A fluorescence-based microbial sensor for the selective detection of gold

Abstract

This study presents a fluorescence-based microbial sensor for the detection of metal ions as a novel analytical tool for environmental applications. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of whole-cell sensors in the selective detection of gold ions. Two heavy-metal-tolerant proteobacteria, Cupriavidus metallidurans and Ralstonia eutropha, were examined and showed great specificity. This work highlights the potential of employing engineered microbial strains as robust analytical tools.

Handbook of Cell Biosensors

“…Also, as stated above, microorganisms are distributed all over the planet, occupying all known ecosystems, which constitutes a great advantage if the biosensor designer is looking for a particular microbial capability to detect a specific environmental pollutant. An example of this is offered by Ralstonia metallidurans, a bacterium adapted to toxic metals (Mergeay et al 2003), colonizing industrial sediments, soils, or wastes with a high content of metal(loid)s. From the knowledge on metal-resistant mechanisms and their regulation obtained from this bacterium and other metal-resistant microorganisms, several types of biosensors detecting metals have been designed (Diels et al 2009;Leth et al 2002;Tseng et al 2014). The existence of cellular resistance mechanisms against metals or xenobiotics is really important when we want to design a WCB to detect these pollutants, because the regulatory genes and promoters involved in these mechanisms can be used for the design of the biosensor.…”

Recent Advances in the Construction of Flexible Sensors for Biomedical Applications

“…It can be mass‐produced and used for the diagnosis of human health and disease. In recent years, with the development of biotechnology and nanotechnology, functional biosensors including enzyme sensors, [ 6 ] microbial sensors, [ 7 ] immunosensors, [ 8 ] tissue sensors, [ 9 ] and DNA sensors [ 10 ] have shown great potential and space for development. For instance, biosensors based on enzymes and aptamers have been extensively studied, and the development of new nanocomposites to achieve efficient immobilization of bioactive substances such as enzymes and aptamers has become one of the hot spots in this field.…”

Dye-Labeled Polyacryloyl Hydrazide–Ag Nanoparticle Fluorescent Probe for Ultrasensitive and Selective Detection of Au Ion

“…Out of the various modes of sensing available for the detection of Au 3+ , the fluorescence mode is advantageous because of its operational simplicity and ultrasensitivity. 11 Au nanoparticles (NPs) are known to be strong fluorescence quenchers because of the associated energy-transfer processes; 12 therefore, turn-off fluorescence sensors for the detection of Au are reported in the literature. Turn-on sensors for Au 3+ are also reported in the literature in which the Au 3+ ion acts as a catalyst and chemically transforms the nonfluorescent probe to a fluorescent one.…”