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Point-of-Use Detection of Environmental Fluoride via a Cell-Free Riboswitch-Based Biosensor

View ORCID ProfileWalter Thavarajah, View ORCID ProfileAdam D. Silverman, View ORCID ProfileMatthew S. Verosloff, View ORCID ProfileNancy Kelley-Loughnane, View ORCID ProfileMichael C. Jewett, View ORCID ProfileJulius B. Lucks
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/712844
Walter Thavarajah
1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
3Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
4Center for Water Research, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
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Adam D. Silverman
1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
3Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
4Center for Water Research, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
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Matthew S. Verosloff
2Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Graduate Program, Northwestern University, 2204 Tech Drive, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
3Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
4Center for Water Research, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
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Nancy Kelley-Loughnane
5Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
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Michael C. Jewett
1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
3Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
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Julius B. Lucks
1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
3Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
4Center for Water Research, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
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  • For correspondence: jblucks@northwestern.edu
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Abstract

Advances in biosensor engineering have enabled the design of programmable molecular systems to detect a range of pathogens, nucleic acids, and chemicals. Here, we engineer and field-test a biosensor for fluoride, a major groundwater contaminant of global concern. The sensor consists of a cell-free system containing a DNA template that encodes a fluoride-responsive riboswitch regulating genes that produce a fluorescent or colorimetric output. Individual reactions can be lyophilized for long-term storage and detect fluoride at levels above 2 parts per million, the EPA’s most stringent regulatory standard, in both laboratory and field conditions. Through onsite detection of fluoride in a real-world water source, this work provides a critical proof-of-principle for the future engineering of riboswitches and other biosensors to address challenges for global health and the environment.

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  • https://arch.library.northwestern.edu/concern/generic_works/5q47rn983?locale=en

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The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY 4.0 International license.
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Posted July 23, 2019.
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Point-of-Use Detection of Environmental Fluoride via a Cell-Free Riboswitch-Based Biosensor
Walter Thavarajah, Adam D. Silverman, Matthew S. Verosloff, Nancy Kelley-Loughnane, Michael C. Jewett, Julius B. Lucks
bioRxiv 712844; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/712844
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Point-of-Use Detection of Environmental Fluoride via a Cell-Free Riboswitch-Based Biosensor
Walter Thavarajah, Adam D. Silverman, Matthew S. Verosloff, Nancy Kelley-Loughnane, Michael C. Jewett, Julius B. Lucks
bioRxiv 712844; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/712844

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