Establishment of a microfluidic setup to characterize whole cell biosensors for bacteriocin detection

Bacteriocins are a promising approach to cope with future challenges such as food borne pathogens and medical treatment of multiresistant pathogens. Whole cell biosensors could be used in screenings as a strong tool for fast detection of novel antimicrobial compounds and the direct identification and quantification of their antimicrobial activity and efficacy. However, characterization of those sensors is crucial to understand and interpret the measured signals especially regarding cell to cell signal heterogeneity and possible biological adaption processes that may compromise the sensor output. In this presentation we first introduce the concept of whole cell biosensors and microfluidic single cell cultivation. Due to small dimensions microfluidic setups allow precise control of environmental conditions. In combination with live cell imaging microbial behavior can be analyzed with high spatio-temporal resolution. On selected examples we show how these concepts can be applied to research heterogeneity and adaption processes of the model organism L. innocua LMG2785 pNZpHin2 Lm after exposure with the bacteriocin nisin.