影响海洋微藻生产麻痹性贝类毒素的重要生态因素

麻痹性贝类毒素是有害赤潮海洋微藻生产的重要毒素种类，本文综述了影响该类毒素的主要生态因素有光，温度，盐度和营养盐4类；弱光对毒素合成有抑制作用。低温下PSP毒素产量高，通过对营养盐吸收机制的离子效应，盐度可影响毒素的生命合成，不同种类和株系对N、P限制的反应有极大差异。     

Macromolecular crystallography research at Trombay

Neutron diffraction studies of hydrogen positions in small molecules of biological interest at Trombay have provided valuable information that has been used in protein and enzyme structure model-building and in developing hydrogen bond potential functions. The new R-5 reactor is expected to provide higher neutron fluxes and also make possible smallangle neutron scattering studies of large biomolecules and bio-aggregates. In the last few years infrastructure facilities have also been established for macromolecular x-ray crystallography research. Meanwhile, the refinement of carbonic hydrases’ and lysozyme structures have been carried out and interesting results obtained on protein dynamics and structure-function relationships. Some interesting presynaptic toxin phospholipases have also been taken up for study.     

Analysis of cyanobacterial toxins (anatoxin-a, cylindrospermopsin, microcystin-LR) by capillary electrophoresis

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) were applied to the simultaneous separation of cyanobacterial toxins (anatoxin-a, microcystin-LR, cylindrospermopsin). The analytical performance data of both methods, optimized for the three toxins, were similar with a precision of migration times smaller than 0.8 RSD% and a detection limit in the range of 1-4 microg/mL, using spectrophotometric detection at 230 nm. Both methods were applied to an analysis of cyanotoxins in water bloom samples and crude cyanobacterial extracts. The results obtained indicate that, for complex matrices, the sequential application of CZE and MEKC is necessary. It is recommended to use both CE techniques for the analysis of the same sample in order to confirm the results by an orthogonal approach.     

Characterisation of botulinum toxins type C, D, E, and F by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation and electrospray mass spectrometry

In a follow-up of the earlier characterisation of botulinum toxins type A and B (BTxA and BTxB) by mass spectrometry (MS), types C, D, E, and F (BTxC, BTxD, BTxE, BTxF) were now investigated. Botulinum toxins are extremely neurotoxic bacterial toxins, likely to be used as biological warfare agent. Biologically active BTxC, BTxD, BTxE, and BTxF are comprised of a protein complex of the respective neurotoxins with non-toxic non-haemagglutinin (NTNH) and, sometimes, specific haemagglutinins (HA). These protein complexes were observed in mass spectrometric identification. The BTxC complex, from Clostridium botulinum strain 003-9, consisted of a 'type C1 and D mosaic' toxin similar to that of type C strain 6813, a non-toxic non-hemagglutinating and a 33 kDa hemagglutinating (HA-33) component similar to those of strain C-Stockholm, and an exoenzyme C3 of which the sequence was in full agreement with the known genetic sequence of strain 003-9. The BTxD complex, from C. botulinum strain CB-16, consisted of a neurotoxin with the observed sequence identical with that of type D strain BVD/-3 and of an NTNH with the observed sequence identical with that of type C strain C-Yoichi. Remarkably, the observed protein sequence of CB-16 NTNH differed by one amino acid from the known gene sequence: L859 instead of F859. The BTxE complex, from a C. botulinum isolated from herring sprats, consisted of the neurotoxin with an observed sequence identical with that from strain NCTC 11219 and an NTNH similar to that from type E strain Mashike (1 amino acid difference with observed sequence). BTxF, from C. botulinum strain Langeland (NCTC 10281), consisted of the neurotoxin and an NTNH; observed sequences from both proteins were in agreement with the gene sequence known from strain Langeland. As with BTxA and BTxB, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) MS provided provisional identification from trypsin digest peptide maps and liquid chromatography-electrospray (tandem) mass spectrometry (LC-ES MS) afforded unequivocal identification from amino acid sequence information of digest peptides obtained in trypsin digestion.     

Iterative synthesis of the ABCDEF-ring system of yessotoxin and adriatoxin

A stereocontrolled linear synthesis of the ABCDEF-ring system of yessotoxin and adriatoxin, diarrhetic shellfish toxins, is described. Iterative application of a tetrahydropyran synthesis by reaction of the alkylation of a sulfonyl-stabilized oxiranyl anion followed by 6-endo cyclization of a 4,5-epoxy alcohol led to the synthesis of the trans-fused hexacyclic ether system, and the seven-membered E ring was constructed by ring expansion reaction.     

Development and validation of a high‐throughput online solid‐phase extraction–liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the detection of gonyautoxins 1&4 and gonyautoxins 2&3 in human urine

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), including gonyautoxins and saxitoxins, are produced by multiple species of microalgae and dinoflagellates, and are bioaccumulated by shellfish and other animals. Human exposure to PSTs typically occurs through ingestion of recreationally harvested contaminated shellfish and results in nonspecific symptomology. Confirmation of exposure to PSTs has often relied on the measurement of saxitoxin, the most toxic congener; however, gonyautoxins (GTXs), the sulfated carbamate derivatives of saxitoxin, may be present in shellfish at higher concentrations. To improve identification of PST exposures, our group has developed an online solid phase extraction hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography method to identify GTX1–4 in human urine with tandem mass spectrometry. The reportable range varied for each analyte, with all falling within 0.899 and 250 ng/mL in urine with precision <15% and >85% accuracy as determined for all quality control samples. This new online method quantitates GTX1–4 following exposures to PSTs, supporting the work of public health authorities.     

A Dilute and Shoot Strategy for Determining Alternaria Toxins in Tomato-Based Samples and in Different Flours Using LC-IDMS Separation

Alternaria toxins are emerging mycotoxins whose regulation and standardization are in progress by the European Commission and the European Committee for Standardization. This paper describes a dilute and shoot approach to determine five Alternaria toxins in selected food samples using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The strategy involves sample extraction with acidified aqueous methanol, followed by a solvent change accomplished via sample evaporation and reconstitution. The quantification is based on isotope dilution, applying all corresponding isotopically labeled internal standards to compensate possible matrix effects of the analysis. The main advantages of the present method over other existing methods includes simple and effective sample preparation, as well as detection with high sensitivity. The five-fold sample dilution can decrease matrix effects, which were evaluated with both external and internal standard methods. The results demonstrated a limit of quantification lower than 1.0 µg/kg for all five analytes for the first time. The newly presented method showed acceptable accuracy (52.7–111%) when analyzing naturally contaminated and spiked standard samples at the described levels. The method was validated for tomato-based and flour samples (wheat, rye, and maize). The absolute recovery ranged from 66.7% to 91.6% (RSD < 10%). The developed method could be an alternative approach for those laboratories that exclude sample cleanup and pre-concentration of state-of-the-art instruments with enhanced sensitivity.     

Development of an Inhibition Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Prototype for Detecting Cytotoxic Three-Finger Toxins (3FTxs) in African Spitting Cobra Venoms

The administration of toxin-specific therapy in snake envenoming is predicated on improved diagnostic techniques capable of detecting specific venom toxins. Various serological tests have been used in detecting snakebite envenoming. Comparatively, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been shown to offer a wider practical application. We report an inhibition ELISA for detecting three-finger toxin (3FTx) proteins in venoms of African spitting cobras. The optimized assay detected 3FTxs in N. ashei (including other Naja sp.) venoms, spiked samples, and venom-challenged mice samples. In venoms of Naja sp., the assay showed inhibition, implying the detection of 3FTxs, but showed little or no inhibition in non-Naja sp. In mice-spiked samples, one-way ANOVA results showed that the observed inhibition was not statistically significant between spiked samples and negative control (p-value = 0.164). Similarly, the observed differences in inhibition between venom-challenged and negative control samples were not statistically significant (p-value = 0.9109). At an LOD of 0.01 µg/mL, the assay was able to confirm the presence of 3FTxs in the samples. Our results show a proof of concept for the use of an inhibition ELISA model as a tool for detecting 3FTxs in the venoms of African spitting cobra snakes.     

QuEChERS净化技术结合超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法筛查食用贝类中的3种原多甲藻酸贝类毒素

采用超高效液相色谱-串联质谱(UHPLC-MS/MS)技术,建立了贻贝、牡蛎、蚌类、扇贝等食用贝类及其制品中3种天然形式的原多甲藻酸(azaspiracid-1, azaspiracid-2, azaspiracid-3)贝类毒素的检测方法。样品采用乙腈-水(85:15, v/v)混合液均质提取,应用QuEChERS技术净化,以0.2 μm微孔滤膜过滤,在乙腈-水(含5 mmol/L醋酸铵和0.1%甲酸)体系下进行梯度洗脱,并在ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C₁₈柱(100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.8 μm)上实现3种贝类毒素的基线分离。该方法采用多反应监测(MRM)模式扫描,采用标准曲线外标法定量。3种原多甲藻酸在1~100 μg/kg范围内线性关系良好,相关系数(r²)均大于0.995; 3种贝类毒素的定量限(S/N=10)均为1.0 μg/kg;在10、20和50 μg/kg 3个加标水平的添加回收率在71%~108%之间,日内和日间测定的相对标准偏差≤10%(n=6)。应用该方法对国内外多个地区的贝类产品进行了筛查测定,发现部分样品的测定结果为阳性。该方法灵敏度高,重复性好,操作简便、快捷,适用于食用贝类及其制品中3种原多甲藻酸贝类毒素的分析测定。     

在线固相萃取-超高效液相色谱-线性离子阱串联质谱法直接测定水中10种藻类毒素

建立了全自动在线固相萃取-超高效液相色谱-线性离子阱串联质谱法直接测定水中10种藻类毒素的方法.利用程序实现多次进样,通过在线固相萃取对藻类毒素进行富集,然后切换六通阀,将富集的目标物冲洗至分析柱进行分离后,进入线性离子阱质谱检测.10种藻类毒素在相应的浓度范围内线性关系良好,相关系数均大于0.99,检出限在0.0015~0.0050μg/L之间,3个浓度水平(0.02、0.10和1.00μg/L)的加标回收率为83.7%~98.5%.结果表明,在线固相萃取极大简化了前处理过程,线性离子阱串联质谱法提高了痕量藻类毒素测定的灵敏度,增强子离子扫描(EPI)谱库的建立为藻类毒素的确证提供保障.本方法适用于水体中多种藻类毒素的快速确证和定量测定.