Microbial Toxins Methods and Protocols

Interest in the field of microbial toxins is ever growing and spreading across a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines. In an effort to supplement the available reference texts on toxins, Microbial Toxins: Methods and Protocols includes protocols on mold fungus toxins, with some focus on aflatoxins. Intended to support a wide variety of researchers, Microbial Toxins: Methods and Protocols presents the reader with biological, chemical, physical, and medical approaches, as well as state-of-the-art research techniques. Divided into three convenient sections, this detailed volume covers bacterial protein toxins, endotoxins, and mold fungus toxins. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology™ series format, chapters contain introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Authoritative and accessible, Microbial Toxins: Methods and Protocols seeks to serve both professionals and novices with its well-honed methodologies in an effort to further our knowledge of this essential field.

Part I Bacterial Protein Toxins

1.   Detection of Bacterial Protein Toxins by Solid Phase Magnetic Immunocapture and Mass Spectrometry

            Gabriella Pocsfalvi and Gitta Schlosser

2.   Sensitive and Rapid Detection of Cholera Toxin-Producing Vibrio cholerae using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification

                  Wataru Yamazaki

3.   Ultra Sensitive Detection of Botulinum Neurotoxins and Anthrax Lethal Factor in Biological Samples by ALISSA

                  Karine Bagramyan and Markus Kalkum

4.   Examination of Bacillus anthracis Spores by Multiparameter Flow Cytometry

                  William C. Schumacher, Craig A. Storozuk, Prabir K. Dutta, and Andrew J. Phipps

5.   A Cell-Based Fluorescent Assay to Detect the Activity of Shiga Toxin and Other Toxins That Inhibit Protein Synthesis

                  Shane Massey, Beatriz Quiñones, and Ken Teter

6.   Use of a Vero Cell-Based Fluorescent Assay to Assess Relative Toxicities of Shiga Toxin 2 Subtypes from Escherichia coli

                  Beatriz Quiñones and Michelle S. Swimley

7.   Molecular Methods – Chip Assay and Quantitative Real-Time PCR – in Detecting Hepatotoxic Cyanobacteria

                  Anne Rantala-Ylinen, Hanna Sipari, and Kaarina Sivonen

Part II Endotoxins

8.   Capillary Electrophoresis Chips for Fingerprinting Endotoxin Chemotypes from Whole-Cell Lysates

                  Béla Kocsis, Anikó Kilár, Lilla Makszin, Krisztina Kovács, and Ferenc Kilár

9.   Isolation of Smooth-Type Lipopolysaccharides to Electrophoretic Homogeneity

                  Elder Pupo

10. A Method for Unobtrusive Labeling of Lipopolysaccharides with Quantum Dots

                  Carlos Morales-Betanzos, Maria Gonzalez-Moa, and Sergei A. Svarovsky

11. Fluorescence-Based Methods to Assay Inhibitors of Lipopolysaccharide Synthesis

                  Marcy Hernick

12. Micromethods for Lipid A Isolation and Structural Characterization

                  Martine Caroff and Alexey Novikov

13. Two Efficient Methods for the Conjugation of Smooth-Form Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) with Probes Bearing Hydrazine or Amino Groups. I. LPS Activation with Cyanogen Bromide

                  Fernando Battaglini and Diego Pallarola

14. Two Efficient Methods for the Conjugation of Smooth-Form Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) with Probes Bearing Hydrazine or Amino Groups. II. LPS Activation with a Cyanopyridinium Agent

                  Fernando Battaglini and Diego Pallarola

Part III Mold Fungus Toxins

15. Extraction and Analysis of Fumonisins and Compounds Indicative of Fumonisin Exposure in Plant and Mammalian Tissues and Cultured Cells

                  Nicholas C. Zitomer and Ronald T. Riley

16. Determination of Fumonisins B₁ and B₂ in Maize Food Products by a New Analytical Method Based on High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Fluorometric Detection with Post-Column Derivatization

            Marilena Muscarella, Sonia Lo Magro, Donatella Nardiello, Carmen Palermo, and Diego Centonze

17. A Confirmatory Method for Aflatoxin M₁ Determination in Milk Based on Immunoaffinity Clean-Up and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Fluorometric Detection

            Marilena Muscarella, Sonia Lo Magro, Carmen Palermo, and Diego Centonze

18. Simultanious Determination of Aflatoxins B₁, B₂, G₁ and G₂ in Foods and Feed Materials by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with On-Line Photochemical Derivatization and Fluorescence Detection

            Marilena Muscarella, Marco Iammarino, Donatella Nardiello, Sonia Lo Magro, Carmen Palermo, and Diego Centonze

19. Highly Sensitive PCR-Based Detection Specific to Aspergillus flavus

                  Amaia González-Salgado, Teresa González-Jaén, Covadonga Vázquez, and Belén Patiño

20. A Rapid Enzymatic Method for Aflatoxin B Detection

                  Danila Moscone, Fabiana Arduini, and Aziz Amine