A Novel Proteus-Specific, Piezoelectric Sensor Based on Newly Screened Targets

Proteus spp. are conditionally pathogenic bacteria that cause urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal diseases, and food poisoning. Accurate and rapid detection of Proteus is crucial in medical diagnosis and food safety. In the present study, a new 16S rRNA sequence fragment was identified as a Proteus detection target. A novel Proteus piezoelectric sensor was constructed based on this screened target by combining catalytic hairpin self-assembly target cycle technology, hybrid chain reaction amplification technology, and a piezoelectric sensor. The proposed method was rapid and highly specific; 10-10⁶ CFU/mL Proteus could be detected within 3 h in the presence of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and other common bacteria. The limit of detection was as low as 10 CFU/mL. The proposed method could offer a rapid, sensitive, and specific approach for Proteus detection with broad application potential.