Aflatoxin (AF) contamination is a major concern in the food and feed industry because of its prevalence and toxicity. Improved aflatoxin detection methods are still needed. Immunoassays are an important method for total aflatoxin (TAF) analysis in food due to its technical advantages such as high specificity, sensitivity, and simplicity, but require high-quality antibodies. Here, we first review the three ways to prepare high-quality antibodies for TAF immunoassay, second, compare the advantages and disadvantages of antigen synthesis methods for B-group and G-group aflatoxins, and third, describe the status of novel genetic engineering antibodies. This review can provide new methods and ideas for the development of TAF immunoassays.

Simultaneous aflatoxin (AFB1) and zearalenone (ZEN) contamination in agro-products have become widespread globally and have a toxic superposition effect. In the present study, we describe a highly sensitive and specific dual lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (dual test strip) for rapid and simultaneous detection of AFB1 and ZEN in food and feed samples based on respective monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Two immunogens AFB1-BSA (an AFB1 and bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugate) and ZEN-BSA (a ZEN and BSA conjugate) were synthesized in oximation active ester (OAE) and amino glutaraldehyde (AGA). The molecular binding ratio of AFB1:BSA was 8.64:1, and that of ZEN:BSA was 17.2:1, identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and an ultraviolet spectrometer (UV). The hybridoma cell lines 2A11, 2F6, and 3G2 for AFB1 and 2B6, 4D9 for ZEN were filtered by an indirect non-competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (inELISA) and an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA), respectively. As AFB1 mAb 2A11 and ZEN mAb 2B6 had the lowest 50% inhibitive concentration (IC50) and cross-reactivity (CR), they were selected for subsequent experiments. By systematically optimizing the preparation condition of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), AuNPs-labeled mAbs, and detection condition, the visual limit of detection (LOD) of the dual test strip was 1.0 μg/L for AFB1 and 5.0 μg/L for ZEN, whereas that of the test strip reader was 0.23 μg/L for AFB1 and 1.53 μg/L for ZEN. The high reproducibility and stability of the dual test were verified using mycotoxin-spiked samples. The dual test strips were highly specific and sensitive for AFB1 and ZEN, which were validated using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Thus, the proposed AFB1 and ZEN dual test strip is suitable for rapid and simultaneous detection of AFB1 and ZEN contamination in food and feed samples.

Zearalenone (ZEN) contamination in food and feed is prevalent and has severe effects on humans and animals post-consumption. Therefore, a sensitive, specific, rapid, and reliable method for detecting a single residue of ZEN is necessary. This study aimed to establish a highly sensitive and specific ZEN monoclonal antibody (mAb) and an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) for the detection of ZEN residues in food and feed. The immunogen ZEN-BSA was synthesized via the amino glutaraldehyde (AGA) and amino diazotization (AD) methods and identified using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), a high-resolution mass spectrometer (HRMS), and an ultraviolet spectrometer (UV). The coating antigens ZEN-OVA were synthesized via the oxime active ester (OAE), formaldehyde (FA), 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDE), AGA, and AD methods. These methods were used to screen the best antibody/antigen combination of a heterologous icELISA. Balb/c mice were immunized with a low ZEN-BSA dose at long intervals and multiple sites. Suitable cell fusion mice and positive hybridoma cell lines were screened using a homologous indirect non-competitive ELISA (inELISA) and an icELISA. The ZEN mAbs were prepared by inducing ascites in vivo. The immunological characteristics of ZEN mAbs were then assessed. The standard curves of the icELISA for ZEN were constructed under optimal experimental conditions, and the performance of the icELISA was validated. The two ZEN-BSA immunogens (conjugation ratios, 11.6:1 (AGA) and 9.2:1 (AD)) were successfully synthesized. Four hybridoma cell lines (2B6, 4D9, 1A10, and 4G8) were filtered, of which 2B6 had the best sensitivity and specificity. The mAb 2B6-based icELISA was then developed. The limit of detection (LOD), the 50% inhibitive concentration (IC50), and the linear working range (IC20 to IC80) values of the icELISA were 0.76 μg/L, 8.69 μg/L, and 0.92–82.24 μg/L, respectively. The cross-reactivity (CR) of the icELISA with the other five analogs of ZEN was below 5%. Three samples were spiked with different concentrations of ZEN and detected using the icELISA. The average intra-assay recoveries, inter-assay recoveries, intra-assay coefficients of variations (CVs), and inter-assay CVs were 93.48–99.48%, 94.18–96.13%, 12.55–12.98%, and 12.53–13.58%, respectively. The icELISA was used to detect ZEN in various samples. The results were confirmed using high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) (correlation coefficient, 0.984). The proposed icELISA was highly sensitive, specific, rapid, and reliable for the detection of ZEN in food and feed samples.