title: Bacteria-instructed synthesis of polymers for self-selective microbial binding and labelling.
abstract: The detection and inactivation of pathogenic strains of bacteria continues to be an important therapeutic goal. Hence, there is a need for materials that can bind selectively to specific microorganisms for diagnostic or anti-infective applications, but that can be formed from simple and inexpensive building blocks. Here, we exploit bacterial redox systems to induce a copper-mediated radical polymerization of synthetic monomers at cell surfaces, generating polymers in situ that bind strongly to the microorganisms that produced them. This 'bacteria-instructed synthesis' can be carried out with a variety of microbial strains, and we show that the polymers produced are self-selective binding agents for the 'instructing' cell types. We further expand on the bacterial redox chemistries to 'click' fluorescent reporters onto polymers directly at the surfaces of a range of clinical isolate strains, allowing rapid, facile and simultaneous binding and visualization of pathogens.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
authors.forename: E Peter
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Magennis
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK [2] School of Chemistry, Haworth Building, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Trillo
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sui
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
authors.forename: Sebastian G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Spain
authors.affiliation: GlaxoSmithKline, St Georges Avenue Weybridge KT13 0DE, Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bradshaw
authors.affiliation: GlaxoSmithKline, St Georges Avenue Weybridge KT13 0DE, Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Churchley
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Winzer
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
authors.forename: Cameron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alexander
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D058105:Polymerization; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D003300:Copper