Review Paper:
Microbial Biosensors:
Design considerations, applications and challenges
Chawla Sonam, Sharma Megha and Kaur Gurpreet
Res. J. Biotech.; Vol. 20(9); 300-312;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/209rjbt3000312; (2025)
Abstract
Microbial biosensors have emerged as a cutting-edge breakthrough in sensing and
analyte detection, across facets of human life. Essentially, a microbial biosensor
integrates a biosensing microbial species that either triggers or limits the expression
of a reporter gene in response to an external analyte recognised by a responsive
genetic circuit. The signal from the reporter gene is in direct proportion to the
levels of target analyte, across a wide range of samples: soil, water, food, clinical
samples etc. In the present review, we have focussed on the technical considerations
while designing and development of a microbial biosensor: chassis cell, genetically
engineered strains, the commonly used transducing elements (reporter genes such
as lux/luc, lacZ, gfp).
The microbial biosensors have displayed immense potential for detection of heavy
metals, toxics, pollutants across environmental samples. Their application is illustrated
in ensuring food safety and detection of contaminants such as pesticide residues,
bacterial contaminants. Biomedical applications such as utility for detection of
diseases’ biomarkers for major human diseases (cancer, gut inflammation, colitis)
have also been discussed and elaborated, especially the potential for use of engineered
commensal/probiotic microbes for real-time monitoring of in vivo disease status.
In this comprehensive review, we also discuss the challenges limiting the translational
scope of microbial biosensors and discuss potential current efforts to address them.
