T2 Mycotoxin

Keywords Nanostructured silicon Photoluminescence Electro-conductivity Immune biosensors T2 mycotoxin... 

T2 mycotoxin was used as the antigen. Fusarium tricinctum during cultivation may form about 9 g of T2 toxin per 1 kg of the solid or liquid substrate with the final output of the crystalline product about 2-3 g/kg [24-26]. T2 mycotoxin is sometimes referred to as the biological weapon of omnicide [27-29] since its toxicity is more than 400 times higher than most other biological warfare agents [30]. 

The semi-lethal dose of T2 mycotoxin is considered to be 5 mg/kg, although at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg vital changes in a number of biochemical indexes are observed. The maximal permitted concentration of this toxin in com is 100 pg/kg [32, 34]. Taking into account this value we chose appropriate T2 mycotoxin concentrations for the experiments. Initially it was dissolved in ethanol and then diluted with 0.05 M Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.3) to make a series of solutions with different concentrations. T2 mycotoxin was kindly provided by Dr. Kotik from the Institute of Poultry Farming (Ukraine). Specific antibodies (Ab) against T2 were purchased from Sigma (USA). 

Determination of the T2 Mycotoxin Level by the sNPS Photoconductivity Measurement... 

The sNPS photosensitivity increased after the immobilization of antibodies but it rose sharply following the addition of T2 mycotoxin at the concentration of 100 ng/mL (Fig. 9.7). 

Fig. 9.8 The dependence of the sNPS immune sensor photoluminescence (PhL) signal on the concentration of T2 mycotoxin in solution...

The deposition of the specific Ab on sNPS increases the photoluminescence level, but upon formation of the specific immune complex it decreases. The level of photoluminescence decrease depends on the concentration of T2 mycotoxin in the solution (Fig. 9.8). If a non-specific antibody is used or serum bovine albumin is used as an antigen the photoluminescence level does not change. 

The experimental data presented show that sNPS can be used as transducers, which are stable for a long time after the construction of an immune biosensor. The specific immune complex formed on the sNPS surface may be registered by measuring its photoluminescence or photoconductivity. Such immune biosensors can be applied for control of T2 mycotoxin. The biosensors developed are sensitive and simple and allows for rapid analysis and analysis in field conditions. This approach may be applied for detection of any biochemical substances which can form an immune complex. Further investigations should be directed towards studying the mechanism of the biochemical signal detection by the sNPS and characterization of all the steps of analysis. 

Biological toxins typically are of lesser molecular weight and size, and are thus more soluble and more easily penetrate the skin than chemical weapon agents. Biological toxins can be categorized based upon their mode of action, such as neurotoxins (disrupt nerve impulses) and cytotoxins (disrupt cell respiration and metabolism). Known biological toxins that are warfare or terror agents include aflatoxin, botuli-num toxins, ricin, and T2 mycotoxin. 

AC is included in the recommended treatment of ricin, saxitoxin, T2 mycotoxins and botulinum toxin poisoning although its efficacy remains to be proven [65,71]. It is interesting that rather large objects such as bacteria (0.1-10 pm) can be retained by AC at all these results suggest that the nature of AC surface - bacteria interaction cannot be attributed to physical adsorption only for smaller objects such as vimses (10-100 ran) and molecules of biotoxins which have molecular weight up to 1000 kDa contribution of adsorption in mesopores may be important. 

Marrs TC, Edginton JA, Price PN, Upshall DG. Acute toxicity of T2 mycotoxin to the guinea-pig by inhalation and subcutaneous routes. Br J Exp Path. 1986 67(2) 259 268. 

Category B agents are those agents that are more difficult to disseminate and/ or would result in moderate morbidity and low mortality rates. Current Category B ents include ricin, Q fever, staphylococcal enterotoxin B, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, cholera, and T2 mycotoxin. 

Biological toxins (ricin, staphylococcal enterotoxin B, T2 mycotoxin, and botulinum toxin) are not infectious agents and they manifest symptoms much faster (in minutes to hours rather than days), so the attack scene may be recognized and tested. 

Radiating (nuclear) weapons produce energy in the form of an explosive blast, in addition to gamma rays and neutrons that destroy unprotected tissue, particularly DNA. (Thus, mustard agents and T2 mycotoxin, because of their similar effects, are sometimes referred to as radiomimetic. ) Enhanced radiation warheads, or neutron bombs, minimize the destruction of materials while maximizing lethalities among enemy personnel. 

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