Production and characterization of antibodies against neosaxitoxin utilizing a novel immunogen Synthesis procedure

Abstract

Polyclonal antibodies against neosaxitoxin (neoSTX) were produced in rabbits after immunization with a neoSTX—glucose oxidase conjugate. This method used a novel approach for immunogen synthesis, which required only trace amounts (28 ug) of neoSTX for the coupling reaction. A competitive indirect enzyme immunoassay (EIA), with saxitoxin conjugated to bovine serum albumin as the solid phase antigen, was established using these antibodies. The detection limit for neoSTX was 17.8 pg ml‐1. Relative cross‐reactivities of the antibodies with gonyautoxin 1/4 (GTX1/4), saxitoxin (STX), gonyautoxin 2/3 (GTX2/3), decarbamoylsaxitoxin (dcSTX) and N‐sulphocarbamoylsaxitoxin (C1/2) were 104, 3.36, 3.35, 0.11 and 0.04% respectively. Thus, the EIA described here was most specific for neoSTX and GTX1/4.