Engineered cells as biosensing systems in biomedical analysis

Abstract

Over the past two decades there have been great advances in biotechnology, including use of nucleic acids, proteins, and whole cells to develop a variety of molecular analytical tools for diagnostic, screening, and pharmaceutical applications. Through manipulation of bacterial plasmids and genomes, bacterial whole-cell sensing systems have been engineered that can serve as novel methods for analyte detection and characterization, and as more efficient and cost-effective alternatives to traditional analytical techniques. Bacterial cell-based sensing systems are typically sensitive, specific and selective, rapid, easy to use, low-cost, and amenable to multiplexing, high-throughput, and miniaturization for incorporation into portable devices. This critical review is intended to provide an overview of available bacterial whole-cell sensing systems for assessment of a variety of clinically relevant analytes. Specifically, we examine whole-cell sensing systems for detection of bacterial quorum sensing molecules, organic and inorganic toxic compounds, and drugs, and for screening of antibacterial compounds for identification of their mechanisms of action. Methods used in the design and development of whole-cell sensing systems are also reviewed.

Plug-and-Play Metabolic Transducers Expand the Chemical Detection Space of Cell-Free Biosensors

“…The ability of living organisms to detect signals in their environment and transduce them into a response can be utilized to create cheap, novel sensors with high sensitivity and specificity. By leveraging the ability of transcription factors to control gene expression, synthetic biologists have genetically engineered microbes to detect a wide range of compounds, from clinical biomarkers to environmental pollutants [4][5][6][7] .…”

<i>Escherichia coli</i> as a Model Organism and Its Application in Biotechnology

“…E. coli-based biosensors using plasmid or chromosomal constructs are useful for the detection of environmental traits or hazards or measuring cellular processes as any standard reporter system [68][69][70].…”

Cell damage detection using Escherichia coli reporter plasmids: fluorescent and colorimetric assays

“…Wholecell reporter assays have become powerful tools to address important toxicological, environmental and physiological questions (Raut et al 2012). They can shed light on the primary action mechanism of antibiotics, anti-microbial compounds and xenobiotics.…”

“…Our results suggest that these types of bacterial reporter strains can reporter protein such as β-galactosidase, luciferase or fluorescent proteins. A sensor module usually comprises a well-characterized promoter sequence and its regulatory elements (Raut et al 2012;Gu et al 2004). This system has been applied to many organisms, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic to detect different compounds (for review Daunert et al 2000).…”