SYNTHESIS OF PROTEIN CONJUGATES AND DEVELOPMENT OF IMMUNOASSAYS FOR AAL TOXINS

AAL toxins and fumonisins, produced bg Alternaria alternata f. sp. lyc opersici and Fusarium moniliforme, respectively, are sphinganine-analo gue mycotoxins with important health implications. Highly sensitive, i nexpensive, and rapid immunoassays are needed to quantify these natura l toxins in food products and animal feeds. We developed novel methods for the synthesis of protein conjugates of the AAL toxin TA. Mice wer e immunized with the conjugates, and the resulting polyclonal antisera were used to devise class-selective ELISAs for AAL compounds. The mos t selective assays had detection limits for the AAL toxins in the low parts per billion range with no significant cross-reactivities for a n umber of structurally similar compounds, including fumonisin B-1 and s phinganine. Our selected conjugates are candidate immunogens to produc e monoclonal antibodies and further polyclonal antisera for the detect ion of the AAL toxins.