Open AccessA Cell-Free Biosensor for Detecting Quorum Sensing Molecules in P. aeruginosa-Infected Respiratory Samples
Author(s) -
Ke Wen,
Loren Cameron,
James Chappell,
Kirsten Jensen,
David Bell,
Richard Kelwick,
Margarita Kopniczky,
Jane C. Davies,
Alain Filloux,
Paul S. Freemont
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
acs synthetic biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.156
H-Index - 66
ISSN - 2161-5063
DOI - 10.1021/acssynbio.7b00219
Subject(s) - biosensor , quorum sensing , sputum , pseudomonas aeruginosa , biology , computational biology , biomarker , microbiology and biotechnology , cell , bacteria , biochemistry , medicine , biofilm , pathology , genetics , tuberculosis
Synthetic biology designed cell-free biosensors are a promising new tool for the detection of clinically relevant biomarkers in infectious diseases. Here, we report that a modular DNA-encoded biosensor in cell-free protein expression systems can be used to measure a bacterial biomarker of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection from human sputum samples. By optimizing the cell-free system and sample extraction, we demonstrate that the quorum sensing molecule 3-oxo-C12-HSL in sputum samples from cystic fibrosis lungs can be quantitatively measured at nanomolar levels using our cell-free biosensor system, and is comparable to LC-MS measurements of the same samples. This study further illustrates the potential of modular cell-free biosensors as rapid, low-cost detection assays that can inform clinical practice.