Fluorescence polarization (FP) assays for the determination of grain mycotoxins (fumonisins, DON vomitoxin and aflatoxins)

Successful use of fluorescence polarization assays (FPAs) in human clinical, infectious disease, and drug discovery fields has prompted us to extend its use to the grain mycotoxin field. An antibody specific to a mycotoxin and a mycotoxin-fluorophore conjugate are developed. Free toxin (extracted from the grains with a suitable solvent) competes with the toxin-fluorophore conjugate for the antibody and a change in FP relative to the quantity of free toxin occurs. This change is compared to a standard curve obtained by using known quantities of toxin. The use of FP and toxin-fluorophore conjugates for the quantification of fumonisins, deoxynivalenol and aflatoxins is described. These assays are field portable, simple to perform, rapid and require no washing steps.