DETECTION OF SUBNANOGRAM QUANTITIES OF MOJAVE TOXIN VIA ENZYME-IMMUNOASSAY WITH LIGHT ADDRESSABLE POTENTIOMETRIC DETECTOR

Sensitive detection of Mojave toxin (MoTX), a potent neurotoxin isolat ed from the venom of Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus, was developed usi ng an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and light addressable potentiometric de tection. This EIA utilizes both biotin- and fluorescein-labeled anti-M oTX antibodies to immobilize and detect sub-nanogram to nanogram quant ities of toxin. Labeled mono- and polyclonal anti-MoTX antibodies were used alone and/or in combination to determine maximum assay sensitivi ty. Assays performed using a combination of biotinylated poly- and flu oresceinated monoclonal antibodies produced an assay with a lower dete ction limit near 2-5 ng. Assays performed using labeled polyclonals al one, or in combination with biotinylated mono- and fluoresceinated pol yclonal antibodies, indicated increased sensitivity with a detection l imit near 300 pg. In conclusion, we describe an enzyme immunoassay usi ng different labeled antibody schemes which detects sub-nanogram quant ities of MoTX via light addressable potentiometric detection.