Open AccessThe potential applications of SOS ‐ lux biosensors for rapid screening of mutagenic chemicals
Author(s) -
Alhadrami Hani A.,
Paton Graeme I.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/1574-6968.12156
Subject(s) - salmonella , biosensor , genotoxicity , escherichia coli , sos response , bioassay , acridine orange , chemistry , sodium azide , carcinogen , mutagen , ames test , environmental chemistry , biology , biochemistry , bacteria , toxicity , genetics , apoptosis , organic chemistry , gene
The environmental fate and potency of mutagenic compounds is of growing concern. This has necessitated the development and application of rapid assays to screen large numbers of samples for their genotoxic and carcinogenic effects. Despite the development of biosensors for genotoxicity assessment, these have not been calibrated against traditional microbial bioassays. In this study, assays using the SOS ‐ lux ‐marked microbial biosensors E scherichia coli K 12 C 600 and E . coli DPD 1718 were refined and optimised to screen selected mutagenic chemicals. The response of the biosensors was compared with the mutagenic response of the traditional S almonella mutagenicity assay. For the chemicals tested (acridine, B[a]A, B[a]P, chrysene, mitomycin C and sodium azide), E . coli DPD 1718 was consistently more sensitive than E . coli K12C600. The biosensors were of comparable sensitivity to the S almonella assay but were more rapid, reproducible and easier to measure. These data validate the adoption of optimised assays making use of microbial biosensors for routine screening of test chemicals.