Team:Dundee

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         <h2 style="margin-top:-10px;"> The Microcystin Monster </h2>
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         <h2 style="margin-top:-10px;"> Targeting a Deadly Toxin</h2>
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         <p> Algal blooms are an ever-growing problem in freshwater systems. At the Beijing Olympics 2008, 10,000 people were hired to clean up the extensive algal bloom in time for the sailing regatta. The main concern is the level of a toxin called microcystin, which is released by cyanobacteria when they die and lyse. <br><br>
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        Explosions in the population of cyanobacteria can produce toxic algal blooms. Microcystin-LR the most potent and common algal bloom toxin, binds Protein Phosphatase 1. The average cyanobacteria infested lake in America contains over 1000 times the Microcystin safe drinking water limit set by the World Health Organisation. <br><br>
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        Concerned by a harmful algal bloom in the local community, we used synthetic biology to target the toxin. We exploited the mechanism of Microcystin's toxicity to develop our Mop; by expressing Protein Phosphatase 1 we can mop up Microcystin. The interaction was also the basis for developing a biological Detector. To deploy our Detector and to consider the root causes of algal blooms we created the electronic Moptopus. It sits on a lake and monitors conditions relevant to cyanobacterial growth to help predict future blooms.
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        Microcystin, a toxin released by <i>Microcystis aeruginosa</i>, is harmful to mammals due to its ability to bind to the human protein PP1, thus altering its function. We are exploiting the ability of the human protein phosphatase (PP1) to covalently bind to microcystin, in order to develop a biological mop ‘janitor’ to rid algal bloom water of the toxin.</p>
 
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                           <p><b style="font-size:16px;">Mop</b><br><br> Using <i>B. subtilis</i> and <i>E. coli</i> as chassis to express PP1. This will act as a molecular “mop”.</p>
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                           <p><b style="font-size:16px">Mop</b><br><br> Mopping up a toxin (microcystin) by engineering a bacterium to produce the human PP1 protein, the protein to which microcystin binds.</p>
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                           <p><b style="font-size:16px;">Detector</b><br><br> Engineering the EnvZ and PrkC systems to express GFP or trigger germination in the presence of microcystin.</p>
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                           <p><b style="font-size:16px;">Detector</b><br><br> Detecting microcystin by manipulation of the <i>E. coli</i> osmoregulator EnvZ.</p>
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                           <p><b style="font-size:16px;">Moptopus</b><br><br>  An electronic sensing device which detects and monitors the state of a freshwater system. It will allow us to predict the likelihood of algal blooms.</p>
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                           <p><b style="font-size:16px;">Moptopus</b><br><br>  An electronic sensing device that provides a platform for toxin detection. It relates a range of environmental conditions to algal bloom formation and toxicity.</p>
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                           <p><b style="font-size:16px;">Human Practices</b><br><br>Current regulations of measuring water quality may not be appropriate. We organised a political campaign to ignite a nationwide debate.</p>
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                           <p><b style="font-size:16px;">Human Practices</b><br><br>This project has been carried out in collaboration with the community. By informing, listening and responding to their input, our project is based around community defined need, and is not merely a technical exercise. </p>
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        <p class="muted credit"> Created for <a href="https://igem.org/Main_Page">iGEM 2013</a> Dundee. Based upon <a href ="http://twitter.github.io/bootstrap/">Bootstrap</a> and <a href="http://jquery.com/">JQuery</a>. Design by <a href="http://www.kyleharrison.co.uk">Kyle Harrison </a>. </p>
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Latest revision as of 23:35, 28 October 2013

iGEM Dundee 2013 · ToxiMop

Targeting a Deadly Toxin

Explosions in the population of cyanobacteria can produce toxic algal blooms. Microcystin-LR the most potent and common algal bloom toxin, binds Protein Phosphatase 1. The average cyanobacteria infested lake in America contains over 1000 times the Microcystin safe drinking water limit set by the World Health Organisation.

Concerned by a harmful algal bloom in the local community, we used synthetic biology to target the toxin. We exploited the mechanism of Microcystin's toxicity to develop our Mop; by expressing Protein Phosphatase 1 we can mop up Microcystin. The interaction was also the basis for developing a biological Detector. To deploy our Detector and to consider the root causes of algal blooms we created the electronic Moptopus. It sits on a lake and monitors conditions relevant to cyanobacterial growth to help predict future blooms.