Abstract

Phage Display and Directed Molecular Evolution: The Nobel Prize and Beyond. Impact on Material Engineering and Biosensor Development

Valery Petrenko, Professor, Auburn University

Development of phage engineering technology led to construction of a novel type of phage display libraries—collections of nanofiber materials with diverse molecular landscapes accommodated on the surface of phage particles. These new nanomaterials, called “landscape phage,” serve as a huge resource of diagnostic/detection probes and versatile construction materials for preparation of phage-functionalized biosensors. Landscape-phage-derived probes interact with biological threat agents and generate detectable signals as a part of robust and inexpensive molecular recognition interfaces introduced in mobile detection devices. The use of landscape-phage-based interfaces may greatly improve the sensitivity, selectivity, robustness, and longevity of these devices. My talk aims to attract the attention of chemical scientists and bioengineers seeking to develop functionalized materials and use them in different areas of bioscience, medicine, and engineering.