Biotech for Life (BFL): The Wurst Case Scenario

A rotten sausage? Or something else? Botulism is the worst.

• Perform a REAL ELISA reaction!
• Includes inquiry-based activities
• Historical background and relevance discussed
• Aligned to NGSS standards (HS-PS2-6, S-LS1-3, HS-LS1-4, HS-PS1-5, HS-PS1-6, HS-PS4-5, HS-LS2-8, HS-LS4-4, HS-LS4-5)

Botulism contamination remains a global issue in agriculture and food-preparation sectors. The regular testing of foods and associated materials and in restaurants and kitchens for this and other deadly toxins continues to be an important quality control step in the food industry.

In this kit, students become QC sleuths and use real antibodies to perform an Indirect ELISA reaction for the purpose of detecting simulated botulism samples from various items collected from a local commercial kitchen: in-house chicken stock, a sponge used to wash dishes, canned tomatoes, a hand towel, scrub brush, and green beans from the farmer's market. Unlike other ELISA kits, this experiment does not rely on a simulated reaction (except for the botulism toxin, of course!), so students are able to acquaint themselves with a true ELISA reaction with real antibodies and detection substrates.

Ordering information: Needed but not provided: 250 to 500 ml flasks, 250 to 500 ml beakers, distilled water, blotting paper/paper towels, micropipette and tips. A spectrophotometer in the visible light range is not required, but useful if the quantification of experimental results is desired.

Delivery information: Included in this kit: ELISA strip plate, microtubes, 1X PBS powder packet, 1X PBS-T powder packet, stop solution, and 10X TMB solution. A coupon is provided for: simulated botulism antigen, primary antibody, secondary antibody, coating buffer, and blocking buffer.