Whole-Cell Bacterial Biosensors for the Detection of Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Their Chlorinated Derivatives (Review)

The review summarizes the data on new directions in biosensor technologies based on whole bacterial cells. Biosensors for the monitoring of mono(poly)aromatic hydrocarbons and their chlorinated derivatives, which are constructed with genetically modified bacterial cells bearing a reporter gene fusion, are considered. The operating principle of these biosensors is based on the expression of reporter genes (luc, lux, gfp, rfp) under the control of a promoter and a regulator that specifically respond to a detected compound.