Investigation of Charm Test II receptor assays for the detection of antimicrobial residues in suspect meat samples

Rapid identification of Streptomyces tetracycline producers by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

The main objective of this study was using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for assembling of DSM (German Collection of Microorganisms) Streptomyces spectral database and identification of wild Streptomyces cultures, which were clustered by MALDI-TOF Biotyper OC software as well as for teracycline detection by observing of obtained spectra using flexAnalysis software. Production of tetracycline was confirmed by thin-layer chromatography. Presence of tetracycline mass spectrum was verified by several tetracycline producers (Streptomyces aureofaciens LMG 5968, S. aureofaciens 84/25, and S. aureofaciens BMK) and by pure tetracycline mass. Our results showed that it is possible to use MALDI-TOF MS for identification of tetracycline producers within Streptomyces genera by several easy steps. The purpose of this study was to establish cheap and quick detection of tetracycline producers.

The pivotal role of mass spectrometry in determining the presence of chemical contaminants in food raw materials

During recent years, a rising interest from consumers and various governmental organizations towards the quality of food has continuously been observed. Human intervention across the different stages of the food supply chain can lead to the presence of several types of chemical contaminants in food-based products. On a normal daily consumption basis, some of these chemicals are not harmful; however, for those that present a risk to consumers, legislation rules were established to specify tolerance levels or in some cases the total forbiddance of these specific contaminants. Hence, the use of appropriate analytical tools is recommended to properly identify chemical contaminants. In that context, mass spectrometry (MS)-based techniques coupled or not to chromatography offer a vast panel of features such as sensitivity, selectivity, quantification at trace levels, and/or structural elucidation. Because of the complexity of food-based matrices, sample preparation is a crucial step before final detection. In the present manuscript, we review the contribution and the potentialities of MS-based techniques to ensure the absence of chemical contaminants in food-based products.

Evaluation and establishing the performance of different screening tests for tetracycline residues in animal tissues

Four methods intended for screening muscle tissue for residues belonging to the tetracycline group were compared using artificially contaminated as well as incurred samples. Two agar diffusion methods were studied: one with Bacillus subtilis as a test strain, the second with Bacillus cereus. Two variants of each method were compared: thin plates for analysis of intact or minced meat, and thick plates for analysis of meat fluid. The thin plate variants could not be evaluated with artificially contaminated samples because it was impossible to prepare homogeneously spiked, undiluted meat. The thick plates were suited for doxycycline and chlortetracycline, but they did not detect oxytetracycline or tetracycline in spiked meat fluid. The results of these tests done on incurred meat were very good for doxycycline and satisfying or just failing for oxytetracycline, while the best detection capability was obtained when intact frozen meat was examined on thin plates seeded with B. cereus. Two commercially available screening tests were also evaluated. The Premi(R) test, an inhibitor test with Bacillus stearothermophilus as a test strain and an indicator for growth, was not suited for detection of tetracyclines up to the maximum residue limit. Tetrasensor(R), a receptor test specific for tetracyclines, proved a quick and simple test able to detect meat samples artificially contaminated with tetracycline, oxytetracycline, doxycycline or chlortetracycline, as well as meat incurred with oxytetracycline or doxycycline.

Determination of five macrolide antibiotic residues in honey by LC-ESI-MS and LC-ESI-MS/MS

Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry methods (LC-ESI-MS and LC-ESI-MS/MS) for the determination of five macrolide antibiotics including spiramycin, tilmicosin, oleandomycin, erythromycin, and tylosin in honey are presented. Macrolides were protonated to form singly and/or doubly charged pseudomolecular ions, depending on their chemical structures, in an electrospray positive ionization mode. Data acquisition under MS/MS was achieved by applying multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) of two or three fragment ion transitions to provide a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. The recoveries, that is, determined by LC-ESI-MS/MS, of the five macrolides at fortified levels of 6, 16, 40, and 80 microg/kg ranged from 75.5 to 135.7% in light honey and from 42.1 to 111.0% in dark honey. The ion ratios obtained under MS/MS were key criteria to confirm the identity of macrolides in incurred samples. LC-ESI-MS/MS method detection limits of the five macrolides were <0.1 microg/kg.

Current methodologies for the analysis of aminoglycosides

The aminoglycosides are a large and diverse class of antibiotics that characteristically contain two or more aminosugars linked by glycosidic bonds to an aminocyclitol component. Structures are presented for over 30 of the most important members of this family of compounds. The use of aminoglycosides in clinical and veterinary medicine and in agriculture is described. Qualitative methods for aminoglycoside analysis include X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS). The major part of this article comprises a comprehensive review of quantitative methods for the determination of aminoglycosides. These are microbiological assay, radiochemical assay, radioimmunoassay, enzyme immunoassay, fluoroimmunoassay and other immunoassays, spectrophotometric and other non-separative methods, gas chromatography (GC), thin-layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and capillary electrophoresis (CE). Simple spectrophotometric methods may be adequate for the assay of bulk pharmaceuticals and their formulations. Microbiological assays make useful semi-quantitative screening tests for the analysis of veterinary drug residues in food, but rapid enzyme immunoassays are more suitable for accurate measurements of aminoglycosides in complex matrices. Automated immunoassays are the most appropriate methods for serum aminoglycoside determinations during therapeutic drug monitoring. HPLC techniques provide the specificity and sensitivity required for pharmacokinetic and other research studies, while HPLC-MS is employed for the confirmation of veterinary drug residues. The potential for further development of chromatographic and CE methods for the analysis of biological samples is outlined.

Determination of sulfonamide antibiotics by gas chromatography coupled with atomic emission detection

The paper describes the analysis of nine sulfonamides, chosen as the most widely used representatives of an important class of antibacterial drugs. Atomic emission detection has been found to allow simultaneous quantification and identification of the N1-methylated derivatives, which are resolved efficiently by conventional capillary gas chromatography. Results are given concerning the linearity of the response and the characterization of the individual compounds by the elemental ratio of their carbon, nitrogen and sulfur content. The method looks promising for the quantitative analysis and confirmation of sulfonamide residues in complex mixtures.