A glucose meter interface for point-of-care gene circuit-based diagnostics

Evan Amalfitano, Margot Karlikow, Masoud Norouzi, Katariina Jaenes, Seray Cicek, Fahim Masum, Peivand Sadat Mousavi, Yuxiu Guo, Laura Tang, Andrew Sydor, Duo Ma, Joel D. Pearson, Daniel Trcka, Mathieu Pinette, Aruna Ambagala, Shawn Babiuk, Bradley Pickering, Jeff Wrana, Rod Bremner, Tony Mazzulli, David Sinton, John H. Brumell, Alexander A. Green and Keith Pardee ()
Additional contact information
Evan Amalfitano: University of Toronto
Margot Karlikow: University of Toronto
Masoud Norouzi: University of Toronto
Katariina Jaenes: University of Toronto
Seray Cicek: University of Toronto
Fahim Masum: University of Toronto
Peivand Sadat Mousavi: University of Toronto
Yuxiu Guo: University of Toronto
Laura Tang: University of Toronto
Andrew Sydor: Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning
Duo Ma: The Biodesign Institute and the School of Molecular Sciences
Joel D. Pearson: Mt Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System
Daniel Trcka: Mt Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System
Mathieu Pinette: National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease
Aruna Ambagala: National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease
Shawn Babiuk: National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease
Bradley Pickering: National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease
Jeff Wrana: Mt Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System
Rod Bremner: Mt Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System
Tony Mazzulli: University of Toronto
David Sinton: University of Toronto
John H. Brumell: Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning
Alexander A. Green: The Biodesign Institute and the School of Molecular Sciences
Keith Pardee: University of Toronto

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Recent advances in cell-free synthetic biology have given rise to gene circuit-based sensors with the potential to provide decentralized and low-cost molecular diagnostics. However, it remains a challenge to deliver this sensing capacity into the hands of users in a practical manner. Here, we leverage the glucose meter, one of the most widely available point-of-care sensing devices, to serve as a universal reader for these decentralized diagnostics. We describe a molecular translator that can convert the activation of conventional gene circuit-based sensors into a glucose output that can be read by off-the-shelf glucose meters. We show the development of new glucogenic reporter systems, multiplexed reporter outputs and detection of nucleic acid targets down to the low attomolar range. Using this glucose-meter interface, we demonstrate the detection of a small-molecule analyte; sample-to-result diagnostics for typhoid, paratyphoid A/B; and show the potential for pandemic response with nucleic acid sensors for SARS-CoV-2.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20639-6

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