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This proposal seeks to genetically engineer novel antibodies to an important group of natural toxins known as the Fusarium mycotoxins which commonly contaminate wheat, corn, rice and barley. Specifically, antibodies to fumonisin, vomitoxin and zearalenone will be prepared in bacteria and then these antibodies will be applied to testing for these harmful toxicants in food.
There has been increased use by government agencies and the food industry of rapid antibody-based immunoassay in a first-tier screen for harmful toxins and microbial pathogens in foods. The antibodies used in these assays have been developed in animals such as rabbits or in tissue culture systems. Using recombinant DNA technology, it is now possible to engineer specific antibody reagents for improved food safety screening. The immediate advantages of recombinant antibodies are threefold. First, these antibodies can be genetically manipulated to improve sensitivity and greatly reduce assay time. Antibodies can also be designed that have specificity for groups or broad classes of toxicants or harmful microbes. Second, this approach will diminish the use of animals and animal products (e.g. fetal calf serum) for antibody production. Third, since recombinant antibodies will be produced in bacteria, the cost of the basic reagent will be as much as 10-fold less than that for animal or tissue culture systems. Thus, recombinant antibodies could be immediately useful in enhancing existing and new assays for toxins and microbes in foods. This proposal seeks to genetically engineer novel antibodies to an important group of natural toxins known as the Fusarium mycotoxins which commonly contaminate wheat, corn, rice and barley. Specifically, antibodies to fumonisin, vomitoxin and zearalenone will be prepared in bacteria and then these antibodies will be applied to testing for these harmful toxicants in food. From the perspective of food safety, the general approaches developed in this research will be amenable to improved detection of natural toxicants, chemical contaminants as well as bacterial pathogens and their toxins. Over the long term, cloned antibody sequences may find novel uses such as (1) immunization of food producing animals prevent toxic residues or pathogens in meats and poultry, (2) development of low cost procedures for removing toxicants from milk and dairy foods, and (3) expression in plants to neutralize toxicity.