Detecting biotoxins in seafood
The 'Development of novel analytic tools for the detection of marine biotoxins' (Biotoxmarin) project developed fast, simple and cost-effective techniques for detecting toxins in seafood and patient serum. These tools were based on the use of polymer instruction technology, highly sensitive biosensors and new bioassays. Improved efficiency was identified by comparing the new methods with existing technology. Products and techniques developed under the auspices of the Biotoxmarin project had high commercial potential, including the assay, biosensor and dipstick system, which could be developed as kits. The new liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) techniques developed can be used in the production of standards and for testing services. Commercial partners in the form of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were involved in the project and will play a major role in exploiting and disseminating results. Methods developed by the Biotoxmarin consortium will help to replace animals used in laboratory tests, such as mice in bioassays for marine biotoxins. This will be achieved by employing tests based on antibodies and synthetic polymer receptors. The success of Biotoxmarin will help reduce seafood-related food poisoning incidents, thereby minimising the economic damage caused by the production of biotoxins during algal blooms.
