Robust and sensitive monoclonal enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the herbicide molinate

J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Jan 28;52(2):182-7. doi: 10.1021/jf034710a.

Abstract

This paper reports on the generation of monoclonal antibodies and the development of a new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of molinate (S-ethyl hexahydroazepine-1-carbothioate). Hybridoma cells were generated using spleen and lymph node cells from a mouse immunized with S-2-carboxyethyl hexahydroazepine-1-carbothioate conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. After screening with a competitive ELISA, two monoclonal antibodies, mAbs 16C11 and 14D7, with IC(50) values of 82 +/- 2 and 173 +/- 8 ng/mL, respectively, were selected. MAb 16C11 can detect molinate concentrations of 1 ng/mL with no cross-reactivity to any other thiocarbamate pesticides; however, it was susceptible to the presence of organic solvents and to variation in buffer ionic strength. MAb 14D7 tolerated concentrations up to 5% of propylene glycol and 12.5% of acetonitrile in the assay buffer. The sensitivity of mAb 14D7 was further improved by decreasing the amount of coating antigen in the ELISA; the final inhibition assay showed an IC(50) of 69.2 +/- 1.4 ng/mL. In summary, mAb14D7 provided a more sensitive and robust assay, as compared with previous polyclonal antibody-based assays, with the additional advantage of being based upon a consistent and unlimited source of a defined reagent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Azepines / analysis*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods*
  • Female
  • Herbicides / analysis*
  • Hybridomas / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Thiocarbamates / analysis*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Azepines
  • Herbicides
  • Thiocarbamates
  • molinate