METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE TOXICITY OF A TOXIN OR A TOXOID

摘要

The invention relates to a method for determining the toxicity of a toxin or toxoid that comprises a first subunit for binding to a receptor molecule, and a second subunit for mediating toxicity by catalyzing a reaction of a substrate, wherein the first subunit and the second subunit are separable from each other. According to the invention, the method comprises the steps of: incubating a sample solution containing a toxin or a toxoid with a receptor molecule under conditions that allow for the first subunit of the toxin or toxoid to bind to the receptor molecule, separating the second subunit from the first subunit that is bound to the receptor molecule; incubating the second subunit with a substrate molecule for the second subunit under conditions that allow for the second subunit to catalyze a reaction of the substrate molecule to form a detectable product; and detecting the presence of the detectable product.