title: A plate-based electrochromic approach for the high-throughput detection of electrochemically active bacteria.
abstract: Electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) have the ability to transfer electrons to electron acceptors located outside the cell, and they are widely present in diverse environments. In spite of their important roles in geochemical cycles, environmental remediation and electricity generation, so far, only a limited number and types of EAB have been isolated and characterized. Thus, effective and rapid EAB identification methods are highly desirable. In this protocol, we describe a photometric protocol for the visualization and high-throughput identification and isolation of EAB. The protocol relies on the fast electron acquisition and color change ability of an electrochromic material, namely a tungsten trioxide (WO3) nanorod assembly. The extracellular electron transfer (EET) from EAB to the WO3 nanorod assembly probe is accompanied by a bioelectrochromic reaction made evident by the color change of the probe. This protocol enables researchers to rapidly identify EAB and evaluate their EET ability either qualitatively with the naked eye or quantitatively by image analysis. We have also successfully used this protocol to isolate EAB from environmental samples. The time needed to complete this protocol is ∼2 d, with the actual EAB identification process taking about 5 min.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China. [2].
authors.forename: Shi-Jie
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China. [2].
authors.forename: Wen-Wei
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: Yuan-Yuan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: Jie-Jie
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: Zhong-Hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Qi
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Ping
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: Han-Qing
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004579:Electron Transport; D043942:Nanotubes; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D010783:Photometry / Q000379:methods*; D020592:Shewanella / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D014414:Tungsten / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D010087:Oxides; C511604:tungsten oxide; D014414:Tungsten