Comprehensive Laboratory Evaluation of a Highly Specific Lateral Flow Assay for the Presumptive Identification of Bacillus anthracis Spores in Suspicious White Powders and Environmental Samples.

We conducted a comprehensive, multiphase laboratory evaluation of the Anthrax BioThreat Alert(®) test strip, a lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) for the rapid detection of Bacillus anthracis spores. The study, conducted at 2 sites, evaluated this assay for the detection of spores from the Ames and Sterne strains of B. anthracis, as well as those from an additional 22 strains.

Evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit for the detection of botulinum neurotoxins A, B, E, and F in selected food matrices.

The mouse bioassay (MBA) is the only accepted standard method for detection of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) in foods. The ELISA method has several advantages over the MBA and is therefore widely used for in vitro detection of BoNTs. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a precollaborative study to evaluate the applicability of Botulinum Toxin ELISA kits for the detection of BoNT serotypes A, B, E, and F in a variety of food matrices.

Comprehensive laboratory evaluation of a specific lateral flow assay for the presumptive identification of abrin in suspicious white powders and environmental samples.

Abrin is a heterodimeric toxin present in the seeds of the Abrus precatorius plant. The easily obtainable seeds can yield a highly toxic product that can be used in various types of biocrimes and terrorism-related activities, including "white-powder" letters. Although the vast majority of these threats are hoaxes, the lack of rapid and reliable detection assays for abrin, such as lateral flow assays (LFAs), can be an impediment to accurate and rapid hazard assessment.

Comprehensive laboratory evaluation of a highly specific lateral flow assay for the presumptive identification of ricin in suspicious white powders and environmental samples.

Ricin, a heterodimeric toxin that is present in the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant, is the biothreat agent most frequently encountered by law enforcement agencies in the United States. Even in untrained hands, the easily obtainable seeds can yield a highly toxic product that has been used in various types of threats, including "white-powder" letters. Although the vast majority of these threats are hoaxes, an impediment to accurate hazard assessments by first responders is the unreliability of rapid detection assays for ricin, such as lateral flow assays (LFAs).

Draft Genome Sequence of a Clostridium botulinum Isolate from Water Used for Cooling at a Plant Producing Low-Acid Canned Foods.

Clostridium botulinum is a pathogen of concern for low-acid canned foods. Here we report draft genomes of a neurotoxin-producing C. botulinum strain isolated from water samples used for cooling low-acid canned foods at a canning facility.

Rab1 small GTP-binding protein regulates cell surface trafficking of the human calcium-sensing receptor.

The human calcium-sensing receptor (hCaR) is a family-3/C G-protein-coupled receptor that regulates Ca(2+) homeostasis by controlling parathyroid hormone secretion. Here we investigated the role of Rab1, a small GTP-binding protein that specifically regulates protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi, in cell surface transport of the hCaR. Cell surface expression of hCaR transiently expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells was strongly augmented by coexpression of Rab1 and attenuated by disruption of endogenous Rab1 function by expression of the dominant-negative Rab1N124I mutant or depletion of Rab1 with small interfering RNA.