Development of robust, environmental, immunoassay formats for the quantification of pesticides in soil

Citation
G. Strachan et al., Development of robust, environmental, immunoassay formats for the quantification of pesticides in soil, ENV SCI TEC, 34(8), 2000, pp. 1603-1608
Citations number
42
Categorie Soggetti
Environment/Ecology,"Environmental Engineering & Energy
Journal title
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
ISSN journal
0013936X → ACNP
Volume
34
Issue
8
Year of publication
2000
Pages
1603 - 1608
Database
ISI
SICI code
0013-936X(20000415)34:8<1603:DOREIF>2.0.ZU;2-I
Abstract
The use of antibodies, or more specifically recombinant antibody fragments (scAbs), for the immunodetection of pesticides, could provide a rapid, reli able, and robust method of environmental analysis. The inherent instability of some antibody structures in nonphysiological conditions, however, limit s the utility of this approach. We have developed a generic strategy for th e stabilization of scAbs in polar and nonpolar solvents, and in a range of other denaturing environments, by the introduction of an interdomain disulf ide bond, generating stabilized antibody fragments or stAbs. StAbs specific for the phenoxyacid herbicide mecoprop and the phenylurea herbicide diuron were fully functional when compared to their equivalent unmodified scAbs b ut significantly more stable in nonphysiological conditions associated with the extraction of organics from environmental samples. Antiatrazine, mecop rop, diuron, and paraquat stAbs were successfully used to accurately identi fy and quantify pesticides present in solvent and aqueous extracted soil sa mples. Immunoassay data were validated by HPLC. Recombinant stAbs can be pr oduced readily, cost-effectively, and in quantity from Escherichia coli exp ression systems and provide robust reagents for immunoassay detection of po llutants present in complex environmental matrices.