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Cao W, Huang C, Zhou X, Zhou S, Deng Y. Engineering two-component systems for advanced biosensing: From architecture to applications in biotechnology. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 75:108404. [PMID: 39002783 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Two-component systems (TCSs) are prevalent signaling pathways in bacteria. These systems mediate phosphotransfer between histidine kinase and a response regulator, facilitating responses to diverse physical, chemical, and biological stimuli. Advancements in synthetic and structural biology have repurposed TCSs for applications in monitoring heavy metals, disease-associated biomarkers, and the production of bioproducts. However, the utility of many TCS biosensors is hindered by undesired performance due to the lack of effective engineering methods. Here, we briefly discuss the architectures and regulatory mechanisms of TCSs. We also summarize the recent advancements in TCS engineering by experimental or computational-based methods to fine-tune the biosensor functional parameters, such as response curve and specificity. Engineered TCSs have great potential in the medical, environmental, and biorefinery fields, demonstrating a crucial role in a wide area of biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyan Cao
- School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Chao Huang
- School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Xuan Zhou
- School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Shenghu Zhou
- School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
| | - Yu Deng
- School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
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2
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Mendoza ASG, Acosta MFM, Sánchez JAM, Vázquez LEC. Principles and challenges of whole cell microbial biosensors in the food industry. J Food Sci 2024. [PMID: 39175184 DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.17294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
Whole cell microbial biosensors (WCMB) are mostly genetically modified microorganisms used to detect target molecules as indicators of biological and chemical contaminants as well as in the identification of compounds of interest in the food industry. The specificity and sensitivity of these biosensors are achieved through the design of genetic circuits that make use of genetic sequences such as promoters, terminators, genes encoding regulatory proteins or reporter proteins, among others. Despite the advances of WCMBs for their application, significant challenges are faced, such as cell stability, regulatory restrictions, and the need to optimize response times so that they can be a competitive detection tool in the market. This review explores the technological progress, potential and limitations of WCMBs in the food industry, starting by reviewing the operating principles of biosensors. The importance of selecting appropriate chassis cells and the integration of recognition elements and transducers to maximize their effectiveness in the detection of contaminants and compounds of interest in the food industry is highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- América Selene Gaona Mendoza
- Graduate Program in Biosciences, Life Science Division, University of Guanajuato Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
- Food Department, Life Science Division, University of Guanajuato Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
| | - María Fernanda Mendoza Acosta
- Graduate Program in Biosciences, Life Science Division, University of Guanajuato Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
- Food Department, Life Science Division, University of Guanajuato Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
| | - Julio Armando Massange Sánchez
- Plant Biotechnology Unit, Center for Research and Assistance in Technology and Design of the State of Jalisco A.C. (CIATEJ), Guadalajara, Mexico
| | - Luz Edith Casados Vázquez
- Graduate Program in Biosciences, Life Science Division, University of Guanajuato Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
- Food Department, Life Science Division, University of Guanajuato Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
- CONAHCyT-University of Guanajuato, Guanajuato, México
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3
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Acharya K, Shaw S, Bhattacharya SP, Biswas S, Bhandary S, Bhattacharya A. Pigments from pathogenic bacteria: a comprehensive update on recent advances. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 40:270. [PMID: 39030429 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-04076-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial pigments stand out as exceptional natural bioactive compounds with versatile functionalities. The pigments represent molecules from distinct chemical categories including terpenes, terpenoids, carotenoids, pyridine, pyrrole, indole, and phenazines, which are synthesized by diverse groups of bacteria. Their spectrum of physiological activities encompasses bioactive potentials that often confer fitness advantages to facilitate the survival of bacteria amid challenging environmental conditions. A large proportion of such pigments are produced by bacterial pathogens mostly as secondary metabolites. Their multifaceted properties augment potential applications in biomedical, food, pharmaceutical, textile, paint industries, bioremediation, and in biosensor development. Apart from possessing a less detrimental impact on health with environmentally beneficial attributes, tractable and scalable production strategies render bacterial pigments a sustainable option for novel biotechnological exploration for untapped discoveries. The review offers a comprehensive account of physiological role of pigments from bacterial pathogens, production strategies, and potential applications in various biomedical and biotechnological fields. Alongside, the prospect of combining bacterial pigment research with cutting-edge approaches like nanotechnology has been discussed to highlight future endeavours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kusumita Acharya
- AMR-Research Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Adamas University, Barasat-Barrackpore Rd, Kolkata, 700126, India
| | - Swarna Shaw
- AMR-Research Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Adamas University, Barasat-Barrackpore Rd, Kolkata, 700126, India
| | | | - Shatarupa Biswas
- AMR-Research Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Adamas University, Barasat-Barrackpore Rd, Kolkata, 700126, India
| | - Suman Bhandary
- AMR-Research Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Adamas University, Barasat-Barrackpore Rd, Kolkata, 700126, India.
| | - Arijit Bhattacharya
- AMR-Research Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Adamas University, Barasat-Barrackpore Rd, Kolkata, 700126, India.
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4
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Verzino SJ, Priyev SA, Estrada VAS, Crowley GX, Rutkowski A, Lam AC, Nazginov ES, Kotemelo P, Bacelo A, Sukhram DT, Vázquez FX, Juárez JF. Expanding salivary biomarker detection by creating a synthetic neuraminic acid sensor via chimeragenesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.13.598939. [PMID: 38915506 PMCID: PMC11195194 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.13.598939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Accurate and timely diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is crucial in preventing its progression to advanced stages with a poor prognosis. As such, the construction of sensors capable of detecting previously established disease biomarkers for the early and non-invasive diagnosis of this and many other conditions has enormous therapeutic potential. In this work, we apply synthetic biology techniques for the development of a whole-cell biosensor (WCB) that leverages the physiology of engineered bacteria in vivo to promote the expression of an observable effector upon detection of a soluble molecule. To this end, we have constructed a bacterial strain expressing a novel chimeric transcription factor (Sphnx) for the detection of N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac), a salivary biomolecule correlated with the onset of OSCC. This WCB serves as the proof-of-concept of a platform that can eventually be applied to clinical screening panels for a multitude of oral and systemic medical conditions whose biomarkers are present in saliva.
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5
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Moschopoulou G, Tsekouras V, Mercader JV, Abad-Fuentes A, Kintzios S. Development of a Portable Cell-Based Biosensor for the Ultra-Rapid Screening for Boscalid Residues in Lettuce. BIOSENSORS 2024; 14:311. [PMID: 38920615 PMCID: PMC11201857 DOI: 10.3390/bios14060311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Fungal plant pathogens have posed a significant threat to crop production. However, the large-scale application of pesticides is associated with possible risks for human health and the environment. Boscalid is a widely used fungicide, consistently implemented for the management of significant plant pathogens. Conventionally, the detection and determination of boscalid residues is based on chromatographic separations. In the present study, a Bioelectric Recognition Assay (BERA)-based experimental approach combined with MIME technology was used, where changes in the electric properties of the membrane-engineering cells with anti-boscalid antibodies were recorded in response to the presence of boscalid at different concentrations based on the maximum residue level (MRL) for lettuce. The membrane-engineering Vero cells with 0.5 μg/mL of antibody in their surface were selected as the best cell line in combination with the lowest antibody concentration. Furthermore, the biosensor was tested against another fungicide in order to prove its selectivity. Finally, the BERA cell-based biosensor was able to detect the boscalid residue, below and above the MRL, in spiked lettuce leaf extracts in an entirely distinct and reproducible manner. This study indicates that the BERA-based biosensor, after further development and optimization, could be used for the routine, high-throughput detection of boscalid residue in lettuce, and not only that.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Moschopoulou
- Laboratory of Cell Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, European University for Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece; (V.T.); (S.K.)
| | - Vasileios Tsekouras
- Laboratory of Cell Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, European University for Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece; (V.T.); (S.K.)
| | - Josep V. Mercader
- Department Preservation and Food Safety Technologies, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC), Av. Agustí Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Spain; (J.V.M.); (A.A.-F.)
| | - Antonio Abad-Fuentes
- Department Preservation and Food Safety Technologies, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC), Av. Agustí Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Spain; (J.V.M.); (A.A.-F.)
| | - Spyridon Kintzios
- Laboratory of Cell Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, European University for Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece; (V.T.); (S.K.)
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6
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Cravo F, Függer M, Nowak T. An Allee-based distributed algorithm for microbial whole-cell sensors. NPJ Syst Biol Appl 2024; 10:43. [PMID: 38649364 PMCID: PMC11035582 DOI: 10.1038/s41540-024-00363-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Reliable detection of substances present at potentially low concentrations is a problem common to many biomedical applications. Complementary to well-established enzyme-, antibody-antigen-, and sequencing-based approaches, so-called microbial whole-cell sensors, i.e., synthetically engineered microbial cells that sense and report substances, have been proposed as alternatives. Typically these cells operate independently: a cell reports an analyte upon local detection.In this work, we analyze a distributed algorithm for microbial whole-cell sensors, where cells communicate to coordinate if an analyte has been detected. The algorithm, inspired by the Allee effect in biological populations, causes cells to alternate between a logical 0 and 1 state in response to reacting with the particle of interest. When the cells in the logical 1 state exceed a threshold, the algorithm converts the remaining cells to the logical 1 state, representing an easily-detectable output signal. We validate the algorithm through mathematical analysis and simulations, demonstrating that it works correctly even in noisy cellular environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabricio Cravo
- LMF, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, ENS Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- LISN, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Matthias Függer
- LMF, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, ENS Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
| | - Thomas Nowak
- LMF, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, ENS Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France.
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7
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Larsson EM, Murray RM, Newman DK. Engineering the Soil Bacterium Pseudomonas synxantha 2-79 into a Ratiometric Bioreporter for Phosphorus Limitation. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:384-393. [PMID: 38165130 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Microbial bioreporters hold promise for addressing challenges in medical and environmental applications. However, the difficulty in ensuring their stable persistence and function within the target environment remains a challenge. One strategy is to integrate information about the host strain and target environment into the design-build-test cycle of the bioreporter itself. Here, we present a case study for such an environmentally motivated design process by engineering the wheat commensal bacterium Pseudomonas synxantha 2-79 into a ratiometric bioreporter for phosphorus limitation. Comparative analysis showed that an exogenous P-responsive promoter outperformed its native counterparts. This reporter can selectively sense and report phosphorus limitation at plant-relevant concentrations of 25-100 μM without cross-activation from carbon or nitrogen limitation or high cell densities. Its performance is robust over a field-relevant pH range (5.8-8), and it responds only to inorganic phosphorus, even in the presence of common soil organic P. Finally, we used fluorescein-calibrated flow cytometry to assess whether the reporter's performance in shaken liquid culture predicts its performance in soil, finding that although the reporter is still functional at the bulk level, its variability in performance increases when grown in a soil slurry as compared to planktonic culture, with a fraction of the population not expressing the reporter proteins. Together, our environmentally aware design process provides an example of how laboratory bioengineering efforts can generate microbes with a greater promise to function reliably in their applied contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elin M Larsson
- Division of Biology and Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Richard M Murray
- Division of Biology and Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
- Control and Dynamical Systems, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Dianne K Newman
- Division of Biology and Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
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8
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Lami R, Urios L, Molmeret M, Grimaud R. Quorum sensing in biofilms: a key mechanism to target in ecotoxicological studies. Crit Rev Microbiol 2023; 49:786-804. [PMID: 36334083 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2022.2142089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Our environment is heavily contaminated by anthropogenic compounds, and this issue constitutes a significant threat to all life forms, including biofilm-forming microorganisms. Cell-cell interactions shape microbial community structures and functions, and pollutants that affect intercellular communications impact biofilm functions and ecological roles. There is a growing interest in environmental science fields for evaluating how anthropogenic pollutants impact cell-cell interactions. In this review, we synthesize existing literature that evaluates the impacts of quorum sensing (QS), which is a widespread density-dependent communication system occurring within many bacterial groups forming biofilms. First, we examine the perturbating effects of environmental contaminants on QS circuits; and our findings reveal that QS is an essential yet underexplored mechanism affected by pollutants. Second, our work highlights that QS is an unsuspected and key resistance mechanism that assists bacteria in dealing with environmental contamination (caused by metals or organic pollutants) and that favors bacterial growth in unfavourable environments. We emphasize the value of considering QS a critical mechanism for monitoring microbial responses in ecotoxicology. Ultimately, we determine that QS circuits constitute promising targets for innovative biotechnological approaches with major perspectives for applications in the field of environmental science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaël Lami
- Sorbonne Université, USR3579, LBBM, Observatoire Océanologique, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, USR 3579, LBBM, Observatoire Océanologique, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Laurent Urios
- Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Pau, France
| | - Maëlle Molmeret
- Université de Toulon, Laboratoire MAPIEM, EA4323, Avenue de l'université, BP 20132, La Garde Cedex, France
| | - Régis Grimaud
- Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Pau, France
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Tanniche I, Behkam B. Engineered live bacteria as disease detection and diagnosis tools. J Biol Eng 2023; 17:65. [PMID: 37875910 PMCID: PMC10598922 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-023-00379-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensitive and minimally invasive medical diagnostics are essential to the early detection of diseases, monitoring their progression and response to treatment. Engineered bacteria as live sensors are being developed as a new class of biosensors for sensitive, robust, noninvasive, and in situ detection of disease onset at low cost. Akin to microrobotic systems, a combination of simple genetic rules, basic logic gates, and complex synthetic bioengineering principles are used to program bacterial vectors as living machines for detecting biomarkers of diseases, some of which cannot be detected with other sensing technologies. Bacterial whole-cell biosensors (BWCBs) can have wide-ranging functions from detection only, to detection and recording, to closed-loop detection-regulated treatment. In this review article, we first summarize the unique benefits of bacteria as living sensors. We then describe the different bacteria-based diagnosis approaches and provide examples of diagnosing various diseases and disorders. We also discuss the use of bacteria as imaging vectors for disease detection and image-guided surgery. We conclude by highlighting current challenges and opportunities for further exploration toward clinical translation of these bacteria-based systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imen Tanniche
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Bahareh Behkam
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
- School of Biomedical Engineered and Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
- Center for Engineered Health, Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
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Yuan J, Zhao K, Tan X, Xue R, Zeng Y, Ratti C, Trivedi P. Perspective on the development of synthetic microbial community (SynCom) biosensors. Trends Biotechnol 2023; 41:1227-1236. [PMID: 37183053 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic microbial community (SynCom) biosensors are a promising technology for detecting and responding to environmental cues and target molecules. SynCom biosensors use engineered microorganisms to create a more complex and diverse sensing system, enabling them to respond to stimuli with enhanced sensitivity and accuracy. Here, we give a definition of SynCom biosensors, outline their construction workflow, and discuss current biosensing technology. We also highlight the challenges and future for developing and optimizing SynCom biosensors and the potential applications in agriculture and food management, biotherapeutic development, home sensing, urban and environmental monitoring, and the One Health foundation. We believe SynCom biosensors could be used in a real-time and remote-controlled manner to sense the chaos of constantly dynamic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yuan
- Microbiome Network and Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80524, USA; Senseable City Lab, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Kankan Zhao
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiangfeng Tan
- Institute of Digital Agriculture, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310021, China
| | - Ran Xue
- Hangzhou Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311200, China
| | - Yuan Zeng
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Virginia Tech, Blackstone, VA 23824, USA
| | - Carlo Ratti
- Senseable City Lab, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Pankaj Trivedi
- Microbiome Network and Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80524, USA
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Lin PH, Tsai ST, Chang YC, Chou YJ, Yeh YC. Harnessing split fluorescent proteins in modular protein logic for advanced whole-cell detection. Anal Chim Acta 2023; 1275:341593. [PMID: 37524469 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.341593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Whole-cell biosensors have demonstrated promising capabilities in detecting target molecules. However, their limited selectivity and precision can be attributed to the broad substrate tolerance of natural proteins. In this study, we aim to enhance the performance of whole-cell biosensors by incorporating of logic AND gates. Specifically, we utilize the HrpR/S system, a widely employed hetero-regulation module from Pseudomonas syringae in synthetic biology, to construct an orthogonal AND gate in Escherichia coli. To accomplish this, we compare the HrpR/S system with self-associating split fluorescent proteins using the Spy Tag/Spy Catcher system. Our objective is to selectively activate a reporter gene in the presence of both IPTG and Hg(II) ions. Through systematic genetic engineering and evaluation of various biological parts under diverse working conditions, our research demonstrates the utility of self-associating split fluorescent proteins in developing high-performance whole-cell biosensors. This approach offers advantages such as engineering simplicity, reduced basal activity, and improved selectivity. Furthermore, the comparison with the HrpR/S system serves as a valuable control model, providing insights into the relative advantages and limitations of each approach. These findings present a systematic and adaptable strategy to overcome the substrate tolerance challenge faced by whole-cell biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping-Heng Lin
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, 116, Taiwan
| | - Ssu-Tzu Tsai
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, 116, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chia Chang
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, 116, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ju Chou
- Institute of Applied Mechanics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
| | - Yi-Chun Yeh
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, 116, Taiwan.
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12
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He Y, Xu Z, Kasputis T, Zhao X, Ibañez I, Pavan F, Bok M, Malito JP, Parreno V, Yuan L, Wright RC, Chen J. Development of Nanobody-Displayed Whole-Cell Biosensors for the Colorimetric Detection of SARS-CoV-2. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:37184-37192. [PMID: 37489943 PMCID: PMC11216949 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c05900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
The accurate and effective detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is essential to preventing the spread of infectious diseases and ensuring human health. Herein, a nanobody-displayed whole-cell biosensor was developed for colorimetric detection of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins. Serving as bioreceptors, yeast surfaces were genetically engineered to display SARS-CoV-2 binding of llama-derived single-domain antibodies (nanobodies) with high capture efficiency, facilitating the concentration and purification of SARS-CoV-2. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) employed as signal transductions were functionalized with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and anti-SARS monoclonal antibodies to enhance the detection sensitivity. In the presence of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, the sandwiched binding will be formed by linking engineered yeast, SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, and reporter AuNPs. The colorimetric signal was generated by the enzymatic reaction of HRP and its corresponding colorimetric substrate/chromogen system. At the optimal conditions, the developed whole-cell biosensor enables the sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins in a linear range from 0.01 to 1 μg/mL with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.037 μg/mL (about 4 × 108 virion particles/mL). Furthermore, the whole-cell biosensor was demonstrated to detect the spike protein of different SARS-CoV-2 variants in human serum, providing new possibilities for the detection of future SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yawen He
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Zhiyuan Xu
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Tom Kasputis
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Xue Zhao
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Itati Ibañez
- Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE), CONICET Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina
| | - Florencia Pavan
- Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE), CONICET Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina
| | - Marina Bok
- Incuinta, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Instituto de Virología e Innovaciones Tecnológicas, INTA-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (IVIT, INTA-CONICET), Castelar, Buenos Aires 1712, Argentina
| | - Juan Pablo Malito
- Incuinta, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Instituto de Virología e Innovaciones Tecnológicas, INTA-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (IVIT, INTA-CONICET), Castelar, Buenos Aires 1712, Argentina
| | - Viviana Parreno
- Incuinta, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Instituto de Virología e Innovaciones Tecnológicas, INTA-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (IVIT, INTA-CONICET), Castelar, Buenos Aires 1712, Argentina
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Lijuan Yuan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - R Clay Wright
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Juhong Chen
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
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13
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Vergnes A, Becam J, Loiseau L, Ezraty B. Engineering of a Bacterial Biosensor for the Detection of Chlorate in Food. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:629. [PMID: 37366994 DOI: 10.3390/bios13060629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Chlorate can contaminate food due to the use of chlorinated water for processing or equipment disinfection. Chronic exposure to chlorate in food and drinking water is a potential health concern. The current methods for detecting chlorate in liquids and foods are expensive and not easily accessible to all laboratories, highlighting an urgent need for a simple and cost-effective method. The discovery of the adaptation mechanism of Escherichia coli to chlorate stress, which involves the production of the periplasmic Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase (MsrP), prompted us to use an E. coli strain with an msrP-lacZ fusion as a biosensor for detecting chlorate. Our study aimed to optimize the bacterial biosensor's sensitivity and efficiency to detect chlorate in various food samples using synthetic biology and adapted growth conditions. Our results demonstrate successful biosensor enhancement and provide proof of concept for detecting chlorate in food samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Vergnes
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, 13009 Marseille, France
| | - Jérôme Becam
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, 13009 Marseille, France
| | - Laurent Loiseau
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, 13009 Marseille, France
| | - Benjamin Ezraty
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, 13009 Marseille, France
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14
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Ma Z, Li Y, Lu C, Li M. On-site screening method for bioavailability assessment of the organophosphorus pesticide, methyl parathion, and its primary metabolite in soils by paper strip biosensor. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 457:131725. [PMID: 37295330 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
An important public concern worldwide is soil pollution caused by organophosphorus pesticides and their primary metabolites. To protect the public's health, screening these pollutants on-site and determining their soil bioavailability is important, but doing so is still challenging. This work improved the already-existing organophosphorus pesticide hydrolase (mpd) and transcriptional activator (pobR), and it first designed and constructed a novel biosensor (Escherichia coli BL21/pNP-LacZ) that can precisely detect methyl parathion (MP) and its primary metabolite p-nitrophenol with low background value. To create a paper strip biosensor, E. coli BL21/pNP-LacZ was fixed to filter paper using bio-gel alginate and sensitizer polymyxin B. According to the calibrations of the paper strip biosensor for soil extracts and standard curve, the color intensity of the paper strip biosensor collected by the mobile app may be used to compute the concentration of MP and p-nitrophenol. This method's detection limits were 5.41 µg/kg for p-nitrophenol and 9.57 µg/kg for MP. The detection of p-nitrophenol and MP in laboratory and field soil samples confirmed this procedure. Paper strip biosensor on-site allows for the semi-quantitative measurement of p-nitrophenol and MP levels in soils in a simple, inexpensive, and portable method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Ma
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, PR China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, PR China
| | - Yuanbo Li
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, PR China.
| | - Chao Lu
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Saline-Alkali Soil Improvement and Utilization (Coastal Saline-Alkali lands), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Meng Li
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, PR China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, PR China.
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15
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Zeng X, Zou Y, Zheng J, Qiu S, Liu L, Wei C. Quorum sensing-mediated microbial interactions: Mechanisms, applications, challenges and perspectives. Microbiol Res 2023; 273:127414. [PMID: 37236065 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Microbial community in natural or artificial environments playes critical roles in substance cycles, products synthesis and species evolution. Although microbial community structures have been revealed via culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches, the hidden forces driving the microbial community are rarely systematically discussed. As a mode of cell-to-cell communication that modifies microbial interactions, quorum sensing can regulate biofilm formation, public goods secretion, and antimicrobial substances synthesis, directly or indirectly influencing microbial community to adapt to the changing environment. Therefore, the current review focuses on microbial community in the different habitats from the quorum sensing perspective. Firstly, the definition and classification of quorum sensing were simply introduced. Subsequently, the relationships between quorum sensing and microbial interactions were deeply explored. The latest progressives regarding the applications of quorum sensing in wastewater treatment, human health, food fermentation, and synthetic biology were summarized in detail. Finally, the bottlenecks and outlooks of quorum sensing driving microbial community were adequately discussed. To our knowledge, this current review is the first to reveal the driving force of microbial community from the quorum sensing perspective. Hopefully, this review provides a theoretical basis for developing effective and convenient approaches to control the microbial community with quorum sensing approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyong Zeng
- School of Liquor and Food Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Fermentation and Biophomacy, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China.
| | - Yunman Zou
- School of Liquor and Food Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Fermentation and Biophomacy, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Jia Zheng
- Wuliangye Yibin Co Ltd, No.150 Minjiang West Road, Yibin City 644007, China
| | - Shuyi Qiu
- School of Liquor and Food Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Fermentation and Biophomacy, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Lanlan Liu
- School of Liquor and Food Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Fermentation and Biophomacy, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Chaoyang Wei
- School of Liquor and Food Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Fermentation and Biophomacy, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
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16
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Khumngern S, Jeerapan I. Advances in wearable electrochemical antibody-based sensors for cortisol sensing. Anal Bioanal Chem 2023:10.1007/s00216-023-04577-y. [PMID: 36781449 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-023-04577-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Cortisol is a crucial hormone involving many physiological processes. Hence, cortisol detection is essential. This review highlights the key progress made on wearable electrochemical sensors using antibodies. It covers the design, principle, and electroanalytical methodology for detecting cortisol noninvasively. This article also analyzes and collects the analytical performances of electrochemical cortisol sensors. The development of these sensors continues to face challenges such as biofouling, sample management, sensitivity, flexibility, stability, and recognition layer performance. It is also necessary to develop a sensitive electrode and material. This article also presents potential strategies for designing antibody electrodes and provides examples of sensing systems. Additionally, it discusses the challenges in translating research into practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suntisak Khumngern
- Division of Physical Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, 90110, Songkhla, Thailand.,Center of Excellence for Trace Analysis and Biosensor, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, 90110, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Itthipon Jeerapan
- Division of Physical Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, 90110, Songkhla, Thailand. .,Center of Excellence for Trace Analysis and Biosensor, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, 90110, Songkhla, Thailand. .,Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, 90110, Songkhla, Thailand.
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17
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Choi YN, Cho N, Lee K, Gwon DA, Lee JW, Lee J. Programmable Synthesis of Biobased Materials Using Cell-Free Systems. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2203433. [PMID: 36108274 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202203433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Motivated by the intricate mechanisms underlying biomolecule syntheses in cells that chemistry is currently unable to mimic, researchers have harnessed biological systems for manufacturing novel materials. Cell-free systems (CFSs) utilizing the bioactivity of transcriptional and translational machineries in vitro are excellent tools that allow supplementation of exogenous materials for production of innovative materials beyond the capability of natural biological systems. Herein, recent studies that have advanced the ability to expand the scope of biobased materials using CFS are summarized and approaches enabling the production of high-value materials, prototyping of genetic parts and modules, and biofunctionalization are discussed. By extending the reach of chemical and enzymatic reactions complementary to cellular materials, CFSs provide new opportunities at the interface of materials science and synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Nam Choi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Namjin Cho
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Kanghun Lee
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering (I-Bio), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Da-Ae Gwon
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Wook Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering (I-Bio), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Joongoo Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering (I-Bio), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
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18
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Usai F, Loi G, Scocozza F, Bellato M, Castagliuolo I, Conti M, Pasotti L. Design and biofabrication of bacterial living materials with robust and multiplexed biosensing capabilities. Mater Today Bio 2022; 18:100526. [PMID: 36632629 PMCID: PMC9826803 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The intertwined adoption of synthetic biology and 3D bioprinting has the potential to improve different application fields by fabricating engineered living materials (ELMs) with unnatural genetically-encoded sense & response capabilities. However, efforts are still needed to streamline the fabrication of sensing ELMs compatible with field use and improving their functional complexity. To investigate these two unmet needs, we adopted a workflow to reproducibly construct bacterial ELMs with synthetic biosensing circuits that provide red pigmentation as visible readout in response to different proof-of-concept chemical inducers. We first fabricated single-input/single-output ELMs and we demonstrated their robust performance in terms of longevity (cell viability and evolutionary stability >15 days, and long-term storage >1 month), sensing in harsh, non-sterile or nutrient-free conditions compatible with field use (soil, water, and clinical samples, including real samples from Pseudomonas aeruginosa infected patients). Then, we fabricated ELMs including multiple spatially-separated biosensor strains to engineer: level-bar materials detecting molecule concentration ranges, multi-input/multi-output devices with multiplexed sensing and information processing capabilities, and materials with cell-cell communication enabling on-demand pattern formation. Overall, we showed successful field use and multiplexed functioning of reproducibly fabricated ELMs, paving the way to a future automation of the prototyping process and boosting applications of such devices as in-situ monitoring tools or easy-to-use sensing kits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Usai
- Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 5, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giada Loi
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 3, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Franca Scocozza
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 3, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Massimo Bellato
- Department of Information Engineering, University of Padua, Via Gradenigo 6b, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Ignazio Castagliuolo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Via Gabelli 63, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Michele Conti
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 3, 27100 Pavia, Italy,Corresponding author.
| | - Lorenzo Pasotti
- Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 5, 27100, Pavia, Italy,Corresponding author.
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19
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Delatour E, Pagnout C, Zaffino ML, Duval JFL. Comparative Analysis of Cell Metabolic Activity Sensing by Escherichia coli rrnB P1-lux and Cd Responsive-Lux Biosensors: Time-Resolved Experiments and Mechanistic Modelling. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:763. [PMID: 36140148 PMCID: PMC9496673 DOI: 10.3390/bios12090763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Whole-cell bacterial sensors are used in medical/environmental applications to detect chemicals, and to assess medium toxicity or stress. Non-specific constitutive biosensors generally serve the latter purpose, whereas chemical detection is performed with biosensors involving a specific chemical-inducible promoter. Herein, we show that functioning principles of specific and non-specific whole-cell biosensors are not exclusive as both can probe modulations of cell metabolic activity under stressing conditions. The demonstration is based on (i) time-resolved measurements of bioluminescence produced by constitutive rrnB P1-luxCDABE Escherichia coli biosensor in media differing with respect to carbon source, (ii) theoretical reconstruction of the measured signals using a here-reported theory for bioluminescence generated by constitutive cells, (iii) comparison between time-dependent cell photoactivity (reflecting metabolic activity) retrieved by theory with that we reported recently for cadmium-inducible PzntA-luxCDABE E. coli in media of similar compositions. Whereas signals of constitutive and non-constitutive biosensors differ in terms of shape, amplitude and peak number depending on nutritional medium conditions, analysis highlights the features shared by their respective cell photoactivity patterns mediated by the interplay between stringent response and catabolite repressions. The work advocates for the benefits of a theoretical interpretation for the time-dependent response of biosensors to unravel metabolic and physicochemical contributions to the bioluminescence signal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Delatour
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, LIEC (Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Environnements Continentaux), UMR7360, Campus Bridoux, F-57070 Metz, France
| | - Christophe Pagnout
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, LIEC (Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Environnements Continentaux), UMR7360, Campus Bridoux, F-57070 Metz, France
| | - Marie L. Zaffino
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, LIEC (Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Environnements Continentaux), UMR7360, Campus Bridoux, F-57070 Metz, France
| | - Jérôme F. L. Duval
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, LIEC, UMR7360, F-54501 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
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20
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Kaushal S, Shrivastava S, Yun YR, Park Y, Thanh-Qui Nguyen T, Meeseepong M, Lee E, Jeon B, Gu MB, Yang S, Lee NE. Culture-Free Quantification of Bacteria Using Digital Fluorescence Imaging in a Tunable Magnetic Capturing Cartridge for Onsite Food Testing. ACS Sens 2022; 7:2188-2197. [PMID: 35930745 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.2c00372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Accurate, onsite detection of pathogenic bacteria from food matrices is required to rapidly respond to pathogen outbreaks. However, accurately detecting whole-cell bacteria in large sample volumes without an enrichment step remains a challenge. Therefore, bacterial samples must be concentrated, identified, and quantified. We developed a tunable magnetic capturing cartridge (TMCC) and combined it with a portable digital fluorescence reader for quick, onsite, quantitative detection of Staphylococcus aureus. The TMCC platform integrates an absorption pad impregnated with water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with an injection-molded polycarbonate (PC) plate that has a hard magnet on its back and an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene case. An S. aureus-specific antibody conjugated with magnetic nanoparticles was used to concentrate bacteria from a large-volume sample and capture bacteria within the TMCC. The retention time for capturing bacteria on the TMCC was adjusted by controlling the concentration and volume of the PVA solution. Concentrated bacterial samples bound to target-specific aptamer probes conjugated with quantum dots were loaded into the TMCC for a controlled time, followed by attachment of the bacteria to the PC plate and removal of unbound aptamer probes with wash buffer. The captured bacteria were quantified using a digital fluorescence reader equipped with an embedded program that automatically counts fluorescently tagged bacteria. The bacterial count made using the TMCC was comparable to a standard plate count (R2 = 0.9898), with assay sensitivity and specificity of 94.3 and 100%, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Kaushal
- School of Advanced Materials Science & Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Gyeonggi-do, Suwon 16419, Korea
| | - Sajal Shrivastava
- School of Advanced Materials Science & Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Gyeonggi-do, Suwon 16419, Korea
| | - Young-Ran Yun
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 61005, Korea
| | - Younghyeon Park
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Gyeonggi-do, Suwon 16419, Korea
| | - Thi Thanh-Qui Nguyen
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Montri Meeseepong
- SKKU Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology (SAINT), Sungkyunkwan University, Gyeonggi-do, Suwon 16419, Korea
| | - Eunghyuk Lee
- SKKU Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology (SAINT), Sungkyunkwan University, Gyeonggi-do, Suwon 16419, Korea
| | - Byeungwoo Jeon
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Gyeonggi-do, Suwon 16419, Korea
| | - Man Bock Gu
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Sung Yang
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 61005, Korea.,School of Mechanical Engineering, GIST, Gwangju 610005, Korea
| | - Nae-Eung Lee
- School of Advanced Materials Science & Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Gyeonggi-do, Suwon 16419, Korea.,SKKU Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology (SAINT), Sungkyunkwan University, Gyeonggi-do, Suwon 16419, Korea.,Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences & Technology (SAIHST), Sungkyunkwan University, Gyeonggi-do, Suwon 16419, Korea.,Institute of Quantum Biophysics (IQB), Sungkyunkwan University, Gyeonggi-do, Suwon 16419, Korea.,Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU (BICS), Sungkyunkwan University, Gyeonggi-do, Suwon 16419, Korea
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21
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Pham HL, Ling H, Chang MW. Design and fabrication of field-deployable microbial biosensing devices. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2022; 76:102731. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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22
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Deter HS, Lu T. Engineering microbial consortia with rationally designed cellular interactions. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2022; 76:102730. [PMID: 35609504 PMCID: PMC10129393 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic microbial consortia represent a frontier of synthetic biology that promises versatile engineering of cellular functions. They are primarily developed through the design and construction of cellular interactions that coordinate individual dynamics and generate collective behaviors. Here we review recent advances in the engineering of synthetic communities through cellular-interaction programming. We first examine fundamental building blocks for intercellular communication and unidirectional positive and negative interactions. We then recap the assembly of the building blocks for creating bidirectional interactions in two-species ecosystems, which is followed by the discussion of engineering toward complex communities with increasing species numbers, under spatial contexts, and via model-guided design. We conclude by summarizing major challenges and future opportunities of engineered microbial ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather S Deter
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Intelligence Community Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Ting Lu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Department of Physics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; National Center for Supercomputing Applications, Urbana, IL, USA.
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23
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Harbaugh SV, Silverman AD, Chushak YG, Zimlich K, Wolfe M, Thavarajah W, Jewett MC, Lucks JB, Chávez JL. Engineering a Synthetic Dopamine-Responsive Riboswitch for In Vitro Biosensing. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:2275-2283. [PMID: 35775197 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The detection of chemicals using natural allosteric transcription factors is a powerful strategy for point-of-use molecular sensing, particularly using fieldable cell-free gene expression (CFE) systems. However, the reliance of detection schemes on characterized protein-based sensors limits the number of measurable analytes. One alternative solution to this issue is to develop new sensors by generating RNA aptamers against the target analyte and then incorporating them directly into a riboswitch scaffold for ligand-inducible genetic control of a reporter protein. However, this strategy has not generated more than a handful of successful portable cell-free molecular sensors. To address this gap, here we convert dopamine-binding aptamers into functional dopamine-sensing riboswitches that regulate gene expression in a freeze-dried CFE reaction. We then develop an assay for direct detection and semi-quantification of dopamine in human urine. We anticipate that this work will be broadly applicable for converting many in vitro-generated RNA aptamers into fieldable molecular diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana V Harbaugh
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Adam D Silverman
- Sherlock Biosciences, Boston, Massachusetts 02135, United States
| | - Yaroslav G Chushak
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Dayton, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Kathryn Zimlich
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Dayton, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Monica Wolfe
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States.,UES, Inc., Dayton, Ohio 45432, United States
| | - Walter Thavarajah
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Michael C Jewett
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,International Institute of Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Julius B Lucks
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,International Institute of Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Jorge L Chávez
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
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24
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Transcription Factor-Based Biosensors for Detecting Pathogens. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12070470. [PMID: 35884273 PMCID: PMC9312912 DOI: 10.3390/bios12070470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Microorganisms are omnipresent and inseparable from our life. Many of them are beneficial to humans, while some are not. Importantly, foods and beverages are susceptible to microbial contamination, with their toxins causing illnesses and even death in some cases. Therefore, monitoring and detecting harmful microorganisms are critical to ensuring human health and safety. For several decades, many methods have been developed to detect and monitor microorganisms and their toxicants. Conventionally, nucleic acid analysis and antibody-based analysis were used to detect pathogens. Additionally, diverse chromatographic methods were employed to detect toxins based on their chemical and structural properties. However, conventional techniques have several disadvantages concerning analysis time, sensitivity, and expense. With the advances in biotechnology, new approaches to detect pathogens and toxins have been reported to compensate for the disadvantages of conventional analysis from different research fields, including electrochemistry, nanotechnology, and molecular biology. Among them, we focused on the recent studies of transcription factor (TF)-based biosensors to detect microorganisms and discuss their perspectives and applications. Additionally, the other biosensors for detecting microorganisms reported in recent studies were also introduced in this review.
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He J, Zhang X, Qian Y, Wang Q, Bai Y. An engineered quorum-sensing-based whole-cell biosensor for active degradation of organophosphates. Biosens Bioelectron 2022; 206:114085. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2022.114085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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León-Buitimea A, Balderas-Cisneros FDJ, Garza-Cárdenas CR, Garza-Cervantes JA, Morones-Ramírez JR. Synthetic Biology Tools for Engineering Microbial Cells to Fight Superbugs. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:869206. [PMID: 35600895 PMCID: PMC9114757 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.869206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
With the increase in clinical cases of bacterial infections with multiple antibiotic resistance, the world has entered a health crisis. Overuse, inappropriate prescribing, and lack of innovation of antibiotics have contributed to the surge of microorganisms that can overcome traditional antimicrobial treatments. In 2017, the World Health Organization published a list of pathogenic bacteria, including Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli (ESKAPE). These bacteria can adapt to multiple antibiotics and transfer their resistance to other organisms; therefore, studies to find new therapeutic strategies are needed. One of these strategies is synthetic biology geared toward developing new antimicrobial therapies. Synthetic biology is founded on a solid and well-established theoretical framework that provides tools for conceptualizing, designing, and constructing synthetic biological systems. Recent developments in synthetic biology provide tools for engineering synthetic control systems in microbial cells. Applying protein engineering, DNA synthesis, and in silico design allows building metabolic pathways and biological circuits to control cellular behavior. Thus, synthetic biology advances have permitted the construction of communication systems between microorganisms where exogenous molecules can control specific population behaviors, induce intracellular signaling, and establish co-dependent networks of microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel León-Buitimea
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología y Nanotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Parque de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Apodaca, Mexico
| | - Francisco de Jesús Balderas-Cisneros
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología y Nanotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Parque de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Apodaca, Mexico
| | - César Rodolfo Garza-Cárdenas
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología y Nanotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Parque de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Apodaca, Mexico
| | - Javier Alberto Garza-Cervantes
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología y Nanotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Parque de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Apodaca, Mexico
| | - José Rubén Morones-Ramírez
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología y Nanotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Parque de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Apodaca, Mexico
- *Correspondence: José Rubén Morones-Ramírez,
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Sahu S, Roy R, Anand R. Harnessing the Potential of Biological Recognition Elements for Water Pollution Monitoring. ACS Sens 2022; 7:704-715. [PMID: 35275620 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.1c02579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Environmental monitoring of pollutants is an imperative first step to remove the genotoxic, embryotoxic, and carcinogenic toxins. Various biological sensing elements such as proteins, aptamers, whole cells, etc., have been used to track down major pollutants, including heavy metals, aromatic pollutants, pathogenic microorganisms, and pesticides in both environmental samples and drinking water, demonstrating their potential in a true sense. The intermixed use of nanomaterials, electronics, and microfluidic systems has further improved the design and enabled robust on-site detection with enhanced sensitivity. Through this perspective, we shed light on the advances in the field and entail recent efforts to optimize these systems for real-time, online sensing and on-site field monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhankar Sahu
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India
| | - Rohita Roy
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India
| | - Ruchi Anand
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India
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Abstract
Printing technology promises a viable solution for the low-cost, rapid, flexible, and mass fabrication of biosensors. Among the vast number of printing techniques, screen printing and inkjet printing have been widely adopted for the fabrication of biosensors. Screen printing provides ease of operation and rapid processing; however, it is bound by the effects of viscous inks, high material waste, and the requirement for masks, to name a few. Inkjet printing, on the other hand, is well suited for mass fabrication that takes advantage of computer-aided design software for pattern modifications. Furthermore, being drop-on-demand, it prevents precious material waste and offers high-resolution patterning. To exploit the features of inkjet printing technology, scientists have been keen to use it for the development of biosensors since 1988. A vast number of fully and partially inkjet-printed biosensors have been developed ever since. This study presents a short introduction on the printing technology used for biosensor fabrication in general, and a brief review of the recent reports related to virus, enzymatic, and non-enzymatic biosensor fabrication, via inkjet printing technology in particular.
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Vasudevan S, Srinivasan P, Neelakantan P, Rayappan JBB, Solomon AP. Photoluminescence-Based Bioassay With Cysteamine-Capped TiO 2 Nanoparticles for the Selective Recognition of N-Acyl Homoserine Lactones. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:750933. [PMID: 34926417 PMCID: PMC8678280 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.750933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently available diagnostic procedures for infections are laborious and time-consuming, resulting in a substantial financial burden by increasing morbidity, increased costs of hospitalization, and mortality. Therefore, innovative approaches to design diagnostic biomarkers are imperative to assist in the rapid and sensitive diagnosis of microbial infections. Acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) are ubiquitous bacterial signaling molecules that are found to be significantly upregulated in infected sites. In this pioneering work, we have developed a simple photoluminescence-based assay using cysteamine-capped titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles for AHL detection. The PL intensity variation of the oxygen defect state of TiO2 was used for the biosensing measurements. The bioassays were validated using two well-studied AHL molecules (C4-HSL and 3-oxo-C12 HSL) of an important human pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The developed system has a maximum relative response of 98%. Furthermore, the efficacy of the system in simulated host urine using an artificial urine medium showed a linear detection range of 10-160 nM. Also, we confirmed the relative response and specificity of the system in detecting AHLs produced by P. aeruginosa in a temporal manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahana Vasudevan
- Quorum Sensing Laboratory, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Parthasarathy Srinivasan
- Nanosensors Laboratory, School of Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Centre for Nanotechnology & Advanced Biomaterials (CeNTAB), SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, India
- Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering, AMRITA Vishwa Vidyapeetham Chennai Campus, Chennai, India
| | - Prasanna Neelakantan
- Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong KongSAR, China
| | - John Bosco Balaguru Rayappan
- Nanosensors Laboratory, School of Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Centre for Nanotechnology & Advanced Biomaterials (CeNTAB), SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Adline Princy Solomon
- Quorum Sensing Laboratory, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, India
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