Monoclonal antibody-based competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the hydrolysis product of fumonisin B1 (HFB1).

Fumonisin B-1 (FB1) a mycotoxin produced by certain Fusarium molds, consists of two tricarballylic acid groups esterified to a 20 carbon aminopentol backbone (HFB1). The occurrence of HFB1 in corn based foods is suspected, primarily because of the ubiquitous nature of FB1 in corn. A competitive direct enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (CD-ELISA) was developed for the rapid analysis of HFB1. The CD-ELISA was based upon a monoclonal antibody, prepared against HFB1, that cross reacts with the hydrolysis products of the fumonisins B-2, B-3, and B-4. The antibody did not react with the intact fumonisins, sphingosine, sphinganine, or tricarballylic acid. When applied to extracts of ground corn, the performance of the CD-ELISA was affected by the level of solvent and by matrix components. By accommodating these factors through sample cleanup and dilution, the CD-ELISA provides a sensitive. screening method for HFB1 in foods.