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Pal P, Pramanik K, Ghosh SK, Mondal S, Mondal T, Soren T, Maiti TK. Molecular and eco-physiological responses of soil-borne lead (Pb 2+)-resistant bacteria for bioremediation and plant growth promotion under lead stress. Microbiol Res 2024; 287:127831. [PMID: 39079267 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2024.127831] [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: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024]
Abstract
Lead (Pb) is the 2nd known portentous hazardous substance after arsenic (As). Being highly noxious, widespread, non-biodegradable, prolonged environmental presence, and increasing accumulation, particularly in arable land, Pb pollution has become a serious global health concern requiring urgent remediation. Soil-borne, indigenous microbes from Pb-polluted sites have evolved diverse resistance strategies, involving biosorption, bioprecipitation, biomineralization, biotransformation, and efflux mechanisms, under continuous exposure to Pb in human-impacted surroundings. These strategies employ a wide range of functional bioligands to capture Pb and render it inaccessible for leaching. Recent breakthroughs in molecular technology and understanding of lead resistance mechanisms offer the potential for utilizing microbes as biological tools in environmental risk assessment. Leveraging the specific affinity and sensitivity of bacterial regulators to Pb2+ ions, numerous lead biosensors have been designed and deployed worldwide to monitor Pb bioavailability in contaminated sites, even at trace levels. Besides, the ongoing degradation of croplands due to Pb pollution poses a significant challenge to meet the escalating global food demands. The accumulation of Pb in plant tissues jeopardizes both food safety and security while severely impacting plant growth. Exploring Pb-resistant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) presents a promising sustainable approach to agricultural practices. The active associations of PGPR with host plants have shown enhancements in plant biomass and stress alleviation under Pb influence. They thus serve a dual purpose for plants grown in Pb-contaminated areas. This review aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of the role played by Pb-resistant soil-borne indigenous bacteria in expediting bioremediation and improving the growth of Pb-challenged plants essential for potential field application, thus broadening prospects for future research and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Pal
- Microbiology Laboratory, CAS, Department of Botany, Burdwan University, Burdwan, West Bengal 713104, India
| | - Krishnendu Pramanik
- Department of Botany, Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University, Panchanan Nagar, Vivekananda Street, Cooch Behar, West Bengal 736101, India
| | - Sudip Kumar Ghosh
- Microbiology Laboratory, CAS, Department of Botany, Burdwan University, Burdwan, West Bengal 713104, India
| | - Sayanta Mondal
- Microbiology Laboratory, CAS, Department of Botany, Burdwan University, Burdwan, West Bengal 713104, India
| | - Tanushree Mondal
- Microbiology Laboratory, CAS, Department of Botany, Burdwan University, Burdwan, West Bengal 713104, India
| | - Tithi Soren
- Microbiology Laboratory, CAS, Department of Botany, Burdwan University, Burdwan, West Bengal 713104, India
| | - Tushar Kanti Maiti
- Microbiology Laboratory, CAS, Department of Botany, Burdwan University, Burdwan, West Bengal 713104, India.
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Mulenga M, Monde C, Johnson T, Ouma KO, Syampungani S. Advances in the integration of microalgal communities for biomonitoring of metal pollution in aquatic ecosystems of sub-Saharan Africa. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:40795-40817. [PMID: 38822177 PMCID: PMC11190019 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33781-1] [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: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
This review elucidated the recent advances in integrating microalgal communities in monitoring metal pollution in aquatic ecosystems of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It also highlighted the potential of incorporating microalgae as bioindicators in emerging technologies, identified research gaps, and suggested directions for further research in biomonitoring of metal pollution. Reputable online scholarly databases were used to identify research articles published between January 2000 and June 2023 for synthesis. Results indicated that microalgae were integrated either individually or combined with other bioindicators, mainly macroinvertebrates, macrophytes, and fish, alongside physicochemical monitoring. There was a significantly low level of integration (< 1%) of microalgae for biomonitoring aquatic metal pollution in SSA compared to other geographical regions. Microalgal communities were employed to assess compliance (76%), in diagnosis (38%), and as early-warning systems (38%) of aquatic ecological health status. About 14% of biomonitoring studies integrated microalgal eDNA, while other technologies, such as remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and biosensors, are yet to be significantly incorporated. Nevertheless, there is potential for the aforementioned emerging technologies for monitoring aquatic metal pollution in SSA. Future monitoring in the region should also consider the standardisation and synchronisation of integrative biomonitoring and embrace the "Citizen Science" concept at national and regional scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Mulenga
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Mathematics & Natural Sciences, Copperbelt University, P. O. Box 21692, Kitwe, Zambia.
- Chair-Environment & Development, Oliver R Tambo Africa Research Chair Initiative (ORTARChI), Copperbelt University, P. O. Box 21692, Kitwe, Zambia.
| | - Concillia Monde
- Department of Zoology & Aquatic Sciences, School of Natural Resources, Copperbelt University, P. O. Box 21692, Kitwe, Zambia
- Chair-Environment & Development, Oliver R Tambo Africa Research Chair Initiative (ORTARChI), Copperbelt University, P. O. Box 21692, Kitwe, Zambia
| | - Todd Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Mathematics & Natural Sciences, Copperbelt University, P. O. Box 21692, Kitwe, Zambia
| | - Kennedy O Ouma
- Department of Zoology & Aquatic Sciences, School of Natural Resources, Copperbelt University, P. O. Box 21692, Kitwe, Zambia
| | - Stephen Syampungani
- Department of Plant & Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Resources, Copperbelt University, P. O. Box 21692, Kitwe, Zambia
- Chair-Environment & Development, Oliver R Tambo Africa Research Chair Initiative (ORTARChI), Copperbelt University, P. O. Box 21692, Kitwe, Zambia
- Forest Science Postgraduate Program, Department of Plant & Soil Sciences, Plant Sciences Complex, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
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Zhu X, Xiang Q, Chen L, Chen J, Wang L, Jiang N, Hao X, Zhang H, Wang X, Li Y, Omer R, Zhang L, Wang Y, Zhuang Y, Huang J. Engineered Bacillus subtilis Biofilm@Biochar living materials for in-situ sensing and bioremediation of heavy metal ions pollution. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133119. [PMID: 38134689 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133119] [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: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The simultaneous sensing and remediation of multiple heavy metal ions in wastewater or soil with microorganisms is currently a significant challenge. In this study, the microorganism Bacillus subtilis was used as a chassis organism to construct two genetic circuits for sensing and adsorbing heavy-metal ions. The engineered biosensor can sense three heavy metal ions (0.1-75 μM of Pb2+ and Cu2+, 0.01-3.5 μM of Hg2+) in situ real-time with high sensitivity. The engineered B. subtilis TasA-metallothionein (TasA-MT) biofilm can specifically adsorb metal ions from the environment, exhibiting remarkable removal efficiencies of 99.5% for Pb2+, 99.9% for Hg2+and 99.5% for Cu2+ in water. Furthermore, this engineered strain (as a biosensor and absorber of Pb2+, Cu2+, and Hg2+) was incubated with biochar to form a hybrid biofilm@biochar (BBC) material that could be applied in the bioremediation of heavy metal ions. The results showed that BBC material not only significantly reduced exchangeable Pb2+ in the soil but also reduced Pb2+ accumulation in maize plants. In addition, it enhanced maize growth and biomass. In conclusion, this study examined the potential applications of biosensors and hybrid living materials constructed using sensing and adsorption circuits in B. subtilis, providing rapid and cost-effective tools for sensing and remediating multiple heavy metal ions (Pb2+, Hg2+, and Cu2+).
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojuan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing (SCICB), East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China
| | - Qinyuan Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing (SCICB), East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China
| | - Lin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing (SCICB), East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China
| | - Jianshu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing (SCICB), East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China
| | - Lei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing (SCICB), East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China
| | - Ning Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing (SCICB), East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China
| | - Xiangrui Hao
- Shanghai Nong Le Biological Products Company Limited (NLBP), Shanghai 201419, PR China
| | - Hongyan Zhang
- Shanghai Nong Le Biological Products Company Limited (NLBP), Shanghai 201419, PR China
| | - Xinhua Wang
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai 200240, PR China
| | - Yaqian Li
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai 200240, PR China
| | - Rabia Omer
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing (SCICB), East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China
| | - Lingfan Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China
| | - Yonghong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China
| | - Yingping Zhuang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing (SCICB), East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China
| | - Jiaofang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China; College of Life Science, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, PR China.
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4
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Tulin G, Figueroa NR, Checa SK, Soncini FC. The multifarious MerR family of transcriptional regulators. Mol Microbiol 2024; 121:230-242. [PMID: 38105009 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15212] [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: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The MerR family of transcriptional regulators includes a variety of bacterial cytoplasmic proteins that respond to a wide range of signals, including toxins, metal ions, and endogenous metabolites. Its best-characterized members share similar structural and functional features with the family founder, the mercury sensor MerR, although most of them do not respond to metal ions. The group of "canonical" MerR homologs displays common molecular mechanisms for controlling the transcriptional activation of their target genes in response to inducer signals. This includes the recognition of distinctive operator sequences located at suboptimal σ70 -dependent promoters. Interestingly, an increasing number of proteins assigned to the MerR family based on their DNA-binding domain do not match in structure, sequence, or mode of action with any of the canonical MerR-like regulators. Here, we analyzed several members of the family, including this last group. Based on a phylogenetic analysis, and similarities in structural/functional features and position of their target operators relative to the promoter elements, we propose to assign these "atypical/divergent" MerR regulators to a phylogenetically separated group. These atypical/divergent homologs represent a new class of transcriptional regulators with novel regulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo Tulin
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Nicolás R Figueroa
- Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Susana K Checa
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Fernando C Soncini
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rosario, Argentina
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Teng T, Huang WE, Li G, Wang X, Song Y, Tang X, Dawa D, Jiang B, Zhang D. Application of magnetic-nanoparticle functionalized whole-cell biosensor array for bioavailability and ecotoxicity estimation at urban contaminated sites. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 896:165292. [PMID: 37414179 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
The bioavailability and ecotoxicity of pollutants are important for urban ecological systems and human health, particularly at contaminated urban sites. Therefore, whole-cell bioreporters are used in many studies to assess the risks of priority chemicals; however, their application is restricted by low throughput for specific compounds and complicated operations for field tests. In this study, an assembly technology for manufacturing Acinetobacter-based biosensor arrays using magnetic nanoparticle functionalization was developed to solve this problem. The bioreporter cells maintained high viability, sensitivity, and specificity in sensing 28 priority chemicals, seven heavy metals, and seven inorganic compounds in a high-throughput manner, and their performance remained acceptable for at least 20 d. We also tested the performance by assessing 22 real environmental soil samples from urban areas in China, and our results showed positive correlations between the biosensor estimation and chemical analysis. Our findings prove the feasibility of the magnetic nanoparticle-functionalized biosensor array to recognize the types and toxicities of multiple contaminants for online environmental monitoring at contaminated sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Teng
- Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Ministry of Education, Changchun 130021, PR China; College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, PR China
| | - Wei E Huang
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK
| | - Guanghe Li
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Xinzi Wang
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China; Suzhou Yiqing Environmental Technology Co. Ltd., Suzhou 215163, PR China
| | - Yizhi Song
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, PR China
| | - Xiaoyi Tang
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 2YQ, UK
| | - Dunzhu Dawa
- Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Ministry of Education, Changchun 130021, PR China; College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, PR China
| | - Bo Jiang
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, PR China
| | - Dayi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Ministry of Education, Changchun 130021, PR China; College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, PR China.
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6
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Naseri G, Raasch H, Charpentier E, Erhardt M. A versatile regulatory toolkit of arabinose-inducible artificial transcription factors for Enterobacteriaceae. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1005. [PMID: 37789111 PMCID: PMC10547716 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05363-3] [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: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The Gram-negative bacteria Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli are important model organisms, powerful prokaryotic expression platforms for biotechnological applications, and pathogenic strains constitute major public health threats. To facilitate new approaches for research and biotechnological applications, we here develop a set of arabinose-inducible artificial transcription factors (ATFs) using CRISPR/dCas9 and Arabidopsis-derived DNA-binding proteins to control gene expression in E. coli and Salmonella over a wide inducer concentration range. The transcriptional output of the different ATFs, in particular when expressed in Salmonella rewired for arabinose catabolism, varies over a wide spectrum (up to 35-fold gene activation). As a proof-of-concept, we use the developed ATFs to engineer a Salmonella two-input biosensor strain, SALSOR 0.2 (SALmonella biosenSOR 0.2), which detects and quantifies alkaloid drugs through a measurable fluorescent output. Moreover, we use plant-derived ATFs to regulate β-carotene biosynthesis in E. coli, resulting in ~2.1-fold higher β-carotene production compared to expression of the biosynthesis pathway using a strong constitutive promoter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gita Naseri
- Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
- Institut für Biologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstrasse 13, 10115, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Hannah Raasch
- Institut für Biologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstrasse 13, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Emmanuelle Charpentier
- Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Institut für Biologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstrasse 13, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marc Erhardt
- Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
- Institut für Biologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstrasse 13, 10115, Berlin, Germany.
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7
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Chen Y, Guo Y, Liu Y, Xiang Y, Liu G, Zhang Q, Yin Y, Cai Y, Jiang G. Advances in bacterial whole-cell biosensors for the detection of bioavailable mercury: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 868:161709. [PMID: 36682565 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) and its organic compounds, especially monomethylmercury (MeHg), cause major damage to the ecosystem and human health. In surface water or sediments, microorganisms play a crucial role in the methylation and demethylation of Hg. Given that Hg transformation processes are intracellular reactions, accurate assessment of the bioavailability of Hg(II)/MeHg in the environment, particularly for microorganisms, is of major importance. Compared with traditional analytical methods, bacterial whole-cell biosensors (BWCBs) provide a more accurate, convenient, and cost-effective strategy to assess the environmental risks of Hg(II)/MeHg. This Review summarizes recent progress in the application of BWCBs in the detection of bioavailable Hg(II)/MeHg, providing insight on current challenges and strategies. The principle and components of BWCBs for Hg(II)/MeHg bioavailability analysis are introduced. Furthermore, the impact of water chemical factors on the bioavailability of Hg is discussed as are future perspectives of BWCBs in bioavailable Hg analysis and optimization of BWCBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueqian Chen
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Yingying Guo
- Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yanwei Liu
- Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yuping Xiang
- Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
| | - Guangliang Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States of America
| | - Qinghua Zhang
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yongguang Yin
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China; Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Yong Cai
- Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States of America
| | - Guibin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Mendoza JI, Lescano J, Soncini FC, Checa SK. The protein scaffold calibrates metal specificity and activation in MerR sensors. Microb Biotechnol 2022; 15:2992-3002. [PMID: 36134649 PMCID: PMC9733647 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14151] [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: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
MerR metalloregulators are the central components of many biosensor platforms designed to report metal contamination. However, most MerR proteins are non-specific. This makes it difficult to apply these biosensors in the analysis of real environmental samples. On-demand implementation of molecular engineering to modify the MerR metal preferences is innovative, although it does not always yield the expected results. As the metal binding loop region (MBL) of these sensors has been proposed to be the major modulator of their specificity, we surgically switched this region for that of well-characterized specific and non-specific homologues. We found that identical modifications in different MerR proteins result in synthetic sensors displaying particular metal-detection patterns that cannot be predicted from the nature of the assembled modules. For instance, the MBL from a native Hg(II) sensor provided non-specificity or specificity toward Hg(II) or Cd(II) depending on the MerR scaffold into which it was integrated. These and other evidences reveal that residues outside the MBL are required to modulate ion recognition and transduce the input signal to the target promoter. Revealing their identity and their interactions with other residues is a critical step toward the design of more efficient biosensor devices for environmental metal monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julián I. Mendoza
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR)Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR)‐Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)RosarioArgentina
| | - Julián Lescano
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR)Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR)‐Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)RosarioArgentina
| | - Fernando C. Soncini
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR)Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR)‐Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)RosarioArgentina,Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y FarmacéuticasUniversidad Nacional de RosarioRosarioArgentina
| | - Susana K. Checa
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR)Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR)‐Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)RosarioArgentina,Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y FarmacéuticasUniversidad Nacional de RosarioRosarioArgentina
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9
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Zhang Y, Zhao C, Bi H, Zhang X, Xue B, Li C, Wang S, Yang X, Qiu Z, Wang J, Shen Z. A cell-free paper-based biosensor dependent on allosteric transcription factors (aTFs) for on-site detection of harmful metals Hg 2+ and Pb 2+ in water. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 438:129499. [PMID: 35816794 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Water quality monitoring requires a reliable and practical on-site detection method for heavy metal ions. Combining an in vitro transcription (IVT) technology with allosteric transcription factors (aTFs), we developed a cell-free paper-based biosensor for on-site detection of Hg2+ and Pb2+ in water. Suitable aTFs screened using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) were employed for building biosensors. ATFs could disassociate from DNA due to their specific affinity to metal ions, and fluorescent RNA was transcribed as a signal. The developed biosensor could quantitatively detect Hg2+ in a linear dynamic range of 0.5-500 nM and Pb2+ in a 1-250 nM range in a 1 h period. The LOD of the biosensor was 0.5 nM for Hg2+ and 0.1 nM for Pb2+. The recoveries ranged from 91.09% to 123.24% for actual water samples detection. Furthermore, freeze-drying was used to create a paper-based biosensor that could detect Hg2+ and Pb2+ simultaneously on-site. This research presents a useful technique for various heavy metal ion detections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongkang Zhang
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Chen Zhao
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China; Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Huaixiu Bi
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China; College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Bin Xue
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Chenyu Li
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Shang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Xiaobo Yang
- Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Zhigang Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Jingfeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin 300050, China.
| | - Zhiqiang Shen
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China.
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10
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Liu C, Yu H, Zhang B, Liu S, Liu CG, Li F, Song H. Engineering whole-cell microbial biosensors: Design principles and applications in monitoring and treatment of heavy metals and organic pollutants. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 60:108019. [PMID: 35853551 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.108019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Biosensors have been widely used as cost-effective, rapid, in situ, and real-time analytical tools for monitoring environments. The development of synthetic biology has enabled emergence of genetically engineered whole-cell microbial biosensors. This review updates the design and optimization principles for a diverse array of whole-cell biosensors based on transcription factors (TF) including activators or repressors derived from heavy metal resistance systems, alkanes, and aromatics metabolic pathways of bacteria. By designing genetic circuits, the whole-cell biosensors could be engineered to intelligently sense heavy metals (Hg2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Au3+, Cd2+, As3+, Ni2+, Cu2+, and UO22+) or organic compounds (alcohols, alkanes, phenols, and benzenes) through one-component or two-component system-based TFs, transduce signals through genetic amplifiers, and response as various outputs such as cell fluorescence and bioelectricity for monitoring heavy metals and organic pollutants in real conditions, synthetic curli and surface metal-binding peptides for in situ bio-sorption of heavy metals. We further review strategies that have been implemented to optimize the selectivity and correlation between ligand concentration and output signal of the TF-based biosensors, so as to meet requirements of practical applications. The optimization strategies include protein engineering to change specificities, promoter engineering to improve sensitivities, and genetic circuit-based amplification to enhance dynamic ranges via designing transcriptional amplifiers, logic gates, and feedback loops. At last, we outlook future trends in developing novel forms of biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changjiang Liu
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Huan Yu
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Baocai Zhang
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Shilin Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Chen-Guang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Feng Li
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
| | - Hao Song
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
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11
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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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12
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A Recombinase-Based Genetic Circuit for Heavy Metal Monitoring. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12020122. [PMID: 35200383 PMCID: PMC8870050 DOI: 10.3390/bios12020122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Rapid progress in the genetic circuit design enabled whole-cell biosensors (WCBs) to become prominent in detecting an extensive range of analytes with promise in many fields, from medical diagnostics to environmental toxicity assessment. However, several drawbacks, such as high background signal or low precision, limit WCBs to transfer from proof-of-concept studies to real-world applications, particularly for heavy metal toxicity monitoring. For an alternative WCB module design, we utilized Bxb1 recombinase that provides tight control as a switch to increase dose-response behavior concerning leakiness. The modularity of Bxb1 recombinase recognition elements allowed us to combine an engineered semi-specific heat shock response (HSR) promoter, sensitive to stress conditions including toxic ions such as cadmium, with cadmium resistance regulatory elements; a cadmium-responsive transcription factor and its cognitive promoter. We optimized the conditions for the recombinase-based cadmium biosensor to obtain increased fold change and shorter response time. This system can be expanded for various heavy metals to make an all-in-one type of WCB, even using semi-specific parts of a sensing system.
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13
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14
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Lee Y, Jeon Y, Jang G, Yoon Y. Derivation of pb(II)-sensing Escherichia coli cell-based biosensors from arsenic responsive genetic systems. AMB Express 2021; 11:169. [PMID: 34910261 PMCID: PMC8674403 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-021-01329-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Heavy metal-responsive operons were used for the generation of Escherichia coli cell-based biosensors. The selectivity and specificity of the biosensors were determined based on the interaction between heavy metals and regulatory proteins; thereby, the modulating target selectivity of biosensors could be achieved by changing target sensing properties of regulatory proteins. The results of this study demonstrated that Pb(II)-sensing biosensors could be generated from an arsenic-responsive genetic system, which was originally used for arsenic-sensing biosensors. The amino acids around to As(III)-binding sites of ArsR were mutated and cysteine residues were relocated to modulate the metal selectivity. In addition, genes encoding metal ion-translocating P-type ATPases, such as copA and zntA, were deleted to enhance the specificity by increasing the intercellular levels of divalent metal ions. Based on the results, channel protein deleted E. coli cells harboring a pair of recombinant genes, engineered ArsR and arsAp::egfp, showed enhanced responses upon Pb exposure and could be used to quantify the amount of Pb(II) in artificially contaminated water and plants grown in media containing Pb(II). Although we focused on generating Pb(II)-specific biosensors in this study, the proposed strategy has a great potential for the generation of diverse heavy metal-sensing biosensors and risk assessment of heavy metals in environmental samples as well as in plants.
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15
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Kannappan S, Ramisetty BCM. Engineered Whole-Cell-Based Biosensors: Sensing Environmental Heavy Metal Pollutants in Water-a Review. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2021; 194:1814-1840. [PMID: 34783990 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-021-03734-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The frequent exposure and accumulation of heavy metals in organisms cause serious health issues affecting a range of organs such as the brain, liver, and reproductive organs in adults, infants, and children. Several parts of the world have high levels of heavy metals affecting millions of people, costing millions of dollars for improving the potability of water and medical treatment of the affected. Hence, water quality assessment is required to monitor the degree of heavy metal contamination in potable water. In nature, organisms respond to various environmental pollutants such as heavy metals, allowing their survival in a diverse environmental niche. With the advent of recombinant DNA technology, it is now possible to manipulate these natural bioreporters into controlled systems which either turn on or off gene expression or activity of enzymes in the presence of specific heavy metals (compound-specific biosensors) otherwise termed as whole-cell biosensors (WCBs). WCBs provide an upper hand compared to other immunosensors, enzyme-based sensors, and DNA-based sensors since microbes can be relatively easily manipulated, scaled up with relative ease, and can detect only the bioavailable heavy metals. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the various mechanisms of toxicity elicited by various heavy metals, thence emphasizing the need to develop heavy metal sensing platforms. Following this, the biosensor-based platforms including WCBs for detecting heavy metals developed thus far have been briefly elaborated upon, emphasizing the challenges and solutions associated with WCBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shrute Kannappan
- Department of Precision Medicine, School of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, 16419, South Korea
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Technology, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, 16419, South Korea
- School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, India
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16
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Roy R, Ray S, Chowdhury A, Anand R. Tunable Multiplexed Whole-Cell Biosensors as Environmental Diagnostics for ppb-Level Detection of Aromatic Pollutants. ACS Sens 2021; 6:1933-1939. [PMID: 33973468 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.1c00329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Aromatics such as phenols, benzene, and toluene are carcinogenic xenobiotics which are known to pollute water resources. By employing synthetic biology approaches combined with a structure-guided design, we created a tunable array of whole-cell biosensors (WCBs). The MopR genetic system that has the natural ability to sense and degrade phenol was adapted to detect phenol down to ∼1 ppb, making this sensor capable of directly detecting phenol in permissible limits in drinking water. Importantly, by using a single WCB design, we engineered mutations into the MopR gene that enabled generation of a battery of sensors for a wide array of pollutants. The engineered WCBs were able to sense inert compounds like benzene and xylene which lack active functional groups, without any loss in sensitivity. Overall, this universal programmable biosensor platform can be used to create WCBs that can be deployed on field for rapid testing and screening of suitable drinking water sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohita Roy
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Powai, Mumbai 400076, India
| | - Shamayeeta Ray
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Powai, Mumbai 400076, India
| | - Arindam Chowdhury
- 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
- DBT-Welcome Trust India Alliance Senior Fellow, Mumbai 400076, India
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17
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Genetic circuits combined with machine learning provides fast responding living sensors. Biosens Bioelectron 2021; 178:113028. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2021.113028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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18
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Guo Y, Hui CY, Zhang NX, Liu L, Li H, Zheng HJ. Development of Cadmium Multiple-Signal Biosensing and Bioadsorption Systems Based on Artificial Cad Operons. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:585617. [PMID: 33644011 PMCID: PMC7902519 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.585617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of genetic engineering, especially synthetic biology, greatly contributes to the development of novel metal biosensors. The cad operon encoding cadmium resistance was previously characterized from Pseudomonas putida. In this study, single-, dual-, and triple-signal output Cd(II) biosensors were successfully developed using artificial translationally coupled cad operons. Sensitivity, selectivity, and response toward Cd(II) and Hg(II), of three biosensors were all determined. Reporter signals of three biosensors all increased within the range 0.1-3.125 μM Cd(II). Three biosensors responded strongly to Cd(II), and weakly to Hg(II). However, the detection ranges of Cd(II) and Hg(II) do not overlap in all three biosensors. Next, novel Cd(II) biosensing coupled with bioadsorptive artificial cad operons were assembled for the first time. Cd(II)-induced fluorescence emission, enzymatic indication, and Cd(II) binding protein surface display can be achieved simultaneously. This study provides an example of one way to realize multiple signal outputs and bioadsorption based on the redesigned heavy metal resistance operons, which may be a potential strategy for biodetection and removal of toxic metal in the environment, facilitating the study of the mechanism and dynamics of bioremediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Guo
- National Key Clinical Specialty of Occupational Diseases, Shenzhen Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chang-ye Hui
- Department of Pathology and Toxicology, Shenzhen Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Shenzhen, China
| | - Nai-xing Zhang
- National Key Clinical Specialty of Occupational Diseases, Shenzhen Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lisa Liu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hui Li
- National Key Clinical Specialty of Occupational Diseases, Shenzhen Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hong-ju Zheng
- National Key Clinical Specialty of Occupational Diseases, Shenzhen Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Shenzhen, China
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19
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Wang D, Zheng Y, Wei L, Wei N, Fan X, Huang S, Xiao Q. A signal-amplified whole-cell biosensor for sensitive detection of Hg 2+ based on Hg 2+-enhanced reporter module. J Environ Sci (China) 2020; 96:93-98. [PMID: 32819703 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2020.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A signal-amplified mercury sensing biosensor with desired sensitivity was developed through firstly using the GFP mutant with fluorescence increasing response towards Hg2+ as the reporter module. The developed biosensor showed response for Hg2+ in a relatively wide range of 1-10,000 nmol/L, and the detection limit was improved one or two orders of magnitude in comparison with most metal-sensing biosensors in similar constructs. In addition, the biosensor could distinguish Hg2+ easily from multiple metal ions and displayed strong adaptability to extensive pH conditions (pH 4.0-10.0). More importantly, the developed biosensor was able to provide an initial assessment of Hg2+ spiked in the environmental water with the recoveries between 85.70% and 112.50%. The signal-amplified strategy performed by the modified reporter module will be widely applicable to many other whole-cell biosensors, meeting the practical requirements with sufficient sensing performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wang
- College of Chemistry and Materials, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, China.
| | - Yanan Zheng
- College of Chemistry and Materials, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, China
| | - Liudan Wei
- College of Chemistry and Materials, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, China
| | - Na Wei
- College of Chemistry and Materials, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, China
| | - Xiaosu Fan
- Experimental Center of College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530005, China
| | - Shan Huang
- College of Chemistry and Materials, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, China
| | - Qi Xiao
- College of Chemistry and Materials, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, China.
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20
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Chen F, Warnock RL, Van der Meer JR, Wegner SV. Bioluminescence-Triggered Photoswitchable Bacterial Adhesions Enable Higher Sensitivity and Dual-Readout Bacterial Biosensors for Mercury. ACS Sens 2020; 5:2205-2210. [PMID: 32583665 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.0c00855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We present a new concept for whole-cell biosensors that couples the response to Hg2+ with bioluminescence and bacterial aggregation. This allows us to use the bacterial aggregation to preconcentrate the bioluminescent bacteria at the substrate surface and increase the sensitivity of Hg2+ detection. This whole-cell biosensor combines a Hg2+-sensitive bioluminescence reporter and light-responsive bacterial cell-cell adhesions. We demonstrate that the blue luminescence in response to Hg2+ is able to photoactivate bacterial aggregation, which provides a second readout for Hg2+ detection. In return, the Hg2+-triggered bacterial aggregation leads to faster sedimentation and more efficient formation of biofilms. At low Hg2+ concentrations, the enrichment of the bacteria in biofilms leads to an up to 10-fold increase in the signal. The activation of photoswitchable proteins with biological light is a new concept in optogenetics, and the presented bacterial biosensor design is transferable to other bioluminescent reporters with particular interest for environmental monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Chen
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Rachel L. Warnock
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Seraphine V. Wegner
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
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21
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Kim H, Jang G, Kim BG, Yoon Y. Modulation of the Metal(loid) Specificity of Whole-Cell Bioreporters by Genetic Engineering of ZntR Metal-Binding Loops. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 30:681-688. [PMID: 32482933 PMCID: PMC9728388 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.1911.11053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial cell-based biosensors, or whole-cell bioreporters (WCBs), are an alternative tool for the quantification of hazardous materials. Most WCBs share similar working mechanisms. In brief, the recognition of a target by sensing domains induces a biological event, such as changes in protein conformation or gene expression, providing a basis for quantification. WCBs targeting heavy metal(loid)s employ metalloregulators as sensing domains and control the expression of genes in the presence of target metal(loid) ions, but the diversity of targets, specificity, and sensitivity of these WCBs are limited. In this study, we genetically engineered the metal-binding loop (MBL) of ZntR, which controls the znt-operon in Escherichia coli. In the MBL of ZntR, three Cys sites interact with metal ions. Based on the crystal structure of ZntR, MBL sequences were modified by sitedirected mutagenesis. As a result, the metal-sensing properties of WCBs differed depending on amino acid sequences and the new selectivity to Cr or Pb was observed. Although there is room for improvement, our results support the use of currently available WCBs as a platform to generate new WCBs to target other environmental pollutants including metal(loid)s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyojin Kim
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Geupil Jang
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Bong-Gyu Kim
- Department of Forest Resources, Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology, Jinju 52725, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngdae Yoon
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
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22
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Mendoza JI, Soncini FC, Checa SK. Engineering of a Au-sensor to develop a Hg-specific, sensitive and robust whole-cell biosensor for on-site water monitoring. Chem Commun (Camb) 2020; 56:6590-6593. [PMID: 32406434 DOI: 10.1039/d0cc01323d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
A highly sensitive and specific Hg-whole-cell biosensor was developed from a non-selective variant of the Au sensor GolS and its regulatory pathway. The performance of this analytical tool was validated under laboratory and field-like conditions. This biosensor can be easily applied in cost-effective and portable semiquantitative devices to report Hg contamination in water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julián I Mendoza
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Rosario, Argentina.
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23
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Pang Y, Ren X, Li J, Liang F, Rao X, Gao Y, Wu W, Li D, Wang J, Zhao J, Hong X, Jiang F, Wang W, Zhou H, Lyu J, Tan G. Development of a Sensitive Escherichia coli Bioreporter Without Antibiotic Markers for Detecting Bioavailable Copper in Water Environments. Front Microbiol 2020; 10:3031. [PMID: 32038525 PMCID: PMC6993034 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.03031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The whole-cell bioreporters based on the cop-operon sensing elements have been proven specifically useful in the assessment of bioavailable copper ions in water environments. In this study, a series of experiments was conducted to further improve the sensitivity and robustness of bioreporters. First, an Escherichia coli △copA△cueO△cusA mutant with three copper transport genes knocked out was constructed. Then, the copAp::gfpmut2 sensing element was inserted into the chromosome of E. coli △copA△cueO△cusA by gene knock-in method to obtain the bioreporter strain E. coli WMC-007. In optimized assay conditions, the linear detection range of Cu2+ was 0.025–5 mg/L (0.39–78.68 μM) after incubating E. coli WMC-007 in Luria–Bertani medium for 5 h. The limit of detection of Cu2+ was 0.0157 mg/L (0.25 μM). Moreover, fluorescence spectrometry and flow cytometry experiments showed more environmental robustness and lower background fluorescence signal than those of the sensor element based on plasmids. In addition, we found that the expression of GFPmut2 in E. coli WMC-007 was induced by free copper ions, rather than complex-bound copper, in a dose-dependent manner. Particularly, the addition of 40 mM 3-(N-Morpholino)propanesulfonic acid buffer to E. coli WMC-007 culture enabled accurate quantification of bioavailable copper content in aqueous solution samples within a pH range from 0.87 to 12.84. The copper recovery rate was about 95.88–113.40%. These results demonstrate potential applications of E. coli WMC-007 as a bioreporter to monitor copper contamination in acidic mine drainage, industrial wastewater, and drinking water. Since whole-cell bioreporters are relatively inexpensive and easy to operate, the combination of this method with other physicochemical techniques will in turn provide more specific information on the degree of toxicity in water environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Pang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaojun Ren
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jianghui Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Feng Liang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyu Rao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yang Gao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Wenhe Wu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Dong Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Juanjuan Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jianguo Zhao
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xufen Hong
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Fengying Jiang
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Wu Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Huaibin Zhou
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jianxin Lyu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guoqiang Tan
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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24
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A novel biosensor for zinc detection based on microbial fuel cell system. Biosens Bioelectron 2019; 147:111763. [PMID: 31654820 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2019.111763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Microbial fuel cell (MFC) biosensors are self-sustainable device for monitoring of various substrates; however, for heavy metals detection are still scarce. In this study, E. coli BL21 was engineered to express the zntR, ribB, and oprF genes with PzntA promoter, which could sense zinc (Zn2+) for riboflavin and porin production. The engineered strain produced high levels of riboflavin (2.4-3.6 μM) and improved cell membrane permeability, with a positive correlation of Zn2+ (0-400 μM). The strain was then employed in MFC biosensor under the following operational parameters: external resistance 1000 Ω, pH 9, and temperature 37 °C for Zn2+ sensing. The maximum voltages (160, 183, 260, 292, and 342 mV) of the constructed MFC biosensor have a linear relationship with Zn2+ concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 μM, respectively) (R2 = 0.9777). An Android App was developed for the biosensor system that could sense Zn2+ in real-time and in situ. The biosensor was applied to wastewater with different Zn2+ concentrations and the results showed that the detection range for Zn2+ was 20-100 μM, which covers common Zn2+ safety standards. The results obtained with developed MFC biosensor were comparable to conventional methods such as colorimetric, flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS), and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). In summary, MFC biosensor with biosynthetic strain is an efficient and affordable system for real-time monitoring and sensing of heavy metals.
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25
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Engineered cells for selective detection and remediation of Hg2+ based on transcription factor MerR regulated cell surface displayed systems. Biochem Eng J 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2019.107289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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26
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Wang D, Zheng Y, Fan X, Xu L, Pang T, Liu T, Liang L, Huang S, Xiao Q. Visual detection of Hg 2+ by manipulation of pyocyanin biosynthesis through the Hg 2+-dependent transcriptional activator MerR in microbial cells. J Biosci Bioeng 2019; 129:223-228. [PMID: 31492609 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2019.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Mercury pollution has always been a huge threat to human health due to its significant toxicity. Thus, it's the continuing goal to obtain new mercury detection techniques that are cost-effective, operational stable, performance efficient, and applicable to the environmental and biological milieus. In this research, the soluble pigment pyocyanin with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities, the biosynthesis pathway of which was engineered under the regulation of Hg2+-dependent transcriptional activator MerR, was firstly used as the visual detection signal in the whole-cell biosensor. The engineered biosensor displayed optical sensing window and a good linearity for Hg2+ in the range of 25-1000 nM, and the detection limit could reach as low as 10 nM. It permitted on-site detection of bioavailable Hg2+ with extraordinary selectivity and could resist the interferences of extra metal ions. What's more, the developed biosensor performed function well in a wide pH range (pH 4-10) as well as the environmental water. By fully imitating and utilizing the biosystems from nature, the engineered colorimetric biosensor has great economic and performance advantages over most chemosensors as well as whole-cell biosensors in the practical application of detecting Hg2+ in the contaminated aquatic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wang
- College of Chemistry and Materials, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, PR China.
| | - Yanan Zheng
- College of Chemistry and Materials, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, PR China
| | - Xiaosu Fan
- Experimental Center of College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530005, PR China
| | - Lina Xu
- Institute of Chemical Industry of Forestry Products, CAF, Nanjing 210042, PR China
| | - Ting Pang
- College of Chemistry and Materials, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, PR China
| | - Ting Liu
- College of Chemistry and Materials, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, PR China
| | - Legui Liang
- College of Chemistry and Materials, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, PR China
| | - Shan Huang
- College of Chemistry and Materials, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, PR China
| | - Qi Xiao
- College of Chemistry and Materials, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, PR China
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27
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Gupta S, Sarkar S, Katranidis A, Bhattacharya J. Development of a Cell-Free Optical Biosensor for Detection of a Broad Range of Mercury Contaminants in Water: A Plasmid DNA-Based Approach. ACS OMEGA 2019; 4:9480-9487. [PMID: 31460039 PMCID: PMC6648214 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.9b00205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is one of the main water contaminants worldwide. In this study, we have developed both whole-cell and cell-free biosensors to detect Hg. Genetically modified plasmids containing the merR gene were used to design biosensors. Firefly luciferase (LucFF) and emerald green fluorescent protein (EmGFP) genes were separately introduced as a reporter. Both constructs showed a detection limit of 1 ppb (Hg) in Escherichia coli and the cell-free system. We found that higher concentrations of Hg become detrimental to bacteria. This cytotoxic effect shows an anomalous result in high Hg concentrations. This was also observed in the cell-free system. We found that EmGFP fluorescence was decreased in the cell-free system because of a change in pH and quenching effect by Hg excess. Once the pH was adjusted to 7 and a chelating agent was used, the EmGFP fluorescence was partially restored. These adjustments can only be done in the cell-free system after the GFP expression and not in whole cells where their number has been decreased because of toxicity. Therefore, we suggest the use of the cell-free-system, which not only reduces the total experimental time but also allows us to perform these postexperimental adjustments to achieve higher sensitivity. We would also recommend to perform more measurements at a time with different dilution factors to bring down the Hg concentration within the measurable limits or to use some other chelating agents which can further reduce the excess Hg concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurabh Gupta
- School
of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Sounik Sarkar
- School
of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Alexandros Katranidis
- Forschungszentrum
Jülich GmbH, Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-5: Molecular
Biophysics), Jülich 52425, Germany
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28
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Engineering and characterization of copper and gold sensors in Escherichia coli and Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 103:2797-2808. [PMID: 30645690 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-9490-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The anthropogenic release of toxic metals into the environment poses danger to the health of both humans and the local ecosystem. Biosensors for the detection of metals have been developed to improve our ability to monitor these environmental contaminants, yet most of these sensors use heterotrophic bacterial hosts, which require a fixed carbon source and do not typically grow in natural waterways. In this study, we constructed and characterized metal sensors for development of a photoautotrophic biosensor using Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. We characterized gold and copper sensors based on modified MerR transcriptional activators: GolSA113T, with improved gold binding, and GolSCL, containing the metal-binding loop from CueR which binds both gold and copper. The metal-sensing constructs were first optimized and characterized in Escherichia coli MG1655. The addition of a strong ribosome binding site to the optical reporter protein increased translation of the fluorescent reporter, and expression of golSA113T from the rbc promoter of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 improved the response to gold in MG1655. In rich medium, the GolSA113T-based E. coli sensor detected gold at concentrations as low as 100 nM, while the GolSCL-based E. coli sensor detected gold and copper at sensitivities of 100 nM and 10 μM, respectively. Both E. coli sensors responded to gold and copper yet showed no detectable response to other metals. Abiotic factors, such as medium complexity, were found to influence the response of the E. coli sensors, with minimal medium resulting in higher sensitivities of detection. Expression of the GolSA113T- and GolSCL-based sensor constructs in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 resulted in photoautotrophic gold sensors, but these biosensors failed to produce a significant response to copper. Moreover, the fluorescence response of the cyanobacterial sensors to gold was significantly reduced compared to that of analogous E. coli sensors. While this effort demonstrates feasibility for the development of photoautotrophic biosensors, additional efforts to optimize sensor performance will be required.
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29
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Huang L, Li S, Ling X, Zhang J, Qin A, Zhuang J, Gao M, Tang BZ. Dual detection of bioaccumulated Hg2+ based on luminescent bacteria and aggregation-induced emission. Chem Commun (Camb) 2019; 55:7458-7461. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cc02782c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
We develop a dual detection strategy for bioaccumulated Hg2+ based on turn-off of the bioluminescence of P. phosphoreum bacteria by disrupting the quorum sensing system and turn-on of the photoluminescence of an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) probe by forming aggregates with Hg2+ inside the bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letao Huang
- School of Medicine
- South China University of Technology
- Guangzhou 510006
- China
- State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices
| | - Shiwu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices
- Center for Aggregation-Induced Emission
- South China University of Technology
- Guangzhou 510640
- China
| | - Xia Ling
- State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices
- Center for Aggregation-Induced Emission
- South China University of Technology
- Guangzhou 510640
- China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Centre for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction
- Institute for Advanced Study, and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
- The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
- Kowloon
- China
| | - Anjun Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices
- Center for Aggregation-Induced Emission
- South China University of Technology
- Guangzhou 510640
- China
| | - Jian Zhuang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Guangdong Provincial Cardiovascular Institute
- Guangdong Provicial People's Hospital
- Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences
- Guangdong
- China
| | - Meng Gao
- National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction
- South China University of Technology
- Guangzhou
- China
| | - Ben Zhong Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices
- Center for Aggregation-Induced Emission
- South China University of Technology
- Guangzhou 510640
- China
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30
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Guo KH, Chen PH, Lin C, Chen CF, Lee IR, Yeh YC. Determination of Gold Ions in Human Urine Using Genetically Engineered Microorganisms on a Paper Device. ACS Sens 2018; 3:744-748. [PMID: 29589435 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.7b00931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents a whole-cell biosensor that operates in conjunction with a smartphone-based fluorescence diagnostic system on a paper device to monitor the concentration of gold ions in human urine. The heavy metal-tolerant bacteria Cupriavidus metallidurans was genetically engineered for use as a chassis in a red fluorescent protein (RFP)-based microbial sensor. The biosensor is highly sensitive to gold ions, with a detection limit of 110 nM. The proposed smartphone-based analysis system provides a user-friendly approach to design tools of personal health monitoring for reporting the presence of gold ions in human urine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Hong Guo
- Department of Chemistry , National Taiwan Normal University , Taipei 116 , Taiwan
| | - Pei-Hsuan Chen
- Department of Chemistry , National Taiwan Normal University , Taipei 116 , Taiwan
| | - Chieh Lin
- Department of Chemistry , National Taiwan Normal University , Taipei 116 , Taiwan
| | - Chien-Fu Chen
- Institute of Applied Mechanics , National Taiwan University , Taipei 106 , Taiwan
| | - I-Ren Lee
- Department of Chemistry , National Taiwan Normal University , Taipei 116 , Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chun Yeh
- Department of Chemistry , National Taiwan Normal University , Taipei 116 , Taiwan
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31
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Guang S, Wei G, Yan Z, Zhang Y, Zhao G, Wu R, Xu H. A novel turn-on fluorescent probe for the multi-channel detection of Zn2+ and Bi3+ with different action mechanisms. Analyst 2018; 143:449-457. [DOI: 10.1039/c7an01591g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
A novel multifunctional sensor, RSPT, was identified and developed for multichannel turn-on fluorescent responses to Zn2+ and Bi3+ in practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanyi Guang
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymers Materials & College of Materials Sciences and Engineering
- Donghua University
- Shanghai 201620
- China
| | - Gang Wei
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymers Materials & College of Materials Sciences and Engineering
- Donghua University
- Shanghai 201620
- China
- School of Chemistry
| | - Zhengquan Yan
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymers Materials & College of Materials Sciences and Engineering
- Donghua University
- Shanghai 201620
- China
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
| | - Yuehua Zhang
- School of Chemistry
- and Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
- Donghua University
- Shanghai 201620
- China
| | - Gang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymers Materials & College of Materials Sciences and Engineering
- Donghua University
- Shanghai 201620
- China
- School of Chemistry
| | - Rongliang Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymers Materials & College of Materials Sciences and Engineering
- Donghua University
- Shanghai 201620
- China
- School of Chemistry
| | - Hongyao Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymers Materials & College of Materials Sciences and Engineering
- Donghua University
- Shanghai 201620
- China
- School of Chemistry
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32
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Synthetic biology for microbial heavy metal biosensors. Anal Bioanal Chem 2017; 410:1191-1203. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-017-0751-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2017] [Revised: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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33
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Wei TY, Cheng CM. Synthetic Biology-Based Point-of-Care Diagnostics for Infectious Disease. Cell Chem Biol 2017; 23:1056-1066. [PMID: 27662252 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2016.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Revised: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/08/2016] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Infectious diseases outpace all other causes of death in low-income countries, posing global health risks, laying stress on healthcare systems and societies, and taking an avoidable human toll. One solution to this crisis is early diagnosis of infectious disease, which represents a powerful way to optimize treatment, increase patient survival rate, and decrease healthcare costs. However, conventional early diagnosis methods take a long time to generate results, lack accuracy, and are known to seriously underperform with regard to fungal and viral infections. Synthetic biology offers a fast and highly accurate alternative to conventional infectious disease diagnosis. In this review, we outline obstacles to infectious disease diagnostics and discuss two emerging alternatives: synthetic viral diagnostic systems and biosensors. We argue that these synthetic biology-based approaches may overcome diagnostic obstacles in infectious disease and improve health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Yen Wei
- Interdisciplinary Program of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Min Cheng
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan.
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34
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Gui Q, Lawson T, Shan S, Yan L, Liu Y. The Application of Whole Cell-Based Biosensors for Use in Environmental Analysis and in Medical Diagnostics. SENSORS 2017; 17:s17071623. [PMID: 28703749 PMCID: PMC5539819 DOI: 10.3390/s17071623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Revised: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Various whole cell-based biosensors have been reported in the literature for the last 20 years and these reports have shown great potential for their use in the areas of pollution detection in environmental and in biomedical diagnostics. Unlike other reviews of this growing field, this mini-review argues that: (1) the selection of reporter genes and their regulatory proteins are directly linked to the performance of celllular biosensors; (2) broad enhancements in microelectronics and information technologies have also led to improvements in the performance of these sensors; (3) their future potential is most apparent in their use in the areas of medical diagnostics and in environmental monitoring; and (4) currently the most promising work is focused on the better integration of cellular sensors with nano and micro scaled integrated chips. With better integration it may become practical to see these cells used as (5) real-time portable devices for diagnostics at the bedside and for remote environmental toxin detection and this in situ application will make the technology commonplace and thus as unremarkable as other ubiquitous technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyuan Gui
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biosensing and Bioimaging, Instiute of Advanced Materials for Nano-Bio Applications, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuanxi Road, Wenzhou 325027, China.
| | - Tom Lawson
- ARC Center of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Suyan Shan
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biosensing and Bioimaging, Instiute of Advanced Materials for Nano-Bio Applications, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuanxi Road, Wenzhou 325027, China.
| | - Lu Yan
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biosensing and Bioimaging, Instiute of Advanced Materials for Nano-Bio Applications, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuanxi Road, Wenzhou 325027, China.
| | - Yong Liu
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biosensing and Bioimaging, Instiute of Advanced Materials for Nano-Bio Applications, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuanxi Road, Wenzhou 325027, China.
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35
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Zhang Z, Ju E, Bing W, Wang Z, Ren J, Qu X. Chemically individual armoured bioreporter bacteria used for the in vivo sensing of ultra-trace toxic metal ions. Chem Commun (Camb) 2017; 53:8415-8418. [DOI: 10.1039/c7cc03794e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
A chemically engineered mesoporous silica armour is developed for simultaneously improving bioreporter bacterial vitality and shielding infectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijun Zhang
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization
- Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Changchun
- China
| | - Enguo Ju
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization
- Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Changchun
- China
| | - Wei Bing
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization
- Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Changchun
- China
| | - Zhenzhen Wang
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization
- Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Changchun
- China
| | - Jinsong Ren
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization
- Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Changchun
- China
| | - Xiaogang Qu
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization
- Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Changchun
- China
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36
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Roda A, Mirasoli M, Michelini E, Di Fusco M, Zangheri M, Cevenini L, Roda B, Simoni P. Progress in chemical luminescence-based biosensors: A critical review. Biosens Bioelectron 2016; 76:164-79. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2015.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Revised: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 06/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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37
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Fang D, Yu Y, Wu L, Wang Y, Zhang J, Zhi J. Bacillus subtilis-based colorimetric bioassay for acute biotoxicity assessment of heavy metal ions. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra05452d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
β-Galactosidase generated byBacillus subtiliscatalyzes the hydrolysis of ONPG to produce ONP, which can be detected at 420 nm and used to evaluate acute biotoxicity of heavy metal ions that inhibit the activity of the enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deyu Fang
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing 100190
- PR China
| | - Yuan Yu
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing 100190
- PR China
| | - Liangzhuan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing 100190
- PR China
| | - Yu Wang
- Beijing Center for Physical & Chemical Analysis
- Beijing 100089
- PR China
| | - Jinghua Zhang
- Beijing Center for Physical & Chemical Analysis
- Beijing 100089
- PR China
| | - Jinfang Zhi
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing 100190
- PR China
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