Microbial biosensors for environmental monitoring

Authors

  • David VOGRINC Univ. of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Fac., Dept. of Animal Science, Groblje 3, SI-1230 Domžale, Slovenia
  • Maša VODOVNIK Univ. of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Fac., Dept. of Animal Science, Groblje 3, SI-1230 Domžale, Slovenia
  • Romana MARINŠEK-LOGAR Univ. of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Fac., Dept. of Animal Science, Groblje 3, SI-1230 Domžale, Slovenia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14720/aas.2015.106.2.1

Keywords:

microbiology, environmental protection, microbial biosensors, environmental pollutants, microbial fuel cells, bioluminescence, genetics, bioinformatics, genetic engineering

Abstract

Microbial biosensors are analytical devices capable of sensing substances in the environment due to the specific biological reaction of the microorganism or its parts. Construction of a microbial biosensor requires knowledge of microbial response to the specific analyte. Linking this response with the quantitative data, using a transducer, is the crucial step in the construction of a biosensor. Regarding the transducer type, biosensors are divided into electrochemical, optical biosensors and microbial fuel cells. The use of the proper configuration depends on the selection of the biosensing element. With the use of transgenic E. coli strains, bioluminescence or fluorescence based biosensors were developed. Microbial fuel cells enable the use of the heterogeneous microbial populations, isolated from wastewater. Different microorganisms are used for different pollutants – pesticides, heavy metals, phenolic compounds, organic waste, etc. Biosensing enables measurement of their concentration and their toxic or genotoxic effects on the microbes. Increasing environmental awareness has contributed to the increase of interest for biomonitoring. Although technologies, such as bioinformatics and genetic engineering, allow us to design complex and efficient microbial biosensors for environmental pollutants, the transfer of the laboratory work to the field still remains a problem to solve.

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Published

28. 12. 2015

Issue

Section

Animal Science section

How to Cite

VOGRINC, D., VODOVNIK, M., & MARINŠEK-LOGAR, R. (2015). Microbial biosensors for environmental monitoring. Acta Agriculturae Slovenica, 106(2), 67–75. https://doi.org/10.14720/aas.2015.106.2.1

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