Improved selectivity of microbial biosensor using membrane coating. Application to the analysis of ethanol during fermentation

Yeast-based biosensing (YBB) is an exciting research area, as many studies have demonstrated the use of yeasts to accurately detect specific molecules. Biosensors incorporating various yeasts have been reported to detect an incredibly large range of molecules including but not limited to odorants, metals, intracellular metabolites, carcinogens, lactate, alcohols, and sugars. We review the detection strategies available for different types of analytes, as well as the wide range of output methods that have been incorporated with yeast biosensors. We group biosensors into two categories: those that are dependent upon transcription of a gene to report the detection of a desired molecule and those that are independent of this reporting mechanism. Transcription-dependent biosensors frequently depend on heterologous expression of sensing elements from non-yeast organisms, a strategy that has greatly expanded the range of molecules available for detection by YBBs. Transcription-independent biosensors circumvent the problem of sensing difficult-to-detect analytes by instead relying on yeast metabolism to generate easily detected molecules when the analyte is present. The use of yeast as the sensing element in biosensors has proven to be successful and continues to hold great promise for a variety of applications.

Yeast-based biosensors: design and applications

An amperometric microbial biosensor development based on Candida tropicalis yeast cells for sensitive determination of ethanol.

Advances in developing rapid, reliable and portable detection systems for alcohol

A microbial biosensor is an elaborate analytic device that uses microorganisms as recognition elements, mainly for application in environmental monitoring, food safety, military defense, and medicine. The selection and immobilization of microorganisms are key steps that must first be addressed for microbial biosensors. Currently, genetically modified microorganisms play an increasingly significant role in improving the capacity of biosensors. Electrochemical and optical types of transducers have been widely employed in microbial biosensors, although bioluminescence and fluorescence methods have been highlighted recently. Additionally, the microbial fuel cell (MFC), which has been mainly applied in biological oxygen demand (BOD) biosensors, is a promising technology. This article reviews recent developments of microbial biosensors with respect to their applications in environmental monitoring and food analysis, including measurement of a variety of common pollutants, products in fermenting processes, antib...

Microbial Biosensors for Environmental Monitoring and Food Analysis

Characteristics of Gluconobacter oxydans B-1280 and Pichia methanolica MN4 cell based biosensors for detection of ethanol

The paper summarizes some of our recent findings in structure–function organization of the alcohol oxidase (AO) from two species of methylotrophic yeasts. As revealed by PAGE, in methanol-grown Hansenula polymorpha DL1 and Pichia methanolica MH4 along with AO, the non-flavin minor protein having AO activity and different type of subunits is expressed. HLPC analysis of the content of FAD and its modified analogue (mFAD) in the AO isoforms of P. methanolica MH4 and the occurrence of mFAD in AO-lacking mutants of H. polymorpha DL1 imply a biosynthetic origin of this cofactor. Restricted degradation of the flavin part of mFAD by sodium periodate has established the presence of xylitol instead of arabitol. Thus, mFAD having such a xylose fragment is a xylo-FAD, but not arabino-FAD as reported earlier.

Victor V. Ashin

Papers

Characteristics of Gluconobacter oxydans B-1280 and Pichia methanolica MN4 cell based biosensors for detection of ethanol

Alcohol oxidase of the methylotrophic yeasts : new findings