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Agbasi JC, Ezugwu AL, Omeka ME, Ucheana IA, Aralu CC, Abugu HO, Egbueri JC. More about making profits or providing safe drinking water? A state-of-the-art review on sachet water contamination in Nigeria. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART C, TOXICOLOGY AND CARCINOGENESIS 2024:1-43. [PMID: 38439577 DOI: 10.1080/26896583.2024.2319009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Public health concerns on surface and groundwater contamination worldwide have increased. Sachet water contamination has also raised serious concerns across many developing countries. While previous studies attempted to address this issue, this review takes a different approach by utilizing a comprehensive analysis of physicochemical parameters, heavy metals, and microbial loads tested in sachet water across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones, within the period of 2020-2023. In this review study, over 50 articles were carefully analyzed. Collected data unveiled regional variations in the quality of sachet water across Nigeria. Noteworthy concerns revolve around levels of pH, total hardness, magnesium, calcium, nickel, iron, lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium. Fecal contamination was also identified as a significant issue, with the prevalence of several pathogens like Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Enterobacter cloacae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis. The manufacturing, delivery, storage, and final sale of sachet water, as well as poor environmental hygiene, were identified as potential contamination sources. The intake of contaminated sachet water exposes the citizens to waterborne and carcinogenic diseases. While the sachet water industry keeps growing and making profits, it is apparent that improvement calls made by previous studies, regarding the quality of water produced, have not been paid serious attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnson C Agbasi
- Department of Geology, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra State, Nigeria
| | - Arinze Longinus Ezugwu
- Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Michael Ekuru Omeka
- Department of Geology, University of Calabar, P.M.B. 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
| | - Ifeanyi Adolphus Ucheana
- Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
- Central Science Laboratory, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | | | - Hillary Onyeka Abugu
- Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Johnbosco C Egbueri
- Department of Geology, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra State, Nigeria
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2
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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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3
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Ramesh M, Janani R, Deepa C, Rajeshkumar L. Nanotechnology-Enabled Biosensors: A Review of Fundamentals, Design Principles, Materials, and Applications. BIOSENSORS 2022; 13:bios13010040. [PMID: 36671875 PMCID: PMC9856107 DOI: 10.3390/bios13010040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Biosensors are modern engineering tools that can be widely used for various technological applications. In the recent past, biosensors have been widely used in a broad application spectrum including industrial process control, the military, environmental monitoring, health care, microbiology, and food quality control. Biosensors are also used specifically for monitoring environmental pollution, detecting toxic elements' presence, the presence of bio-hazardous viruses or bacteria in organic matter, and biomolecule detection in clinical diagnostics. Moreover, deep medical applications such as well-being monitoring, chronic disease treatment, and in vitro medical examination studies such as the screening of infectious diseases for early detection. The scope for expanding the use of biosensors is very high owing to their inherent advantages such as ease of use, scalability, and simple manufacturing process. Biosensor technology is more prevalent as a large-scale, low cost, and enhanced technology in the modern medical field. Integration of nanotechnology with biosensors has shown the development path for the novel sensing mechanisms and biosensors as they enhance the performance and sensing ability of the currently used biosensors. Nanoscale dimensional integration promotes the formulation of biosensors with simple and rapid detection of molecules along with the detection of single biomolecules where they can also be evaluated and analyzed critically. Nanomaterials are used for the manufacturing of nano-biosensors and the nanomaterials commonly used include nanoparticles, nanowires, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), nanorods, and quantum dots (QDs). Nanomaterials possess various advantages such as color tunability, high detection sensitivity, a large surface area, high carrier capacity, high stability, and high thermal and electrical conductivity. The current review focuses on nanotechnology-enabled biosensors, their fundamentals, and architectural design. The review also expands the view on the materials used for fabricating biosensors and the probable applications of nanotechnology-enabled biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manickam Ramesh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KIT-Kalaignarkarunanidhi Institute of Technology, Coimbatore 641402, Tamil Nadu, India
- Correspondence:
| | - Ravichandran Janani
- Department of Physics, KIT-Kalaignarkarunanidhi Institute of Technology, Coimbatore 641402, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Chinnaiyan Deepa
- Department of Artificial Intelligence & Data Science, KIT-Kalaignarkarunanidhi Institute of Technology, Coimbatore 641402, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Lakshminarasimhan Rajeshkumar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore 641407, Tamil Nadu, India
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4
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VanArsdale E, Pitzer J, Wang S, Stephens K, Chen CY, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Enhanced electrochemical measurement of β-galactosidase activity in whole cells by coexpression of lactose permease, LacY. Biotechniques 2022; 73:233-237. [DOI: 10.2144/btn-2022-0090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Whole-cell biosensing links the sensing and computing capabilities of microbes to the generation of a detectable reporter. Whole cells enable dynamic biological computation (filtered noise, amplified signals, logic gating etc.). Enzymatic reporters enable in situ signal amplification. Electrochemical measurements are easily quantified and work in turbid environments. In this work we show how the coexpression of the lactose permease, LacY, dramatically improves electrochemical sensing of β-galactosidase (LacZ) expressed as a reporter in whole cells. The permease facilitates transport of the LacZ substrate, 4-aminophenyl β-d-galactopyranoside, which is converted to redox active p-aminophenol, which, in turn, is detected via cyclic voltammetry or chronocoulometry. We show a greater than fourfold improvement enabled by lacY coexpression in cells engineered to respond to bacterial signal molecules, pyocyanin and quorum-sensing autoinducer-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric VanArsdale
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Juliana Pitzer
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Sally Wang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Kristina Stephens
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Chen-yu Chen
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Gregory F Payne
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - William E Bentley
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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Trovato V, Sfameni S, Rando G, Rosace G, Libertino S, Ferri A, Plutino MR. A Review of Stimuli-Responsive Smart Materials for Wearable Technology in Healthcare: Retrospective, Perspective, and Prospective. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27175709. [PMID: 36080476 PMCID: PMC9457686 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27175709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In recent years thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT), the demand for the development of miniaturized and wearable sensors has skyrocketed. Among them, novel sensors for wearable medical devices are mostly needed. The aim of this review is to summarize the advancements in this field from current points of view, focusing on sensors embedded into textile fabrics. Indeed, they are portable, lightweight, and the best candidates for monitoring biometric parameters. The possibility of integrating chemical sensors into textiles has opened new markets in smart clothing. Many examples of these systems are represented by color-changing materials due to their capability of altering optical properties, including absorption, reflectance, and scattering, in response to different external stimuli (temperature, humidity, pH, or chemicals). With the goal of smart health monitoring, nanosized sol-gel precursors, bringing coupling agents into their chemical structure, were used to modify halochromic dyestuffs, both minimizing leaching from the treated surfaces and increasing photostability for the development of stimuli-responsive sensors. The literature about the sensing properties of functionalized halochromic azo dyestuffs applied to textile fabrics is reviewed to understand their potential for achieving remote monitoring of health parameters. Finally, challenges and future perspectives are discussed to envisage the developed strategies for the next generation of functionalized halochromic dyestuffs with biocompatible and real-time stimuli-responsive capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Trovato
- Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Bergamo, Viale Marconi 5, 24044 Dalmine, Italy
| | - Silvia Sfameni
- Department of Engineering, University of Messina, Contrada di Dio, S. Agata, 98166 Messina, Italy
- Institute for the Study of Nanostructured Materials, ISMN–CNR, Palermo, c/o Department of ChiBioFarAm, University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres 31, Vill. S. Agata, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Giulia Rando
- Institute for the Study of Nanostructured Materials, ISMN–CNR, Palermo, c/o Department of ChiBioFarAm, University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres 31, Vill. S. Agata, 98166 Messina, Italy
- Department of ChiBioFarAm, University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres 31, Vill. S. Agata, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Rosace
- Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Bergamo, Viale Marconi 5, 24044 Dalmine, Italy
- Correspondence: (G.R.); (S.L.); (A.F.); (M.R.P.)
| | - Sebania Libertino
- Institute of Microelectronics and MicrosystemsCNR–IMM, Ottava Strada 5, 95121 Catania, Italy
- Correspondence: (G.R.); (S.L.); (A.F.); (M.R.P.)
| | - Ada Ferri
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico Di Torino, Corso Duca Degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
- Correspondence: (G.R.); (S.L.); (A.F.); (M.R.P.)
| | - Maria Rosaria Plutino
- Institute for the Study of Nanostructured Materials, ISMN–CNR, Palermo, c/o Department of ChiBioFarAm, University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres 31, Vill. S. Agata, 98166 Messina, Italy
- Correspondence: (G.R.); (S.L.); (A.F.); (M.R.P.)
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6
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Sciuto EL, Corso D, Libertino S, van der Meer JR, Faro G, Coniglio MA. A Miniaturized Microbe-Silicon-Chip Based on Bioluminescent Engineered Escherichia coli for the Evaluation of Water Quality and Safety. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18147580. [PMID: 34300030 PMCID: PMC8304097 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18147580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Conventional high throughput methods assaying the chemical state of water and the risk of heavy metal accumulation share common constraints of long and expensive analytical procedures and dedicated laboratories due to the typical bulky instrumentation. To overcome these limitations, a miniaturized optical system for the detection and quantification of inorganic mercury (Hg2+) in water was developed. Combining the bioactivity of a light-emitting mercury-specific engineered Escherichia coli—used as sensing element—with the optical performance of small size and inexpensive Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM)—used as detector—the system is able to detect mercury in low volumes of water down to the concentration of 1 µg L−1, which is the tolerance value indicated by the World Health Organization (WHO), providing a highly sensitive and miniaturized tool for in situ water quality analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Luigi Sciuto
- Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, Via S. Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy;
| | - Domenico Corso
- Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi–Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR-IMM), Ottava Strada 5, 95121 Catania, Italy
- Correspondence: (D.C.); (S.L.); (M.A.C.)
| | - Sebania Libertino
- Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi–Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR-IMM), Ottava Strada 5, 95121 Catania, Italy
- Correspondence: (D.C.); (S.L.); (M.A.C.)
| | - Jan Roelof van der Meer
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, Bâtiment Biophore, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland;
| | - Giuseppina Faro
- Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale di Catania, Via S. Maria La Grande 5, 95124 Catania, Italy;
| | - Maria Anna Coniglio
- Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, Via S. Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy;
- Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi–Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR-IMM), Ottava Strada 5, 95121 Catania, Italy
- Regional Reference Laboratory of Clinical and Environmental Surveillance of Legionellosis, Catania, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, Via Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, Italy
- Correspondence: (D.C.); (S.L.); (M.A.C.)
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7
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Sciuto EL, Petralia S, van der Meer JR, Conoci S. Miniaturized electrochemical biosensor based on whole-cell for heavy metal ions detection in water. Biotechnol Bioeng 2021; 118:1456-1465. [PMID: 33289093 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Revised: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The heavy metals pollution represents one of the important issues in the environmental field since it is involved in many pathologies from cancer, neurodegenerative, and metabolic diseases. We propose an innovative portable biosensor for the determination of traces of trivalent arsenic (As(III)) and bivalent mercury (Hg(II)) in water. The system implements a strategy combining two advanced sensing modules consisting in (a) a whole cell based on engineered Escherichia coli as selective sensing element towards the metals and (b) an electrochemical miniaturised silicon device with three microelectrodes and a portable reading system. The sensing mechanism relies on the selective recognition from the bacterium of given metals producing the 4-aminophenol redox active mediator detected through a cyclic voltammetry analysis. The miniaturized biosensor is able to operate a portable, robust, and high-sensitivity detection of As(III) with a sensitivity of 0.122 µA ppb-1 , LoD of 1.5 ppb, and a LoQ of 5 ppb. The LoD value is one order of magnitude below of the value indicated to WHO to be dangerous (10 μg/L). The system was proved to be fully versatile being effective in the detection of Hg(II) as well. A first study on Hg(II) showed sensitivity value of 2.11 µA/ppb a LOD value of 0.1 ppb and LoQ value of 0.34 ppb. Also in this case, the detected LOD was 10 times lower than that indicated by WHO (1 ppb). These results pave the way for advanced sensing strategies suitable for the environmental monitoring and the public safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele L Sciuto
- Regional Reference Laboratory for enviromental and clinica surveillance and control of Legionellosis, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Policlinici "G. Rodolico - San Marco", Catania, Italy
| | - Salvatore Petralia
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.,STMicroelectronics, Catania, Italy
| | - Jan R van der Meer
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sabrina Conoci
- STMicroelectronics, Catania, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche, ed Ambientali, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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8
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Syed AJ, Anderson JC. Applications of bioluminescence in biotechnology and beyond. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:5668-5705. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cs01492c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Bioluminescent probes have hugely benefited from the input of synthetic chemistry and protein engineering. Here we review the latest applications of these probes in biotechnology and beyond, with an eye on current limitations and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisha J. Syed
- Department of Chemistry
- University College London
- London
- UK
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9
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Lopreside A, Calabretta MM, Montali L, Zangheri M, Guardigli M, Mirasoli M, Michelini E. Bioluminescence goes portable: recent advances in whole-cell and cell-free bioluminescence biosensors. LUMINESCENCE 2020; 36:278-293. [PMID: 32945075 DOI: 10.1002/bio.3948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Recent advancements in synthetic biology, organic chemistry, and computational models have allowed the application of bioluminescence in several fields, ranging from well established methods for detecting microbial contamination to in vivo imaging to track cancer and stem cells, from cell-based assays to optogenetics. Moreover, thanks to recent technological progress in miniaturized and sensitive light detectors, such as photodiodes and imaging sensors, it is possible to implement laboratory-based assays, such as cell-based and enzymatic assays, into portable analytical devices for point-of-care and on-site applications. This review highlights some recent advances in the development of whole-cell and cell-free bioluminescence biosensors with a glance on current challenges and different strategies that have been used to turn bioassays into biosensors with the required analytical performance. Critical issues and unsolved technical problems are also highlighted, to give the reader a taste of this fascinating and challenging field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Lopreside
- Department of Chemistry 'Giacomo Ciamician', University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Laura Montali
- Department of Chemistry 'Giacomo Ciamician', University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, Bologna, Italy
| | - Martina Zangheri
- Department of Chemistry 'Giacomo Ciamician', University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, Bologna, Italy
| | - Massimo Guardigli
- Department of Chemistry 'Giacomo Ciamician', University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, Bologna, Italy.,Interdepartmental Centre for Renewable Sources, Environment, Sea and Energy (CIRI FRAME), Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Sant'Alberto 163, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Mara Mirasoli
- Department of Chemistry 'Giacomo Ciamician', University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, Bologna, Italy.,Interdepartmental Centre for Renewable Sources, Environment, Sea and Energy (CIRI FRAME), Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Sant'Alberto 163, Ravenna, Italy.,INBB, Istituto Nazionale di Biostrutture e Biosistemi, Via Medaglie d'Oro, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisa Michelini
- Department of Chemistry 'Giacomo Ciamician', University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, Bologna, Italy.,Interdepartmental Centre for Renewable Sources, Environment, Sea and Energy (CIRI FRAME), Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Sant'Alberto 163, Ravenna, Italy.,Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra 41/E 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
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10
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Huang JH, Shetaya WH, Osterwalder S. Determination of (Bio)-available mercury in soils: A review. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 263:114323. [PMID: 32311621 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Despite the mercury (Hg) control measures adopted by the international community, Hg still poses a significant risk to ecosystem and human health. This is primarily due to the ability of atmospheric Hg to travel intercontinentally and contaminating terrestrial and aquatic environments far from its natural and anthropogenic point sources. The issue of Hg pollution is further complicated by its unique physicochemical characteristics, most noticeably its multiple chemical forms that vary in their toxicity and environmental mobility. This meant that most of the risk evaluation protocols developed for other metal(loid)s are not suitable for Hg. Soil is a major reservoir of Hg and a key player in its global cycle. To fully assess the risks of soil Hg it is essential to estimate its bioavailability and/or availability which are closely linked to its toxicity. However, the accurate determination of the (bio)-available pools of Hg in soils is problematic, because the terms 'bioavailable' and 'available' are ill-defined. In particular, the term 'bioavailable pool', representing the fraction of Hg that is accessible to living organisms, has been consistently misused by interchanging with other intrinsically different terms e.g. mobile, labile, reactive and soluble pools. A wide array of physical, chemical, biological and isotopic exchange methods were developed to estimate the (bio)-available pools of Hg in soil in an attempt to offer a plausible assessment of its risks. Unfortunately, many of these methods do not mirror the (bio)-available pools of soil Hg and suffer from technical drawbacks. In this review, we discuss advantages and disadvantages of methods that are currently applied to quantify the (bio)-availability of Hg in soils. We recommended the most feasible methods and give suggestions how to improve the determination of (bio)-available Hg in soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jen-How Huang
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Waleed H Shetaya
- Air Pollution Research Department, National Research Centre, 33 El-Bohouth St., Dokki, Giza, 12622, Egypt
| | - Stefan Osterwalder
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland
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11
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Chen F, Warnock RL, Van der Meer JR, Wegner SV. Bioluminescence-Triggered Photoswitchable Bacterial Adhesions Enable Higher Sensitivity and Dual-Readout Bacterial Biosensors for Mercury. ACS Sens 2020; 5:2205-2210. [PMID: 32583665 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.0c00855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We present a new concept for whole-cell biosensors that couples the response to Hg2+ with bioluminescence and bacterial aggregation. This allows us to use the bacterial aggregation to preconcentrate the bioluminescent bacteria at the substrate surface and increase the sensitivity of Hg2+ detection. This whole-cell biosensor combines a Hg2+-sensitive bioluminescence reporter and light-responsive bacterial cell-cell adhesions. We demonstrate that the blue luminescence in response to Hg2+ is able to photoactivate bacterial aggregation, which provides a second readout for Hg2+ detection. In return, the Hg2+-triggered bacterial aggregation leads to faster sedimentation and more efficient formation of biofilms. At low Hg2+ concentrations, the enrichment of the bacteria in biofilms leads to an up to 10-fold increase in the signal. The activation of photoswitchable proteins with biological light is a new concept in optogenetics, and the presented bacterial biosensor design is transferable to other bioluminescent reporters with particular interest for environmental monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Chen
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Rachel L. Warnock
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Seraphine V. Wegner
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
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