Biosensor for detection of antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus bacteria.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Biotechnology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, particularly methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), poses a significant global health threat.
• Rapid and accurate detection methods are crucial for effective treatment and infection control.
• Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, offer potential as diagnostic and therapeutic agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a biosensor capable of discriminating between MRSA and MSSA strains.
• To utilize structurally transformed lytic bacteriophages and specific antibody-conjugated beads for bacterial detection.
• To evaluate the efficacy of phage-based biosensors in identifying antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Main Methods:

• Lytic bacteriophages were transformed into phage spheroids using a water-chloroform interface.
• Phage spheroid monolayers were immobilized onto a biosensor surface via the Langmuir-Blodgett technique.
• Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) was used to analyze bacteria-phage interactions and subsequent antibody binding.

Main Results:

• Bacteria-spheroid interactions on the biosensor surface resulted in measurable changes in resonance frequency and dissipation energy for both MRSA and MSSA.
• Sensors exposed to MRSA showed a response to penicillin-binding protein (PBP 2a) antibody latex beads, while MSSA-exposed sensors did not.
• The phage spheroids demonstrated retained lytic activity and high bacterial capture capability.

Conclusions:

• The developed phage-based biosensor provides unambiguous discrimination between MRSA and MSSA strains.
• Transformed bacteriophages (phage spheroids) are effective for bacterial capture and can be used for testing antibiotic-resistant microorganisms.
• This technology holds promise for applications in diagnostics, sterilization, and potentially bacteriophage therapy.