Capillary electrophoresis laser-induced fluorescence for screening combinatorial peptide libraries in assays of botulinum neurotoxin A.

Botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A) is a proteolytic enzyme that induces muscle paralysis. It is a cause of food poisoning, a potential bioterrorist threat and, in low doses an emerging pharmaceutical product. No effective treatment is currently available for BoNT intoxication.

Genomic DNA detection using cycling probe technology and capillary gel electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence.

Cycling probe technology (CPT) is an isothermal DNA analysis method that has been shown to be useful for identifying genetic markers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in clinical settings. CPT assays have previously employed several assay methods that include polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and magnetic beads for separations and radioisotopic and colorimetric detection for detection. Capillary gel electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence (CGE-LIF) is an alternative separation and detection method that offers attributes such as low sample consumption, short analysis times, no radiation hazards and potential for high throughput.

Recombinant anti-botulinum neurotoxin A single-chain variable fragment antibody generated using a phage display system.

A recombinant single-chain fragment variable antibody (scFv) to botulinum A neurotoxin (BoNT/A) was developed. BALB/C mice were immunized with BoNT/A. Splenomic RNA was isolated from the hyperimmune mice and used to prepare a cDNA library, from which the variable regions of the heavy and light chain antibody genes were generated and connected by a DNA linker.