• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 2016

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is produced by Aspergillus flavus growing in feedstuffs. Early detection of maize contamination by aflatoxigenic fungi is advantageous since aflatoxins exert adverse health effects. In this study, we report the development of an optimized conventional PCR for AFB1 detection and a rapid, sensitive and simple screening Real-time PCR (qPCR) with SYBR Green and two pairs of primers targeting the aflR genes which involved aflatoxin biosynthesis. AFB1 contaminated maize samples were divided into three groups by the toxin concentration. Genomic DNA was extracted from those samples. The target genes for A. flavus were tested by conventional PCR and the PCR products were analyzed by electrophoresis. A conventional PCR was carried out as nested PCR to verify the gene amplicon sizes. PCR-RFLP patterns, obtained with Hinc II and Pvu II enzyme analysis showed the differences to distinguish aflatoxin-producing fungi. However, they are not quantitative and need a separation of the products on gel and their visualization under UV light. On the other hand, qPCR facilitates the monitoring of the reaction as it progresses. It does not require post-PCR handling, which reduces the risk of cross-contamination and handling errors. It results in a much faster throughout. We found that the optimal primer annealing temperature was $65^{\circ}C$. The optimized template and primer concentration were $1.5{\mu}L\;(50ng/{\mu}L)$ and $3{\mu}L\;(10{\mu}M/{\mu}L)$ respectively. SYBR Green qPCR of four genes demonstrated amplification curves and melting peaks for tub1, afIM, afIR, and afID genes are at $88.0^{\circ}C$, $87.5^{\circ}C$, $83.5^{\circ}C$, and $89.5^{\circ}C$ respectively. Consequently, it was found that the four primers had elevated annealing temperatures, nevertheless it is desirable since it enhances the DNA binding specificity of the dye. New qPCR protocol could be employed for the determination of aflatoxin content in feedstuff samples.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.1051-1056
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• 2002

In vitro binding efficacy of esterified glucomannan (E-GM) (0.1%) on aflatoxin B1 (AF) (300 ppb), ochratoxin A (OA) (2 ppm) and T-2 toxin (T-2) (3 ppm), when present alone or in combination, was evaluated in toxin-contaminated feed at pH 4.5 and 6.5. Esterified glucomannan showed significantly (p<0.01) higher binding with AF (81.6%), whereas those recorded with T-2 (27.8%) and OA (25.6%) were moderate. Binding of each toxin decreased as the number of toxins in feed increased. pH of medium showed no effect on mycotoxin binding ability of E-GM. A $2{\times}2{\times}2{\times}2$ factorial experiment of 5 week duration was conducted to study the effects of two dietary levels each of AF (0 and 300 ppb), OA (0 and 2 ppm), T-2 (0 and 3 ppm ) and E-GM (0 and 0.1%) on the immune competence of a total of 960 day-old commercial broilers. Reductions in size of thymus (by AF and T-2) and bursa (by AF) and antibody titers against Newcastle disease and Infectious Bursal disease (by all the toxins) were noted. Additive and antagonistic interactions were seen among the toxins on certain parameters. Esterified glucomannan significantly (p<0.01) improved antibody titers and weights of bursa ofFabricius and thymus indicating its counteracting efficacy against immunosuppression in mycotoxicosis of multiple origin.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.866-870
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• 2005

The 14 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been evaluated to determine the binding capacity to HT29 cell and Aflatoxin $B_1$ ($AFB_1$). The interaction of LAB to HT29 cells has been further investigated to identify the possibility of competing the binding sites with $AFB_1$. Of 14 LAB strains, Lactobacillus casei KCTC 3260 demonstrated the higher adhesiveness to HT29 and $AFB_1$ with the rate of 19.6% and 46.3%, respectively. In competitive analysis for binding sites, the adhesion of L. casei KCTC 3260 to HT29 cells was reduced with 100 nmol $AFB_1$ by 31.2%. The protoplast of L. casei KCTC 3260 showed no binding capacity to HT29 cells with increment of $AFB_1$ concentration, indicating that cell wall components might serve as a critical factor for the binding. To discriminate the major component influencing on L. casei KCTC 3260 binding to HT29 cells and $AFB_1$, four different pre-treatments (lipase, pronase E, sodium m-periodate, and urea) were employed. Of those, sodium m-periodate treatment caused the lower adhesion of L. casei KCTC 3260 to HT29 cells with the increment of $AFB_1$ concentration. These results indicated that carbohydrate moiety on the cell wall of L. casei KCTC 3260 might be the most critical component in binding to both HT29 cells and $AFB_1$.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.93.3-94
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• 2000

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.235-240
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• 2013

To analyze aflatoxin $M_1$ ($AFM_1$), we dissolved infant formula in warm water and cleaned it by using an immunoaffinity column (IAC). The amount of $AFM_1$ was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection. $AFM_1$ was detected in 281 of 439 samples. Thus, the detection rate of $AFM_1$ was 64.0%. The average concentration of $AFM_1$ in positive samples was 2.6 ng/kg (of prepared formula). The estimated daily intake (EDI) of $AFM_1$ through infant formula was 0.087-0.646 ng/kg body weight/day and the additional number of cases of liver cancer associated with exposure to $AFM_1$ would be 0.003-0.020 cancer cases/1,000,000. Because there is less than 1 cancer case/1,000,000 per year, the exposure to $AFM_1$ through infant formula in Korea is considered to be an unlikely human health concern.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.623-630
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• 2008

A non-instrumental immunochromatographic (ICG) strip-test and direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DC-ELISA) for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) determination were developed and optimized. The detection limits of ICG strip-test and DC-ELISA were 0.5 and 0.004 ng/mL, respectively, and these methods possessed a cross-reaction to aflatoxins. The results of spiked samples by both methods were coincided with the amount spiked AFB1 and the comparative analyses of 172 real samples by 2 immunoassays and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed a good agreement. Especially, the ICG strip-test is easier to perform and quicker, but less sensitivity than DC-ELISA. Both methods could analyze a high sample throughput with short time, but the sample throughput of ICG strip-test was better. Therefore, the ICG strip-test can be used as a simple, easy, non-instrumental, and fast screening technique for AFB1 determination.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.303-309
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• 2013

This study was conducted to determine the content of 7 mycotoxins (aflatoxin $B_1$, $B_2$, $G_1$, $G_2$, $M_1$, ochratoxin A and zearalenone) using LC-MS/MS in pork available on the Korean markets. The analysis was carried out using following conditions; C18 column ($2.1{\times}100mm$, $1.7{\mu}m$), mobile phase composed of $H_2O$ (0.1 mM $NH_4Ac$ 0.01% HCOOH) : Methanol (0.1 mM $NH_4Ac$ 0.01% HCOOH), binary pump at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min and $2{\mu}L$ of injection volume, MS/MS detector with ESI positive and negative mode. The quantication of mycotoxins was based on matrix-matched calibration curves with a correlation coefficient in excess of 0.99 for the 7 mycotoxins. The dectection limits were ranged 0.74~2.13 ng/g, with mean recoveries between 73.10~97.46% except aflatoxin $B_1$ (61.31%). We also monitored mycotoxin residues in 208 pork samples. The test results, mycotoxins were not found except one sample. Ochratoxin A in one sample of the test samples was detected below the quantification limit.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 2011

Through the present study, we produced a monoclonal antibody against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) using AFB1-carboxymethoxylamine BSA conjugates. One clone showing high binding ability was selected and it was applied to develop a direct competitive ELISA system. The epitope densities of AFB1-CMO against BSA and KLH were about 1 : 6 and 1 : 545, respectively. The monoclonal antibody (mAb) from cloned hybridoma cell was the IgG1 subclass with ${\lambda}$-type light chains. The $IC_{50}s$ of the monoclonal antibody developed for AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 were 4.36, 7.22, 6.61 and 29.41 ng/ml, respectively, based on the AFB1-KLH coated ELISA system and 15.28, 26.62, 32.75 and 56.67 ng/ml, respectively, based on the mAb coated ELISA. Cross-relativities of mAb to AFB1 for AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 were 60.47, 65.97 and 14.83% in the AFB1-KLH coated ELISA, and 59.41, 46.66 and 26.97% in the mAb coated ELISA, respectively. Quantitative calculations for AFB1 from the AFB1-Ab ELISA and AFB1-Ag ELISA ranged from 0.25 to 25 ng/ml ($R^2$ > 0.99) and from 1 to 100 ng/ml ($R^2$ > 0.99), respectively. The intra- and inter-assay precision CVs were < 10% in both ELISA assay, representing good reproducibility of developed assay. Recoveries ranged from 79.18 to 91.27%, CVs ranged from 3.21 to 7.97% after spiking AFB1 at concentrations ranging from 5 to 50 ng/ml and following by extraction with 70% methanol solution in the Ab-coated ELISA. In conclusion, we produced a group specific mAb against aflatoxins and developed two direct competitive ELISAs for the detection of AFB1 in feeds based on a monoclonal antibody developed.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2010

This study was conducted to monitor aflatoxins in various medicinal herbs, providing available data for the safety of those products. To monitor aflatoxins in medicinal herbs, a total of 400 samples of 40 different herbs were collected in commercial retailers in Seoul, Daejeon, Gwangju, Daegu, and Busan from March to August, 2008. The samples that passed the sensory evaluation were tested for aflatoxins. Aflatoxins in samples were analyzed by HPLC-florescence coupled with photochemical enhancement. Samples were extracted with 70% methanol and then diluted to the appropriate concentration. A refining process was performed using an immunoaffinity column. The analytical method used in this study was validated. The $R^2$ value for aflatoxin $B_1$ was 0.99946, and the detection range was from 0.25 to 10.0 ng/mL. The accuracy of the analysis was ranged from 83.2% to 101.8%. The relative standard deviation (RSD) in the aflatoxin $B_1$ analysis was 3.4%, demonstrating the precision of this method. In addition, the detection limit and quantitative analysis limit of aflatoxin $B_1$ was $0.53\;{\mu}g/kg$ and $1.76\;{\mu}g/kg$, respectively. These results indicated that the analytical method used in this study was appropriate. The results of HPLC showed that 1% (4 samples) of the samples may contain aflatoxins. The concentration of quantified aflatoxin was $2.3\;{\mu}g/kg$ for both Quisqualis fructus and Remotiflori radix samples. The other samples were below the limit of quantification. Moreover, the concentration of aflatoxin $B_1$ which is made by specific fungi were below the level of regulation. Only 20% of aflatoxin $B_1$ were transferred to hot water. Therefore, the levels of aflatoxins in medicinal herbs were considered to be safe especially considering the aflatoxin transfer ratio.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.641-648
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• 2009

A one-step simultaneous immunchromatographic (OS-ICG) assay using colloidal gold-monoclonal antibody (gold-MAb) conjugates was developed for the rapid multianalysis of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in feed samples. Visual detection limits for AFB1 and OTA were 0.5 and 2.5 ng/mL, respectively, and the results were obtained within 15 min. Matrix interference from the feed extracts was efficiently reduced by appropriate dilution with buffer. Cut-off values of the OS-ICG assay for the feed spiked with AFB1/OTA mixtures (5/5, 10/10, 25/25, 50/55, 100/100 ${\mu}g/kg$) were 10 and 50 ${\mu}g/kg$ for AFB1 and OTA. The comparative analyses of 65 feed samples by OS-ICG, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed good agreement. In this study, we confirmed that simultaneous analysis based on immunoassay is possible and it can be used as an on-site multianalysis of AFB1 and OTA in feed, food, and agricultural products.