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A Cell-Free Biosensor for Assessment of Hyperhomocysteinemia.

ABSTRACT: Hyperhomocysteinemia─a condition characterized by elevated levels of homocysteine in the blood─is associated with multiple health conditions including folate deficiency and birth defects, but there are no convenient, low-cost methods to measure homocysteine in plasma. A cell-free biosensor that harnesses the native homocysteine sensing machinery of Escherichia coli bacteria could satisfy the need for a detection platform with these characteristics. Here, we describe our efforts to engineer a cell-free biosensor for point-of-care, low-cost assessment of homocysteine status. This biosensor can detect physiologically relevant concentrations of homocysteine in plasma with a colorimetric output visible to the naked eye in under 1.5 h, making it a fast, convenient tool for point-of-use diagnosis and monitoring of hyperhomocysteinemia and related health conditions.

SUBMITTER: Piorino F

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10443029 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A Cell-Free Biosensor for Assessment of Hyperhomocysteinemia.

Piorino Fernanda F Johnson Shelbe S Styczynski Mark P MP

ACS synthetic biology 20230717 8

Hyperhomocysteinemia─a condition characterized by elevated levels of homocysteine in the blood─is associated with multiple health conditions including folate deficiency and birth defects, but there are no convenient, low-cost methods to measure homocysteine in plasma. A cell-free biosensor that harnesses the native homocysteine sensing machinery of <i>Escherichia coli</i> bacteria could satisfy the need for a detection platform with these characteristics. Here, we describe our efforts to enginee ...[more]

PMID: 37459448

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