Geno-Tox: Cell Array Biochip for Genotoxicity Monitoring and Classification

Advancements and Potential Applications of Microfluidic Approaches—A Review

A micro-level technique so-called “microfluidic technology or simply microfluidic” has gained a special place as a powerful tool in bioengineering and biomedical engineering research due to its core advantages in modern science and engineering. Microfluidic technology has played a substantial role in numerous applications with special reference to bioscience, biomedical and biotechnological research. It has facilitated noteworthy development in various sectors of bio-research and upsurges the efficacy of research at the molecular level, in recent years. Microfluidic technology can manipulate sample volumes with precise control outside cellular microenvironment, at micro-level. Thus, enable the reduction of discrepancies between in vivo and in vitro environments and reduce the overall reaction time and cost. In this review, we discuss various integrations of microfluidic technologies into biotechnology and its paradigmatic significance in bio-research, supporting mechanical and chemical in vitro cellular microenvironment. Furthermore, specific innovations related to the application of microfluidics to advance microbial life, solitary and co-cultures along with a multiple-type cell culturing, cellular communications, cellular interactions, and population dynamics are also discussed.

Current status of water environment and their microbial biosensor techniques - Part II: Recent trends in microbial biosensor development

In Part I of the present review series, I presented the current state of the water environment by focusing on Japanese cases and discussed the need to further develop microbial biosensor technologies for the actual water environment. I comprehensively present trends after approximately 2010 in microbial biosensor development for the water environment. In the first section, after briefly summarizing historical studies, recent studies on microbial biosensor principles are introduced. In the second section, recent application studies for the water environment are also introduced. Finally, I conclude the present review series by describing the need to further develop microbial biosensor technologies. Graphical abstract Current water pollution indirectly occurs by anthropogenic eutrophication (Part I). Recent trends in microbial biosensor development for water environment are described in part II of the present review series.

Reporter Gene Assays in Ecotoxicology

The need for simple and rapid means for evaluating the potential toxic effects of environmental samples has prompted the development of reporter gene assays, based on tester cells (bioreporters) genetically engineered to report on sample toxicity by producing a readily quantifiable signal. Bacteria are especially suitable to serve as bioreporters owing to their fast responses, low cost, convenient preservation, ease of handling, and amenability to genetic manipulations. Various bacterial bioreporters have been introduced for general toxicity and genotoxicity assessment, and the monitoring of endocrine disrupting and dioxin-like compounds has been mostly covered by similarly engineered eukaryotic cells. Some reporter gene assays have been validated, standardized, and accredited, and many others are under constant development. Efforts are aimed at broadening detection spectra, lowering detection thresholds, and combining toxicity identification capabilities with characterization of the toxic effects. Taking advantage of bacterial robustness, attempts are also being made to incorporate bacterial bioreporters into field instrumentation for online continuous monitoring or on-site spot checks. However, key hurdles concerning test validation, cell preservation, and regulatory issues related to the use of genetically modified organisms still remain to be overcome.

Measurement of Bacterial Bioluminescence Intensity and Spectrum: Current Physical Techniques and Principles

: Bioluminescence is light production by living organisms, which can be observed in numerous marine creatures and some terrestrial invertebrates. More specifically, bacterial bioluminescence is the "cold light" produced and emitted by bacterial cells, including both wild-type luminescent and genetically engineered bacteria. Because of the lively interplay of synthetic biology, microbiology, toxicology, and biophysics, different configurations of whole-cell biosensors based on bacterial bioluminescence have been designed and are widely used in different fields, such as ecotoxicology, food toxicity, and environmental pollution. This chapter first discusses the background of the bioluminescence phenomenon in terms of optical spectrum. Platforms for bacterial bioluminescence detection using various techniques are then introduced, such as a photomultiplier tube, charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), and complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) based integrated circuit. Furthermore, some typical biochemical methods to optimize the analytical performances of bacterial bioluminescent biosensors/assays are reviewed, followed by a presentation of author's recent work concerning the improved sensitivity of a bioluminescent assay for pesticides. Finally, bacterial bioluminescence as implemented in eukaryotic cells, bioluminescent imaging, and cancer cell therapies is discussed.

Water pollutant monitoring by a whole cell array through lens-free detection on CCD

Environmental contamination has become a serious problem to human and environmental health, as exposure to a wide range of possible contaminants continuously increases due to industrial and agricultural activities. Whole cell sensors have been proposed as a powerful tool to detect class-specific toxicants based upon their biological activity and bioavailability. We demonstrated a robust toxicant detection platform based on a bioluminescence whole cell sensor array biochip (LumiChip). LumiChip harbors an integrated temperature control and a 16-member sensor array, as well as a simple but highly efficient luminescence collection setup. On LumiChip, samples were infused in an oxygen-permeable microfluidic flow channel to reach the sensor array. Time-lapse changes in bioluminescence emitted by the array members were measured on a single window-removed linear charge-coupled device (CCD) commonly used in commercial industrial process control or in barcode readers. Removal of the protective window on the linear CCD allowed lens-free direct interfacing of LumiChip to the CCD surface for measurement with high light collection efficiency. Bioluminescence induced by simulated contamination events was detected within 15 to 45 minutes. The portable LumiSense system utilizing the linear CCD in combination with the miniaturized LumiChip is a promising potential platform for on-site environmental monitoring of toxicant contamination.

Evaluation of the ecotoxicity of pollutants with bioluminescent microorganisms

This chapter deals with the use of bioluminescent microorganisms in environmental monitoring, particularly in the assessment of the ecotoxicity of pollutants. Toxicity bioassays based on bioluminescent microorganisms are an interesting complement to classical toxicity assays, providing easiness of use, rapid response, mass production, and cost effectiveness. A description of the characteristics and main environmental applications in ecotoxicity testing of naturally bioluminescent microorganisms, covering bacteria and eukaryotes such as fungi and dinoglagellates, is reported in this chapter. The main features and applications of a wide variety of recombinant bioluminescent microorganisms, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic, are also summarized and critically considered. Quantitative structure-activity relationship models and hormesis are two important concepts in ecotoxicology; bioluminescent microorganisms have played a pivotal role in their development. As pollutants usually occur in complex mixtures in the environment, the use of both natural and recombinant bioluminescent microorganisms to assess mixture toxicity has been discussed. The main information has been summarized in tables, allowing quick consultation of the variety of luminescent organisms, bioluminescence gene systems, commercially available bioluminescent tests, environmental applications, and relevant references.

A dip-stick type biosensor using bioluminescent bacteria encapsulated in color-coded alginate microbeads for detection of water toxicity

The use of genetically engineered bioluminescent bacteria, in which bioluminescence is induced by different modes of toxic action, represents an alternative to acute toxicity tests using living aquatic organisms (plants, vertebrates, or invertebrates) in an aqueous environment.

Broad spectrum detection and "barcoding" of water pollutants by a genome-wide bacterial sensor array

An approach for the rapid detection and classification of a broad spectrum of water pollutants, based on a genome-wide reporter bacterial live cell array, is proposed and demonstrated. An array of ca. 2000 Escherichia coli fluorescent transcriptional reporters was exposed to 25 toxic compounds as well as to unpolluted water, and its responses were recorded after 3 h. The 25 toxic compounds represented 5 pollutant classes: genotoxicants, metals, detergents, alcohols, and monoaromatic hydrocarbons. Identifying unique gene expression patterns, a nearest neighbour-based model detected pollutant presence and predicted class attribution with an estimated accuracy of 87%. Sensitivity and positive predictive values varied among classes, being higher for pollutant classes that were defined by mode of action than for those defined by structure only. Sensitivity for unpolluted water was 0.90 and the positive predictive value was 0.79. All pollutant classes induced the transcription of a statistically significant proportion of membrane associated genes; in addition, the sets of genes responsive to genotoxicants, detergents and alcohols were enriched with genes involved in DNA repair, iron utilization and the translation machinery, respectively. Following further development, a methodology of the type described herein may be suitable for integration in water monitoring schemes in conjunction with existing analytical and biological detection techniques.