Biosensors as Powerful Tools for Campylobacter Spp. Detection

Campylobacter spp. of the Campylobacteriaceae family are spiral-shaped, Gram-negative, zoonotic pathogens. These microaerophilic, thermophilic bacteria flourish at temperatures of 37–42 °C. Campylobacter spp. are known pathogens of animals (livestock, wild, and companion animals) and humans. They are also a major foodborne pathogen. Traditional culture-based detection of Campylobacter spp. is labor-intensive, requires 5 to 7 days for confirmation, and is often compromised by overgrowth of competing bacteria. While molecular methods are sensitive, they require specialized instruments and well-trained personnel, limiting their routine use for rapid on-site detection. Analytical biosensors have emerged as powerful tools for the real-time diagnosis of infectious diseases. Biosensors such as mass-sensitive, amperometric, total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF), impedimetric, surface-plasmon resonance (SPR), conductometric, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), and diffractive optics have been developed for bacterial identification. Depending on the sensing platform, reported limits of detection range from a single bacterial cell per sample to about 10⁴ CFU/ml, with several biosensors providing results within minutes to a few hours, highlighting their potential for rapid food safety monitoring and clinical diagnosis. This review elaborates on various types of biosensors for the diagnosis of Campylobacter spp. and related species.