DNAzyme-templated exponential isothermal amplification for sensitive detection of lead pollution and high-throughput screening of microbial biosorbents

Abstract

Very low concentrations of lead (Pb2+) pollution can have far-reaching adverse impacts on human health, due to the cumulative toxicity of Pb2+. Herein, we report a DNAzyme-templated exponential isothermal amplification strategy (termed DNAzymee) for the ultrasensitive detection of Pb2+ pollution and the high-throughput screening of microbial biosorbents to remove Pb2+ pollution. DNAzyme can specifically recognize Pb2+, and this recognition event can be amplified by the subsequent exponential isothermal amplification reaction (EXPAR) and monitored by a G-quadruplex specific dye. The proposed design showed a low limit of detection (95 pM) and could identify Pb2+ pollution in different real samples with high precision. In particular, the proposed assay was used to screen Pb2+ biosorbents, and the results showed that Leuconostoc mesenteroides is a promising microbial biosorbent for removing Pb2+ pollution. Thus, the DNAzymee assay can serve as a platform to monitor lead pollution in the environment and screen efficient biosorbents for the control of lead pollution.