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Mass Spectrometric Detection of Botulinum Neurotoxin by Measuring its Activity in Serum and Milk

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Detection of Biological Agents for the Prevention of Bioterrorism

Abstract

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are bacterial protein toxins which are considered likely agents for bioterrorism due to their extreme toxicity and high availability. A new mass spectrometry based assay called Endopep MS detects and defines the toxin serotype in clinical and food matrices via toxin activity upon a peptide substrate which mimics the toxin’s natural target. Furthermore, the subtype of the toxin is differentiated by employing mass spectrometry based proteomic techniques on the same sample. The Endopep-MS assay selectively detects active BoNT and defines the serotype faster and with sensitivity greater than the mouse bioassay. One 96-well plate can be analyzed in under 7 h. On higher level or “hot” samples, the subtype can then be differentiated in less than 2 h with no need for DNA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, 30333, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Suzanne R. Kalb, James L. Pirkle & John R. Barr

Authors
  1. Suzanne R. Kalb
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  2. James L. Pirkle
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  3. John R. Barr
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to John R. Barr .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Science Branch, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. John's, A1C 5X1, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

    Joseph Banoub

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Kalb, S.R., Pirkle, J.L., Barr, J.R. (2011). Mass Spectrometric Detection of Botulinum Neurotoxin by Measuring its Activity in Serum and Milk. In: Banoub, J. (eds) Detection of Biological Agents for the Prevention of Bioterrorism. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series A: Chemistry and Biology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9815-3_8

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