A prodigiosin-based whole-cell biosensor for sensitive colorimetric detection of Hg(II)

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Biotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Mercury (Hg(II)) poses significant environmental and health risks.
• Accurate and sensitive detection methods for mercury are crucial for environmental monitoring.
• Whole-cell biosensors offer a promising approach for detecting heavy metals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a whole-cell biosensor for sensitive and selective detection of Hg(II).
• To optimize the biosensor performance using prodigiosin and PigC homologs.
• To evaluate the biosensor's applicability in real-world water samples.

Main Methods:

• Screening of four PigC homologs to identify optimal candidates for the biosensor.
• Development of a whole-cell biosensor utilizing prodigiosin as a reporter molecule.
• Testing the biosensor's detection limit, selectivity against competing metal ions, and performance in different water matrices (tap, lake, seawater).

Main Results:

• An optimized whole-cell biosensor for Hg(II) detection was successfully developed.
• The biosensor achieved a low detection limit of 0.41 nM for Hg(II).
• The sensor demonstrated absolute selectivity against other metal ions and robust performance in diverse water samples.

Conclusions:

• The developed prodigiosin-based whole-cell biosensor is a sensitive and selective tool for Hg(II) detection.
• This biosensor provides a viable platform for effective environmental mercury monitoring.
• The findings highlight the potential of engineered microbial systems for pollutant detection.