Living biosensors for the management and manipulation of microbial consortia

The increasing interest in microbial ecology has resulted in the creation of new tools for the study of complex microbial interactions. Bioreporter genes are particularly useful because they provide a means of determining gene activity. Most bioreporter genes utilize a biochemical assay requiring destructive sampling of the microbial consortium, but lux bioreporter genes produce visible light when active. The measurement of light is rapid, sensitive, and quantifiable, and background signal is usually absent. The usefulness of lux bioreporters is shown in several examples that demonstrate the unique attributes of this bioreporter. Despite some limitations, bioluminescence has proved to be a useful bioreporter under both laboratory and field conditions. Technological developments are discussed that have the potential to increase the number of bioreporter genes.