Biological nanopores are revolutionizing human health by the great myriad of detection and diagnostic skills. Their nano-confined area and ingenious shape are suitable to investigate a diverse range of molecules that were difficult to identify with the previous techniques. Additionally, high throughput and label-free detection of target analytes instigated the exploration of new bacterial channel proteins such as Fragaceatoxin C (FraC), Cytolysin A (ClyA), Ferric hydroxamate uptake component A (FhuA) and Curli specific gene G (CsgG) along with the former ones, like α-hemolysin (αHL), Mycobacterium smegmatis porin A (MspA), aerolysin, bacteriophage phi 29 and Outer membrane porin G (OmpG). Herein, we discuss some well-known biological nanopores but emphasize on MspA and compare the effects of site-directed mutagenesis on the detection ability of its mutants in view of the surface charge distribution, voltage threshold and pore-analyte interaction. We also discuss illustrious and latest advances in biological nanopores for past 2-3 years due to limited space. Last but not the least, we elucidate our perspective for selecting a biological nanopore and propose some future directions to design a customized nanopore that would be suitable for DNA sequencing and sensing of other nontrivial molecules in question.
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