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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Food and Feed Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #74855
Title: ANTIDIOXIN MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES

Author
item Stanker, Larry
item RECINOS III, ADRIAN - UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
item LINTHICUM, D - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: American Chemical Society Symposium Series
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) are a highly toxic, environmentally significant group of compounds. In addition to their acute toxicity, chronic toxicity, immunotoxicity, and genotoxicity also have been reported following exposure to these compounds. Thus, it is important to monitor for these compounds in order to eliminate exposure. Traditionally, PCDDs have been analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectroscopy (MS) following extensive sample clean up. Such an analysis is time consuming, costly, and requires sophisticated laboratories with dedicated equipment and highly trained personnel. We have developed a simple immunoassay that is capable of detecting these compounds. The immunoassay is based on a monoclonal antibody that is capable of binding dioxin. Thus, the antibody acts as a flag or probe that can be used to detect the presence of dioxin. In this study we have attempted to gain a more complete understanding of how the antibody binds to the dioxin molecules. This interaction occurs at the molecular level and involves a specific portion of the antibody molecule. We have employed computer assisted modeling in order to generate a three-dimensional picture of that portion of the antibody that binds the dioxin. Such information is invaluable for engineering a "second-generation" of antibody probes with even more desirable properties than our current set of antibodies possesses. Our ultimate aim is to produce a rapid, cost effective assay for dioxin that is field portable and can be applied to environmental and agricultural samples.