Naturally Amplified Player for Biosensing: tmRNA to the Rescue

AbstractWe present a trans-translation mediating tmRNA molecule from bacteria that can be used as a marker in microbial diagnostics and/or taxonomical studies. Different bacteria can be detected and specifically identified using surface bound complementary DNA oligonucleotide probes on different sensor platforms. Several tmRNA hybridization techniques were studied on microarray and in real-time on SOI microring resonator biosensor platforms. Microarray based detection technology enabled detection of tmRNA molecules from less than 1 cell equivalent of pathogenic bacteria