@article{4587c8fbfa32424d997dae4daef15ba4,
title = "Point-of-Use Detection of Environmental Fluoride via a Cell-Free Riboswitch-Based Biosensor",
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 ppm, the Environmental Protection Agency'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.",
keywords = "biosensor, cell-free systems, diagnostics, field use, riboswitches, water quality",
author = "Walter Thavarajah and Silverman, {Adam D.} and Verosloff, {Matthew S.} and Nancy Kelley-Loughnane and Jewett, {Michael C.} and Lucks, {Julius B.}",
note = "Funding Information: We would like to thank Professor Ana Gabriela Calder{\'o}n Cornejo (Universidad de Costa Rica) and Eduardo Quir{\'o}s Morales for assistance with biosensor field-testing. We also thank Ashty Karim (Northwestern University) and Professor Robert Batey (University of Colorado, Boulder) for helpful comments in preparing the manuscript, along with Khalid Alam (Stemloop, Inc.) for editing the supplemental video, Jaeyoung Jung (Northwestern University) for assistance with designing the graphical abstract, and Professor Thomas Shahady (University of Lynchburg) for helpful comments about water sampling in Costa Rica. This work was supported by the Air Force Research Laboratory Center of Excellence for Advanced Bioprogrammable Nanomaterials (C-ABN) Grant FA8650-15-2-5518 (to M.C.J. and J.B.L), the David and Lucile Packard Foundation (to M.C.J.), an NSF CAREER Award (1452441 to J.B.L.), and the Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Program (to M.C.J. and J.B.L.). A.D.S. was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health Training Grant (T32GM008449) through Northwestern University{\textquoteright}s Biotechnology Training Program. The views and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies or endorsements, either expressed or implied, of the Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, or US Government. ",
year = "2020",
month = jan,
day = "17",
doi = "10.1021/acssynbio.9b00347",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "9",
pages = "10--18",
journal = "ACS Synthetic Biology",
issn = "2161-5063",
publisher = "American Chemical Society",
number = "1",
}