In this work, a genosensor for the electrochemical detection of genomic DNA from Mycobacterium tuberculosis was developed. The biosensor is based on self-assembled monolayers of mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA) and magnetite nanoparticles (Fe(3)O(4)Nps) on bare gold electrode for immobilization of DNA probe. The aim of this work was the development of a platform based on cysteine-coated magnetic Fe(3)O(4)Nps linked via the carboxylate group from MBA to the work electrode surface and subsequently to the DNA probe. The probe-genome interaction was evaluated using a [Fe(CN)(6)](4-)/[Fe(CN)(6)](3-) redox pair. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to evaluate the bioelectrochemical behavior of the sensor. Atomic force microscopy images showed Fe(3)O(4)Nps immobilized across the electrode surface. The interaction of the sensor with different genome DNA concentrations resulted in changes in the charge transfer resistance, indicating a possible use for tuberculosis detection at low concentrations (detection limit of 6 ng mu L-1). (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.