Landscape phage as a molecular recognition interface for detection devices

Abstract

Filamentous phages are thread-shaped bacterial viruses. Their outer coat is a tube formed by thousands equal copies of the major coat protein pVIII. Libraries of random peptides fused to pVIII domains were used for selection of phages probes specific for a panel of test antigens and biological threat agents. Because the viral carrier in the phage borne bio-selective probes is infective, they can be cloned individually and propagated indefinitely without needs of their chemical synthesis or reconstructing. As a new bioselective material, landscape phages combine unique characteristics of affinity reagents and self assembling proteins. Biorecognition layers formed by the phage-derived probes bind biological agents with high affinity and specificity and generate detectable signals in analytical platforms. The performance of phage-derived materials as biorecognition interface was illustrated by detection of Bacillus anthracis spores and Salmonella typhimurium cells. With further refinement, the phage-derived analytical platforms for detecting and monitoring of numerous threat agents may be developed, since phage interface against any bacteria, virus or toxin may be readily selected from the landscape phage libraries. As an interface in the field-use detectors, they may be superior to antibodies, since they are inexpensive, highly specific and strong binders, resistant to high temperatures and environmental stresses.

Nanoscale bacteriophage biosensors beyond phage display

“…[4][5][6][7] Provided that there is adequate culture of the host, an economical, rapid, and reproducible means to mass produce genetically-engineered bacteriophages is possible, 8 thereby providing an excellent alternative to conventional artificially-synthesized nanoconstructs (ie, nanoparticles, nanorods, and nanotubes). Additionally, their morphological variations (dimensions ranging from 40 nm to 2 µm with linear or polygonal capsid structures), the ease with which genetic modifications can be made to their structure and functionality, and their biocompatibility confer further advantages over traditional nanoconstructs.…”

Phage coated magnetoelastic micro-biosensors for real-time detection of Bacillus anthracis spores☆

“…The bio-recognition element used on the magnetoelastic platform was filamentous phage, clone JRB7, derived from a landscape f8/8 phage library developed by the Department of Pathobiology at Auburn University [5,19]. This phage was designed to be a specific probe for B. anthracis spores while ignoring other spores.…”

“…In order to verify the effectiveness of the bio-probe, it was necessary to verify the ability of the sensor to detect B. anthracis but reject similar strains of Bacillus [19]. To do this, we obtained a set of similar spores from the Department of Pathobiology at Auburn University.…”

Real-time analysis of dual-display phage immobilization and autoantibody screening using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring

“…The phage could be used to display different types of peptides, proteins, and antibodies to be employed in affinity selection of target-specific phage particles. 1,2,[5][6][7][8] Current advances in biosensors are providing the possibility for immobilizing bioreceptor molecules in a site-directed pattern while retaining their intact…”