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Phage-mediated bioluminescent detection of Bacillus anthracis
Article first published online: 24 APR 2009
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2009.04332.x
© 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2009 The Society for Applied Microbiology
Additional Information
How to Cite
Schofield, D.A. and Westwater, C. (2009), Phage-mediated bioluminescent detection of Bacillus anthracis. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 107: 1468–1478. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2009.04332.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 9 OCT 2009
- Article first published online: 24 APR 2009
- 2008/1838: received 24 October 2008, revised 26 February 2009 and accepted 15 March 2009
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Keywords:
- anthrax;
- Bacillus;
- bioluminescence;
- detection;
- reporter phage
Abstract
Aims: Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, is a serious human pathogen. The aim of this study was to provide the proof of principle results for the development of a ‘bioluminescent’ reporter bacteriophage that was capable of specifically detecting B. anthracis.
Methods and Results: The reporter phage was engineered by integrating the bacterial luxA and luxB reporter genes into a nonessential region of the lysogenic Wβ phage genome. This resulted in a phage that was capable of specifically infecting and conferring a bioluminescent phenotype to B. anthracis viable cells. No processing or cell preparation was required; the phage and cells were simply mixed, and the samples were analysed for bioluminescence. A bioluminescent signal was evident after 16 min postinfection of vegetative cells. The strength and time required to generate the signal was dependent on the number of cells present. Nevertheless, 103 CFU ml−1 was detectable within 60 min. The utility of the bioluminescent phage was analysed using spores as the starting material. The Wβ::luxAB phage was able to transduce a bioluminescent signal to germinating spores within 60 min.
Conclusions: This proof of principle study demonstrates that the reporter phage displays promise as a tool for the rapid detection of B. anthracis.
Significance and Impact of the Study: The new methodology offers the potential for the detection of viable cells from either environmental or clinical samples.