239
© Springer Nature B.V. 2020
G. Sindona et al. (eds.), Toxic Chemical and Biological Agents, NATO Science
for Peace and Security Series A: Chemistry and Biology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-2041-8_21
Chapter 21
New Tools for Rapid and Sensitive
Detection of Water Contamination: WholeCell Biosensors and Cell-Free TX-TL
Systems
Antonia Lopreside, Maria Maddalena Calabretta, Laura Montali, Xinyi Wan,
Baojun Wang, Aldo Roda, and Elisa Michelini
Abstract Rapid, sensitive and user-friendly detection of water contaminants is a
key factor for on-site response to terrorist attack or accidental toxic release. To this
end, we developed and compared different biosensors based on living cells and
transcriptional-translational cell-free system (TX-TL) using different optical
reporter genes. Analytical performances such as response time, limit of detection
and dynamic range of the different combinations were profiled to assess the best
candidate of this application. To date, bioluminescent NanoLuc luciferase proved to
be the best reporter gene for both the configurations independently from target
analyte.
Real time routine monitoring of water for chemical and biological threat agents is
one of the major concerns of our society. A rapid response to a terrorist attack, as
well as to an accidental release of toxic environmental pollutants, requires the ability to rapidly detect chemical and biological agents so that an early warning can be
raised, potential health risks defined, and proper countermeasures are employed. In
this field cell-based biosensors have been widely used as they provide useful information (such as bioavailability and general toxicity) and they are suitable for on
field application. During the last decade, thanks to the implementation of
A. Lopreside (*) · M. M. Calabretta · L. Montali
Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
e-mail: antonia.lopreside2@unibo.it
X. Wan · B. Wang
School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
A. Roda · E. Michelini
Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
INBB, Istituto Nazionale di Biostrutture e Biosistemi, Rome, Italy
© Springer Nature B.V. 2020
G. Sindona et al. (eds.), Toxic Chemical and Biological Agents, NATO Science
for Peace and Security Series A: Chemistry and Biology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-2041-8_21
Chapter 21
New Tools for Rapid and Sensitive
Detection of Water Contamination: WholeCell Biosensors and Cell-Free TX-TL
Systems
Antonia Lopreside, Maria Maddalena Calabretta, Laura Montali, Xinyi Wan,
Baojun Wang, Aldo Roda, and Elisa Michelini
Abstract Rapid, sensitive and user-friendly detection of water contaminants is a
key factor for on-site response to terrorist attack or accidental toxic release. To this
end, we developed and compared different biosensors based on living cells and
transcriptional-translational cell-free system (TX-TL) using different optical
reporter genes. Analytical performances such as response time, limit of detection
and dynamic range of the different combinations were profiled to assess the best
candidate of this application. To date, bioluminescent NanoLuc luciferase proved to
be the best reporter gene for both the configurations independently from target
analyte.
Real time routine monitoring of water for chemical and biological threat agents is
one of the major concerns of our society. A rapid response to a terrorist attack, as
well as to an accidental release of toxic environmental pollutants, requires the ability to rapidly detect chemical and biological agents so that an early warning can be
raised, potential health risks defined, and proper countermeasures are employed. In
this field cell-based biosensors have been widely used as they provide useful information (such as bioavailability and general toxicity) and they are suitable for on
field application. During the last decade, thanks to the implementation of
A. Lopreside (*) · M. M. Calabretta · L. Montali
Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
e-mail: antonia.lopreside2@unibo.it
X. Wan · B. Wang
School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
A. Roda · E. Michelini
Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
INBB, Istituto Nazionale di Biostrutture e Biosistemi, Rome, Italy