Open AccessA rapid and sensitive assay for pertussis toxin based on pigment aggregation within the melanophores of an isolated fish scale
Author(s) -
Andersson R.G.G.,
Askelöf P.,
Elwing H.,
Grundström N.,
Karlsson J.O.G.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1988.tb13932.x
Subject(s) - toxin , pertussis toxin , chromatophore , chemistry , antiserum , venom , pigment , chromatography , biology , biochemistry , antibody , g protein , receptor , immunology , organic chemistry , fishery
The noradrenaline‐induced pigment aggregation within the melanophores of the cuckoo wrasse ( Labrus ossifagus L.) has been shown to be mediated by postsynaptic alpha 2 ‐adrenoceptors which in turn act via an inhibitory control of adenylate cyclase. In a previous paper it was shown that pertussis toxin (PT) caused a blockade of noradrenaline‐induced pigment aggregation. Based on these findings, an assay for PT has been developed. The method involves toxin titration directly on isolated fish scales from L. ossifagus , takes about 2 h to perform and needs no sophisticated equipment. The method allows detection of femtogram quantities of toxin per ml. The effect of purified PT was neutralized by antiserum. Some preliminary results indicate that it is possible to detect PT‐like activity in sputum samples from patients with suspected whooping cough, whereas no PT‐like activity could be detected in samples from healthy volunteers.