Biosensors for detection of pathogenic bacteria

This paper presents an overview of different physicochemical instrumental techniques for direct and indirect identification of bacteria such as: infrared and fluorescence spectroscopy, flow cytometry, chromatography and chemiluminescence techniques as a basis for biosensor construction. A discussion of publications dealing with emerging biosensors for bacterial detection is presented. The review presents recent advances in the development of alternative enzyme- and immunosensors for detection of pathogenic bacteria in a variety of fields (e.g. clinical diagnostics, food analysis and environmental monitoring). Depending on the biological element employed: enzyme; nucleic acid and antibody based biosensors are discussed. Depending on the basic transducer principles, recent advances in biosensing technologies that use electrochemical, piezoelectric, optical, acoustic and thermal biosensors for detection of pathogenic bacteria are overviewed. Special attention is paid to methods for improving the analytical parameters of biosensors including sensitivity and analysis time as well as automation of assay procedures. Recent developments in immunofiltration, flow-injection and flow-through biosensors for bacterial detection are overviewed from the system's engineering point of view. Future directions for biosensor development and problems related to the commercialization of bacterial biosensors are discussed in the final part of this review. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.