Transcription Factor-Based Biosensors for Detecting Pathogens

Abstract

Microorganisms are omnipresent and inseparable from our life. Many of them are beneficial to humans, while some are not. Importantly, foods and beverages are susceptible to microbial contamination, with their toxins causing illnesses and even death in some cases. Therefore, monitoring and detecting harmful microorganisms are critical to ensuring human health and safety. For several decades, many methods have been developed to detect and monitor microorganisms and their toxicants. Conventionally, nucleic acid analysis and antibody-based analysis were used to detect pathogens. Additionally, diverse chromatographic methods were employed to detect toxins based on their chemical and structural properties. However, conventional techniques have several disadvantages concerning analysis time, sensitivity, and expense. With the advances in biotechnology, new approaches to detect pathogens and toxins have been reported to compensate for the disadvantages of conventional analysis from different research fields, including electrochemistry, nanotechnology, and molecular biology. Among them, we focused on the recent studies of transcription factor (TF)-based biosensors to detect microorganisms and discuss their perspectives and applications. Additionally, the other biosensors for detecting microorganisms reported in recent studies were also introduced in this review.

Exploring Biosensors’ Scientific Production and Research Patterns: A Bibliometric Analysis

“…It is possible to find studies on the application of this technology in the monitoring and evaluation of wastewater treatment [29], for the detection of pathogens and toxins [30], to ensure an effective agribusiness model [31], and in a broader chemical engineering dimension [32], in which the main discussion is the sensitivity level of biosensor compounds.…”

A systematic review on recent trends and perspectives of biosensors in food industries

“…The following optical biosensors have been reported: those that use fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence quenching applied to siderophore bacteria bio-mediators and albumin-based biosensors, as well as those that use FRET and SPR, applied to chelating fluorescent protein bio-mediators and biosensors. The usage of biosensors based on enzymes, DNA, or entire cells has been identified as a simple technology for the detection of HMs and is undergoing continual improvement in a variety of fields, including the environmental market (Jeon et al, 2022). Even though DNA and whole-cell-based biosensors have proven effective in gene identification and genomics research, they are more laboratory-oriented and involve expensive equipment in the detection of HMs (Saini et al, 2019).…”

Development of a whole-cell biosensor for ethylene oxide and ethylene

“…Transcription-factor based biosensors are particularly valuable in metabolic engineering and can be used to screen or select for desirable properties 5,6 . They are cost-effective to produce and can be engineered to have high sensitivity and selectivity 7 .…”