Safe and effective means of detecting and quantitating Shiga-like toxins in attomole amounts

Anal Chem. 2014 May 20;86(10):4698-706. doi: 10.1021/ac402930r. Epub 2014 May 2.

Abstract

Shiga-like toxins (verotoxins) are a class of AB5 holotoxins that are primarily responsible for the virulence associated with Shiga-like toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections. The holotoxins are composed of a pentamer of identical subunits (B subunit) responsible for delivering the catalytic subunit (A subunit) to a host cell and facilitating endocytosis of the toxin into the cell. The B subunits are not associated with toxicity. We developed a multiple reaction monitoring method based on analyzing conserved peptides, derived from the tryptic digestion of the B subunits. Stable-isotope-labeled analogues were prepared and used as internal standards to identify and quantify these characteristic peptides. We were able to detect and quantify Shiga toxins (Stx), Shiga-like toxin type 1 (Stx1) and type 2 (Stx2) subtypes, and to distinguish among most of the known subtypes. The limit of detection for digested pure standards was in the low attomole range/injection (~10 attomoles), which corresponded to a concentration of 1.7 femtomol/mL. A matrix effect was observed when dilute samples were digested in the buffer, Luria broth, or mouse plasma (LOD ~ 30 attomol/injection = 5 femtomol/mL). In addition, we determined that the procedures necessary to perform our mass spectrometry-based analysis completely inactivate the toxins present in the sample. This is a safe and effective method of detecting and quantitating Stx, Stx1, and Stx2, since it does not require the use of intact toxins.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Hydrolysis
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Shiga Toxin 1 / analysis
  • Shiga Toxin 1 / toxicity
  • Shiga Toxin 2 / analysis
  • Shiga Toxin 2 / toxicity
  • Shiga Toxins / analysis*
  • Shiga Toxins / toxicity
  • Trypsin / chemistry
  • Vero Cells

Substances

  • Shiga Toxin 1
  • Shiga Toxin 2
  • Shiga Toxins
  • Trypsin