Application of Biomarkers and Biosensors to Detect and Track Pathogenic Agents

Hamidreza Shirzadfar; Mahtab Khanahmadi

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Application of Biomarkers and Biosensors to Detect and Track Pathogenic Agents

Hamidreza Shirzadfar* and Mahtab Khanahmadi

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sheikhbahaee University, Esfahan, Iran

*Corresponding author: Hamidreza Shirzadfar, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sheikhbahaee University, Esfahan, Iran; E-mail:

Received:06 June, 2018; Accepted: 25 June, 2018; Published: 26 June, 2018

Citation: Shirzadfar H, Mahtab K (2018) Application of Biomarkers and Biosensors to Detect and Track Pathogenic Agents. Int. J. Anal. Tech 4(1):1-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.15226/2471-3627/4/1/00116

Abstract

Detection and identification of pathogenic bacteria and cancer cells is important because it is one of the most important factors in mortality among different societies. There are many laboratory methods to identify bacteria that are very time consuming. A long time in diagnosing a bacterium causes the bacteria to grow more and the patient gets worse. Biomarkers and biosensors can identify pathogenic agents and detect them. By using these methods, bacteria and diseases can be detected more quickly and more safely. Using biomarkers, drugs can be delivered to the target tissue so that other tissues are not damaged.

Introduction

Biomarkers are an indicator for measuring and detecting pathogenic factors and assessing biological conditions. Biomarkers in the field of cancer diagnosis and treatment have been widely considered and have been widely used in these fields. Biomarker is an indicator of a specific disease and physical states in the living tissue, and the biomarker can detect the symptoms of a specific disease. Some biomarkers are delivered the drug to the tissue that the biomarker is labeled with that drug and is transmitted to the target tissue. Markers are divided into molecular and phenotypic types, and molecular types are available in both biochemical and DNA [1, 2].

A biosensor is a biological device that is used in various fields, such as rapid detection and traceability of pathogens, blood glucose measurements, contamination control, DNA analysis, and the study of the effects of drugs. Biosensors have Bioreceptor and Transducers. Bioreceptor has been created from biological molecules, which analytes are placed on this part and then the Physicochemical Changes are converted into electrical signals. These signals are converted to voltage values, and based on these values, the amount of Biomarkers and biosensors should be biocompatible and not dangerous to the tissues and cells of the body and should also be Immobilized and have no negative effect on other tissues in the body. Biomarkers and biosensors should be chemically stable in living tissue [4, 5].

Method

Biologic material can be detected. Bioreceptor can be from DNA, enzyme, antibody, and so on. Transducers used in biosensors are electrochemical, piezoelectric, optical and thermal, which are used in various fields [Figure 1]. Using biomarkers and biosensors, bacteria and pathogenic agents can be detected and traced, and biomarkers and biosensors can be used to deliver the drug to the target tissue.

Figure 1: Biosensor function [3]

Biomarkers

Detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in water: Escherichia coli are a gram negative bacilli species of Enterobacteriaceae family that is present in the lower intestine of warm-blooded animals. This bacterium leads to food poisoning and diarrhea in humans. To detect this bacterium, a strip of whatman paper containing glucose is used to absorb the bacterium. Other parts of the bar are hydrophobic, which prevent the cells from stopping. A bacterium that comes to the paper is immersed in the strip based on by using the detector biosensors, E. coli can be identified, which is based on specific molecules present on the surface of the bacterium. Also, using biosensors, it can be detected by calorimetry method, and through DNA, this bacterium in food [9]. The capillary property and reaches the reactive region. This reactive region has a growth environment for galactose that decomposes by Escherichia coli. This method has a positive result for 200 CFU/ml Escherichia coli, but similar methods can have the correct result for a smaller number of Escherichia coli cells in the sample [6,7] [Figure 2].

Figure 2: Detection of E. coli in water with whatman paper [8]

Detection of Sepsis Disease: In sepsis, microbial pathogens attack the bloodstream and the immune system, causing infection in the blood. There are about 150 biomarkers to diagnose the disease, which are structurally included: cell markers, coagulation markers, endothelial vascular biomarkers, cytokine markers, and Acute-Phase proteins [10, 11]. The sCD14-ST is a new marker for the diagnosis of the disease, which has been very much considered. CD14 is a glycoprotein that is on the surface of monocytes. CD14 is a receptor for lipopolysaccharides or lipopolysaccharides proteins [12] [Figure 3].

Figure 3: The sCD14-ST Biomarker

mCD14: membrane CD14; sCD14: soluble CD14; sCD14- ST: soluble CD14 Subtype; LPS: Lipopolysaccharides; LBP: Lipopolysaccharide Binding Protein; TLR4: Toll-like Receptor 4; MD2: TLR4 Co- Protein [13].

C - reactive protein (CRP), which is part of the Acute-Phase protein, is also a non- Glycosylation protein. This protein is made by the liver and released in the blood when it is infected. By increasing this protein in the blood, can be detection infection and inflammation. This method has been used for many years [14] [Figure 4].

Heparin binding proteins are released from neutrophilic secreted vesicles and have antimicrobial activity. Sepsis can be diagnosed by counting the levels of these proteins along with white blood cell count. This marker is a valuable and validated diagnostic method for diagnosing sepsis [16]. Detection of Pneumonia Disease: Pneumonia is a respiratory infection in which the lungs become inflamed. In this disease, Alveoli are damaged and the disease is caused by bacteria and viruses. Plasma Hepcidin, a peptide hormone as a biomarker, can detect pneumonia. Based on the blood sample taken, Plasma Hepcidin levels in this type of disease are significantly increased [17, 18]. Detection of Myocardial Infarction: Myocardial infarction causes a heart attack that causes coronary artery occlusion and leads to cell death in a part of the heart muscle. The cardiac troponin marker can be used 12 hours after the onset of the disease, which is a long time for 12 hours and may be worsening over time [19, 20]. The heart fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) is a rapid

Figure 4: Detection inflammation with C - reactive protein Biomarker, IL-6: Interleukin 6; TNF-α: Tumor Necrosis factor alpha; EN-1: Endothelin-1; NO: Nitric Oxide [15]

marker that can detect heart attacks in about one to five hours. Also, with this biomarker, can be quickly diagnose inflammatory myocarditis. This marker is available at high concentrations in myocytes [21]. Cancer cells can be detected using micro-RNA (miRNA). The highest amount (miRNA) in the circulation, along with lipid and lipoprotein. miR-17-5p, miR-21, miR-106a are diagnostic biomarkers for gastric cancer [22].

Biosensors

Aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotide ligands that can be rotated. Prostate cancer can be detected using electrochemical biosensors based on Aptamers. Also, these types of sensors are

Figure 5: Detection prostate cancer with PSA, ACT: Anti-chymotrypsin; αMG: alpha-Macroglobulin [27]

called Aptasensor. Electrochemical Aptasensor act on the basis of electrochemical current changes, which are after the interaction of the target molecule with Aptamer [23, 24]. The best biomarker for diagnosing prostate cancer is a Prostatic Specific Antigen (PSA), which is a serine protease and is made up of glucose and peptide. PSA is secreted by healthy and cancerous cells of the prostate, which increases when it occurs during cancer. With electrochemical Aptasensor, can be measure the amount of PSA and monitor and measure prostate cancer [25, 26] [Figure 5].

There are various methods to measure glucose using biosensors. Blood glucose levels can be detected in urine using biosensors made of copper oxide (Cu2O). Also, with biosensors along with Indium (III) oxide (In2O3), Chitosan and glucose oxidase enzymes, glucose levels can be determined in saliva, tears and sweat [28, 29]. Bioluminescence Microbial Biosensor is a fast, precise, and sensitive tool used to measure and detect contamination and environmental bacteria in micrometer scale [30-31]. By using a nanobiosensor, Salmonella typhi can be recognized as a causative agent of typhoid fever. This method is based on the response between the antigen and the antibody which is based on fluorescence. Biosensors that contain fluorescence particles of gold and silicon, bind to Salmonella bacteria that are in food, and detect this bacterium [32, 33]. A series of biosensors are very sensitive to the gas created from food corruption, which, as a result, changes their color. Using these sensors, these pathogens can be detected in food [34]. The Yersinia Pestis bacteria that causes plague disease can be detected using fiber optic biosensors, which has high speed and precision [35]. Biosensors can identify pathogenic factors in the soil and recognize the useful and harmful soil organisms. The function of this method is based on the amount of oxygen consumed [36]. Biosensors are also used to detect mercury levels in aquatic animals. In this method, it is possible to detect the amount of mercury and bacteria from this mercury by irradiation [37].Using the biosensors made of gold nanowire, bacteria in the kidney infection can be detected [38]. Biosensors can examine the quality of cereals and detect pathogens in cereals with polymer nanoparticles. Also, acoustic biosensors can quickly detect pathogens in the water [39].

Advantages and Disadvantages

Biosensors and biomarkers, due to the fact that they are composed of biological substances, do not have side effects and harmful effects on the living tissue and do not cause toxicity in the body [40]. Biosensors can quickly and continuously control and measure metabolic and biological activity. Biosensors can measure non-polar compounds that are produced in living tissue. Biomarkers and biosensors are proprietary and designed for the intended purpose and therefore very well function. Also, the biosensors are very fast in the analysis, and they perform a quick and direct analysis. Bioreceptor and transducers are placed in a sensor, and the detection and conversion of the sensor is carried out simply and quickly, and does not require multiple steps. Biosensors, which are biological elements, can be re-produced and re-used, and not disposable, which can also be traced continuously. Therefore, biosensors are a powerful, precise, safe and fast tool for tracking and detecting bacteria and biological molecules. Biomarkers have a lot of efficiency and effectiveness in frozen samples experiments. Also, these biomarkers act in a special way to study the blood mass and do not react with other blood factors. In some cases, biomarkers can predict the disease before it starts. Biomarkers are detectable and traceable in all tissues. Some of the enzymes used in the biosensors are unsuitable stability and require cofactors for stability and catalytic activity. In some cases, marking biosensors and biomarkers is difficult and complex and requires complex reactions and costs [41-42].

Conclusion

Biomarkers and biosensors, due to the fact that they are made of biological materials, are harmless to the tissues of the body, and can also detect bacteria and pathogenic agents more quickly and accurately. By using these methods, drugs can be delivered accurately and quickly to target tissues. Biomarkers and biosensors can quickly and accurately detect diseases in some cases before they begin. With this method, the treatment of diseases is greatly improved. Biomarkers and biosensors can identify specific and dangerous bacteria in food that prevent poisoning and side effects, and reduce mortality from bacteria.

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