Microbial Biosensors for Environmental Monitoring

Abstract

Unchecked disposal of substances or compounds such as organic/inorganic heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), herbicides, pesticides, phenolic and nitrogenous compounds, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) ubiquitously present in the environment poses a global concern. This requires constant monitoring of environmental pollutants. Biological-based monitors and biosensors with high specificity and sensitivity are applied to monitor and check the level of pollutants. These are biological-based methods used for the intervention of environmental pollutants as analytes. The widely used biosensors are made by immobilizing various enzymes, antibodies, whole cells in the devices, and transducers. Microbial biosensor devices sense the substances in the environment through the various biochemical reactions of the microorganisms incorporated in the devices. However, with the ease of genetic modification techniques like genetic engineering technologies, various microorganisms have gained immense popularity as ideal candidates for developing biosensors. The microbial biosensors' inexpensiveness, compactness, and portability offer advantages over conventional chemical sensors. The most significant aspect of microbial biosensors is the in situ detection capability, and real-time analysis has enhanced their acceptability and applicability in environmental monitoring. The following chapter deals with microbial biosensors to detect air, water, and soil pollutants