A universal surface functionalization technique to chemically enhance live microbial cells

ABSTRACT: Microbial surface functionalization is a powerful strategy for endowing microbes with novel, non-genetic functions. However, existing methods are often species-specific, limited in scope, and compromise cell viability. Here, we present a universal and modular platform for high-density, reproducible surface functionalization across diverse microbial species-including Gram-positive, Gram-negative, aerobic, and anaerobic bacteria-using multiple molecular classes such as fluorophores, enzymes, and nucleic acids. Our method preserves cell viability and achieves 50x higher functionalization efficiency than previous methods with a standardized protocol applicable to any azide-containing molecule. Applications of the method show reproducible and tunable phenotypic outcomes at the single-cell level

SUBMITTER: Gabriel Vercelli 

PROVIDER: S-SCDT-10_1038-S44320-026-00202-Z | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other