Engineering Bioluminescent Escherichia coli Through Lux Operon Expression

Abstract

This study presents a detailed experimental framework for engineering stable bioluminescence in the non‑pathogenic Escherichia coli K‑12 strain through the in vitro introduction of the lux operon derived from Vibrio fischeri. Using a plasmid‑based transformation strategy and heat‑shock mediated uptake, the research investigates the feasibility of producing sustained light emission in a genetically tractable bacterial host. Large‑scale biomass production was achieved through controlled bioreactor fermentation, followed by chemical competence induction and plasmid transformation. Bioluminescence output was analyzed in relation to cell density measured through impedance‑based counting techniques. The work aims to bridge molecular genetics, bioprocess engineering, and quantitative bio‑optical analysis, while proposing future applications in biosensing, microbial imaging, and synthetic biology.