title: Impedimetric microbial sensor for real-time monitoring of phage infection of Escherichia coli.
abstract: We describe an impedimetric microbial sensor for real-time monitoring of the non-lytic M13 bacteriophage infection of Escherichia coli cells using a gold electrode covalently grafted with a monolayer of lipopolysaccharide specific antibody. After infection, damage to the lipopolysaccharide layer on the outer membrane of E. coli causes changes to its surface charge and morphology, resulting in the aggregation of redox probe, Fe(CN)6(3-/4-) at the electrode surface and thereby increases its electron-transfer rate. This consequent decrease of electron-transfer resistance in the presence of bacteriophage can be easily monitored using Faradaic impedance spectroscopy. Non-lytic bacterium-phage interaction which is hardly observable using conventional microscopic methods is detected within 3h using this impedimetric microbial sensor which demonstrates its excellent performance in terms of analysis time, ease and reduced reliance on labeling steps during in-situ monitoring of the phage infection process.
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore.
authors.forename: Ming Soon
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Jia Shin
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Suk Hiang
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Vincent T K
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Chee-Seng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Toh
mesh_terms: D017104:Bacteriophage M13 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D058266:Dielectric Spectroscopy; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D004566:Electrodes; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D006046:Gold