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Updated: Jan 11, 2026
09:33
An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium
Published on: December 17, 2018
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Engineering ion channels for ultrahigh mercury sensitivity: Visual detection at critical environmental limits
Jiaming Ou1, Yan Guo2, Jiangpeng Tang3
1Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Pathology & Toxicology, Shenzhen Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Shenzhen, China.
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
|November 11, 2025
Summary
This study developed a highly sensitive whole-cell biosensor for detecting mercury (Hg(II)) in water. The novel biosensor offers accurate, visual detection at environmentally relevant mercury levels, improving water quality monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Biotechnology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Whole-cell biosensors offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional instrumental methods for environmental monitoring.
- Existing whole-cell biosensors often suffer from insufficient sensitivity and high signal thresholds, limiting their practical application.
- Mercury (Hg(II)) contamination in water poses significant environmental and health risks, necessitating sensitive detection methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an ultrahigh-sensitivity whole-cell biosensor for detecting inorganic mercury (Hg(II)) in environmental water samples.
- To overcome the limitations of sensitivity and signal threshold in conventional whole-cell biosensors.
- To create a visually readable and cost-effective tool for high-throughput screening of mercury at critical environmental limits.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of Hg(II)-specific transport proteins (MerC, MerT, MerP) into a decoupled genetic circuit.
- Utilization of a deoxyviolacein (DV)-based visual whole-cell biosensor for signal generation.
- Optimization of the biosensor for enhanced sensitivity and specificity.
Main Results:
- The optimized biosensor achieved an ultra-low detection limit of 0.011 nM Hg(II), significantly below the drinking water limit.
- Visual detection was achieved at mercury limits for Class I surface water and seawater (2.49 nM).
- The biosensor demonstrated strong specificity for Hg(II), a robust linear relationship (0.092-46.875 nM), and stable performance with interference resistance in real water samples.
Conclusions:
- This study presents a novel and practical whole-cell biosensor for ultrahigh-sensitivity Hg(II) detection.
- The developed biosensor provides a cost-effective and high-throughput solution for environmental mercury monitoring.
- This tool is valuable for assessing mercury levels at critical environmental thresholds, contributing to improved water quality management.
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