Production of antibodies against microcystin-RR for the assessment of purified microcystins and cyanobacterial environmental samples

Toxicon. 2006 Sep 1;48(3):295-306. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2006.05.015. Epub 2006 Jun 27.

Abstract

Microcystins (MC) are cyanobacterial hepatotoxins responsible for animal-poisoning and human health incidents. Immunoassays provide a sensitive means to detect these toxins, although cross-reactivity characteristics of different antibodies are variable, and most antibodies have been produced against MC-LR. Here, we have produced the first polyclonal antibodies against the commonly occurring variant, MC-RR, and compared them with MC-LR antibodies for the analysis of purified MCs and cyanobacterial environmental samples. Both antisera cross-reacted with all MCs tested, and with the related cyanobacterial hepatotoxin nodularin-R, but not with non-toxic cyanobacterial peptides. In general, better cross-reactivity characteristics were observed with the MC-RR antisera and limits of quantification were lower for most variants, with all MCs tested and nodularin-R having limits of quantification of 0.31 nM or below. The antisera had different affinities to mixtures containing pooled MC-LR and MC-RR, with MC-LR antisera underestimating total MC concentration when MC-RR represented over 70% of the total MC pool. Both antisera correlated well with HPLC-UV data when incorporated into ELISAs to screen previously characterised environmental samples from Aland, Finland. MC-RR antisera are useful for screening samples containing multiple MCs, and particularly for samples primarily containing MC-RR variants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Bacterial / biosynthesis*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Cross Reactions
  • Cyanobacteria / immunology
  • Cyanobacteria / isolation & purification*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Immune Sera
  • Marine Toxins
  • Microcystins
  • Peptides, Cyclic / immunology*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Immune Sera
  • Marine Toxins
  • Microcystins
  • Peptides, Cyclic
  • microcystin RR