Microbial Biosensors for the Determination of Pesticides

Abstract

Along with traditional methods for the determination of environmental pollution, biosensors have become widely used in recent years. The review surveys modern microbial biosensors for determining pesticide residues in the environment. A microbial biosensor is a complex analytical device in which a microorganism is a sensitive element that responds to the presence of a pesticide in the test sample and the analytical signal depends on the concentration of the compound to be determined. The basic principles of the formation of these biosensors and their advantages and disadvantages are described. Methods of the immobilization of microorganisms as the constituents of a biosensor and various types of signal transducers are presented. The future prospects for this line of inquiry are considered.