Bioluminescent Detection of Chemical Agent Contamination - A Highly Specific and Sensitive Cell-Based Fluorescent Biosensor for Detection of Nerve Gas

The objective of the proposal is to create prototype(s) for a microorganism-based fluorescent biosensor for the detection of nerve gas agents. The biosensor is derived from the enzyme organophosphorous hydrolase and the bacterial periplasmic binding proteins. The main sensor units are double fusion constructs with N-terminus and C-terminus linked fluorescent proteins, hence relying on FRET as detection principle. The main goal for this research is creating an efficient reagentless fluorescent biosensor that is economical yet highly sensitive, highly specific for the detection of nerve gas agents but convenient and simple to use. Specifically, we seek to develop a bacterial biosensor that glows red observable by the eyes in the presence of nerve gas agents.