Fluorescent Sensor Arrays Can Predict and Quantify the Composition of Multicomponent Bacterial Samples

Abstract

Fast and reliable identification of infectious disease agents is among the most important challenges for the healthcare system. The discrimination of individual components of mixed infections represents a particularly difficult task. In the current study we further expand the functionality of a ratiometric sensor array technology based on small-molecule environmentally-sensitive organic dyes, which can be successfully applied for the analysis of mixed bacterial samples. Using pattern recognition methods and data from pure bacterial species, we demonstrate that this approach can be used to quantify the composition of mixtures, as well as to predict their components with the accuracy of ∼80% without the need to acquire additional reference data. The described approach significantly expands the functionality of sensor arrays and provides important insights into data processing for the analysis of other complex samples.

Polymer-based chemical-nose systems for optical-pattern recognition of gut microbiota

“…The chemical-nose strategy has previously been applied to detect purified pathogenic bacteria using libraries of fluorescent probe molecules, 16,18,20–22 polymers, 23 nanomaterials, 24 and supramolecular complexes. 15,19 However, chemical noses focusing on gut-derived bacteria have not yet been reported.…”

“…These features most likely enabled the recognition of the patterns of characteristic microbiota compositions correlated with the condition of the host. [8][9][10][11][12] The chemical-nose strategy has previously been applied to detect puried pathogenic bacteria using libraries of uorescent probe molecules, 16,18,[20][21][22] polymers, 23 nanomaterials, 24 and supramolecular complexes. 15,19 However, chemical noses focusing on gut-derived bacteria have not yet been reported.…”

“…13,14 The chemical-nose method has been shown to be applicable to the detection of puried pathogenic bacteria in the context of diagnosing infectious diseases. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] As with olfaction, the essence of this strategy is that samples can be analyzed comparatively from the generated response patterns even when the sample composition is unknown. Thus, the chemical-nose strategy is suitable for determining whether a sample is normal or for classifying its state.…”

Simpler Procedure and Improved Performance for Pathogenic Bacteria Analysis with a Paper-Based Ratiometric Fluorescent Sensor Array

“…25,26 In our previous study, we explored a tool for bacterial diagnostics using 3-hydroxyflavone derivatives as components of a fluorescent ratiometric sensor array. 26,27 These derivatives were designed to enhance specific interactions with the components of the bacterial cell envelope. Using these dyes loaded into hyaluronic acid-derived nanoparticles allowed for the discrimination between eight bacterial species, as well as correctly recognizing their Gram status.…”

Macromolecular Optical Sensor Arrays

“…23 Environmental sensitivity to aspects such as ionic strength, pH, and polarity can cause aggregation and subsequent enhancement or quenching of a response. 24,25 Thus, the versatility and broad scope of optical reporters makes them ideal candidates to produce a detectable signal upon analyte binding. 1.2.…”