Yeast Biosensors Detect Fungi and Viruses via GPCR Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting fungal species and viruses are often costly and complex, making timely and accurate diagnosis challenging, especially for invasive aspergillosis and viral outbreaks like COVID-19, which require efficient and simple detection techniques.
Innovation Solution
Genetically engineered living yeast biosensors that include heterologous G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and reporter genes, capable of binding specific analytes from fungal species and viruses, triggering a visible response to indicate their presence in a sample.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional methods for detecting fungal species and viruses are used, then detection accuracy can be maintained, but the cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The yeast biosensor system performs self-detection by utilizing its own biological machinery. The yeast cells express heterologous GPCRs that directly bind to target analytes, triggering endogenous signaling pathways that lead to reporter gene expression. This self-contained mechanism eliminates the need for complex external detection equipment and reagents, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The yeast cell acts as a biological intermediary between the target analyte (fungal species or virus) and the detection system. Instead of using complex instrumental methods, the yeast serves as a living mediator that converts the presence of the target into a measurable signal through its natural biological response, simplifying the overall detection system.
2Productivity
If conventional detection methods are used, then reliable diagnosis can be achieved, but the time required for diagnosis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The yeast biosensor system is pre-prepared with the necessary detection components (heterologous GPCRs and reporter genes) before use. When exposed to the target analyte, the system immediately triggers the detection response without requiring complex sample preparation or instrument setup, thereby reducing diagnosis time while maintaining reliability.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional detection methods are used, then comprehensive analysis can be performed, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The yeast biosensor utilizes readily available, inexpensive yeast cells as the detection platform. The yeast cells can be cultured at low cost and used as single-use or limited-use biosensors, eliminating the need for expensive instrumentation while maintaining detection precision through the specific biological recognition elements (heterologous GPCRs) expressed in the yeast.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides a cost-effective and straightforward method for detecting fungal species and viruses, such as Aspergillus and SARS-CoV-2, enabling early diagnosis and treatment, and improving patient outcomes by simplifying the detection process.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the sample with a sensor cell comprising a heterologous G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) that binds to an analyte derived from the fungus, wherein the analyte is a ligand for the heterologous GPCR
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to kits, compositions and methods for detecting fungal species, viruses and/or protein variants in a sample, e.g., a biological sample. For example, but not by way of limitation, the present disclosure provides living yeast biosensors that have been genetically engineered to detect fungal species, viruses and/or protein variants in a sample, e.g., a biological sample.