# US 2025/0085274 A1 · Brevetoxin detection device, system, and method

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- Number: US 2025/0085274 A1
- Document ID: US20250085274A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/823,598
- Filed: 2024-09-03
- Published: 2025-03-13
- Earliest claimed: 2023-08-31
- Applicants: Mote Marine Laboratory, Inc.
- Inventors: Dana L. Wetzel; Tracy A. Sherwood
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250085274A1

## CPC

- G01N 33/5308: {for analytes not provided for elsewhere, e.g. nucleic acids, uric acid, worms, mites}
- G01N 33/56961: {Plant cells or fungi}
- G01N 2469/10: Detection of antigens from microorganism in sample from host
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

A method to detect the presence of parent brevetoxin (BT) and brevetoxin metabolites (BTXs) in shellfish and aquatic samples is provided. The method may include contacting a sample with a binding molecule comprising an aptamer, and determining if the binding molecule binds a Brevetoxin antigen in the sample.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A binding molecule for use in detection of brevetoxins in a sample, the binding molecule comprising:
an aptamer configured to bind to a brevetoxin antigen; and
a detection component having a detection property, the detection component being operably coupled to an aptamer and configured to facilitate detection of a brevetoxin in the sample, via the detection property, upon binding of an aptamer to a brevetoxin antigen.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The binding molecule of claim 1, wherein the brevetoxin is a neurotoxic lipid-soluble cyclic polyether compound.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The binding molecule of claim 2, wherein the brevetoxin is produced by Karenia brevis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The binding molecule of claim 1, wherein the brevetoxin is a first brevetoxin;
wherein the aptamer is configured to bind with an unsaturated aldehyde tail region of the first brevetoxin and an unsaturated aldehyde tail region of a second brevetoxin, the first brevetoxin and the second brevetoxin having different backbone regions.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The binding molecule of claim 1, wherein the aptamer binds to the brevetoxin antigen via a cross-reaction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The binding molecule of claim 1, wherein the aptamer has a nucleic acid sequence with at least one unpaired nucleic acid base and at least one paired nucleic acid base when the aptamer is folded into a double-stranded configuration.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The binding molecule of claim 1, wherein the detection component is coupled to the aptamer via a linker component that is a bifunctional crosslinker.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The binding molecule of claim 1, wherein the aptamer is configured to, upon binding to the antigen, transition from a first structure to a second structure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The binding molecule of claim 1, wherein detection property of the detection component is activated by the aptamer transitioning from the first structure to the second structure.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The binding molecule of claim 1, wherein the detection component comprises a fluorophore.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The binding molecule of claim 1, wherein the aptamer comprises a sequence having 60% or greater, 65% or greater, 70% or greater, 75% or greater, 80% or greater, 85% or greater, 90% or greater, 95% or greater, 97% or greater, 98% or greater, 99% or greater, or 100% identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 50.

### Claim 12

A method of detecting a brevetoxin in a sample, the method comprising:
applying a detector solution to the sample to cause an aptamer of a binding molecule of the detector solution to bind with a targeted brevetoxin antigen, wherein, upon binding of the aptamer to the brevetoxin antigen, a detection property of the detection component of the aptamer is activated;
detecting, via a sensor, a response signal from the sample based on the detection property; and
determining, by control circuitry, a presence of the brevetoxin in the sample based on the response signal from the sample.

### Claim 13

A test kit for detecting a brevetoxin in a sample, the test kit comprising:
a holder configured to receive the sample; and
a detector solution comprising a binding molecule;
wherein the molecule comprises:
an aptamer configured to bind to the brevetoxin antigen within the sample; and
a detection component having a detection property, the detection component being operably coupled to the aptamer and configured to facilitate detection of a brevetoxin in the sample, via the detection property, upon binding of an aptamer to a brevetoxin antigen.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The test kit of claim 10, wherein the test kit is configured to facilitate detection of the brevetoxin via a fluorescent aptamer assay (FAA).

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The test kit of claim 10, wherein the test kit is configured to facilitate detection of the brevetoxin via an enzyme-linked aptasorbent assay (ELASA).