Electrochemical detection of Legionella pneumophila using DNAzymes and under continuous flow in cooling tower water.

Rapid detection of Legionella pneumophila in cooling tower water is crucial to mitigate the fatal consequences of Legionnaires disease. This study presents a microfluidic system that employs RNA-cleaving DNAzymes (RCDs) for continuous real time monitoring of this pathogen directly in a single sample of cooling tower water without the need for lengthy bacterial culture. The RCDs, coupled to microgel magnetic beads, are programmed to release an electroactive DNA barcode in the presence of L.