Detection of Mycoplasma secreted protein P48 via Electrochemical DNA‐based Biosensor

Mycoplasma bacteria are highly infectious agents of human disease and laboratory contamination. For example, Mycoplasma pneumonia infects almost two million people every year with contagious upper respiratory infections also known as atypical or ‘walking pneumonia’. In addition to human disease, Mycoplasma is a major source of contamination of laboratory human cell cultures. However, current methods of detection for Mycoplasma strains, such as molecular‐based assays, PCR and serological analysis, are time consuming, expensive, and less suitable for working under stringent conditions such as extreme temperature or pH. To provide a rapid and accurate alternative, we have focused on detecting the presence of Mycoplasma with a diagnostic electrochemical biosensor that detects lipoprotein P48, which is shed from the surface of several strains into the surrounding blood serum or growth media. This biosensor is based on a previously identified DNA aptamer that binds to the secreted P48 protein with high affinity. We have expressed P48 recombinantly in E. coli to serve as a positive control, and our results show rapid and sensitive binding of the target, as well as convenient electrochemical signaling from these binding events. This approach will allow us to potentially improve both prevention and diagnosis of Mycoplasma in cell culture platforms as well as patients who present a proposed infection. Support or Funding Information This work is supported by internal grant funding from the Metropolitan State University of Denver. This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .