title: Biosensors for detection of mercury in contaminated soils.
abstract: Biosensors based on whole bacterial cells and on bacterial heavy metal binding protein were used to determine the mercury concentration in soil. The soil samples were collected in a vegetable garden accidentally contaminated with elemental mercury 25 years earlier. Bioavailable mercury was measured using different sensors: a protein-based biosensor, a whole bacterial cell based biosensor, and a plant sensor, i.e. morphological and biochemical responses in primary leaves and roots of bean seedlings grown in the mercury-contaminated soil. For comparison the total mercury concentration of the soil samples was determined by AAS. Whole bacterial cell and protein-based biosensors gave accurate responses proportional to the total amount of mercury in the soil samples. On the contrary, plant sensors were found to be less useful indicators of soil mercury contamination, as determined by plant biomass, mercury content of primary leaves and enzyme activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ibolya
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bontidean
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mortari
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leth
authors.forename: Nigel L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Karlson
authors.forename: Martin M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Jaco
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vangronsveld
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Corbisier
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Csöregi
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D027805:Phaseolus / Q000378:metabolism; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D008628:Mercury