Rapid screening of Alternaria mycotoxins using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry
Citation
Sivagnanam, K., Komatsu, E., Rampitsch, C., Perreault, H., Gräfenhan, T. (2017). Rapid screening of Alternaria mycotoxins using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, 97(1), 357-361. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.7703
Plain language summary
Members of the Alternaria fungi produce three main toxins that contaminate grain, and these are a health concern for humans and livestock. It is therefore necessary to develop tests to make sure that contaminated grain does not reach the consumer. These tests are inevitably expensive because they require a lot of work and because large volumes of grain have to be tested. One way to reduce expenses is to make the test quick and easy. We have developed a quick and easy test here, although it does require the user to have a mass spectrometer, which is itself an expensive investment. We demonstrate that the test can detect three major Altenaria toxins simultaneously, and we present potential users with instructions on how to use this test.
Abstract
© 2016 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry BACKGROUND: Members of the Alternaria genus produce various toxins whose occurrence in agricultural commodities is a major concern for humans and the environment. The present study developed a simple and efficient matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) method for the rapid detection of Alternaria toxins. RESULTS: A new method for the detection of alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) and tentoxin (TEN) by MALDI-TOF MS was developed. Different solid phase extraction (SPE) clean-up methods were tried to optimize the purification of wheat matrix, and an optimal extraction method was designed to recover the three Alternaria toxins. In addition, various MALDI matrices were examined and α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) matrix gave good repeatability for all three Alternaria toxins. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to report the detection of three important Alternaria toxins concurrently using MALDI-TOF MS and opens up the possibility of rapid screening of Alternaria toxins in several other cereals and food products. © 2016 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.