Rapid analysis for cyanobacterial toxins

• US 9,739,777 B1
• Filed: 07/03/2010
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abraxis LLC (Bristol-Myers Squibb Company)
• Original Assignee: Abraxis LLC (Bristol-Myers Squibb Company)
• Inventors: Rubio, Fernando Manuel, Kamp, Lisa Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeman, Robert A
• Application Number:
  US12/830,292
• Time in Patent Office: 2,607 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/495 the fluid being adsorbed, e.g. in porous medium
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/775 Indicator and selective membrane
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7759 Dipstick; Test strip
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7769 Measurement method of reaction-produced change in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7793 Sensor comprising plural indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00168 Manufacturing or preparing test elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00465 Separating and mixing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/1813 Specific cations in water, e.g. heavy metals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/182 Specific anions in water
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/1826 Organic contamination in water
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/56911 Bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 Reagent dispensers

Abstract

Method and compositions using transition metal salts and/or ammonium chloride to liberate toxins and other molecules from cyanobacteria, useful for assaying for total cyanobacterial toxins in lakes, reservoirs and other waters.

Claims

1. A method of releasing a cyanobacterial toxin in a suspension comprising cyanobacteria suspended in an aqueous medium, wherein said method comprises adding a releasing agent to an aliquot of the suspension so as to release toxins from the bacteria into the medium, wherein the releasing agent is a metal salt that comprises a silver atom and which can dissociate in water to release the silver atom as a silver ion, and wherein the releasing agent is selected from the group consisting of silver sulfate, silver nitrate, silver acetate, silver bromate, silver perchlorate, silver trifluoroacetate, and silver (I) fluoride.

2. A method of claim 1 wherein the aliquot is a first aliquot and wherein a corrected cyanobacterial toxin recovery obtained by adding the releasing agent to the first aliquot of the suspension is at least 15 percent of a corrected cyanobacteria toxin recovery obtained by freezing and thawing of a second aliquot of said suspension in the absence of the releasing agent, where each corrected recovery is the recovery obtained for the first aliquot less a background recovery, said background recovery being equal to the cyanobacterial toxin recovery obtained with a third aliquot of the suspension, said third aliquot being one to which the releasing agent has not been added and which has not been frozen or thawed.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the releasing agent is a metal sulfate of the formula XSO₄, X₂SO₄, or X₃SO₄ where X is a silver atom.

4. A method of claim 1 wherein the toxin is selected from the group consisting of microcystins, nodularins, anatoxin-a, anatoxin-a(S), aplysiatoxins, cylindrospermopsins, lyngbyatoxin-a, and saxitoxins.

5. A method of claim 4 wherein the toxin is selected from the group consisting of a microcystin and a nodularin.

6. A method of claim 5 wherein the toxin is a microcystin.

7. A method of releasing cyanobacterial toxin in a suspension comprising cyanobacteria suspended in an aqueous medium, wherein said method comprises adding a releasing agent to an aliquot of the suspension so as to release toxins from the bacteria into the medium, wherein the releasing agent is a metal salt that is selected from the group consisting of silver sulfate, silver acetate, silver bromate, silver perchlorate, silver trifluoroacetate, and silver (I) fluoride, and wherein said method further comprises adding Tween and ammonium chloride to the aliquot of the suspension.