Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors were constructed on miniature integrated sensors. Recognition elements were attached to the sensor surface using a gold-binding repeating polypeptide. Biosensors with fluorescyl groups attached to their surfaces were functional for at least 1month of daily use with little decrease in response to the binding of an anti-fluorescyl monoclonal antibody. The coupling of protein A to the gold-binding polypeptide on the sensor surface enabled the biosensor to detect the binding of antibodies to the protein A and provided a sensor with convertible specificity. The system described herein provides a simple and rapid approach for the fabrication of highly specific, durable, portable and low cost SPR-based biosensors.