Development and Application of a Synthetically-Derived Lead Biosensor Construct for Use in Gram-Negative Bacteria
The use of lead in manufacturing has decreased significantly over the last few decades. However, previous widespread use of lead-containing products and their incorrect disposal has resulted in environmental contamination. Accumulation of harmful quantities of lead pose a threat to all living organi...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2016-12-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/16/12/2174 |
| _version_ | 1798002510477131776 |
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| author | Lara Bereza-Malcolm Sanja Aracic Ashley E. Franks |
| author_facet | Lara Bereza-Malcolm Sanja Aracic Ashley E. Franks |
| author_sort | Lara Bereza-Malcolm |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The use of lead in manufacturing has decreased significantly over the last few decades. However, previous widespread use of lead-containing products and their incorrect disposal has resulted in environmental contamination. Accumulation of harmful quantities of lead pose a threat to all living organisms, through inhalation, ingestion, or direct contact, resulting in lead poisoning. This study utilized synthetic biology principles to develop plasmid-based whole-cell bacterial biosensors for detection of lead. The genetic element of the lead biosensor construct consists of pbrR, which encodes the regulatory protein, together with its divergent promoter region and a promoterless gfp. GFP expression is controlled by PbrR in response to the presence of lead. The lead biosensor genetic element was cloned onto a low-copy number broad host range plasmid, which can stably exist in a range of laboratory and environmental isolates, including Pseudomonas, Shewanella, and Enterobacter. The biosensors constructed were found to be sensitive, rapid, and specific and could, as such, serve as monitoring tools for lead-contaminated water. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T11:53:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a055fc7051824c1397200045c9772f4d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T11:53:14Z |
| publishDate | 2016-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-a055fc7051824c1397200045c9772f4d2022-12-22T04:25:15ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202016-12-011612217410.3390/s16122174s16122174Development and Application of a Synthetically-Derived Lead Biosensor Construct for Use in Gram-Negative BacteriaLara Bereza-Malcolm0Sanja Aracic1Ashley E. Franks2Applied and Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, AustraliaApplied and Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, AustraliaApplied and Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, AustraliaThe use of lead in manufacturing has decreased significantly over the last few decades. However, previous widespread use of lead-containing products and their incorrect disposal has resulted in environmental contamination. Accumulation of harmful quantities of lead pose a threat to all living organisms, through inhalation, ingestion, or direct contact, resulting in lead poisoning. This study utilized synthetic biology principles to develop plasmid-based whole-cell bacterial biosensors for detection of lead. The genetic element of the lead biosensor construct consists of pbrR, which encodes the regulatory protein, together with its divergent promoter region and a promoterless gfp. GFP expression is controlled by PbrR in response to the presence of lead. The lead biosensor genetic element was cloned onto a low-copy number broad host range plasmid, which can stably exist in a range of laboratory and environmental isolates, including Pseudomonas, Shewanella, and Enterobacter. The biosensors constructed were found to be sensitive, rapid, and specific and could, as such, serve as monitoring tools for lead-contaminated water.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/16/12/2174whole cell biosensorsleadsynthetic biologyenvironmental monitoring |
| spellingShingle | Lara Bereza-Malcolm Sanja Aracic Ashley E. Franks Development and Application of a Synthetically-Derived Lead Biosensor Construct for Use in Gram-Negative Bacteria Sensors whole cell biosensors lead synthetic biology environmental monitoring |
| title | Development and Application of a Synthetically-Derived Lead Biosensor Construct for Use in Gram-Negative Bacteria |
| title_full | Development and Application of a Synthetically-Derived Lead Biosensor Construct for Use in Gram-Negative Bacteria |
| title_fullStr | Development and Application of a Synthetically-Derived Lead Biosensor Construct for Use in Gram-Negative Bacteria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development and Application of a Synthetically-Derived Lead Biosensor Construct for Use in Gram-Negative Bacteria |
| title_short | Development and Application of a Synthetically-Derived Lead Biosensor Construct for Use in Gram-Negative Bacteria |
| title_sort | development and application of a synthetically derived lead biosensor construct for use in gram negative bacteria |
| topic | whole cell biosensors lead synthetic biology environmental monitoring |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/16/12/2174 |
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