sb9b00166_si_001.pdf (15 MB)
Detecting Changes in the Caenorhabditis elegans Intestinal Environment Using an Engineered Bacterial Biosensor
journal contribution
posted on 2019-11-08, 13:03 authored by Jack W. Rutter, Tanel Ozdemir, Evgeniy R. Galimov, Leonor M. Quintaneiro, Luca Rosa, Geraint M. Thomas, Filipe Cabreiro, Chris P. BarnesCaenorhabditis elegans has become a key model
organism within biology. In particular, the transparent gut, rapid
growing time, and ability to create a defined gut microbiota make
it an ideal candidate organism for understanding and engineering the
host microbiota. Here we present the development of an experimental
model that can be used to characterize whole-cell bacterial biosensors in vivo. A dual-plasmid sensor system responding to isopropyl
β-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside was developed and fully
characterized in vitro. Subsequently, we show that
the sensor was capable of detecting and reporting on changes in the
intestinal environment of C. elegans after introducing
an exogenous inducer into the environment. The protocols presented
here may be used to aid the rational design of engineered bacterial
circuits, primarily for diagnostic applications. In addition, the
model system may serve to reduce the use of current animal models
and aid in the exploration of complex questions within general nematode
and host–microbe biology.