Team:OUC-China

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Source of antibiotic contamination

Antibiotics have been our superweapon against pathogenic bacteria and play a vital role in human health and agricultural production. However, due to the large-scale abuse, large amounts of antibiotics have been released into the environment especially from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), aquaculture and livestock farms, and pharmaceutical companies[1]. As China is the world's largest producer and user of antibiotics[2], the emission of antibiotics must be taken seriously.

Dangers


  • Ecological risks: Antibiotics affect the growth and viability of micro-organisms, produce toxic effects on algae, fleas, fish, and other animals and plants, interfering with the structure and function of the ecosystem.

  • Health risks: Antibiotics can enter the human body through the food chain. What’s worse, they can promote antibiotic-resistant bacteria which may leave human beings no medicine to use[3].

Whole-cell Biosensor

A Whole-cell biosensor(WCB) is a good choice to help monitor the contamination of antibiotics.

Advantages: self-replicating, low-cost, portable

Limitations: not sensitive or fast enough

ALLPASs

To detect antibiotics and break through the limitations of WCB, we developed ALLPASs
Amplifying: Our genetic circuit can amplify the output signal.
Low-Leakage: High output signal and low leakage mean better signal-noise ratio of the biosensor
Platform: Modular design enables detection of different analytes by changing correspondent 2 genetic parts.
Antibiotic
Sensors


Application



No need for a professional lab or heavy instruments, simple and on-site test is possible.


Application scenarios: monitoring the wastewater from sewage plants, aquafarms, or pharmaceutical factories.

 Reference

[1] H.Q. Anh, T.P.Q. Le, N. Da Le, X.X. Lu, T.T. Duong, J. Garnier, et al. Antibiotics in surface water of East and Southeast Asian countries: a focused review on contamination status, pollution sources, potential risks, and future perspectives Sci. Total Environ., 764 (2021), Article 142865

[2] ZHANG Q Q, YING G G, PAN C G, et al. Comprehensive evaluation of antibiotics emission and fate in the river basins of China: source analysis,multimedia modeling,and linkage to bacterial resistance[J]. Environmental Science & Technology, 2015,49( 11) : 6772-6782. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b00729.

[3] ASHBOLT N J,AMZQUITA A,BACKHAUS T,et al. Human health risk assessment ( HHRA) for environmental development and transfer of antibiotic resistance[J]. Environmental Health Perspectives,2013, 121 ( 9 ) : 993 - 1001. DOI: 10. 1289 / ehp.1206316.

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