Ut-battelle, Inc.

Other

The University of Tennessee Research Foundation

Steven Ripp

Gary S Sayler

Bruce Michael Applegate

Michael Leon Simpson

Michael J Paulus

Michael P Conway

Daniel M Close

Rakesh K Gupta

Stacy S Patterson

Cells, including stem cells, comprising an autobioluminescent phenotype, wherein the cells emit a luminescent signal in the absence of an exogenous luminescent stimulator, are provided. The luminescent signal may be constitutive, inducible, repressible, or tissue-specific. The cells express a synthetically engineered bacterial luciferase (lux) cassette, i.e., the luxCDABEfrp gene cassette. The cells may comprise luxA, luxB, luxC, luxD, luxE, and flavin reductase. The cells may each express a combined expression level of luxC, luxD, luxE, and flavin reductase that is from ten to forty times greater than a combined expression level of luxA and luxB. Further, methods of making and using the cells comprising an autobioluminescent phenotype are disclosed herein.

Lux expression in cells and methods of use

An integrated microluminometer includes an integrated circuit chip having at least one n-well/p-substrate junction photodetector for converting light received into a photocurrent, and a detector on the chip for processing the photocurrent. A distributed electrode configuration including a plurality of spaced apart electrodes disposed on an active region of the photodetector is preferably used to raise efficiency.

Microluminometer chip and method to measure bioluminescence

The luxA, B, C, D, and E genes fromhave been introduced intobioluminescent yeast cells.

Lux expression in eukaryotic cells

Monolithic bioelectronic devices for the detection of ammonia includes a microorganism that metabolizes ammonia and which harbors a lux gene fused with a heterologous promoter gene stably incorporated into the chromosome of the microorganism and an Optical Application Specific Integrated Circuit (OASIC). The microorganism is generally a bacterium.

Bioluminescent bioreporter integrated circuit devices and methods for detecting ammonia

Bioelectronic devices for the detection of estrogen include a collection of eukaryotic cells which harbor a recombinant lux gene from a high temperature microorganism wherein the gene is operably linked with a heterologous promoter gene. A detectable light-emitting lux gene product is expressed in the presence of the estrogen and detected by the device.

Bioluminescent bioreporter integrated circuit devices and methods for detecting estrogen

Disclosed are monolithic bioelectronic devices comprising a bioreporter and an OASIC. These bioluminescent bioreporter integrated circuit are useful in detecting substances such as pollutants, explosives, and heavy-metals residing in inhospitable areas such as groundwater, industrial process vessels, and battlefields. Also disclosed are methods and apparatus for detection of particular analytes, including ammonia and estrogen compounds.

Bioluminescent bioreporter integrated circuit detection methods

Disclosed are bioluminescent bioreporter integrated circuit devices that detect selected analytes in fluids when implanted in the body of an animal. The device comprises a bioreporter that has been genetically engineered to contain a nucleic acid segment that comprises a cis-activating response element that is responsive to the selected substance operably linked to a gene encoding a bioluminescent reporter polypeptide. In preferred embodiments, the target analyte is glucose, glucagons, or insulin. Exposure of the bioreporter to the target substance causes the response element to up-regulate the nucleic acid sequence encoding the reporter polypeptide to produce a luminescent response that is detected and quantitated. In illustrative embodiments, the bioreporter device is encapsulated on an integrated circuit that is capable of detecting the emitted light, processing the resultant signal, and then remotely reporting the results. Also disclosed are controlled drug delivery systems capable of being directly or indirectly controlled by the detection device that provide drugs such as insulin to the animal in reponse to the amount of target analyte present in the body fluids.

In vivo biosensor apparatus and method of use

Disclosed are methods and devices for detection of bacteria based on recognition and infection of one or more selected strains of bacteria with bacteriophage genetically modified to cause production of an inducer molecule in the bacterium following phage infection. The inducer molecule is released from the infected bacterium and is detected by genetically modified bacterial bioreporter cells designed to emit bioluminescence upon stimulation by the inducer. Autoamplification of the bioluminescent signal permits detection of low levels of bacteria without sample enrichment. Also disclosed are methods of detection for select bacteria, and kits for detection of select bacteria based on the described technology.

Growing community of inventors

Knoxville, TN, United States of America

Steven Ripp