Boolean logic-based assays for the analysis of multiple bacillus cereus toxins

Episode von Tierärztliche Fakultät - Digitale Hochschulschriften der LMU - Teil 07/07 von Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München · 12. Juli 2014

Bacillus cereus is a Gram-positive and spore-forming bacterium of the Bacillus cereus group, sharing a closely related phylogenetic similarity with other group members such as Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus thuringiensis. Bacillus cereus is responsible for both gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal syndromes. Of the former ones, emesis and diarrhea are caused by either the emetic toxin (cereulide) or different enterotoxins mainly the non-haemolytic enterotoxin (Nhe), haemolysin BL (Hbl) and cytotoxin K (CytK). In addition, other toxins and virulence factors have been reported in the past few years, e.g., haemolysin II (HlyII), Certhrax, vegetative insecticidal proteins (VIPs), immune inhibitor A1 (InhA1) and sphingomyelinase (SMase). Since the relative role of the individual toxins and the other factors in disease is still unknown, there is an urgent demand to detect these potential targets for either diagnostic or food safety purposes.

In the first part of the thesis, we present an OR gate based on monoclonal antibodies for the simultaneous detection of multiple toxins in a single tube. To further simplify the operating procedure, the Boolean rule of simplification was used to guide the selection of a marker toxin among the natural toxin profiles. Furthermore, we developed a cellular logic circuit for deciphering the toxin profiles produced by B. cereus, using readout techniques based on pore formation on the cell membrane. This new assay enabled the simultaneous detection of seven biomarkers in pathogenic strains from various sources. Lastly, a cellular logic system capable of combinatorial and sequential logic operations based on bacterial protein-triggered cytotoxicity was constructed. Advanced devices such as a keypad lock, half-adder and several basic Boolean properties were demonstrated on the cells.

This represents a first example of a Boolean logic-based system for assaying multiple bacterial toxins. In addition, the results suggest that toxins and other virulence factors of bacteria can be used as toolkits for biocomputing.

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