DOI: 10.5176/2251-2489_BioTech15.28
Authors: Nagarajan Thirunavukkarasu, Uma Basavanna, David R. Hodge and Shashi K. Sharma
Abstract: Recent advances allow the rapid detection and identification of biologically active botulinum toxins (BoNTs) in samples from food, clinical, and environmental sources. This review describes and evaluates the most current cell-based assays (CBAs), which capitalize on stem cell technologies to generate various neural subtypes for botulinum neurotoxin detection. Neural stem cell based assays could eventually provide robust and sensitive substitutes for animal-based assays such as the gold standard Mouse Lethality Bioassay (MLB), but needs to be improvised in their performance criteria for testing wide range of sample matrices, with lesser assay time and for high-throughput detection. Using CBAs in combination with rapid immunological assays can lead to substantial reduction in cost and laboratory requirements, as well as the amount of time needed to confirm the presence of specific BoNTs. This article will address possible challenges in using these new platforms for food screening in public health laboratories and field labs.
Keywords: Stem Cell Neurons, Botulinum Neurotoxin, Toxin Detection
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