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Electrochemical microgap immunosensors for selective detection of pathogenic Aspergillus niger
Jisu Lee1, Semee Kim1, Ha Young Chung2
1Department of Chemistry, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16429, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Aspergillus niger (A. niger) is a well-known allergenic, harmful fungus in the indoor environment that can cause asthmatic symptoms and atopy. Previous immunosensing approach suffers from an insufficient detection limit, mainly because there are no techniques for target amplification. We report an electrochemical immunosensor that selectively quantifies the A. niger based on the detection of extracellular proteins by using a specific interaction with antibody. The sensor was designed to show a decrease in redox current upon binding of the antigens secreted from A. niger onto an antibody-immobilized surface between the interdigitated electrodes. The extracellular proteins were profiled by LC-MS/MS to identify the antigens existing in the A. niger solution. Since the targets of the sensor are the proteins, its sensitivity and selectivity remain almost intact even after filtration of the spores. It was also found that the use of secretion promoter in the sampling stage greatly improved the sensor's limit of detection (LOD) for the spores. By this, the LOD was lowered by a few orders of magnitude so as to reach the value as low as ~101 spores/mL.
Insights
A novel electrochemical immunosensor detects Aspergillus niger (A. niger) by targeting its secreted proteins. This advancement significantly improves detection limits for this common indoor allergen, aiding in allergy management.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Biotechnology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Aspergillus niger (A. niger) is a prevalent indoor allergen causing respiratory issues like asthma and atopy.
- Existing immunosensing methods for A. niger lack sufficient sensitivity due to inadequate target amplification techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a highly sensitive electrochemical immunosensor for A. niger detection.
- To quantify A. niger based on the specific detection of its extracellular proteins.
Main Methods:
- An electrochemical immunosensor was designed using an antibody-immobilized surface between interdigitated electrodes.
- Extracellular proteins secreted by A. niger were identified using LC-MS/MS.
- A secretion promoter was utilized to enhance antigen release during sampling.
Main Results:
- The sensor demonstrated selective quantification of A. niger via antibody-antigen interactions, indicated by a decrease in redox current.
- Sensor performance remained stable even after spore filtration, confirming protein target specificity.
- The use of a secretion promoter reduced the limit of detection (LOD) to approximately 10^1 spores/mL.
Conclusions:
- The developed electrochemical immunosensor offers a sensitive and selective method for A. niger detection.
- The strategy of targeting extracellular proteins and employing secretion promoters significantly enhances detection capabilities.
- This technology holds promise for improved monitoring of A. niger in indoor environments.
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