Researchers have developed hyperspectral reporters (HSRs)—a new type of genetic tool that allows scientists to detect gene expression in living organisms from as far as 90 meters away using drone- or satellite-mounted imaging systems.
Study: Hyperspectral reporters for long-distance and wide-area detection of gene expression in living bacteria. Image Credit: Prrrettty/Shutterstock.com
This innovation hinges on hyperspectral imaging (HSI), a technology that captures a broad spectrum of light for every pixel in a scene. Already used in fields like agriculture, ecology, and forensics, HSI reveals subtle changes in reflectance that correspond to biochemical changes, such as those triggered by gene expression.
However, traditional reporter systems like luciferase and fluorescent proteins don’t perform well in outdoor or remote settings. That’s where HSRs come in. Designed to generate unique optical absorption signatures, these reporters make it possible to detect biological activity from a distance, without invasive sampling or lab-based readouts.
How the Study Worked
To identify potential HSRs, the researchers used time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) to simulate the absorption spectra of over 20,000 metabolites from existing biochemical databases. They prioritized molecules that had distinct optical signatures and could feasibly be produced by engineered organisms.
The team ultimately selected biliverdin IXα for use in Pseudomonas putida, a soil bacterium, and bacteriochlorophyll a for Rubrivivax gelatinosus, an aquatic species. Each metabolite was placed under the control of a genetic circuit triggered by specific small molecules. The modified bacteria were created using electroporation and validated for successful reporter expression.
Real-World Testing
With their engineered bacteria ready, the researchers moved to field tests. Using fixed and drone-mounted HSI cameras, they scanned areas of up to 4000 square meters. From distances of up to 90 meters, they were able to detect HSR signals clearly within the hyperspectral data.
The reporters' unique spectral fingerprints allowed for the precise classification of pixels and the accurate quantification of gene expression. The system demonstrated a dynamic range of approximately 250-fold, offering a high level of sensitivity for tracking biological processes in real-world environments.
Applications and Future Directions
While the study focused on microbial models, the approach could be adapted for broader use in plants, fungi, and even animals. In agriculture, HSRs could help monitor gene activity in crops under drought conditions. In environmental science, they could support efforts to track microbial responses to pollution or climate change.
By enabling real-time, non-invasive gene expression monitoring over large areas, HSRs offer a powerful new tool for both research and field applications. The technology bridges synthetic biology and remote sensing, opening doors to large-scale biosensing that was previously impractical or impossible.
Conclusion
This work marks a major advance in the ability to observe gene expression at scale, without the limitations of traditional reporter systems.
By integrating engineered biology with drone- and satellite-based hyperspectral imaging, researchers now have a practical way to track biological activity across vast and dynamic environments.
Journal Reference
Chemla Y., Levin I., et al. (2025). Hyperspectral reporters for long-distance and wide-area detection of gene expression in living bacteria. Nature Biotechnology. DOI: 10.1038/s41587-025-02622-y, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-025-02622-y