Live bacteria detection with high specificity by utilizing Eu³⁺@MIL-53 (Al) and bacteriophages-based fluorescence...

Area of Science:

• Nanomaterials Science
• Microbiology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infections are a major health concern, exacerbated by rising drug resistance.
• Rapid, accurate, and cost-effective detection of PA, distinguishing live from dead bacteria, is critical for effective clinical treatment.
• Current detection methods can be time-consuming and lack the ability to differentiate viable bacteria.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel fluorescent biosensor for rapid and specific detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
• To create a platform that can differentiate between live and dead PA cells.
• To validate the biosensor's performance in clinical samples.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a fluorescent biosensor using Eu3+@MIL-53(Al) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and specific phages.
• One-pot synthesis of Eu3+@MIL-53(Al) with excellent fluorescence properties.
• Covalent binding of PA-specific phages to the EuMOF surface for targeted detection.
• Testing the biosensor's sensitivity, specificity, and detection time using bacterial samples and clinical matrices.

Main Results:

• The developed biosensor detected PA within 15 minutes with a sensitivity threshold of 2 CFU/mL.
• The biosensor demonstrated high specificity, accurately quantifying live PA in complex bacterial mixtures.
• It successfully distinguished between live and dead PA bacteria.
• The biosensor's efficacy was validated in clinical blood and stool samples.

Conclusions:

• The Eu3+@MIL-53(Al)-phage fluorescent biosensor provides a rapid, sensitive, and specific method for detecting live Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
• This novel platform offers significant potential for clinical microbial monitoring and combating antibiotic resistance.
• The biosensor has demonstrated practical applicability in real-world clinical settings.