Biomedical Applications of Limulus Amebocyte Lysate

Novitsky, Thomas J.

doi:10.1007/978-0-387-89959-6_20

Cited by 50 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…11 Later it was determined that mobile ameba-like cells, analogous to phagocytes, within the bloodstream of Limulus polyphemus contained factor C, which is responsible for initiating the clotting cascade called the limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL). 11 Factor C, a serine protease zymogen, is obtained by separating amebocytes from the blue-colored plasma (hemolymph) followed by suspending the cells in distilled water, where they are then osmotically lysed. [11][12][13] Prior to the discovery of LAL, approval of pharmaceutical or medical devices intended for human use required pyrogen testing using the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) Pyrogen Test.…”

Section: Background Of β-Glucan Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…11 Factor C, a serine protease zymogen, is obtained by separating amebocytes from the blue-colored plasma (hemolymph) followed by suspending the cells in distilled water, where they are then osmotically lysed. [11][12][13] Prior to the discovery of LAL, approval of pharmaceutical or medical devices intended for human use required pyrogen testing using the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) Pyrogen Test. 11 The solution or device was deemed pyrogenic (fever causing) and rejected if fever was observed in a rabbit exposed to these products.…”

Section: Background Of β-Glucan Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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(1–3)-β-D-Glucan Assay: A Review of its Laboratory and Clinical Application

Wright

Overman

Ribes

2011

Lab Med

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A new fungal surrogate marker, (1-3)-β-D glucan, offers a noninvasive method for the potential surveillance and diagnosis of invasive fungal infections. Invasive fungal infections have long been associated with significantly high morbidity and mortality on hematology-oncology wards and recipients of either solid-organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The diagnoses of invasive fungal infections have historically been made difficult by the need for invasive methods.(1-3)-β-D-glucan testing requires a minimally invasive sample that can be used to aid in the diagnosis of an invasive fungal infection as well as monitor the response to treatment. One disadvantage of (1-3)-β-D-glucan testing is that a positive test alone lacks sufficient sensitivity and specificity for a definitive diagnosis. While formal guidelines for the use of (1-3)-β-D-glucan testing are lacking, this chromogenic assay provides a new opportunity for testing at-risk populations. A review and recommendation for its laboratory and clinical application are provided. Glossary(1-3)-β-D-glucan: A polysaccharide component of the cell wall of most fungi pyrogen test. An assay used to determine if a pharmaceutical or medical device intended for human use will stimulate fever.Keywords: (1-3)-β-D glucan, beta glucan assay, invasive fungal infections After reading this article, readers should be able to discuss what (1-3)-β-D glucans are, how they are detected in clinical biological samples, the evidence to support laboratory testing and monitoring, the limitations of testing, and the appropriate clinical setting for testing.Microbiology 71103 questions and corresponding answer form are located after this CE Update on page 686.

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Section: Background Of β-Glucan Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Background Of β-Glucan Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

(1–3)-β-D-Glucan Assay: A Review of its Laboratory and Clinical Application

Wright

Overman

Ribes

2011

Lab Med

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“…The unique ability of amebocytes to produce an instantaneous, visible reaction to endotoxins, in particular, has driven commercial demand from pharmaceutical and biomedical companies to confirm drug and medical device safety (Mikkelsen, 1988;Novitsky, 2009) using the Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) test, which has become the method of choice for endotoxin detection (Novitsky, 2009;Gauvry, 2015). These LAL test applications include quality assurance for: intravenous drugs; biologicals (e.g., clotting factors, insulin, and vaccines); recombinant drugs; and implantable medical devices (e.g., heart valves and orthopedic devices) (Novitsky, 2009).…”

Section: Factors Affecting Horseshoe Crab Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These LAL test applications include quality assurance for: intravenous drugs; biologicals (e.g., clotting factors, insulin, and vaccines); recombinant drugs; and implantable medical devices (e.g., heart valves and orthopedic devices) (Novitsky, 2009). Environmental applications have also increased demand for the LAL test to ensure air quality and detect endotoxin concentrations in fresh water, sea water, and surrounding sediment (Novitsky, 2009).…”

Section: Factors Affecting Horseshoe Crab Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Horseshoe Crabs in the Biomedical Industry and Recent Trends Impacting Species Sustainability

Dellinger

Kepley

2018

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Every year the Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) arrives on shore to spawn, a sight once taken for granted. However, in addition to the gradual climate changes impacting all ecosystems, commercial demand from the widespread application of Atlantic horseshoe crab blood in industrial endotoxin testing and steady use as eel and whelk bait has brought the future of this enduring species into question. In response, regulations have been adopted to enhance the traceability and record keeping of horseshoe crab harvest, which has historically been difficult to track. However, these regulations do not restrict or limit LAL harvest in any significant manner. Still, sometimes-lethal biomedical bleeding process and associated behavioral changes pose a risk to horseshoe crab viability after bleeding and once returned to the waters. As a result, regulators and environmentalists are concerned that current trends and overfishing of this marine arthropod will significantly impact the surrounding ecosystem. This review examines their role and recent trends in the biomedical industry that are impacting these ancient creatures and the derivative effect on shorebirds, while considering emerging alternatives where feasible, as well as ways to ensure sustainable and pragmatic harvesting strategies. Ultimately, healthy populations of horseshoe crabs are vital to restoring and maintaining ecosystems while balancing the need for medical and research applications entirely dependent on these unique creatures.

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“…Horseshoe crabs in the mid-Atlantic are exploited for use as bait in the American eel (Anguilla rostrata Lesueur, 1817) and whelk (Busycon carica Gmelin, 1791 and Busycotypus canaliculatus Linnaeus, 1758) fisheries (Berkson & Shuster, 1999;Kreamer & Michels, 2009), and for the production of Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL), a valuable reagent derived from the blood that is used to detect gram-negative bacterial contamination in intravenous drugs, implanted medical devices, and many other applications (Novitsky, 2009). The input of L. polyphemus eggs to Delaware Bay beaches is seasonal, commencing in late April or early May and continuing through mid-summer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal and spatial patterns of organic carbon are linked to egg deposition by beach spawning horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus)

Botton

Loveland

2010

Hydrobiologia

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The spring spawning by the American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus L.) results in temporally and spatially discrete inputs of eggs onto sandy beaches in Delaware Bay, USA. We tested the hypothesis that seasonal patterns of sediment organic carbon on Delaware Bay beaches is linked to this pulsed input of horseshoe crab eggs. At a location with minimal horseshoe crab spawning activity (Higbee Beach), there was little seasonal variation in sediment organic carbon, no distinction between organic carbon levels as a function of shoreline position or sediment depth, and no significant correlation between the abundance of crab eggs and percent organic carbon. Conversely, at a prime horseshoe crab spawning habitat (North Beach), organic carbon levels were seasonally pulsed and were correlated with egg abundance. Moreover, the strongest evidence of seasonality was seen at the middle foreshore location at the 15-20 cm depth, consistent with the highest input of horseshoe crab eggs. Although some of the organic carbon contributed by horseshoe crab eggs in May-June leaves the beach in the form of hatched larvae later in the year, there is a net input of organic carbon to the system in the form of unfertilized and/or dead eggs, egg membranes, and embryonic molts. We suggest that the inputs of eggs from horseshoe crabs and other beach spawning animals, such as grunion and capelin, make significant contributions to the energy budget of sandy beaches.

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Biomedical Applications of Limulus Amebocyte Lysate

Cited by 50 publications

References 31 publications

(1–3)-β-D-Glucan Assay: A Review of its Laboratory and Clinical Application

(1–3)-β-D-Glucan Assay: A Review of its Laboratory and Clinical Application

The Role of Horseshoe Crabs in the Biomedical Industry and Recent Trends Impacting Species Sustainability

Temporal and spatial patterns of organic carbon are linked to egg deposition by beach spawning horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus)

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