Phage‐Inducible Chromosomal Islands as a Diagnostic Platform to Capture and Detect Bacterial Pathogens

Abstract

Phage‐inducible chromosomal islands (PICIs) are a family of phage satellites that hijack phage components to facilitate their mobility and spread. Recently, these genetic constructs are repurposed as antibacterial drones, enabling a new toolbox for unorthodox applications in biotechnology. To illustrate a new suite of functions, the authors have developed a user‐friendly diagnostic system, based upon PICI transduction to selectively enrich bacteria, allowing the detection and sequential recovery of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The system enables high transfer rates and sensitivities in comparison with phages, with detection down to ≈50 CFU mL−1. In contrast to conventional detection strategies, which often rely on nucleic acid molecular assays, and cannot differentiate between dead and live organisms, this approach enables visual sensing of viable pathogens only, through the expression of a reporter gene encoded in the PICI. The approach extends diagnostic sensing mechanisms beyond cell‐free synthetic biology strategies, enabling new synthetic biology/biosensing toolkits.

Synthetic phage-based approach for sensitive and specific detection of Escherichia coli O157

“…These include detection methods based on intracellular substances such as adenosine triphosphate released during phage-induced bacterial cell lysis 21 , phage particle adsorption on bacterial cell walls 22 , and fluorescently labeled phages 23 , 24 . Recently, bacterial chromosomal islands integrated into phages have been harnessed for detection and identification of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus 25 . Moreover, pathogen detection has been facilitated using specific fusion phage proteins selected from phage display libraries 26 .…”

Bacteriophage Bioengineering: A Transformative Approach for Targeted Drug Discovery and Beyond

“…[ 13 ]. Bacteriophage-based biosensors are deemed effective biosensing agents for the detection of various biomolecules with extremely high sensitivity and selectivity, encompassing diagnostic applications as well [ 14 ]. Bacteriophages can be engineered to carry reporter genes that enable the detection of specific bacterial strains or virulence factors.…”