A new research conducted by Rice University researchers shows that bacteria can now help detect the presence of multiple environmental toxins at the same time. While using bioelectronic sensors is not new, developing a method that transforms bacteria into living multiplexed sensors is. 

The study published in Nature Communications indicates the successful on-site detection of cadmium and arsenite at EPA-standard thresholds in real-time using engineered E. coli. These biosensors can effectively detect said toxins and create electric signals using their biological responses. 

"This system represents a major leap in bioelectronic sensing, encoding multiple signals into a single data stream and then decoding that data into multiple, clear yes-or-no readouts," explained Caroline Ajo-Franklin, the study's corresponding author and the Ralph and Dorothy Looney Professor of Biosciences.

Inspired by the capability of a fiber-optic cable to transmit data streams through different light wavelengths, the team developed a method that combines synthetic biology and electrochemical analysis to convert redox signatures into binary responses. The biosensors give off electrical responses that are unique to either arsenite or cadmium.

"A key advantage of our approach is its adaptability; we believe it's only a matter of time before cells can encode, compute and relay complex environmental or biomedical information," added Ajo-Franklin.

Researchers expect their system to have a positive impact on bioelectronic sensing and be of significant use in environmental monitoring, biocomputational tasks, and diagnostics. They explained that the platform they have developed can be scaled up and integrated with wireless technologies for remote, real-time, and simultaneous surveillance.

"This system allows us to detect combined hazards more efficiently and accurately. Moreover, because the platform is modular, it could be scaled up to screen for more or different toxins simultaneously," said Marimikel Charrier, the study's co-author and a bioengineering senior research specialist at Rice University.

Read the full article here to learn more about the multiplexed biosensors.

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