Biological nanofactories facilitate spatially selective capture and manipulation of quorum sensing bacteria in a bioMEMS device

Lab Chip. 2010 May 7;10(9):1128-34. doi: 10.1039/b926846d. Epub 2010 Feb 16.

Abstract

The emergence of bacteria that evade antibiotics has accelerated research on alternative approaches that do not target cell viability. One such approach targets cell-cell communication networks mediated by small molecule signaling. In this report, we assemble biological nanofactories within a bioMEMS device to capture and manipulate the behavior of quorum sensing (QS) bacteria as a step toward modifying small molecule signaling. Biological nanofactories are bio-inspired nanoscale constructs which can include modules with different functionalities, such as cell targeting, molecular sensing, product synthesis, and ultimately self-destruction. The biological nanofactories reported here consist of targeting, sensing, synthesis and, importantly, assembly modules. A bacteria-specific antibody constitutes the targeting module while a genetically engineered fusion protein contains the sensing, synthesis and assembly modules. The nanofactories are assembled on chitosan electrodeposited within a microchannel of the bioMEMS device; they capture QS bacteria in a spatially selective manner and locally synthesize and deliver the "universal" small signaling molecule autoinducer-2 (AI-2) at the captured cell surface. The nanofactory based AI-2 delivery is demonstrated to alter the progression of the native AI-2 based QS response of the captured bacteria. Prospects are envisioned for utilizing our technique as a test-bed for understanding the AI-2 based QS response of bacteria as a means for developing the next generation of antimicrobials.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biological Assay / instrumentation
  • Cell Culture Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Cell Separation / instrumentation*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Escherichia coli / physiology*
  • Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems / instrumentation*
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Micromanipulation / instrumentation*
  • Nanotechnology / instrumentation
  • Quorum Sensing / physiology*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity