Abstract
ABSTRACT
A sensitive and specific ELISA was developed to detect BoNT/A in biological fluids. The assay is based on the sandwich format using monoclonal antibodies (MAb) of two distinct specificities. An affinity-purified anti-BoNT/A heavy chain MAb (150-3) is utilized to adsorb BoNT/A from solution; the second anti-BoNT/A heavy chain MAb (44-1A) conjugated with peroxidase is then used to form a sandwich. Peroxidase allows color development and measurement of optical density at 450 nm. Standard curves were linear over the range of 2.5 to 100 ng/mL BoNT/A. The limit of detection was below 5 ng/mL in assay buffer, as well as in a 1:10 dilution of urine or 1:50 dilution of human serum spiked with BoNT/A. The developed BoNT/A assay also showed no cross-reaction to type B neurotoxin (BoNT/B) and type E neurotoxin (BoNT/E).
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