Innovative Biocatalysts as Tools to Detect and Inactivate Nerve Agents

Sci Rep. 2018 Sep 13;8(1):13773. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-31751-5.

Abstract

Pesticides and warfare nerve agents are frequently organophosphates (OPs) or related compounds. Their acute toxicity highlighted more than ever the need to explore applicable strategies for the sensing, decontamination and/or detoxification of these compounds. Herein, we report the use of two different thermostable enzyme families capable to detect and inactivate OPs. In particular, mutants of carboxylesterase-2 from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius and of phosphotriesterase-like lactonases from Sulfolobus solfataricus and Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, have been selected and assembled in an optimized format for the development of an electrochemical biosensor and a decontamination formulation, respectively. The features of the developed tools have been tested in an ad-hoc fabricated chamber, to mimic an alarming situation of exposure to a nerve agent. Choosing ethyl-paraoxon as nerve agent simulant, a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.4 nM, after 5 s of exposure time was obtained. Furthermore, an optimized enzymatic formulation was used for a fast and efficient environmental detoxification (>99%) of the nebulized nerve agent simulants in the air and on surfaces. Crucial, large-scale experiments have been possible thanks to production of grams amounts of pure (>90%) enzymes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alicyclobacillus / enzymology
  • Alicyclobacillus / genetics
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods*
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / genetics
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Chemical Warfare Agents / analysis*
  • Chemical Warfare Agents / metabolism
  • Decontamination / methods*
  • Limit of Detection
  • Nerve Agents / analysis*
  • Nerve Agents / metabolism
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / analysis*
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / metabolism*
  • Pesticides / analysis*
  • Pesticides / metabolism
  • Phosphoric Triester Hydrolases / genetics
  • Phosphoric Triester Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Sulfolobus acidocaldarius / enzymology
  • Sulfolobus acidocaldarius / genetics
  • Sulfolobus solfataricus / enzymology
  • Sulfolobus solfataricus / genetics

Substances

  • Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Nerve Agents
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • Pesticides
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases
  • Phosphoric Triester Hydrolases