Nanomechanical detection of Escherichia coli infection by bacteriophage T7 using cantilever sensors. Issue 38 (20th September 2019) - Mertens, Johann
Abstract : Variation in fluctuation of the bacteria membrane is measured by the coupling to an elastic microcantilever plate. We report the real time detection of E.coli infection by bacteriophage T7 using this method. Abstract : Viruses that infect bacteria (bacteriophages) are a promising alternative treatment for bacterial diseases, especially in the case of antibiotic resistance. Due to a renewed interest in phage therapies, development of rapid and specific detection methods for bacteria/bacteriophage interaction are gaining attention for proper diagnosis and treatment. This paper describes a new method to detect the interaction between Escherichia coli and bacteriophage T7 in a sensitive and quantitative way, using the nanomechanical motion of bacteria adhered to a cantilever surface. Our approach combines both deflection and dynamic frequency-domain characterization. The device was able to determine the viability of a low amount of living bacteria attached to the cantilever, and was used to monitor T7 interaction with E. coli over a wide range of virus concentrations up to 10 9 PFU ml −1 . The nanomechanical assay described here requires no protein labeling and can be performed in a single reaction without additional reagents. The system was able to detect the interaction between a few thousand particles through the fluctuation of mechanical energy over a broad range of frequencies. The presented data provides the basis for more detailed studies of the sequence of molecular events that contribute to the motion of the device.