# Vet-LIRN Capacity Building Detection of Botulinum Neurotoxins by MALDI-MS

> **NIH FDA U18** · PURDUE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $61,994

## Abstract

Vet-LIRN Network Capacity-Building Projects
 FOA #: PAR-18-604
“Vet-LIRN Capacity Building Detection of Botulinum Toxins by MALDI-MS”
 Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Purdue University
 Analytical Chemistry and Toxicology Section
Project Summary/Abstract
Diagnosis of botulism in animals is based on case history, clinical signs and laboratory confirmation using the
mouse bioassay (MBA) test or quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). However, the
MBA and qRT-PCR have some limitations with respect to detecting active, botulinum toxin (BoNT) serotypes
present in clinical specimens and foodstuffs. In order to overcome the limitations and challenges associated
with the MBA, PCR and other assays used for diagnosing botulism, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) developed a rapid, high-throughput, MALDI mass spectrometry-based (MS) method, termed
Endopep-MS, for detecting and differentiating active, BoNT serotypes in specimens. This method has been
shown to have higher sensitivity and specificity for detecting active, BoNTs in human, clinical specimens. The
objective of this capacity-building proposal is to support enhanced human and animal food safety by
strengthening the capacity of the FDA Vet-LIRN laboratory network and the Toxicology Section at the Indiana
Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory to investigate potential, animal foodborne outbreaks of botulism through
the development and validation of the Endopep-MS method to detect botulinum toxin (BoNT) serotypes A, B,
C, and D in animal foodstuffs. The first specific aim of this project will be to optimize and validate the
detection of botulinum serotypes A, B, C and D complexes using the CDC's Endopep-MS assay. The
research design for specific aim #1 will include: 1) optimizing detection of the BoNT serotypes by comparing
experimental molecular weights of peptide cleavage products for BoNT serotypes A, B, C and D to theoretical
cleavage products, 2) determining the lower and upper limits of detection for each serotype and 3) determining
the storage stability of each BoNT serotype stock solution. The second specific aim will be to optimize and
validate detection of the BoNT serotypes A, B, C and D complexes in animal foodstuffs such as canned pet
food, hay and silage. Commercially available canned pet food and hay will be purchased for this study. Silage
samples will be obtained from samples submitted to the ADDL from diagnostic cases not associated with
botulism or other infectious diseases. The research design for specific aim #2 will consist of determining the
following for BoNT serotypes A, B, C and D in each foodstuff matrix: 1) the method specificity, 2) the method
limits of detection, 3) the method detection precision and 4) the freeze-thaw stability of BoNTs in each stored,
animal foodstuff. Developing this method would benefit FDA Vet-LIRN and veterinary diagnostic medicine in
that it would increase the capacity and capabilities to detect con...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10215838
- **Project number:** 1U18FD007237-01
- **Recipient organization:** PURDUE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Christina R Wilson-Frank
- **Activity code:** U18 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $61,994
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-20 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10215838

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10215838, Vet-LIRN Capacity Building Detection of Botulinum Neurotoxins by MALDI-MS (1U18FD007237-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10215838. Licensed CC0.

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