Inhibition enzymic biosensors: an alternative to global toxicity bioassaysfor the rapid determination of phycotoxins

The use of biosensor-based analytical methods, and specifically of techniqu es based on 'inhibition' mono- and bi-enzymic amperometric electrodes, is g aining growing interest in the field of toxicity tests in food matrices. Th is paper proposes the use of a particular class of enzymic bioelectrodes fo r the rapid determination of algal toxins in seafood. These new methods sho uld at least integrate, but hopefully substitute, the commonly applied 'glo bal toxicity tests', i.e, bioassays with mammals (mice or rats), which are, at present, the only internationally recognized methods for the screening of algal toxins in seafood. Preliminary data are obtained on mussels natura lly and/or artificially contaminated by toxins of the diarrheic shellfish p oisoning (DSP) class.