Team:Calgary

From 2013.igem.org

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<section id="Overview">
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<h2>Our Project</h2>
<h2>Our Project</h2>
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Outbreaks of foodborne illnesses are a growing problem in our lives. In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States, identified 767 such outbreaks affecting nearly 14,000 people. The action of pathogenic <i>E. coli</i> was a recurring theme in many of these outbreaks. In Alberta, we experienced our own foodborne disease outbreak in late 2012. The result of pathogenic <i>E. coli</i> serotype O157, this led to significant food recalls alongside hospitalizations, deaths, massive economic losses, and an overall loss of consumer confidence in food safety.  
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Pathogenic Enterohaemorrhagic <i>E. coli</i> serotype O157:H7 is a major source of foodborne illness worldwide. In Alberta, we experienced a pathogenic <i>E. coli</i> outbreak in late 2012, this outbreak was the result contaminated beef and led to the largest meat recall in Canadian history (Cross, 2012). Outbreaks like these cause death, hospitalizations, massive economic losses and an overall loss of consumer confidence in food safety. Ruminating animals such as cattle and sheep can harbor pathogenic <i>E. coli</i> asymptomatically and are a major source of contamination in many cases (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). However consumption of pathogenic <i>E. coli</i> by humans can induce abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea requiring hospitalization, and in severe cases cause death (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). Pathogenic <i>E. coli</i> is a major issue in the developing world where the consequences are exacerbated by the poor sanitation and rudimentary health network, the greatest risks are associated with children, the elderly and HIV positive patients (Okeke, 2009). Quick detection of the pathogen is critical to reduce waste, stop the spread of illness, and ultimately save lives. Current testing methods take a long time to complete due to the time it takes to culture <i>E. coli</i> and require lab equipment to amplify the target gene sequences.
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One of the contributing factors connected with the outbreak in Alberta was the lack of rapid on-site detection systems available. Current detection methods require long incubation times to amplify <i>E. coli</i> in the sample, followed by amplification to verify the presence of known genes that are associated with pathogenic <i>E. coli</i>. Thus, the University of Calgary 2013 iGEM Collegiate team is using synthetic biology to develop a system to rapidly detect the presence of pathogenic <i>E. coli</i> in the beef industry. By using engineered biological nanoparticles and DNA binding proteins we can specifically detect pathogenic DNA sequences. Our biosensor functions at the genomic level to detect the presence or absence of pathogenic <i>E. coli</i> in a given sample. This system allows us to pinpoint contamination during meat processing and also provides the ability to prescreen cattle in a preventative way to remove potential sources of contamination from the processing chain. Our system provides a powerful new tool for food safety, but also shows promise as a platform for the rapid detection of target organisms that are identified as key targets in a myriad of sectors, from health to environment to biosecurity.
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<p>One of the factors that amplifies the risk of <i>E. coli</i> outbreaks is the lack of a rapid, on-site detection method. In response, our team is using synthetic biology to develop a system to rapidly detect the presence of EHEC in the beef industry. Although we designed our sensor for testing in the beef industry provides, we designed it so that it can also detect EHEC in things like vegetables, water, and other livestock. By using engineered biological nanoparticles and DNA binding proteins, we can specifically detect pathogenic DNA sequences. Our biosensor functions at the genomic level to detect the presence of EHEC in a sample. This system allows us to quickly identify contamination during meat processing and also provides the ability to pre-screen cattle to limit potential sources of contamination before cattle enter the processing plant. Our system not only provides a powerful new tool for food safety, but also has the potential to act as a platform for the rapid detection of target organisms. These tests could hugely impact a myriad of industry applications ranging from the everyday, large-scale use in food safety testing and medical screening, to the specialized use in the detection and monitoring of biological weapons and hazards.</p>
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<h2>Our Sensor</h2>
<h2>Our Sensor</h2>
<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/4/44/Calgary2013_Our_Sensor.png">
<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/4/44/Calgary2013_Our_Sensor.png">
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<p>Check out what we did in the lab this year in response to <i>E. coli</i> contamination in the beef industry. Learn about the design of our detector, linker, reporter as well as the development of a prototype and mathematical model.</p>
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<p>Check out what we did in the lab this summer to detect <i>E. coli</i> contamination! Learn about the design of our detector, linker, and reporter as well as our prototype and modelling.</p>
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<a href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:Calgary/Project/DataPage">
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<a href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:Calgary/Project/PostRegionals">
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<h2>Data Page</h2>
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<h2>Final System</h2>
<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/b/bf/Calgary2013_Data_Page.png">
<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/b/bf/Calgary2013_Data_Page.png">
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<p>Want to see a summary of what we accomplished this season? Click here to check out our data page where we outline all of the work that we’ve done to date!</p>
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<p>We have shown our final system in action! Click here to see our modeling, talks with industry, and characterization data combine to make a biosensor that can detect DNA in under 5 minutes!</p>
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<h2>Human Practices</h2>
<h2>Human Practices</h2>
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/5/54/Calgary2013_Human_Practices.png">
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/2/25/2013calgarynewbuttonHuman_Practices.png">
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<p>Check out how Human Practices helped to guide the development of our sensor. Learn how we spent time talking to various experts in the beef industry in order to design our project with our end-user in mind.</p>
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<p>Check out how Human Practices helped guide the development of our project. Learn how we spent time talking to various experts in the industry to design our project with our end-user in mind.</p>
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<h2>Collaboration</h2>
<h2>Collaboration</h2>
<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/3/36/Calgary2013_CollaborationButton.png">
<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/3/36/Calgary2013_CollaborationButton.png">
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<p>We worked hard with the Paris Bettencourt team this season to develop useful tools for the rest of the iGEM community. Click here to find out what our collaboration can add to iGEM. </p>
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<p>We worked hard with the Paris-Bettencourt team this season to develop useful tools for the rest of the iGEM community. Click here to find out what our collaboration can add to iGEM. </p>
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</a>
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<section id="Logos">
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">Thank You to Our Sponsors</h2>
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/f/f6/2013UCalgaryLogos.png" style="margin: 50px;"> </section>
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Latest revision as of 01:12, 11 August 2014

Our Project

Pathogenic Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli serotype O157:H7 is a major source of foodborne illness worldwide. In Alberta, we experienced a pathogenic E. coli outbreak in late 2012, this outbreak was the result contaminated beef and led to the largest meat recall in Canadian history (Cross, 2012). Outbreaks like these cause death, hospitalizations, massive economic losses and an overall loss of consumer confidence in food safety. Ruminating animals such as cattle and sheep can harbor pathogenic E. coli asymptomatically and are a major source of contamination in many cases (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). However consumption of pathogenic E. coli by humans can induce abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea requiring hospitalization, and in severe cases cause death (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). Pathogenic E. coli is a major issue in the developing world where the consequences are exacerbated by the poor sanitation and rudimentary health network, the greatest risks are associated with children, the elderly and HIV positive patients (Okeke, 2009). Quick detection of the pathogen is critical to reduce waste, stop the spread of illness, and ultimately save lives. Current testing methods take a long time to complete due to the time it takes to culture E. coli and require lab equipment to amplify the target gene sequences.

One of the factors that amplifies the risk of E. coli outbreaks is the lack of a rapid, on-site detection method. In response, our team is using synthetic biology to develop a system to rapidly detect the presence of EHEC in the beef industry. Although we designed our sensor for testing in the beef industry provides, we designed it so that it can also detect EHEC in things like vegetables, water, and other livestock. By using engineered biological nanoparticles and DNA binding proteins, we can specifically detect pathogenic DNA sequences. Our biosensor functions at the genomic level to detect the presence of EHEC in a sample. This system allows us to quickly identify contamination during meat processing and also provides the ability to pre-screen cattle to limit potential sources of contamination before cattle enter the processing plant. Our system not only provides a powerful new tool for food safety, but also has the potential to act as a platform for the rapid detection of target organisms. These tests could hugely impact a myriad of industry applications ranging from the everyday, large-scale use in food safety testing and medical screening, to the specialized use in the detection and monitoring of biological weapons and hazards.

Thank You to Our Sponsors