Sposensor: a whole-bacterial biosensor that uses immobilized Bacillus subtilis spores and a one-step incubation/detection process.
A generic whole-cell bacterial sensor called sposensor was developed with immobilized spores from engineered Bacillus subtilis. Sposensor contains two different types of spores: reporting spores that contain a reporter gene fused to a promoter responding to a compound to be detected, and control spores use to monitor cell germination and viability. A one-step incubation/detection process was developed to meet the constraints of on-site analysis. Spores were directly incubated with culture medium containing the compound to be detected. beta-Galactosidase was chosen as a reporter protein in both cases and its activity followed by a colorimetric assay. Results showed that sposensor was efficient in detecting two different compounds, a metal (Zn(2+)) and a peptidic antibiotic (bacitracin). Owing to the stability and robustness of spores, sposensor is a very efficient and easy tool to manipulate for analyzing the presence of toxic compounds in natural settings.
Fantino
Jean-Raphaël
JR
Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, CNRS et Aix Marseille Universités, Marseille, France.
Barras
Frédéric
F
Denizot
François
F
D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001414:Bacitracin / Q000032:analysis*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D018914:Cells, Immobilized / Q000378:metabolism; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis*; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D001414:Bacitracin; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D015032:Zinc