Journal
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
Volume 94, Issue -, Pages 380-387Publisher
ELSEVIER ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2017.03.029
Keywords
Microbial biosensors; Cadmium; Multiplex; Environmental monitoring; Heavy metals; Synthetic biology
Categories
Funding
- Human Protection and Performance Program of the Defence Science Institute
- La Trobe University School of Life Science 'Postgraduate Publication Award'
- Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), Office of Naval Research Global [N626909-13-1-N259]
- Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development (AOARD) [FA2386-14-1-4032]
- Australian Research Council (ARC) [LP140100459]
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Widespread presence of cadmium in soil and water systems is a consequence of industrial and agricultural processes. Subsequent accumulation of cadmium in food and drinking water can result in accidental consumption of dangerous concentrations. As such, cadmium environmental contamination poses a significant threat to human health. Development of microbial biosensors, as a novel alternative method for in situ cadmium detection, may reduce human exposure by complementing traditional analytical methods. In this study, a multiplex cadmium biosensing construct was assembled by cloning a single-output cadmium biosensor element, cadRgfp, and a constitutively expressed mrfp1 onto a broad-host range vector. Incorporation of the duplex fluorescent output [green and red fluorescence proteins] allowed measurement of biosensor functionality and viability. The biosensor construct was tested in several Gram-negative bacteria including Pseudomonas, Shewanella and Enterobacter. The multiplex cadmium biosensors were responsive to cadmium concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 10 mu g ml(-1), as well as several other heavy metals, including arsenic, mercury and lead at similar concentrations. The biosensors were also responsive within 20-40 min following exposure to 3 mu g ml(-1) cadmium. This study highlights the importance of testing biosensor constructs, developed using synthetic biology principles, in different bacterial genera.
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