Microbial bioreporters of trace explosives.
Since its introduction as an explosive in the late 19th century, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), along with other explosive compounds, has left numerous environmental marks. One of these is widespread soil and water pollution by trace explosives in military proving grounds, manufacturing facilities, or actual battlefields. Another dramatic impact is that exerted by the millions of landmines and other explosive devices buried in large parts of the world, causing extensive loss of life, injuries, and economical damage. In this review we highlight recent advances in the design and construction of microbial bioreporters, molecularly engineered to generate a quantifiable dose-dependent signal in the presence of trace amounts of explosives. Such sensor strains may be employed for monitoring environmental pollution as well as for the remote detection of buried landmines.
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
Benjamin
B
Shemer
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
Ori
O
Koshet
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
Sharon
S
Yagur-Kroll
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: shimshon.belkin@mail.huji.ac.il.
Shimshon
S
Belkin
D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D053834:Explosive Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014303:Trinitrotoluene / Q000032:analysis; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis
D053834:Explosive Agents; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014873:Water Pollutants; D014303:Trinitrotoluene