It is important to
detect pathogens rapidly, sensitively, and selectively for clinical
medicine, homeland security, food safety, and environmental control.
We report here a specific and sensitive colorimetric assay that incorporated
a bovine serum albumin-templated Co3O4 magnetic
nanozyme (Co3O4 MNE) with a novel specific fusion
phage protein and magnetophoretic chromatography to detect Staphylococcus aureus. The Co3O4 MNE was conjugated to S. aureus-specific
fusion-pVIII (Co3O4 MNE@fusion-pVIII), screened
from the S. aureus-specific phage AQTFLGEQD
(the phage monoclone is denoted by the peptide sequence). The as-prepared
triple-functional Co3O4 MNE@fusion-pVIII particles
were capable of capturing S. aureus in sterile milk, which were then isolated from milk magnetically.
Assisted by polyethylene glycol, the Co3O4 MNE@fusion-pVIII@S. aureus complex was separated from the free Co3O4 MNE@fusion-pVIII by magnetophoretic chromatography
in an external magnetic field. After transferring the isolated Co3O4 MNE@fusion-pVIII@S. aureus complexes into a 96-well plate, diammonium salt of 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic
acid) and H2O2 were added to develop color because
of the peroxidase mimetics activity of the Co3O4 MNE. A S. aureus concentration within
10–10,000 cfu/mL in milk can be detected (detection limit:
8 cfu/mL). The as-developed method is simple, cost-efficient, and
sensitive, which is useful for rapidly diagnosing pathogenic bacteria
and helpful to prevent disease outbreaks induced by pathogens in developing
countries.