Whole-Cell Fiber-Optic Biosensor for Real-Time, On-Site Sediment and Water Toxicity Assessment: Applications at Contaminated Sites Across Israel
Sediments are key players in the optimum functioning of ecosystems; however, they also represent the largest known repository of harmful contaminants. The vast variety of these sediment-associated contaminants may exert harmful effects on marine communities and can impair ecosystem functioning. Whol...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Biosensors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/7/404 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849246358111780864 |
|---|---|
| author | Gal Carmeli Abraham Abbey Paul Kathelina Kristollari Evgeni Eltzov Albert Batushansky Robert S. Marks |
| author_facet | Gal Carmeli Abraham Abbey Paul Kathelina Kristollari Evgeni Eltzov Albert Batushansky Robert S. Marks |
| author_sort | Gal Carmeli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sediments are key players in the optimum functioning of ecosystems; however, they also represent the largest known repository of harmful contaminants. The vast variety of these sediment-associated contaminants may exert harmful effects on marine communities and can impair ecosystem functioning. Whole-cell biosensors are a rapid and biologically relevant tool for assessing environmental toxicity. Therefore, in this study, we developed a bioassay-based toxicity measurement system using genetically modified bacteria to create a whole-cell optical biosensor. Briefly, reporter bacteria were integrated and immobilized using a calcium alginate matrix on fiber-optic tips connected to a photon counter placed inside a light-proof, portable case. The calcium alginate matrix acts as a semi-permeable membrane that protects the reporter-encapsulated optical fiber tips and allows the inward passage of toxicant(s) to induce a dose-dependent response in the bioreporter. The samples were tested by directly submerging the fiber tip with immobilized bacteria into vials containing either water or suspended sediment samples, and the subsequent bioluminescent responses were acquired. In addition to bioavailable sediment toxicity assessments, conventional chemical methods, such as liquid chromatography–mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), were used for comprehensive evaluation. The results demonstrated the efficacy of the biosensor in detecting various toxicity levels corresponding to identified contaminants, highlighting its potential integration into environmental monitoring frameworks for enhanced sediment and water quality assessments. Despite its utility, this study notes the system’s operational challenges in field conditions, recommending future enhancements for improved portability and usability in remote locations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d3e7b0bc296c437ebe722fb22a10404f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2079-6374 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biosensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-d3e7b0bc296c437ebe722fb22a10404f2025-08-20T03:58:31ZengMDPI AGBiosensors2079-63742025-06-0115740410.3390/bios15070404Whole-Cell Fiber-Optic Biosensor for Real-Time, On-Site Sediment and Water Toxicity Assessment: Applications at Contaminated Sites Across IsraelGal Carmeli0Abraham Abbey Paul1Kathelina Kristollari2Evgeni Eltzov3Albert Batushansky4Robert S. Marks5Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er-Sheva 84105, IsraelAvram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er-Sheva 84105, IsraelAvram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er-Sheva 84105, IsraelInstitute of Postharvest and Food Science, Department of Postharvest Science, Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Rishon LeZion 7505101, IsraelThe Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva 84105, IsraelAvram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er-Sheva 84105, IsraelSediments are key players in the optimum functioning of ecosystems; however, they also represent the largest known repository of harmful contaminants. The vast variety of these sediment-associated contaminants may exert harmful effects on marine communities and can impair ecosystem functioning. Whole-cell biosensors are a rapid and biologically relevant tool for assessing environmental toxicity. Therefore, in this study, we developed a bioassay-based toxicity measurement system using genetically modified bacteria to create a whole-cell optical biosensor. Briefly, reporter bacteria were integrated and immobilized using a calcium alginate matrix on fiber-optic tips connected to a photon counter placed inside a light-proof, portable case. The calcium alginate matrix acts as a semi-permeable membrane that protects the reporter-encapsulated optical fiber tips and allows the inward passage of toxicant(s) to induce a dose-dependent response in the bioreporter. The samples were tested by directly submerging the fiber tip with immobilized bacteria into vials containing either water or suspended sediment samples, and the subsequent bioluminescent responses were acquired. In addition to bioavailable sediment toxicity assessments, conventional chemical methods, such as liquid chromatography–mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), were used for comprehensive evaluation. The results demonstrated the efficacy of the biosensor in detecting various toxicity levels corresponding to identified contaminants, highlighting its potential integration into environmental monitoring frameworks for enhanced sediment and water quality assessments. Despite its utility, this study notes the system’s operational challenges in field conditions, recommending future enhancements for improved portability and usability in remote locations.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/7/404bioreporterbioluminescent bacteriaoptical-fiber biosensorwater toxicitysediment toxicityin situ monitoring |
| spellingShingle | Gal Carmeli Abraham Abbey Paul Kathelina Kristollari Evgeni Eltzov Albert Batushansky Robert S. Marks Whole-Cell Fiber-Optic Biosensor for Real-Time, On-Site Sediment and Water Toxicity Assessment: Applications at Contaminated Sites Across Israel Biosensors bioreporter bioluminescent bacteria optical-fiber biosensor water toxicity sediment toxicity in situ monitoring |
| title | Whole-Cell Fiber-Optic Biosensor for Real-Time, On-Site Sediment and Water Toxicity Assessment: Applications at Contaminated Sites Across Israel |
| title_full | Whole-Cell Fiber-Optic Biosensor for Real-Time, On-Site Sediment and Water Toxicity Assessment: Applications at Contaminated Sites Across Israel |
| title_fullStr | Whole-Cell Fiber-Optic Biosensor for Real-Time, On-Site Sediment and Water Toxicity Assessment: Applications at Contaminated Sites Across Israel |
| title_full_unstemmed | Whole-Cell Fiber-Optic Biosensor for Real-Time, On-Site Sediment and Water Toxicity Assessment: Applications at Contaminated Sites Across Israel |
| title_short | Whole-Cell Fiber-Optic Biosensor for Real-Time, On-Site Sediment and Water Toxicity Assessment: Applications at Contaminated Sites Across Israel |
| title_sort | whole cell fiber optic biosensor for real time on site sediment and water toxicity assessment applications at contaminated sites across israel |
| topic | bioreporter bioluminescent bacteria optical-fiber biosensor water toxicity sediment toxicity in situ monitoring |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/7/404 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT galcarmeli wholecellfiberopticbiosensorforrealtimeonsitesedimentandwatertoxicityassessmentapplicationsatcontaminatedsitesacrossisrael AT abrahamabbeypaul wholecellfiberopticbiosensorforrealtimeonsitesedimentandwatertoxicityassessmentapplicationsatcontaminatedsitesacrossisrael AT kathelinakristollari wholecellfiberopticbiosensorforrealtimeonsitesedimentandwatertoxicityassessmentapplicationsatcontaminatedsitesacrossisrael AT evgenieltzov wholecellfiberopticbiosensorforrealtimeonsitesedimentandwatertoxicityassessmentapplicationsatcontaminatedsitesacrossisrael AT albertbatushansky wholecellfiberopticbiosensorforrealtimeonsitesedimentandwatertoxicityassessmentapplicationsatcontaminatedsitesacrossisrael AT robertsmarks wholecellfiberopticbiosensorforrealtimeonsitesedimentandwatertoxicityassessmentapplicationsatcontaminatedsitesacrossisrael |