| abstract |
Devices for the detection of small quantities either of divalent inorganic mercury ion (Hg2+) or of both Hg2+ and monomethyl mercury in water are disclosed. These devices comprises a bioluminescence detecting means and a bioluminescent biosensory microorganism cells, that emit significant light only when exposed to either to Hg2+ or to Hg2+ or momomethyl mercury. Plasmid cassettes and host microorganisms containing such cassettes are also disclosed The plasmid cassettes comprises a lux gene operon complex from Xenorhabdus luminescens. The lux operon complex comprises luxC, luxD, luxA, luxB, and luxE genes but is free of (1) a promoter for the complex and (2) an inducible regulatory gene for the complex. |