LySLEUTH:

A LysPBC5 based Bacillus cereus detection kit

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The aim of our project is to develop a kit that can detect the presence of a common bacterial pathogen B. cereus, which is present in improperly stored leftover food and could cause digestive disease. Current detection methods including PCR-based tests are expensive and require specialized laboratory equipment. Here, we aim to develop an alternative detection method based on a B. cereus-specific endolysin (LysPBC5), ATP sensor, and the one-HOur Low-cost Multipurpose highly Efficient System (HOLMES). These two systems will be assembled by mixing purified LysPBC5 and Cas12b to form an efficient B. cereus test kit. To lower the cost of protein purification, we employed Pro-QC and crystal violet inducible protein expression system by reducing incomplete transcripts and the cost of inducer. Our design of the test kit could also guide the development of methods to detect other pathogens in the future.