AFB2 Antibody

Definition and Purpose of AFB2 Antibodies

AFB2 antibodies are monoclonal or polyclonal immunoglobulins engineered to bind specifically to AFB2, a difuranocoumarin derivative with significant carcinogenic potency. These antibodies form the basis of immunoassays such as ELISA and immunoaffinity chromatography (IAC), which are essential for regulatory compliance and food safety monitoring .

Development and Production Methods

AFB2 antibodies are produced using hybridoma technology or recombinant methods, with antigen synthesis being a critical step. Key antigen conjugation strategies include:

Common Antigen Synthesis Methods

The oxime active ester (OAE) method is preferred for generating antibodies with balanced sensitivity and specificity .

Specificity and Cross-Reactivity

AFB2 antibodies exhibit varying cross-reactivity (CR) with structurally similar aflatoxins:

Performance of Select Monoclonal Antibodies

The 1C11 antibody demonstrates exceptional sensitivity (IC50 = 0.018 ng/mL) but broad CR, while ZFG8 offers superior AFB2 specificity .

Immunoaffinity Chromatography (IAC)

• Columns using AFB2 antibodies achieve binding capacities of 70–114 ng for major aflatoxins, meeting AOAC 991.31 standards .

• Used for pre-concentrating AFB2 from complex matrices like grains and dairy products .

ELISA Kits

• Commercial kits leverage antibodies like 1C11, with visual detection limits as low as 0.03 ng/mL for AFB2 .

• Linear detection ranges typically span 0.076–1.32 ng/mL .

Advancements in Antibody Engineering

Recent innovations focus on enhancing specificity through:

• Site-directed mutagenesis: Modifying residues like Ser-H49 and Phe-H103 improves binding affinity by optimizing hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions .

• Dosage optimization: Higher immunogen doses (e.g., 150 μg/mouse) yield broad-spectrum antibodies, while lower doses favor narrow specificity .