Synthetic biology is an emerging discipline which seeks to develop new biological systems with user-defined properties by adopting an engineering approach based largely on standardization, characterization, and modularity.  Biosensors are one area where synthetic biology has been successfully applied with examples ranging from small molecule metabolites through to toxins and environmental contaminants.  Whole cell biosensors offer a convenient platform for detection as they are self-renewing and easy to transport.  However, when trying to sense proteins, designers of whole cell biosensors are faced with an issue of how to transmit information across the cell membrane.We have developed a class of whole cell biosensors based on the bacterial surface display of an antibody fragments that bind different epitopes of a protein biomarker.  The presence of the biomarker induces cell aggregation, which can be transmitted as a downstream signal through optical assays or more sophisticated genetic circuitry.  Our 'whole cell ELISA' procedure combines the advantages of traditional antibody detection with the cost effectiveness of whole cell biosensors.

Detecting protein biomarkers using engineered biosensors based on synthetic biology principles

248th National Meeting (2014)

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