BackgroundThe allergic test of mallein is one of the most frequently used tests, together with the Complement Fixation Test (CFT), for the diagnosis of glanders in endemic areas. Mallein, a purified protein derivative (PPD), is produced similarly to PPD tuberculin and the end product is a primarily proteic antigen, which is only poorly purified. The immuno-allergic activity of mallein is believed to be due to a high molecular weight group of proteins present in the antigen. To improve the quality of the antigen, in terms of sensitivity and specificity, a new method of mallein production was developed, in which purification was accomplished by ultrafiltration in a Tangential Flow Filtration system (TFF).ResultsThe TFF methodology efficiently separated the high and low molecular weight protein groups of mallein. The five TFF-purified malleins, produced from Burkholderia mallei strains isolated from clinical cases of glanders in Brazil, proved to be more potent than standard mallein in the induction of an allergic reaction in sensitized animals. Regarding specificity, two of the purified malleins were equivalent to the standard and three were less specific.ConclusionSome of the TFF-purified malleins showed considerable potential to be used as an auxiliary test in the diagnosis of glanders.

The objective of this work was to validate the spectrophotometric method to detect and quantify nitrite using ham pate as a source. The validated analytical conditions were 540 nm wavelength and the samples reading between 40 to 70 minutes after addition of coloring agents. The tested performance criteria were: linearity, matrix effect, selectivity, detection and quantification limit, accuracy, precision and robustness. As the results have obtained linearity in the studied zone (0.125 to 3 g/mL) and matrix effect was not observed, there was not any interference from ascorbic acid, but interference occurred from sodium eritorbate, in concentrations above 2.5 mg/100g. The detection limit was defined as 12.5 mg of nitrite/kg for pate and the quantification limit as 25 mg of nitrite/kg of pate. The method presented repeatability and reproducibility. The accuracy was assessed through recovery values varying from 84 to 110%. Respecting robustness, it was observed that the variations applied to the extraction procedure depended on the concentration of nitrite in the pate sample. In conclusion, the methodology was validated under the tested conditions. Uniterms: Validation. Nitrite. Spectrophotometric method. Ham pate.O objetivo deste trabalho foi validar o método espectrofotométrico para determinação de nitrito usando como matriz patê de presunto. As condições analíticas usadas foram comprimento de onda de 540 nm e leitura das amostras entre 40 e 70 minutos após a adição dos reagentes complexantes. As características de desempenho testadas foram linearidade, efeito de matriz, seletividade, limite de detecção do equipamento e do método, limite de quantificação, exatidão, precisão e robustez. A linearidade foi obtida na faixa de trabalho estudada (0,125 a 3 µg de nitrito/mL) e não foi observado efeito de matriz. A concentração de ácido ascórbico na amostra não interferiu na análise e o eritorbato de sódio possuiu interferência negativa para concentrações acima de 2,5 mg/100g de amostra. O limite de detecção foi definido em 12,5 mg de nitrito/kg de patê e o limite de quantificação em 25 mg de nitrito/kg de amostra. O método apresentou repetitividade e reprodutibilidade intra-laboratorial. A exatidão foi avaliada através dos valores de recuperação que variaram entre 84 e 110%. Na avaliação da robustez, as variações realizadas no procedimento de extração foram dependentes do nível de concentração existente na amostra. Concluiuse que a metodologia pôde ser validada nas condições testadas. Unitermos:Validação. Nitrito. Espectrofotometria. Patê de presunto.