxins using both periodate and peroxide oxidations was studied. It was found that the optimum pH for individual toxins varied considerably. For periodate oxidations, pH 8.2 produced the maximum yield of fluorescent products for neosaxitoxin and GTX1/GTX4 while the non-hydroxylated toxins (saxitoxin, GTX2/GTX3, decarbamoyl saxitoxin, GTX5) showed optimum pHs from about pH 10-11.5. Neosaxitoxin and GTX1/GTX4 did not produce significant fluorescent oxidation products with peroxide oxidation at any of the pHs studied (pH 8.2-12.8). The non-hydroxylated toxins all showed optimum pHs above pH 12 with peroxide oxidation. Yields of fluorescent products of these toxins decreased substantially at pHs below pH 12. Neosaxitoxin and GTX1/GTX4 each produced three product peaks at pH 8.2 with periodate oxidation. There was no pH where these toxins produced predominantly a single oxidation product. Decarbamoyl saxitoxin always produced two oxidation products with both oxidation reactions at the pHs studied. However, the relative yields of the products changed with pH. At low pH the second eluting product predominated, while at higher pH values the first eluting product predominated. This pattern was observed for both oxidation reactions. The other non-hydroxylated toxins produced mainly single unique products with both oxidation reactions over the pH range studied. No single pH was found optimum for the oxidation of both hydroxylated and non-hydroxylated toxins without a significant compromise in yield of oxidation products. This has implications for the post column oxidation liquid chromatographic methods, since small changes in pH of the post column oxidant can both positively and negatively affect the yields of oxidation products of toxin mixtures leading to increased error in the subsequent quantitation of these compounds.     

Macromolecule complex for advanced optoelectronic devices

This paper describes reviews about characterizations of optical and electronic (opto-electronic) organic materials including macromolecule complex, and their applications for advanced key devices used for computers and communications technologies. On the basis of the author's recent investigations, discussions are made on organic electroluminescent thin film materials for emissive display devices, polymer dispersed liquid-crystal materials for passive display devices, organic photoconductive materials for electrophotographic printer devices, and highly electroconductive polymers for solid tantalum capacitors. Finally, the technical issues and development prospects for the opto-electronic organic materials in the 21st century are suggested.     

Collaborative study for the detection of toxic compounds in shellfish extracts using cell-based assays. Part II: application to shellfish extracts spiked with lipophilic marine toxins

Successive unexplained shellfish toxicity events have been observed in Arcachon Bay (Atlantic coast, France) since 2005. The positive mouse bioassay (MBA) revealing atypical toxicity did not match the phytoplankton observations or the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) investigations used to detect some known lipophilic toxins in shellfish. The use of the three cell lines (Caco2, HepG2, and Neuro2a) allows detection of azaspiracid-1 (AZA1), okadaic acid (OA), or pectenotoxin-2 (PTX2). In this study, we proposed the cell-based assays (CBA) as complementary tools for collecting toxicity data about atypical positive MBA shellfish extracts and tracking their chromatographic fractionation in order to identify toxic compound(s). The present study was intended to investigate the responses of these cell lines to shellfish extracts, which were either control or spiked with AZA1, OA, or PTX2 used as positive controls. Digestive glands of control shellfish were extracted using the procedure of the standard MBA for lipophilic toxins and then tested for their cytotoxic effects in CBA. The same screening strategy previously used with pure lipophilic toxins was conducted for determining the intra- and inter-laboratory variabilities of the responses. Cytotoxicity was induced by control shellfish extracts whatever the cell line used and regardless of the geographical origin of the extracts. Even though the control shellfish extracts demonstrated some toxic effects on the selected cell lines, the extracts spiked with the selected lipophilic toxins were significantly more toxic than the control ones. This study is a crucial step for supporting that cell-based assays can contribute to the detection of the toxic compound(s) responsible for the atypical toxicity observed in Arcachon Bay, and which could also occur at other coastal areas.     

Inter-laboratory validation of the fluorescent protein phosphatase inhibition assay to determine diarrhetic shellfish toxins: intercomparison with liquid chromatography and mouse bioassay

Toxic episodes of diarrhetic shellfish toxins (DSP) in shellfish harvesting areas have serious economic and public health implications, where fluorescent protein phosphatase inhibition assay (FPPIA) may be a highly useful tool for monitoring purposes. This paper presents results from the first inter-laboratory study to validate the assay. Three laboratories participated in the design and development of the inter-laboratory work. Standard solutions and spiked samples of the main toxin, okadaic acid, were used at the beginning of the validation exercise to avoid cross-inhibition of other toxins that would otherwise deteriorate the quantitative significance of the data. HPLC with fluorimetric detection of okadaic acid was also submitted to inter-laboratory validation to be subsequently used as a quantitative reference method. FPPIA results from spiked samples were free of systematic bias in any laboratory and determinations repeated over 3 days showed that the classic “repeatability” was the main within-laboratory source of variability (15-26% R.S.D. depending on the sample).After the inter-laboratory validation of both HPLC and FPPIA methods, 83 samples of mussel hepatopancreas collected during a toxic DSP episode were analyzed over 9 weeks. Toxic levels determined with FPPIA were in line with mouse bioassay results, highlighting the lack of false negative results of the FPPIA test: 98.7% of samples whose concentration of okadaic acid equivalents was over 0.8 μg/g hep., provided positive bioassay results within 24 h of observation time. The reliability and the quantitativeness of the FPPIA method in naturally contaminated samples was demonstrated by intercomparison with mouse bioassay and HPLC.     

Comparison of AOAC 2005.06 LC official method with other methodologies for the quantitation of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins in UK shellfish species

A refined version of the pre-column oxidation liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (ox-LC-FLD) official method AOAC 2005.06 was developed in the UK and validated for the determination of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins in UK shellfish. Analysis was undertaken here for the comparison of PSP toxicities determined using the LC method for a range of UK bivalve shellfish species against the official European reference method, the PSP mouse bioassay (MBA, AOAC 959.08). Comparative results indicated a good correlation in results for some species (mussels, cockles and clams) but a poor correlation for two species of oysters (Pacific oysters and native oysters), where the LC results in terms of total saxitoxin equivalents were found to be on average more than double the values determined by MBA. With the potential for either LC over-estimation or MBA under-estimation, additional oyster and mussel samples were analysed using MBA and ox-LC-FLD together with further analytical and functional methodologies: a post-column oxidation LC method (LC-ox-FLD), an electrophysiological assay and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection. Results highlighted a good correlation among non-bioassay results, indicating a likely cause of difference was the under-estimation in the MBA, rather than an over-estimation in the LC results.     

Methods for routine control of irradiated food: Determination of the irradiation status of shellfish by thermoluminescence analysis

In some countries, clearance has been given for treating certain types of shellfish by ionizing radiation in order to increase the shelf-life and to reduce health hazards which might be caused by contaminating microorganisms. In the present study, thermoluminescence (TL) analysis was used to examine the irradiation status of shellfish products purchased from local suppliers. For analysis minerals were isolated from the guts of the animals. Although on none of the examined products an irradiation treatment prior to analysis could be shown, the results obtained on non-irradiated and irradiated products have revealed that irradiation within the commercially used dose range can clearly be detected. Already first glow TL intensities of minerald indicated irradiation treatments. Normalized TL signals of non-irradiated and irradiated samples were clearly separated. By calculation of differences of TL intensities and TL signals between non-irradiated and irradiated samples in dependency of integration temperature an optimized integration area for glow curves was determined. The result of this study agree well with results obtained by two large-scale intercomparisons between food control laboratories to detect irradiation treatment of spices and herbal products as well as of fruit and vegetables by TL analysis of contaminating minerals.     

Evolving Robust and Interpretable Enzymes for the Bioethanol Industry

Obtaining a robust and applicable enzyme for bioethanol production is a dream for biorefinery engineers. Herein, we describe a general method to evolve an all-round and interpretable enzyme that can be directly employed in the bioethanol industry. By integrating the transferable protein evolution strategy InSiReP 2.0 (In Silico guided Recombination Process), enzymatic characterization for actual production, and computational molecular understanding, the model cellulase PvCel5A (endoglucanase II Cel5A from Penicillium verruculosum) was successfully evolved to overcome the remaining challenges of low ethanol and temperature tolerance, which primarily limited biomass transformation and bioethanol yield. Remarkably, application of the PvCel5A variants in both first- and second-generation bioethanol production processes (i. Conventional corn ethanol fermentation combined with the in situ pretreatment process; ii. cellulosic ethanol fermentation process) resulted in a 5.7–10.1 % increase in the ethanol yield, which was unlikely to be achieved by other optimization techniques.     

石墨烯-管尖固相萃取-液相色谱-串联质谱法测定贝类中10种脂溶性贝类毒素

以石墨烯为吸附剂，制作了石墨烯-管尖固相萃取装置，结合液相色谱-串联质谱，建立了一种同时测定贝类中10种脂溶性贝类毒素的方法。实验对提取剂、石墨烯的用量、淋洗剂的种类和用量、洗脱剂的种类和用量等实验参数进行了详细优化。在最优的实验条件下，10种脂溶性贝类毒素在各自相应浓度范围内线性良好，相关系数均大于0.99，方法检出限（LOD）和定量限（LOQ）分别在0.1~1.1 μg/kg和0.3~3.2 μg/kg之间；对阴性牡蛎样品进行3个水平的加标回收实验，10种脂溶性贝类毒素的回收率在72.0%~101.2%之间，相对标准偏差小于15%。结果表明，该方法灵敏度高，操作简单高效，适用于贝类水产品中脂溶性贝类毒素的检测分析。     

A unified platform for optoelectrowetting and optoelectronic tweezers

A platform capable of seamlessly unifying both optoelectrowetting and optoelectronic tweezers is presented. This enables the user to manipulate aqueous droplets (with electrowetting) as well as individual particles within those droplets (with dielectrophoresis). The device requires no photolithography and droplet/particle manipulation can occur continuously over the entire surface of the device. Droplet and 10 μm polystyrene particle speeds of up to 8 mm s(-1) and 60 μm s(-1), respectively, are demonstrated. Particle concentration within, and subsequent splitting of, a droplet is performed resulting in average concentration efficiencies of 93%. Serial concentration is also demonstrated resulting in exponentially increasing particle concentrations and a 10× concentration increase. Finally, the platform is used to select a single cell out of a cohort and subsequently encapsulate it in its own aqueous droplet.     

In-house validation of a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the analysis of lipophilic marine toxins in shellfish using matrix-matched calibration

A liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the quantitative analysis of lipophilic marine toxins in shellfish extracts (mussel, oyster, cockle and clam) was validated in-house using European Union (EU) Commission Decision 2002/657/EC as a guideline. The validation included the toxins okadaic acid (OA), yessotoxin (YTX), azaspiracid-1 (AZA1), pectenotoxin-2 (PTX2) and 13-desmethyl spirolide-C (SPX1). Validation was performed at 0.5, 1 and 1.5 times the current EU permitted levels, which are 160 μg kg^-1 for OA, AZA1 and PTX2 and 1,000 μg kg^-1 for YTX. For SPX1, 400 μg kg^-1 was chosen as the target level as no legislation has been established yet for this compound. The method was validated for determination in crude methanolic shellfish extracts and for extracts purified by solid-phase extraction (SPE). Extracts were also subjected to hydrolysis conditions to determine the performance of the method for OA and dinophysistoxin esters. The toxins were quantified against a set of matrix-matched standards instead of standard solutions in methanol. To save valuable standard, methanolic extract instead of the homogenate was spiked with the toxin standard. This was justified by the fact that the extraction efficiency is high for all relevant toxins (above 90%). The method performed very well with respect to accuracy, intraday precision (repeatability), interday precision (within-laboratory reproducibility), linearity, decision limit, specificity and ruggedness. At the permitted level the accuracy ranged from 102 to 111%, the repeatability from 2.6 to 6.7% and the reproducibility from 4.7 to 14.2% in crude methanolic extracts. The crude extracts performed less satisfactorily with respect to the linearity (less than 0.990) and the change in LC-MS/MS sensitivity during the series (more than 25%). SPE purification resulted in greatly improved linearity and signal stability during the series. Recently the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has suggested that to not exceed the acute reference dose the levels should be below 45 μg kg^-1 OA equivalents and 30 μg kg^-1 AZA1 equivalents. A single-day validation was successfully conducted at these levels. If the regulatory levels are lowered towards the EFSA suggested values, the official methods prescribed in legislation (mouse and rat bioassay) will no longer be sensitive enough. The validated LC-MS/MS method presented has the potential to replace these animal tests.     

Amnesic shellfish poisoning toxins in shellfish: estimation of uncertainty of measurement for a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method

A liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method for amnesic shellfish poisoning toxins in shellfish was developed and validated. Tissue homogenate (4 g) was extracted with 16 mL methanol-water (1 + 1, v/v). Dilution into acetonitrile-water (1 + 9, v/v) was followed by C18 solid-phase extraction cleanup. Domoic acid (DA) and epi-domoic acid were determined by LC/MS/MS with electrospray ionization and multiple reaction monitoring. External calibration was performed with dilutions of a certified reference standard. Advantages of this method include speed, lower detection limits, and a very high degree of specificity. The LC/MS response was highly linear, and there were no significant interferences to the determination of DA. Formal method validation was performed on 4 shellfish species. Fortification studies gave recoveries (mean +/- SD; n = 24) of 93 +/- 14% at 1 mg/kg, and 93.3 +/- 7.6% at 20 mg/kg over all the species. Analysis of a mussel certified reference material showed the bias as < 5%. The limits of detection and quantitation were 0.15 and 0.5 mg/kg, respectively. Routine application of the method over 4 months gave a recovery for the QC sample (1 mg/kg fortified blank mussel homogenate) run with each batch of 88.9 +/- 5.5% (mean +/- SD; n = 37). The total uncertainty of measurement results were estimated as 0.12 (12%) at 0.25-5 mg/kg and 0.079 (7.9%) at 5-50 mg/kg. The major contribution to the uncertainty was the repeatability of the LC/MS determination, probably arising from subtle matrix effects.