BIOLUMINESCENT-BIOREPORTER INTEGRATED-CIRCUITS FORM NOVEL WHOLE-CELL BIOSENSORS

The bioluminescent-bioreporter integrated circuit represents a new adv ance in the development of whole-cell biosensors, consisting of a gene tically engineered bioreporter organism interfaced with an integrated circuit. The bioreporter is engineered to luminesce when a targeted su bstance is encountered, with the circuit being designed to detect this luminescence, process the signal and communicate the results. The bio reporters are thus available to the circuit designer as another compon ent, analogous to a transistor or a resistor, albeit a living entity. The concept has been demonstrated using Pseudomonas putida TVA8 to sen se the environmental pollutant toluene.