Abstract
Emerging and recurrent outbreaks caused by zoonotic agents pose a public health risk. They result in morbidity and mortality in humans and significant losses in the livestock and food industries. This highlights the need for rapid surveillance methods. Despite the high reliability of conventional pathogen detection methods, they have high detection limits and are time-consuming and not suitable for on-site analysis. Furthermore, the unpredictable spread of zoonotic infections due to a complex combination of risk factors urges the development of innovative technologies to overcome current limitations in early warning and detection. Biosensing, in particular, is highlighted here, as it offers rapid and cost-effective devices for use at the site of infection while increasing the sensitivity of detection. Portuguese research in biosensors for zoonotic pathogens is the focus of this review. This branch of research produces exciting and innovative devices for the study of the most widespread pathogenic bacteria. The studies presented here relate to the different classes of pathogens whose characteristics and routes of infection are also described. Many advances have been made in recent years, and Portuguese research teams have increased publications in this field. However, biosensing still needs to be extended to other pathogens, including potentially pandemic viruses. In addition, the use of biosensors as part of routine diagnostics in hospitals for humans, in animal infections for veterinary medicine, and food control has not yet been achieved. Therefore, a convergence of Portuguese efforts with global studies on biosensors to control emerging zoonotic diseases is foreseen for the future.
Highlights
Man has been in search of security and a healthy life to ensure the survival of the species
Sensitive, and selective biosensors for detecting pathogenic bacteria and viruses are essential to reduce their impact on human health and improve the effectiveness of prevention and treatment, especially considering how useful they are in point-of-use testing (Figure 2)
In 2019, tuberculosis (TB), a disease caused by M. tuberculosis complex (MTC), killed nearly 1.2 million people among HIV-negative people [70], and epidemiological data estimate that almost a quarter of the world population has latent TB infection [71], of whom only less than 10% progress to active TB during their lifetime
Summary
Man has been in search of security and a healthy life to ensure the survival of the species. Biosensors have many useful applications, including detecting bacteria and viruses for various purposes, such as disease prevention and diagnostics, food pathogen identification, food safety, and hygiene control. They can be used in theranostics, a combination of detection and delivery of therapeutics, which involves monitoring infected wounds and delivering drugs as needed [1,4]. Various approaches have been developed worldwide for the identification and quantification of bacteria and viruses. This review provides an overview of the most commonly reported pathogenic bacteria, their occurrence in the EU, and the negative consequences of their widespread contamination and infection. The biosensors developed by Portuguese teams for the detection of these bacteria are reviewed and discussed, taking into account future developments in this field
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