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Zhang X, Zhu Y, Elçin E, He L, Li B, Jiang M, Yang X, Yan XP, Zhao X, Wang Z, Wang F, Shaheen SM, Rinklebe J, Wells M. Whole-cell bioreporter application for rapid evaluation of hazardous metal bioavailability and toxicity in bioprocess. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 461:132556. [PMID: 37757563 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132556] [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: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Assessing heavy metal bioavailability and toxicity during bioprocess is critical for advancing green biotechnology. The capability of whole-cell bioreporters to measure heavy metal bioavailability has been increasingly recognized. The advantages of this technology being applied to bioprocess monitoring are less studied. Here we investigate the potential of a cadmium- and lead-sensitive bioreporter to be used for heavy metals as a class, which holds great interest for bioprocess applications. We evaluated the bioavailability of eight individual heavy metals with bioreporter zntA, as well as the bioavailability and toxicity of mixed metals. The bioavailability and toxicity of heavy metals in bioprocess samples were also evaluated. We have demonstrated for the first time that the zntA bioreporter can effectively detect the bioavailability of zinc, nickel, and cobalt with limit of detection lower than 0.01, 0.08 and 0.5 mg·L-1, respectively. The detection limits meet the requirements of the WHO, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the China drinking water quality standards, which makes this approach reasonable for monitoring heavy metal bioavailability in bioprocess. LIVE/DEAD toxicity experiments have been conducted for the detection of mixed metal solution toxicity to zntA bioreporter which shows an EC50 (as EC50, concentration for 50% of maximal effect) value of mixed metal solution is 3.84 mg·L-1. Samples from wastewater treatment plants, sludge treatment plants and kitchen waste fermentation processes were analyzed to extend upon the laboratory results. The results of this study confirm the potential for practical applications of bioreporter technology in bioprocess monitoring. In turn, development for such practical applications is key to achieve the necessary level of commercialization to further make the routine use of bioreporters in bioprocess monitoring feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaokai Zhang
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Yi Zhu
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Evrim Elçin
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Division of Enzyme and Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın 09970, Turkey
| | - Lizhi He
- Key Laboratory of Soil Contamination Bioremediation of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang A & F University, Lin'an 311300, China
| | - Boling Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Mengyuan Jiang
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Xing Yang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, School of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Xiu-Ping Yan
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Xu Zhao
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Zhenyu Wang
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China.
| | - Fang Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Sabry M Shaheen
- University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water, andWaste-Management, Laboratory of Soil, and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany; King Abdulaziz University, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment, and Arid Land Agriculture, Department of Arid Land Agriculture, 21589 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; University of Kafrelsheikh, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Soil and Water Sciences, 33516, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt
| | - Jörg Rinklebe
- University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water, andWaste-Management, Laboratory of Soil, and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Mona Wells
- The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA; Natural Sciences, Ronin Institute, Montclair, New Jersey 07043, USA
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2
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Xiang Y, Guo Y, Liu G, Liu Y, Song M, Shi J, Hu L, Yin Y, Cai Y, Jiang G. Direct Uptake and Intracellular Dissolution of HgS Nanoparticles: Evidence from a Bacterial Biosensor Approach. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:14994-15003. [PMID: 37755700 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c02664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Mercury sulfide nanoparticles (HgSNPs), which occur widely in oxic and anoxic environments, can be microbially converted to highly toxic methylmercury or volatile elemental mercury, but it remains challenging to assess their bioavailability. In this study, an Escherichia coli-based whole-cell fluorescent biosensor was developed to explore the bioavailability and microbial activation process of HgSNPs. Results show that HgSNPs (3.17 ± 0.96 nm) trigger a sharp increase in fluorescence intensity of the biosensor, with signal responses almost equal to that of ionic Hg (Hg(II)) within 10 h, indicating high bioavailability of HgSNP. The intracellular total Hg (THg) of cells exposed to HgSNPs (200 μg L-1) was 3.52-8.59-folds higher than that of cells exposed to Hg(II) (200 μg L-1), suggesting that intracellular HgSNPs were only partially dissolved. Speciation analysis using size-exclusion chromatography (SEC)-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) revealed that the bacterial filtrate was not responsible for HgSNP dissolution, suggesting that HgSNPs entered cells in nanoparticle form. Combined with fluorescence intensity and intracellular THg analysis, the intracellular HgSNP dissolution ratio was estimated at 22-29%. Overall, our findings highlight the rapid internalization and high intracellular dissolution ratio of HgSNPs by E. coli, and intracellular THg combined with biosensors could provide innovative tools to explore the microbial uptake and dissolution of HgSNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuping Xiang
- Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, 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
| | - Yingying Guo
- Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, 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, Florida 33199, United States
| | - Yanwei Liu
- Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, 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
| | - Maoyong Song
- Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Jianbo Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Ligang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yongguang Yin
- Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, 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
- Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Yong Cai
- Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, 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, Florida 33199, United States
| | - Guibin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
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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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Herrera-Domínguez M, Morales-Luna G, Mahlknecht J, Cheng Q, Aguilar-Hernández I, Ornelas-Soto N. Optical Biosensors and Their Applications for the Detection of Water Pollutants. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:bios13030370. [PMID: 36979582 PMCID: PMC10046542 DOI: 10.3390/bios13030370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The correct detection and quantification of pollutants in water is key to regulating their presence in the environment. Biosensors offer several advantages, such as minimal sample preparation, short measurement times, high specificity and sensibility and low detection limits. The purpose of this review is to explore the different types of optical biosensors, focusing on their biological elements and their principle of operation, as well as recent applications in the detection of pollutants in water. According to our literature review, 33% of the publications used fluorescence-based biosensors, followed by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) with 28%. So far, SPR biosensors have achieved the best results in terms of detection limits. Although less common (22%), interferometers and resonators (4%) are also highly promising due to the low detection limits that can be reached using these techniques. In terms of biological recognition elements, 43% of the published works focused on antibodies due to their high affinity and stability, although they could be replaced with molecularly imprinted polymers. This review offers a unique compilation of the most recent work in the specific area of optical biosensing for water monitoring, focusing on both the biological element and the transducer used, as well as the type of target contaminant. Recent technological advances are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Herrera-Domínguez
- Tecnológico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, Mexico
| | - Gesuri Morales-Luna
- Departamento de Física y Matemáticas, Universidad Iberoamericana, Prolongación Paseo de la Reforma 880, Mexico City 01219, Mexico
| | - Jürgen Mahlknecht
- Tecnológico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, Mexico
| | - Quan Cheng
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Iris Aguilar-Hernández
- Tecnológico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, Mexico
- Correspondence: (I.A.-H.); (N.O.-S.)
| | - Nancy Ornelas-Soto
- Tecnológico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, Mexico
- Correspondence: (I.A.-H.); (N.O.-S.)
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5
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Zhang X, Zhu Y, Li B, Tefsen B, Wang Z, Wells M. We need to plan streamlined environmental impact assessment for the future X-Press Pearl disasters. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 188:114705. [PMID: 36791553 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114705] [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: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The X-Press Pearl disaster illustrates the urgent needs for streamlined environmental impact assessment to inform decision making. The environmental contamination caused by the disaster is complex, and the biological impact of different environmental stressors, and at different biological scales, needs to be determined. Traditional methods for analyzing complex environmental stressors are often inefficient and do not reflect the biological impact of pollution. The combination of chemical stressors and biological impacts is the key to environmental impact assessment based on integrated monitoring. Whole-cell bioreporters are tools for rapid, efficient and quantitative detection of the bioavailability, stressor effects, and toxicity of pollutants, i.e., spanning a wide range of applications. Here we propose the view that using whole-cell bioreporter technology to streamline short-term environmental impact assessment for maritime disasters such as the X-Press Pearl is more fit-for-purpose/practical than other approaches in use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaokai Zhang
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Yi Zhu
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Boling Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Boris Tefsen
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, CH Utrecht 3584, Netherlands; Natural Sciences, Ronin Institute, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
| | - Zhenyu Wang
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Mona Wells
- Natural Sciences, Ronin Institute, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA; The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA.
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6
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Zhu Y, Elcin E, Jiang M, Li B, Wang H, Zhang X, Wang Z. Use of whole-cell bioreporters to assess bioavailability of contaminants in aquatic systems. Front Chem 2022; 10:1018124. [PMID: 36247665 PMCID: PMC9561917 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.1018124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Water contamination has become increasingly a critical global environmental issue that threatens human and ecosystems’ health. Monitoring and risk assessment of toxic pollutants in water bodies is essential to identifying water pollution treatment needs. Compared with the traditional monitoring approaches, environmental biosensing via whole-cell bioreporters (WCBs) has exhibited excellent capabilities for detecting bioavailability of multiple pollutants by providing a fast, simple, versatile and economical way for environmental risk assessment. The performance of WCBs is determined by its elements of construction, such as host strain, regulatory and reporter genes, as well as experimental conditions. Previously, numerous studies have focused on the design and construction of WCB rather than improving the detection process and commercialization of this technology. For investigators working in the environmental field, WCB can be used to detect pollutants is more important than how they are constructed. This work provides a review of the development of WCBs and a brief introduction to genetic construction strategies and aims to summarize key studies on the application of WCB technology in detection of water contaminants, including organic pollutants and heavy metals. In addition, the current status of commercialization of WCBs is highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhu
- School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Evrim Elcin
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Division of Enzyme and Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey
| | - Mengyuan Jiang
- School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Boling Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, China
| | - Hailong Wang
- Biochar Engineering Technology Research Center of Guangdong Province, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Xiaokai Zhang
- School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaokai Zhang,
| | - Zhenyu Wang
- School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
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7
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Moratti CF, Scott C, Coleman NV. Synthetic Biology Approaches to Hydrocarbon Biosensors: A Review. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 9:804234. [PMID: 35083206 PMCID: PMC8784404 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.804234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Monooxygenases are a class of enzymes that facilitate the bacterial degradation of alkanes and alkenes. The regulatory components associated with monooxygenases are nature's own hydrocarbon sensors, and once functionally characterised, these components can be used to create rapid, inexpensive and sensitive biosensors for use in applications such as bioremediation and metabolic engineering. Many bacterial monooxygenases have been identified, yet the regulation of only a few of these have been investigated in detail. A wealth of genetic and functional diversity of regulatory enzymes and promoter elements still remains unexplored and unexploited, both in published genome sequences and in yet-to-be-cultured bacteria. In this review we examine in detail the current state of research on monooxygenase gene regulation, and on the development of transcription-factor-based microbial biosensors for detection of alkanes and alkenes. A new framework for the systematic characterisation of the underlying genetic components and for further development of biosensors is presented, and we identify focus areas that should be targeted to enable progression of more biosensor candidates to commercialisation and deployment in industry and in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia F. Moratti
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Colin Scott
- CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Nicholas V. Coleman
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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8
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Belkin S, Wang B. Sense and sensibility: of synthetic biology and the redesign of bioreporter circuits. Microb Biotechnol 2022; 15:103-106. [PMID: 34689402 PMCID: PMC8719829 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shimshon Belkin
- Institute of Life Sciencesthe Hebrew University of JerusalemJerusalem9190401Israel
| | - Baojun Wang
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghEH9 3FFUK
- Hangzhou Innovation Center and College of Chemical and Biological EngineeringZhejiang UniversityHangzhou311200China
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9
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Golden Gate Assembly of Aerobic and Anaerobic Microbial Bioreporters. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 88:e0148521. [PMID: 34705553 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01485-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial bioreporters provide direct insight into cellular processes by producing a quantifiable signal dictated by reporter gene expression. The core of a bioreporter is a genetic circuit in which a reporter gene (or operon) is fused to promoter and regulatory sequences that govern its expression. In this study, we develop a system for constructing novel Escherichia coli bioreporters based on Golden Gate assembly, a synthetic biology approach for the rapid and seamless fusion of DNA fragments. Gene circuits are generated by fusing promoter and reporter sequences encoding yellow fluorescent protein, mCherry, bacterial luciferase, and an anaerobically active flavin-based fluorescent protein. We address a barrier to the implementation of Golden Gate assembly by designing a series of compatible destination vectors that can accommodate the assemblies. We validate the approach by measuring the activity of constitutive bioreporters and mercury and arsenic biosensors in quantitative exposure assays. We also demonstrate anaerobic quantification of mercury and arsenic in biosensors that produce flavin-based fluorescent protein, highlighting the expanding range of redox conditions that can be examined by microbial bioreporters. IMPORTANCE Microbial bioreporters are versatile genetic tools with wide-ranging applications, particularly in the field of environmental toxicology. For example, biosensors that produce a signal output in the presence of a specific analyte offer less costly alternatives to analytical methods for the detection of environmental toxins such as mercury and arsenic. Biosensors of specific toxins can also be used to test hypotheses regarding mechanisms of uptake, toxicity, and biotransformation. In this study, we develop an assembly platform that uses a synthetic biology technique to streamline construction of novel Escherichia coli bioreporters that produce fluorescent or luminescent signals either constitutively or in response to mercury and arsenic exposure. Beyond the synthesis of novel biosensors, our assembly platform can be adapted for numerous applications, including labelling bacteria for fluorescent microscopy, developing gene expression systems, and modifying bacterial genomes.
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10
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Gonzalez-Flo E, Alaball ME, Macia J. Two-Component Biosensors: Unveiling the Mechanisms of Predictable Tunability. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:1328-1335. [PMID: 32369693 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Many studies have been devoted to the engineering of cellular biosensors by exploiting intrinsic natural sensors. However, biosensors rely not only on input detection but also on an adequate response range. It is therefore often necessary to tune natural systems to meet the demands of specific applications in a predictable manner. In this study, we explored the customizability of two-component bacterial biosensors by modulating the main biosensor component, i.e., the receptor protein. We developed a mathematical model that describes the functional relationship between receptor abundance and activation threshold, sensitivity, dynamic range, and operating range. The defined mathematical framework allows the design of the genetic architecture of a two-component biosensor that can perform as required with minimal genetic engineering. To experimentally validate the model and its predictions, a library of biosensors was constructed. The good agreement between theoretical designs and experimental results indicates that modulation of receptor protein abundance allows optimization of biosensor designs with minimal genetic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Gonzalez-Flo
- Synthetic Biology for Biomedical Applications Group, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), E-08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Elisenda Alaball
- Synthetic Biology for Biomedical Applications Group, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), E-08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Imperial College London, Gradpad Wood Lane, 80 Wood Lane Flat B417, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
| | - Javier Macia
- Synthetic Biology for Biomedical Applications Group, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), E-08003 Barcelona, Spain
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11
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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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12
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Blanco-Ameijeiras S, Cabanes DJE, Hassler CS. Towards the development of a new generation of whole-cell bioreporters to sense iron bioavailability in oceanic systems-learning from the case of Synechococcus sp. PCC7002 iron bioreporter. J Appl Microbiol 2019; 127:1291-1304. [PMID: 30970168 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Revised: 02/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Whole-cell bioreporters are genetically modified micro-organisms designed to sense bioavailable forms of nutrients or toxic compounds in aquatic systems. As they represent the most promising cost-efficient tools available for such purpose, engineering and use of bioreporters is rapidly growing in association with wide applicability. Bioreporters are urgently needed to determine phytoplankton iron (Fe) limitation, which has been reported in up to 30% of the ocean, with consequences affecting Earth's global carbon cycle and climate. This study presents a critical evaluation and optimization of the only Cyanobacteria bioreporter available to sense Fe limitation in marine systems (Synechococcus sp. PCC7002). The nonmonotonic biphasic dose-response curve between the bioreporters' signal and Fe bioavailability impairs an appropriate data interpretation, highlighting the need for new carefully designed bioreporters. Here, limitations under low Fe concentrations were related to cellular energy stress, nonlinear expression of the targeted promoter and siderophore expression. Furthermore, we provide critical standard criteria for the development of new Fe bioreporters. Finally, based on gene expression data under a range of marine Fe concentrations, we propose novel sensor genes for the development of new Cyanobacteria Fe bioreporters for distinct marine regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Blanco-Ameijeiras
- Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - D J E Cabanes
- Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - C S Hassler
- Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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13
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Lobsiger N, Stark WJ. Strategies of Immobilizing Cells in Whole-cell Microbial Biosensor Devices Targeted for Analytical Field Applications. ANAL SCI 2019; 35:839-847. [PMID: 31204371 DOI: 10.2116/analsci.19r004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This review summarizes the development of whole-cell biosensors with a special focus on device development and cell immobilization. Integration of biosensor functions in a device will pave the way for field applications in remote areas and resource-limited settings. Firstly, an introduction to the field of whole-cell biosensors is provided, followed by examples of genetic engineering of cells in order to fulfill sensor functions. A framework of requirements to enable future field applications of biosensors is elaborated. A special focus is on different cell immobilization techniques ranging from polymers, to microfluidic devices, immobilization on paper and combinations of these methods. Looking at globally successfully implemented point of care devices such as a home pregnancy test or a blood glucose meter, we conclude the review with thoughts on long-term stability, portability, ease of use and user safety design guidelines for whole-cell biosensor devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Lobsiger
- ETH Zürich, Department of Chemical- and Bioengineering, Functional Materials Laboratory
| | - Wendelin J Stark
- ETH Zürich, Department of Chemical- and Bioengineering, Functional Materials Laboratory
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14
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Saragliadis A, Linke D. Assay development for the discovery of small-molecule inhibitors of YadA adhesion to collagen. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 5:100025. [PMID: 32743141 PMCID: PMC7388967 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcsw.2019.100025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
We set out to develop scalable assays to measure bacterial adhesion to mammalian extracellular matrix proteins, with the aim to perform high-throughput screening for inhibitors. Our model system is the trimeric autotransporter adhesin YadA from Yersinia enterocolitica that binds to collagen. Using bacterial cells expressing GFP under an inducible promotor, and co-expressing the adhesin of choice, we were able to establish a 384-well plate-based assay that allowed us to screen 28,000 compounds in 8 days (3520 compounds per day). We have collected all parameters that were essential in assay development, and describe how they can be tuned for improved performance. Out of 28,000 compounds, 5 compounds showed significant inhibitory activity, measured as loss of fluorescence compared to control wells. Our assay is easy to scale up, and can be adopted to different ECM component/Adhesin combinations. Alternatively, bacterial pathogens (harboring deletion mutants of adhesins compared to wildtype) could be used directly in the same assay if they express GFP as a reporter at high levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Saragliadis
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Dirk Linke
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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15
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Bilal M, Iqbal HM. Microbial-derived biosensors for monitoring environmental contaminants: Recent advances and future outlook. PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.psep.2019.01.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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16
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Probing chemotaxis activity in Escherichia coli using fluorescent protein fusions. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3845. [PMID: 30846802 PMCID: PMC6405996 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40655-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial chemotaxis signaling may be interesting for the development of rapid biosensor assays, but is difficult to quantify. Here we explore two potential fluorescent readouts of chemotactically active Escherichia coli cells. In the first, we probed interactions between the chemotaxis signaling proteins CheY and CheZ by fusing them individually with non-fluorescent parts of stable or unstable ‘split’-Green Fluorescent Protein. Wild-type chemotactic cells but not mutants lacking the CheA kinase produced distinguishable fluorescence foci, two-thirds of which localize at the cell poles with the chemoreceptors and one-third at motor complexes. Fluorescent foci based on stable split-eGFP displayed small fluctuations in cells exposed to attractant or repellent, but those based on an unstable ASV-tagged eGFP showed a higher dynamic behaviour both in the foci intensity changes and the number of foci per cell. For the second readout, we expressed the pH-sensitive fluorophore pHluorin in the cyto- and periplasm of chemotactically active E. coli. Calibrations of pHluorin fluorescence as a function of pH demonstrated that cells accumulating near a chemo-attractant temporally increase cytoplasmic pH while decreasing periplasmic pH. Both readouts thus show promise for biosensor assays based on bacterial chemotaxis activity.
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17
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Hansen MG, Marcussen H, Holm PE, Brandt KK. Evaluation of pH-Dependent Metal Speciation Artifacts in Whole-Cell Bioreporter Analysis. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2019; 48:199-204. [PMID: 30640340 DOI: 10.2134/jeq2018.10.0352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Whole-cell bacterial biosensors (bioreporters) are commonly applied for determination of metal toxicity and bioavailability in environmental samples. This is accomplished using a standard procedure whereby the sample is mixed with bioreporter cells suspended in a buffered medium at a fixed pH (set-point pH assay). This experimental approach can alter the sample pH. We therefore hypothesized that metal speciation artifacts compromising our ability to use bioreporters for determination of the "true" metal bioavailability in environmental samples may be introduced. Using the copper-specific bioreporter DF57-Cu15 as a model, we compared the conventional set-point pH assay to a flexible pH assay allowing for bioavailability determination at in situ sample pH. Our results demonstrate that pH-dependent metal speciation bias may occur when using the conventional set-point pH assay, and we recommend performing bioreporter measurements and calibrations at in situ sample pH. Although we only studied copper bioavailability, our results also have implications for bioreporter determination of other analytes displaying pH-dependent speciation such as other metals and some organics. We call for additional bioreporter studies of chemical speciation artifacts as this represents a problem hitherto overlooked in bioreporter literature. We thus conclude that there may be considerable scope for optimization of existing bioreporter assays for assessment of environmental pollutant bioavailability.
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Deb S, Basu S, Singha A, Dutta TK. Development of a 2-Nitrobenzoate-Sensing Bioreporter Based on an Inducible Gene Cluster. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:254. [PMID: 29491862 PMCID: PMC5817917 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Based on the sole information of structural genes of the 2-nitrobenzoate (2NBA) utilizing catabolic gene cluster (onbX1X2FCAR1EHJIGDBX3), 2NBA-sensing bioreporters were constructed by incorporating egfp into the onb gene cluster of Cupriavidus sp. strain ST-14. Incorporation of reporter gene in proximal to the hypothesized promoter region in conjunction with the disruption of the gene encoding inducer-metabolizing enzyme was turned out to be advantageous in reporter gene expression at low inducer concentration. The bioreporter strain was capable of expressing EGFP from the very 1st hour of induction and could detect 2NBA at (sub) nanomolar level exhibiting a strict specificity toward 2NBA, displaying no response to EGFP expression from its meta- and para-isomers as well as from a number of structurally related compounds. The present study is a successful demonstration of the development of a 2NBA-sensing bioreporter with respect to ease of construction, inducer specificity, and sensitivity, without prior knowledge of the associated inducer-responsive promoter-regulator elements. The present approach can be used as a model for the development of bioreporters for other environmental pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satamita Deb
- Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Soumik Basu
- Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
| | | | - Tapan K Dutta
- Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
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19
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Roggo C, Picioreanu C, Richard X, Mazza C, van Lintel H, van der Meer JR. Quantitative chemical biosensing by bacterial chemotaxis in microfluidic chips. Environ Microbiol 2017; 20:241-258. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Clémence Roggo
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology; University of Lausanne; Lausanne Switzerland 1015
| | - Cristian Picioreanu
- Department of Biotechnology Faculty of Applied Sciences; Delft University of Technology; Delft 2629 HZ The Netherlands
| | - Xavier Richard
- Department of Mathematics; University of Fribourg, CH-1700; Fribourg Switzerland
| | - Christian Mazza
- Department of Mathematics; University of Fribourg, CH-1700; Fribourg Switzerland
| | - Harald van Lintel
- Microsystems Laboratory LMIS4; École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 17; Lausanne Switzerland CH-1015
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20
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Alhadrami HA. Biosensors: Classifications, medical applications, and future prospective. Biotechnol Appl Biochem 2017; 65:497-508. [DOI: 10.1002/bab.1621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2017] [Revised: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 09/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hani A. Alhadrami
- Faculty of Applied Medical SciencesDepartment of Medical Laboratory TechnologyKing Abdulaziz University Jeddah Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Special Infectious Agent UnitKing Fahd Medical Research CentreKing Abdulaziz University Jeddah Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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21
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Sun Y, Zhao X, Zhang D, Ding A, Chen C, Huang WE, Zhang H. New naphthalene whole-cell bioreporter for measuring and assessing naphthalene in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contaminated site. CHEMOSPHERE 2017; 186:510-518. [PMID: 28810221 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2017] [Revised: 07/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A new naphthalene bioreporter was designed and constructed in this work. A new vector, pWH1274_Nah, was constructed by the Gibson isothermal assembly fused with a 9 kb naphthalene-degrading gene nahAD (nahAa nahAb nahAc nahAd nahB nahF nahC nahQ nahE nahD) and cloned into Acinetobacter ADPWH_lux as the host, capable of responding to salicylate (the central metabolite of naphthalene). The ADPWH_Nah bioreporter could effectively metabolize naphthalene and evaluate the naphthalene in natural water and soil samples. This whole-cell bioreporter did not respond to other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; pyrene, anthracene, and phenanthrene) and demonstrated a positive response in the presence of 0.01 μM naphthalene, showing high specificity and sensitivity. The bioluminescent response was quantitatively measured after a 4 h exposure to naphthalene, and the model simulation further proved the naphthalene metabolism dynamics and the salicylate-activation mechanisms. The ADPWH_Nah bioreporter also achieved a rapid evaluation of the naphthalene in the PAH-contaminated site after chemical spill accidents, showing high consistency with chemical analysis. The engineered Acinetobacter variant had significant advantages in rapid naphthalene detection in the laboratory and potential in situ detection. The state-of-the-art concept of cloning PAHs-degrading pathway in salicylate bioreporter hosts led to the construction and assembly of high-throughput PAH bioreporter array, capable of crude oil contamination assessment and risk management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujiao Sun
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Xiaohui Zhao
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; Department of Water Environment, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, 100038, China.
| | - Dayi Zhang
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Aizhong Ding
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Cheng Chen
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Wei E Huang
- Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S3 7HQ, United Kingdom
| | - Huichun Zhang
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
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22
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Mabekou SS, Lee SC, Dinh TH, Won K, Mitchell RJ. Enhanced sensitivity and responses to viologens from a whole-cell bacterial bioreporter treated with branched polyethyleneimines. J Appl Microbiol 2017; 123:1478-1487. [PMID: 28944557 DOI: 10.1111/jam.13592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Revised: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Evaluate the use of polyethyleneimines (PEIs) as membrane permeabilizers to improve the responses and sensitivity of a bacterial bioreporter strain to viologens. METHODS AND RESULTS The responses from E. coli str. EBS, i.e., E. coli BW25113 carrying plasmid pSDS, when exposed to five different viologens were characterized, as were the toxicities of seven different PEIS, including two linear and five branched species. Based on these results, benzyl viologen led to the greatest responses, and 0·8-kDa branched PEI (BPEI) was the least toxic of the PEIs tested and, therefore, both were selected for the subsequent tests. The bioluminescence and relative responses from E. coli str. EBS exposed to various concentrations of 0·8 kDa BPEI identified 400 mg l-1 as the optimal concentration. Using this concentration, tests were performed with all five of the viologens. CONCLUSIONS The responses from E. coli str. EBS to the viologens were improved, with the maximum relative bioluminescence values increasing between 5·6 and 16·5-fold. The minimum detectable levels for four of the viologens were likewise improved 2- to 4-fold. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY Improving bacterial membrane permeability in a controlled manner using BPEIs can improve biosensing of toxic compounds, as well as be used in biofuel and bioenergy applications where membrane permeability to a solute is important.
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Affiliation(s)
- S S Mabekou
- School of Life Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Korea
| | - S C Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Dongguk University-Seoul, Seoul, Korea
| | - T H Dinh
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Dongguk University-Seoul, Seoul, Korea
| | - K Won
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Dongguk University-Seoul, Seoul, Korea
| | - R J Mitchell
- School of Life Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Korea
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23
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Reimer A, Maffenbeier V, Dubey M, Sentchilo V, Tavares D, Gil MH, Beggah S, van der Meer JR. Complete alanine scanning of the Escherichia coli RbsB ribose binding protein reveals residues important for chemoreceptor signaling and periplasmic abundance. Sci Rep 2017; 7:8245. [PMID: 28811596 PMCID: PMC5557919 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08035-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The Escherichia coli RbsB ribose binding protein has been used as a scaffold for predicting new ligand binding functions through in silico modeling, yet with limited success and reproducibility. In order to possibly improve the success of predictive modeling on RbsB, we study here the influence of individual residues on RbsB-mediated signaling in a near complete library of alanine-substituted RbsB mutants. Among a total of 232 tested mutants, we found 10 which no longer activated GFPmut2 reporter expression in E. coli from a ribose-RbsB hybrid receptor signaling chain, and 13 with significantly lower GFPmut2 induction than wild-type. Quantitative mass spectrometry abundance measurements of 25 mutants and wild-type RbsB in periplasmic space showed four categories of effects. Some (such as D89A) seem correctly produced and translocated but fail to be induced with ribose. Others (such as N190A) show lower induction probably as a result of less efficient production, folding and translocation. The third (such as N41A or K29A) have defects in both induction and abundance. The fourth category consists of semi-constitutive mutants with increased periplasmic abundance but maintenance of ribose induction. Our data show how RbsB modeling should include ligand-binding as well as folding, translocation and receptor binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur Reimer
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vitali Maffenbeier
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Manupriyam Dubey
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vladimir Sentchilo
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Diogo Tavares
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Manuel Hernandez Gil
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Siham Beggah
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jan Roelof van der Meer
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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24
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Microfluidics Engineering: Recent Trends, Valorization, and Applications. ARABIAN JOURNAL FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s13369-017-2662-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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25
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van Rossum T, Muras A, Baur MJ, Creutzburg SC, van der Oost J, Kengen SW. A growth- and bioluminescence-based bioreporter for the in vivo detection of novel biocatalysts. Microb Biotechnol 2017; 10:625-641. [PMID: 28393499 PMCID: PMC5404197 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.12612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Revised: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of bioreporters in high-throughput screening for small molecules is generally laborious and/or expensive. The technology can be simplified by coupling the generation of a desired compound to cell survival, causing only positive cells to stay in the pool of generated variants. Here, a dual selection/screening system was developed for the in vivo detection of novel biocatalysts. The sensor part of the system is based on the transcriptional regulator AraC, which controls expression of both a selection reporter (LeuB or KmR; enabling growth) for rapid reduction of the initially large library size and a screening reporter (LuxCDABE; causing bioluminescence) for further quantification of the positive variants. Of four developed systems, the best system was the medium copy system with KmR as selection reporter. As a proof of principle, the system was tested for the selection of cells expressing an l-arabinose isomerase derived from mesophilic Escherichia coli or thermophilic Geobacillus thermodenitrificans. A more than a millionfold enrichment of cells with l-arabinose isomerase activity was demonstrated by selection and exclusion of false positives by screening. This dual selection/screening system is an important step towards an improved detection method for small molecules, and thereby for finding novel biocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teunke van Rossum
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyWageningen University and ResearchStippeneng 46708WE WageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Aleksandra Muras
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyWageningen University and ResearchStippeneng 46708WE WageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Marco J.J. Baur
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyWageningen University and ResearchStippeneng 46708WE WageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd C.A. Creutzburg
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyWageningen University and ResearchStippeneng 46708WE WageningenThe Netherlands
| | - John van der Oost
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyWageningen University and ResearchStippeneng 46708WE WageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Servé W.M. Kengen
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyWageningen University and ResearchStippeneng 46708WE WageningenThe Netherlands
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Roggo C, van der Meer JR. Miniaturized and integrated whole cell living bacterial sensors in field applicable autonomous devices. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2017; 45:24-33. [PMID: 28088093 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2016.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Revised: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Live-cell based bioreporters are increasingly being deployed in microstructures, which facilitates their handling and permits the development of instruments that could perform autonomous environmental monitoring. Here we review recent developments of on-chip integration of live-cell bioreporters, the coupling of their reporter signal to the devices, their longer term preservation and multi-analyte capacity. We show examples of instruments that have attempted to fully integrate bioreporters as their sensing elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clémence Roggo
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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van der Meer JR. Towards improved biomonitoring tools for an intensified sustainable multi-use environment. Microb Biotechnol 2016; 9:658-65. [PMID: 27468753 PMCID: PMC4993185 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.12395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2016] [Accepted: 07/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing use of our environment for multiple contrasting activities (e.g. fisheries, tourism) will have to be accompanied by improved monitoring of environmental quality, to avoid transboundary conflicts and ensure long-term sustainable intensified usage. Biomonitoring approaches are appropriate for this, since they can integrate biological effects of environmental exposure rather than measure individual compound concentrations. Recent advances in biomonitoring concepts and tools focus on single-cell assays and purified biological components that can be miniaturized and integrated in automated systems. Despite these advances, we are still very far from being able to deploy bioassays routinely in environmental monitoring, mostly because of lack of experience in interpreting responses and insufficient robustness of the biosensors for their environmental application. Further future challenges include broadening the spectrum of detectable compounds by biosensors, accelerate response times and combining sample pretreatment strategies with bioassays.
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Plotnikova EG, Shumkova ES, Shumkov MS. Whole-cell bacterial biosensors for the detection of aromatic hydrocarbons and their chlorinated derivatives (Review). APPL BIOCHEM MICRO+ 2016. [DOI: 10.1134/s0003683816040128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Shemer B, Palevsky N, Yagur-Kroll S, Belkin S. Genetically engineered microorganisms for the detection of explosives' residues. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:1175. [PMID: 26579085 PMCID: PMC4625088 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The manufacture and use of explosives throughout the past century has resulted in the extensive pollution of soils and groundwater, and the widespread interment of landmines imposes a major humanitarian risk and prevents civil development of large areas. As most current landmine detection technologies require actual presence at the surveyed areas, thus posing a significant risk to personnel, diverse research efforts are aimed at the development of remote detection solutions. One possible means proposed to fulfill this objective is the use of microbial bioreporters: genetically engineered microorganisms “tailored” to generate an optical signal in the presence of explosives’ vapors. The use of such sensor bacteria will allow to pinpoint the locations of explosive devices in a minefield. While no study has yet resulted in a commercially operational system, significant progress has been made in the design and construction of explosives-sensing bacterial strains. In this article we review the attempts to construct microbial bioreporters for the detection of explosives, and analyze the steps that need to be undertaken for this strategy to be applicable for landmine detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Shemer
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Noa Palevsky
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Sharon Yagur-Kroll
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shimshon Belkin
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem, Israel
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Wang YZ, Li D, He M. Application of internal standard method in recombinant luminescent bacteria test. J Environ Sci (China) 2015; 35:128-134. [PMID: 26354701 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2015.03.021] [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: 11/06/2014] [Revised: 03/07/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Mercury and its organic compounds have been of severe concern worldwide due to their damage to the ecosystem and human health. The development of effective and affordable technology to monitor and signal the presence of bioavailable mercury is an urgent need. The Mer gene is a mercury-responsive resistant gene, and a mercury-sensing recombinant luminescent bacterium using the Mer gene was constructed in this study. The mer operon from marine Pseudomonas putida strain SP1 was amplified and fused with prompterless luxCDABE in the pUCD615 plasmid within Escherichia coli cells, resulting in pTHE30-E. coli. The recombinant strain showed high sensitivity and specificity. The detection limit of Hg(2+) was 5nmol/L, and distinct luminescence could be detected in 30min. Cd(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Ca(2+), Pb(2+), Mg(2+), Mn(2+), and Al(3+) did not interfere with the detection over a range of 10(-5)-1mM. Application of recombinant luminescent bacteria testing in environmental samples has been a controversial issue: especially for metal-sensing recombinant strains, false negatives caused by high cytotoxicity are one of the most important issues when applying recombinant luminescent bacteria in biomonitoring of heavy metals. In this study, by establishing an internal standard approach, the false negative problem was overcome; furthermore, the method can also help to estimate the suspected mercury concentration, which ensures high detection sensitivity of bioavailable Hg(2+).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Zhi Wang
- Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control (ESPC) State Key Joint Laboratory, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. E-mail: .
| | - Dan Li
- Fudan University, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Miao He
- Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control (ESPC) State Key Joint Laboratory, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. E-mail: .
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31
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Jia K, Ionescu RE. Measurement of Bacterial Bioluminescence Intensity and Spectrum: Current Physical Techniques and Principles. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2015; 154:19-45. [PMID: 25981856 DOI: 10.1007/10_2015_324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
: Bioluminescence is light production by living organisms, which can be observed in numerous marine creatures and some terrestrial invertebrates. More specifically, bacterial bioluminescence is the "cold light" produced and emitted by bacterial cells, including both wild-type luminescent and genetically engineered bacteria. Because of the lively interplay of synthetic biology, microbiology, toxicology, and biophysics, different configurations of whole-cell biosensors based on bacterial bioluminescence have been designed and are widely used in different fields, such as ecotoxicology, food toxicity, and environmental pollution. This chapter first discusses the background of the bioluminescence phenomenon in terms of optical spectrum. Platforms for bacterial bioluminescence detection using various techniques are then introduced, such as a photomultiplier tube, charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), and complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) based integrated circuit. Furthermore, some typical biochemical methods to optimize the analytical performances of bacterial bioluminescent biosensors/assays are reviewed, followed by a presentation of author's recent work concerning the improved sensitivity of a bioluminescent assay for pesticides. Finally, bacterial bioluminescence as implemented in eukaryotic cells, bioluminescent imaging, and cancer cell therapies is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Jia
- Laboratoire de Nanotechnologie et d'Instrumentation Optique, Institut Charles Delaunay, Université de Technologie de Troyes, UMR CNRS 6281, 12 rue Marie Curie CS 42060, TROYES, 10004 Cedex, France
| | - Rodica Elena Ionescu
- Laboratoire de Nanotechnologie et d'Instrumentation Optique, Institut Charles Delaunay, Université de Technologie de Troyes, UMR CNRS 6281, 12 rue Marie Curie CS 42060, TROYES, 10004 Cedex, France.
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Sevilla E, Yuste L, Rojo F. Marine hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria as whole-cell biosensors for n-alkanes. Microb Biotechnol 2015; 8:693-706. [PMID: 25874658 PMCID: PMC4476824 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.12286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Whole-cell biosensors offer potentially useful, cost-effective systems for the in-situ monitoring of seawater for hydrocarbons derived from accidental spills. The present work compares the performance of a biosensor system for the detection of alkanes in seawater, hosted in either Escherichia coli (commonly employed in whole-cell biosensors but not optimized for alkane assimilation) or different marine bacteria specialized in assimilating alkanes. The sensor system was based on the Pseudomonas putida AlkS regulatory protein and the PalkB promoter fused to a gene encoding the green fluorescent protein. While the E. coli sensor provided the fastest response to pure alkanes (25-fold induction after 2 h under the conditions used), a sensor based on Alcanivorax borkumensis was slower, requiring 3–4 h to reach similar induction values. However, the A. borkumensis sensor showed a fourfold lower detection threshold for octane (0.5 μM), and was also better at sensing the alkanes present in petrol. At petrol concentrations of 0.0125%, the A. borkumensis sensor rendered a sevenfold induction, while E. coli sensor showed no response. We discuss possible explanations to this behaviour in terms of the cellular adaptations to alkane uptake and the basal fluorescence produced by each bacterial strain, which was lowest for A. borkumensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Sevilla
- Departamento de Biotecnología Microbiana, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Darwin 3, Cantoblanco, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Luis Yuste
- Departamento de Biotecnología Microbiana, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Darwin 3, Cantoblanco, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Fernando Rojo
- Departamento de Biotecnología Microbiana, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Darwin 3, Cantoblanco, Madrid, 28049, Spain
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Gutiérrez JC, Amaro F, Martín-González A. Heavy metal whole-cell biosensors using eukaryotic microorganisms: an updated critical review. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:48. [PMID: 25750637 PMCID: PMC4335268 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
This review analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of using eukaryotic microorganisms to design whole-cell biosensors (WCBs) for monitoring environmental heavy metal pollution in soil or aquatic habitats. Basic considerations for designing a eukaryotic WCB are also shown. A comparative analysis of the promoter genes used to design WCBs is carried out, and the sensitivity and reproducibility of the main reporter genes used is also reviewed. Three main eukaryotic taxonomic groups are considered: yeasts, microalgae, and ciliated protozoa. Models that have been widely analyzed as potential WCBs are the Saccharomyces cerevisiae model among yeasts, the Tetrahymena thermophila model for ciliates and Chlamydomonas model for microalgae. The advantages and disadvantages of each microbial group are discussed, and a ranking of sensitivity to the same type of metal pollutant from reported eukaryotic WCBs is also shown. General conclusions and possible future developments of eukaryotic WCBs are reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan C Gutiérrez
- Departamento de Microbiología-III, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense , Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Amaro
- Departamento de Microbiología-III, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense , Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Martín-González
- Departamento de Microbiología-III, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense , Madrid, Spain
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French CE, Horsfall L, Barnard DK, Duedu K, Fletcher E, Joshi N, Kane SD, Lakhundi SS, Liu CK, Oltmanns J, Radford D, Salinas A, White J, Elfick A. Beyond Genetic Engineering: Technical Capabilities in the Application Fields of Biocatalysis and Biosensors. Synth Biol (Oxf) 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-02783-8_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
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Biosensors, antibiotics and food. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2014; 145:153-85. [PMID: 25216955 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-43619-6_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotics are medicine's leading asset for fighting microbial infection, which is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. However, the misuse of antibiotics has led to the rapid spread of antibiotic resistance among bacteria and the development of multiple resistant pathogens. Therefore, antibiotics are rapidly losing their antimicrobial value. The use of antibiotics in food production animals is strictly controlled by the European Union (EU). Veterinary use is regulated to prevent the spread of resistance. EU legislation establishes maximum residue limits for veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs of animal origin and enforces the establishment and execution of national monitoring plans. Among samples selected for monitoring, suspected noncompliant samples are screened and then subjected to confirmatory analysis to establish the identity and concentration of the contaminant. Screening methods for antibiotic residues are typically based on microbiological growth inhibition, whereas physico-chemical methods are used for confirmatory analysis. This chapter discusses biosensors, especially whole-cell based biosensors, as emerging screening methods for antibiotic residues. Whole-cell biosensors can offer highly sensitive and specific detection of residues. Applications demonstrating quantitative analysis and specific analyte identification further improve their potential as screening methods.
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36
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Hynninen A, Virta M. Whole-cell bioreporters for the detection of bioavailable metals. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2014; 118:31-63. [PMID: 19543702 DOI: 10.1007/10_2009_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
Whole-cell bioreporters are living microorganisms that produce a specific, quantifiable output in response to target chemicals. Typically, whole-cell bioreporters combine a sensor element for the substance of interest and a reporter element coding for an easily detectable protein. The sensor element is responsible for recognizing the presence of an analyte. In the case of metal bioreporters, the sensor element consists of a DNA promoter region for a metal-binding transcription factor fused to a promoterless reporter gene that encodes a signal-producing protein. In this review, we provide an overview of specific whole-cell bioreporters for heavy metals. Because the sensing of metals by bioreporter microorganisms is usually based on heavy metal resistance/homeostasis mechanisms, the basis of these mechanisms will also be discussed. The goal here is not to present a comprehensive summary of individual metal-specific bioreporters that have been constructed, but rather to express views on the theory and applications of metal-specific bioreporters and identify some directions for future research and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anu Hynninen
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, University of Helsinki, 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
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37
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O'Leary ND, Mooney A, O'Mahony M, Dobson AD. Functional characterization of a StyS sensor kinase reveals distinct domains associated with intracellular and extracellular sensing of styrene in P. putida CA-3. Bioengineered 2014; 5:114-22. [PMID: 24637704 DOI: 10.4161/bioe.28354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial two-component systems (TCSs) are of vital importance in the translation of rapidly changing environmental conditions into appropriate cellular regulatory responses enabling adaptation, growth, and survival. The diverse range of environmental signals that TCSs can process, coupled with discrete modular domains within TCS proteins, offers considerable potential for the rational design of bio-sensor and/or bio-reporter strains. In this study we functionally characterize the multi-domain StyS sensor kinase associated with sensing of the aromatic pollutant styrene by Pseudomonas putida CA-3. Deletion analysis of discrete domains was performed and the ability of the truncated StyS sensor proteins to activate a cognate reporter system in an E. coli host assessed. The essential histidine kinase and PAS input domains were identified for StyS dependent activation of the reporter system. However, co-expression of an ABC-transporter protein StyE, previously linked to styrene transport in P. putida CA-3, enabled activation of the reporter system with a StyS construct containing a non-essential PAS input domain, suggesting a novel role for intracellular detection and/or activation. Site directed mutagenesis and amino acid deletions were employed to further characterize the PAS sensing domains of both input regions. The potential implications of these findings in the use of multi-domain sensor kinases in rational design strategies and the potential link between transport and intracellular sensing are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niall D O'Leary
- School of Microbiology and Environmental Research Institute; University College Cork; Cork, Ireland
| | - Aisling Mooney
- School of Microbiology and Environmental Research Institute; University College Cork; Cork, Ireland
| | - Mark O'Mahony
- School of Microbiology and Environmental Research Institute; University College Cork; Cork, Ireland
| | - Alan Dw Dobson
- School of Microbiology and Environmental Research Institute; University College Cork; Cork, Ireland
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38
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Amaro F, Turkewitz AP, Martín-González A, Gutiérrez JC. Functional GFP-metallothionein fusion protein from Tetrahymena thermophila: a potential whole-cell biosensor for monitoring heavy metal pollution and a cell model to study metallothionein overproduction effects. Biometals 2014; 27:195-205. [PMID: 24430977 PMCID: PMC4707044 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-014-9704-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2013] [Accepted: 12/31/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The significance of metal(oid)s as environmental pollutants has made them a priority in ecotoxicology, with the aim of minimizing exposure to animals or humans. Therefore, it is necessary to develop sensitive and inexpensive methods that can efficiently detect and monitor these pollutants in the environment. Conventional analytical techniques suffer from the disadvantages of high cost and complexity. Alternatively, prokaryotic or eukaryotic whole-cell biosensors (WCB) are one of the newest molecular tools employed in environmental monitoring that use the cell as an integrated reporter incorporating a reporter gene fused to a heavy metal responsive promoter. In the present paper, we report results from expressing, in the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, constructs consisting of the reporter gfp gene fused to the complete MTT1 or MTT5 protein coding regions under the transcriptional control of the MTT1 metallothionein promoter, which plays a critical role in heavy metal stress in this ciliate. When exposed to Cd(2+), such cells overexpress both the GFP reporter transgene and the linked metallothionein gene. We report that, for the GFPMTT5 strain, this metallothionein overexpression results in marked resistance to cadmium toxicity (24 h LC50 ~15 μM of Cd(2+)), compared to wild type cells (24 h LC50 ~1.73 μM of Cd(2+)). These results provide the first experimental evidence that ciliate metallothioneins, like in other organisms, function to protect the cell against toxic metal ions. Because these strains may have novel advantages as WCBs, we have compared their properties to those of other previously reported Tetrahymena WCBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Amaro
- Departamento de Microbiología-III, Facultad de Biología, C/. José Antonio Novais 12, Universidad Complutense (UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Aaron P. Turkewitz
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, Cummings Life Science Center, 920 East 58th Street, Chicago, IL. 60637, USA
| | - Ana Martín-González
- Departamento de Microbiología-III, Facultad de Biología, C/. José Antonio Novais 12, Universidad Complutense (UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Gutiérrez
- Departamento de Microbiología-III, Facultad de Biología, C/. José Antonio Novais 12, Universidad Complutense (UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Alam FM, Bateman C, Turner CE, Wiles S, Sriskandan S. Non-invasive monitoring of Streptococcus pyogenes vaccine efficacy using biophotonic imaging. PLoS One 2013; 8:e82123. [PMID: 24278474 PMCID: PMC3835743 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2013] [Accepted: 10/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes infection of the nasopharynx represents a key step in the pathogenic cycle of this organism and a major focus for vaccine development, requiring robust models to facilitate the screening of potentially protective antigens. One antigen that may be an important target for vaccination is the chemokine protease, SpyCEP, which is cell surface-associated and plays a role in pathogenesis. Biophotonic imaging (BPI) can non-invasively characterize the spatial location and abundance of bioluminescent bacteria in vivo. We have developed a bioluminescent derivative of a pharyngeal S. pyogenes strain by transformation of an emm75 clinical isolate with the luxABCDE operon. Evaluation of isogenic recombinant strains in vitro and in vivo confirmed that bioluminescence conferred a growth deficit that manifests as a fitness cost during infection. Notwithstanding this, bioluminescence expression permitted non-invasive longitudinal quantitation of S. pyogenes within the murine nasopharynx albeit with a detection limit corresponding to approximately 105 bacterial colony forming units (CFU) in this region. Vaccination of mice with heat killed streptococci, or with SpyCEP led to a specific IgG response in the serum. BPI demonstrated that both vaccine candidates reduced S. pyogenes bioluminescence emission over the course of nasopharyngeal infection. The work suggests the potential for BPI to be used in the non-invasive longitudinal evaluation of potential S. pyogenes vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faraz M. Alam
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Colin Bateman
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claire E. Turner
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Siouxsie Wiles
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- * E-mail: (SS); (SW)
| | - Shiranee Sriskandan
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (SS); (SW)
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Jia K, Eltzov E, Marks RS, Ionescu RE. Bioluminescence enhancement through an added washing protocol enabling a greater sensitivity to carbofuran toxicity. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2013; 96:61-66. [PMID: 23867093 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2013.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2012] [Revised: 06/06/2013] [Accepted: 06/15/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The effects of carbofuran toxicity on a genetically modified bacterial strain E. coli DPD2794 were enhanced using a new bioluminescent protocol which consisted of three consecutive steps: incubation, washing and luminescence reading. Specifically, in the first step, several concentrations of carbofuran aqueous solutions were incubated with different bacterial suspensions at recorded optical densities for different lengths of time. Thereafter, the resulting bacterial/toxicant mixtures were centrifuged and the aged cellular supernatant replaced with fresh medium. In the final step, the carbofuran- induced bioluminescence to the exposed E. coli DPD2794 bacteria was shown to provide a faster and higher intensity when recorded at a higher temperature at30°C which is not usually used in the literature. It was found that the incubation time and the replacement of aged cellular medium were essential factors to distinguish different concentrations of carbofuran in the bioluminescent assays. From our results, the optimum incubation time for a "light ON" bioluminescence detection of the effect of carbofuran was 6h. Thanks to the replacement of the aged cellular medium, a group of additional peaks starting around 30min were observed and we used the corresponding areas under the curve (AUC) at different contents of carbofuran to produce the calibration curve. Based on the new protocol, a carbofuran concentration of 0.5pg/mL can be easily determined in a microtiter plate bioluminescent assay, while a non-wash protocol provides an unexplainable order of curve evolutionswhich does not allow the user to determine the concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Jia
- Laboratoire de Nanotechnologie et d'Instrumentation Optique, Institute Charles Delaunay, Université de technologie de Troyes, UMR-STMR CNRS 6279, 12 rue Marie-Curie CS 42060, 10004 Troyes Cedex, France
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41
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Herron PM, Gage DJ, Arango Pinedo C, Haider ZK, Cardon ZG. Better to light a candle than curse the darkness: illuminating spatial localization and temporal dynamics of rapid microbial growth in the rhizosphere. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2013; 4:323. [PMID: 24032034 PMCID: PMC3759012 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2013.00323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2013] [Accepted: 07/31/2013] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The rhizosphere is a hotbed of microbial activity in ecosystems, fueled by carbon compounds from plant roots. Basic questions about the location and dynamics of plant-spurred microbial growth in the rhizosphere are difficult to answer with standard, destructive soil assays mixing a multitude of microbe-scale microenvironments in a single, often sieved, sample. Soil microbial biosensors designed with the luxCDABE reporter genes fused to a promoter of interest enable continuous imaging of the microbial perception of (and response to) environmental conditions in soil. We used the common soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida KT2440 as host to plasmid pZKH2 containing a fusion between the strong constitutive promoter nptII and luxCDABE (coding for light-emitting proteins) from Vibrio fischeri. Experiments in liquid media demonstrated that high light production by KT2440/pZKH2 was associated with rapid microbial growth supported by high carbon availability. We applied the biosensors in microcosms filled with non-sterile soil in which corn (Zea mays L.), black poplar (Populus nigra L.), or tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) was growing. We detected minimal light production from microbiosensors in the bulk soil, but biosensors reported continuously from around roots for as long as six days. For corn, peaks of luminescence were detected 1-4 and 20-35 mm along the root axis behind growing root tips, with the location of maximum light production moving farther back from the tip as root growth rate increased. For poplar, luminescence around mature roots increased and decreased on a coordinated diel rhythm, but was not bright near root tips. For tomato, luminescence was dynamic, but did not exhibit a diel rhythm, appearing in acropetal waves along roots. KT2440/pZKH2 revealed that root tips are not always the only, or even the dominant, hotspots for rhizosphere microbial growth, and carbon availability is highly variable in space and time around roots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M. Herron
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT, USA
| | - Daniel J. Gage
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT, USA
| | | | - Zane K. Haider
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT, USA
| | - Zoe G. Cardon
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT, USA
- Marine Biological Laboratory, The Ecosystems CenterWoods Hole, MA, USA
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42
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Electrochemical As(III) whole-cell based biochip sensor. Biosens Bioelectron 2013; 47:237-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2013.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2012] [Revised: 02/20/2013] [Accepted: 03/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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43
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Makarovsky I, Lellouche J, Lellouche JP, Banin E. Improved triclosan delivery by a novel silica-based nanocomposite. Adv Healthc Mater 2013. [PMID: 23184708 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201200275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we report on the design, synthesis, and full characterization of a covalently-linked, triclosan silica-based nanoparticles (T-SNPs), coated with a polyaminated shell (NH2 -T-SNPs). Various techniques are used to elucidate and rationalize the potential biological mechanism of action of these novel nanoparticles. NH2 -T-SNPs are found to be potently bactericidal with no detectable lag time for the antimicrobial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. In this context, we also prove that triclosan is the chemical agent that mediated the bactericidal activity of these chemically-modified NPs. The obtained experimental data allows us to pinpoint the actual minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of triclosan-bound NPs by quantifying intracellular triclosan concentrations. Furthermore, we conduct preliminary cytotoxicity studies, which show that triclosan bound NPs are less cytotoxic (2000 fold) in vitro compared to free-triclosan when tested with various human and mammalian cell lines. Taken together, our results further support the characterization and development of these new nanoscale materials for various biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Makarovsky
- Department of Chemistry Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
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44
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Zhang D, Ding A, Cui S, Hu C, Thornton SF, Dou J, Sun Y, Huang WE. Whole cell bioreporter application for rapid detection and evaluation of crude oil spill in seawater caused by Dalian oil tank explosion. WATER RESEARCH 2013; 47:1191-1200. [PMID: 23269319 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2012.11.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2012] [Revised: 11/01/2012] [Accepted: 11/22/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Accidents involving the release of crude oil to seawater pose serious threat to human and animal health, fisheries and marine ecosystems. A whole cell bioreporter detection method, which has unique advantages for the rapid evaluation on toxicity and bioavailability, is a useful tool to provide environmental risk assessments at crude oil-contaminated sites. Acinetobacter baylyi ADPWH_alk and ADPWH_recA are chromosomally-based alkane and genotoxicity bioreporters which can be activated to express bioluminescence in the presence of alkanes and genotoxic compounds. In this study, we applied Acinetobacter ADPWH_alk and ADPWH_recA bioreporters to examine six seawater and six sediment samples around the Dalian Bay four weeks after an oil tank explosion in Dalian, China in 2010, and compared the results with samples from the same sites one year after. The results of bioreporter detection suggest that seawater and sediments from five sites (DB, NT, JSB, XHP and FJZ) four weeks after the oil-spill were contaminated by the crude oil with various extents of genotoxicity. Among these six sites, DB and NT had high oil contents and genotoxicity, and JSB had high oil content but low genotoxicity in comparison with an uncontaminated site LSF, which is located at other side of the peninsula. These three sites (DB, NT and JSB) with detectable genotoxicity are within 30 km away from the oil spill point. The far-away two sites XHP (38.1 km) and FJZ (31.1 km) were lightly contaminated with oil but no genotoxicity suggesting that they are around the contamination boundary. Bioreporter detection also indicates that all six sites were clean one year after the oil-spill as the alkane and genotoxicity were below detection limit. This study demonstrates that bioreporter detection can be used as a rapid method to estimate the scale of a crude oil spill accident and to evaluate bioavailability and genotoxicity of contaminated seawater and sediments, which are crucial to risk assessment and strategic decision-making for environmental management and clean-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayi Zhang
- Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK
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45
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Zha S, Xu X, Hu H. A high sensitivity iron-dependent bioreporter used to measure iron bioavailability in freshwaters. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2012; 334:135-42. [PMID: 22747569 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2012.02629.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2012] [Revised: 06/26/2012] [Accepted: 06/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
A Nostoc sp. PCC 7120 iron bioreporter containing iron-regulated schizokinen transporter gene alr0397 promoter fused to the luxAB genes was examined to optimize its response to bioavailable iron. Dose-response relationships between luciferase activity and free ferric ion (Fe(3+) ) concentrations pFe (-lg [Fe(3+) ]) were generated by measuring luciferase activities of the bioreporter in trace metal-buffered Fraquil medium with various incubation times. The results were best demonstrated by sigmoidal curves (pFe 18.8-21.7, Fe(3+) = 10(-18.8) -10(-21.7) M) with the linear range extending from pFe 19.6-21.5 (Fe(3+) = 10(-19.6) -10(-21.5) M) after a 12-h incubation time. Optimal conditions for the use of this bioreporter to sense the iron bioavailability were determined to be: a 12-h exposure time, initial cell density of OD(730 nm) = 0.06, high nitrate (100 μM), high phosphate (10 μM), moderate Co(2+) (0.1-22.5 nM), Zn(2+) (0.16-12 nM), Cu(2+) (0.04-50 nM), and wide range of Mn(2+) concentration (0.92-2300 nM). The applicability of using this iron bioreporter to assess iron availability in the natural environment has been tested using water samples from eutrophic Taihu, Donghu, and Chaohu lakes. It is indicated that the bioreporter is a useful tool to assess bioavailable iron in various water quality samples, especially in eutrophic lakes with high bioavailable iron.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihong Zha
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
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46
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Liu P, Huang Q, Chen W. Construction and application of a zinc-specific biosensor for assessing the immobilization and bioavailability of zinc in different soils. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2012; 164:66-72. [PMID: 22336732 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2012.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2011] [Revised: 01/17/2012] [Accepted: 01/20/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The inducibility and specificity of different czcRS operons in Pseudomonas putida X4 were studied by lacZ gene fusions. The data of β-glycosidase activity confirmed that the czcR3 promoter responded quantitatively to zinc. A zinc-specific biosensor, P. putida X4 (pczcR3GFP), was constructed by fusing a promoterless enhanced green fluorescent protein (egfp) gene with the czcR3 promoter in the chromosome of P. putida X4. In water extracts of four different soils amended with zinc, the reporter strain detected about 90% of the zinc content of the samples. Both the bioavailability assessment and the sequential extraction analysis demonstrated that the immobilization of zinc was highly dependent on the physico-chemical properties of soils. The results also showed that the lability of zinc decreased over time. It is concluded that the biosensor constitutes an alternative system for the convenient evaluation of zinc toxicity in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pulin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
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47
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Geng S, Fang J, Turner KB, Daunert S, Wei Y. Accumulation and efflux of polychlorinated biphenyls in Escherichia coli. Anal Bioanal Chem 2012; 403:2403-9. [PMID: 22349406 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-012-5835-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2011] [Revised: 02/01/2012] [Accepted: 02/02/2012] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are environmental pollutants that have been associated with numerous adverse health effects in human and animals. Hydroxylated PCBs (HPCBs) are the product of the oxidative metabolism of PCBs. The presence of hydroxyl groups in HPCBs makes these compounds more hydrophilic than the parent PCBs. One of the best approaches to break down and remove these contaminants is bioremediation; an environmentally friendly process that uses microorganisms to degrade hazardous chemicals into non-toxic ones. In this study, we investigated the cellular accumulation and toxicity of selected PCBs and HPCBs in Gram-negative bacteria, using Escherichia coli as a model organism. We found that none of the five PCBs tested were toxic to E. coli, presumably due to their limited bioavailability. Nevertheless, different HPCBs tested showed different levels of toxicity. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the primary multidrug efflux system in E. coli, AcrAB-TolC, facilitated the efflux of HPCBs out of the cell. Since AcrAB-TolC is constitutively expressed in E. coli and is conserved in all sequenced Gram-negative bacterial genomes, our results suggest that the efflux activities of multidrug resistant pumps may affect the accumulation and degradation of PCBs in Gram-negative bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shen Geng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0055, USA
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48
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Pseudomonas fluorescens HK44: lessons learned from a model whole-cell bioreporter with a broad application history. SENSORS 2012; 12:1544-71. [PMID: 22438725 PMCID: PMC3304127 DOI: 10.3390/s120201544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2011] [Revised: 01/24/2012] [Accepted: 02/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Initially described in 1990, Pseudomonas fluorescens HK44 served as the first whole-cell bioreporter genetically endowed with a bioluminescent (luxCDABE) phenotype directly linked to a catabolic (naphthalene degradative) pathway. HK44 was the first genetically engineered microorganism to be released in the field to monitor bioremediation potential. Subsequent to that release, strain HK44 had been introduced into other solids (soils, sands), liquid (water, wastewater), and volatile environments. In these matrices, it has functioned as one of the best characterized chemically-responsive environmental bioreporters and as a model organism for understanding bacterial colonization and transport, cell immobilization strategies, and the kinetics of cellular bioluminescent emission. This review summarizes the characteristics of P. fluorescens HK44 and the extensive range of its applications with special focus on the monitoring of bioremediation processes and biosensing of environmental pollution.
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49
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Yu Q, Li Y, Ma A, Liu W, Wang H, Zhuang G. An efficient design strategy for a whole-cell biosensor based on engineered ribosome binding sequences. Anal Bioanal Chem 2011; 401:2891-8. [PMID: 21947012 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-011-5411-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2011] [Revised: 08/16/2011] [Accepted: 09/06/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
In prokaryotes, the ribosome binding sequence (RBS), located in the 5' untranslated region (5' UTR) of an mRNA, plays a critical role in enhancing mRNA translation and stability. To evaluate the effect of the RBS on the sensitivity and signal intensity of an environmental whole-cell biosensor, three Escherichia coli-based biosensors that respond to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and the xylenes (BTEX) were constructed; the three biosensors have the same Pu promoter and xylR regulator from the Pseudomonas putida TOL plasmid but differ in the engineered RBS in their reporter genes. The results from time and dose-dependent induction of luminescence activity by 2-chlorotoluene showed that the BTEX-SE and BTEX-SD biosensors with engineered RBS had signal intensities approximately 10-35 times higher than the primary BTEX-W biosensor. The limits of detection (LOD) of the BTEX-SE and BTEX-SD biosensors were also significantly lower than the LOD of the BTEX-W biosensor (20 ± 5 μmol L(-1) and 25 ± 5 μmol L(-1) vs. 120 ± 10 μmol L(-1)). Moreover, the BTEX-SE and BTEX-SD biosensors responded three times more rapidly to the analytes. These results suggest that rationally designed RBS in the 5' UTR of a reporter gene may be a promising strategy for increasing the sensitivity, signal intensity, and response speed of whole-cell biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Yu
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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50
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Allen MS, Wilgus JR, Chewning CS, Sayler GS, Simpson ML. A destabilized bacterial luciferase for dynamic gene expression studies. SYSTEMS AND SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY 2011; 1:3-9. [PMID: 19003433 PMCID: PMC2533149 DOI: 10.1007/s11693-006-9001-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Fusions of genetic regulatory elements with reporter genes have long been used as tools for monitoring gene expression and have become a major component in synthetic gene circuit implementation. A major limitation of many of these systems is the relatively long half-life of the reporter protein(s), which prevents monitoring both the initiation and the termination of transcription in real-time. Furthermore, when used as components in synthetic gene circuits, the long time constants associated with reporter protein decay may significantly degrade circuit performance. In this study, short half-life variants of LuxA and LuxB from Photorhabdus luminescens were constructed in Escherichia coli by inclusion of an 11-amino acid carboxy-terminal tag that is recognized by endogenous tail-specific proteases. Results indicated that the addition of the C-terminal tag affected the functional half-life of the holoenzyme when the tag was added to luxA or to both luxA and luxB, but modification of luxB alone did not have a significant effect. In addition, it was also found that alteration of the terminal three amino acid residues of the carboxy-terminal tag fused to LuxA generated variants with half-lives of intermediate length in a manner similar to that reported for GFP. This report is the first instance of the C-terminal tagging approach for the regulation of protein half-life to be applied to an enzyme or monomer of a multi-subunit enzyme complex and will extend the utility of the bacterial luciferase reporter genes for the monitoring of dynamic changes in gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Allen
- Molecular-Scale Engineering and Nanoscale Technologies (MENT) Research Group, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P.O. Box 2008, Building 3500, MS 6006, Oak Ridge, TN, 37931-6006, USA
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