The current study demonstrated the utilization of sAMPs in the
development of a biosensing platform for label-free detection of
bacterial pathogens. Integration of an engineered cysteine modified
sAMP in an EIS sensor design provided a pathway to ultrasensitive
detection of bacterial pathogens with a simple, single step and inexpensive
procedure, with a detection limit of 102 CFU/mL for E.
coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and S. epidermidis. Since various sAMPs
with different bacterial selectivity can be produced by engineered
synthesis, this method can be expanded to fabricate automated
multiarray sensors for the detection and classification of pathogens,
based on different recognition patterns to the immobilized sAMPs.
Another discovery reported here is that synthetic sAMPs can differentiate
live and dead bacteria. This discovery opens up the door
for multiple applications of sAMPs in the diagnostics, food monitoring
and clinical fields as receptors for viable bacteria detection.
The system can be implemented in the design of low cost screening
devices of a large number of samples that require increased detection
sensitivity and a rapid response time.