Yeast Biosensors for Detection of Environmental Pollutants: Current State and Limitations

Yeast biosensors have become suitable tools for the screening and detection of environmental pollutants because of their various advantages compared to other sensing technologies. On the other hand, many limitations remain with regard to their optimal performance and applicability in several contexts, such as low-concentration samples and on-site testing. This review summarizes the current state of yeast biosensors, with special focus on screening and assessment of environmental contaminants, discusses both pros and cons, and suggests steps towards their further development and effective use in the environmental assessment.

TrendsYeast biosensors are in vitro tools used routinely for environmental monitoring.Current yeast biosensors are still far from optimal performance.Recent improvements in yeast biosensing include increase of sensitivity, adaptation to high-throughput formats, and immobilization of cells into/onto supporting matrices that simplify procedures and enhance cell durability.Further improvements such as portability and combination with online applications are necessary to make yeast biosensors accessible to in-field monitoring.