Transcription factor-based Whole Cell Biosensor for detection of Biogenic amines as an indicator for Food spoilage

Abstract

Biogenic amines are well-studied nitrogenous compounds produced by bacteria that have been linked to high levels of food contamination and spoilage, which is one of the most important issues associated with consumers’ health. The presence of excessive levels of Biogenic Amines (BAs), generally above 10 mg/mL in food, as well as their ingestion, can cause major health problems and even death. Several biosensors like nanoparticle-based, electrochemical biosensors have been designed to detect the crucial BAs, but Whole-Cell biosensors based on transcriptional regulators and promoters have received limited attention. BAs in food must therefore be detected in a sensitive, highly selective, automated, resilient, easy, and cost-effective manner. Whole-Cell biosensors can be created in a suitable microbe as the chassis by applying transcription factors and promoters identified in the literature. Since this transcriptional regulator will bind to its specific promoter, the developed biosensors will be very selective towards BAs, with little to no likelihood of cross-reactivity. The main goal is to develop Whole-Cell biosensors that can quickly identify BAs in food samples with high sensitivity, reducing the consumption of damaged or contaminated food.