Team:KU Leuven/Project

From 2013.igem.org

(Difference between revisions)
 
(18 intermediate revisions not shown)
Line 13: Line 13:
<div id="header" class="row-fluid">
<div id="header" class="row-fluid">
  <div class="span12">
  <div class="span12">
-
   <h3 class="bg-green">The Project</h3>
+
   <h3 class="bg-green"><i>E. coligy</i>: Plants with BanAphids</h3>
  </div>
  </div>
</div>
</div>
Line 24: Line 24:
   <div class="row-fluid">
   <div class="row-fluid">
-
   <div class="span8">
+
   <div class="span12">
   <p align = "justify">
   <p align = "justify">
-
<b>Our goal is to create a sustainable system to reduce the damage that aphids cause to our agricultural industry.</b> The current solution usually requires huge amounts of insecticides, damaging ecosystems in several ways. First, the indiscriminate weakening of insects means that beneficial insects (pollinators, ...) are also affected. Second, insecticides affect vertebrates, including humans, damaging our health. Third, insecticide residues (catabolites) accumulate in each food-chain. The highest organism, be it humans or for example predatory birds, will end up with potentially high levels of residues and their negative effects.<br/>
+
<b>Our goal is to create a sustainable system to reduce the damage that aphids cause to our agricultural industry and reduce the use of insecticides.</b> <br/><br/>
 +
The current solution usually requires huge amounts of insecticides, damaging ecosystems in several ways. First, the indiscriminate weakening of insects means that beneficial insects (pollinators, ...) are also affected. Second, insecticides affect vertebrates, including humans, damaging our health. Third, insecticide residues (catabolites) accumulate in each food-chain. The highest organism, be it humans or for example predatory birds, will end up with potentially high levels of residues and their negative effects.<br/>
-
<b>We aim to offer an effective and sustainable alternative for insecticides.</b> Our modified <I>E. coli</I>, the <B>BanAphid</B> (meaning ‘to ban aphids’ as well as with ‘benefits’), would produce the aphid’s own alarm pheromone, E-β-farnesene, (EBF) to repel them off the plant. On top of that we want to attract aphid predators such as the ladybug via the production of methyl salicylate (MeS), a phytohormone, by our <B>BanAphids</B>. This way we ensure aphids are thoroughly removed from the plant. More about this can be found <a href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:KU_Leuven/Glucosemodel"> here.</a> <br/>
+
We aim to offer an <b>effective and sustainable alternative for insecticides.</b> Our modified <I>E. coli</I>, the <B>BanAphids</B> (meaning ‘to ban aphids’ as well as provide plants with ‘benefits’), would produce the aphid’s own alarm pheromone, <b>E-β-farnesene (EBF)</b>, to repel them off the plant. On top of that we want to attract aphid predators such as the ladybug via the production of <b>Methyl Salicylate (MeS)</b>, a phytohormone, by our BanAphids. This way we ensure aphids are thoroughly removed from the plant.
 +
<br/><br/>
 +
</p></div>
 +
</div>
 +
</div>
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
<!--Tekst-->
 +
 
 +
<div class="row-fluid">
 +
<div class="span12 white">
 +
  <div class="row-fluid">
 +
 
 +
  <div class="span8">
 +
    <p align = "justify"> We devised <b>two different systems</b> that might use these molecules. We did this because of response we received from both private end users and the general public.
 +
<br/><br/>In the first system, our <b><a href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:KU_Leuven/Project/HoneydewSystem"> honeydew system</a></b>, we spray our BanAphids directly onto the plants. In this system our BanAphids will <b>only produce MeS when aphids are present</b> because they are sensitive to the high concentrations of glucose found in the honeydew produced by the aphids. This interaction minimises the burden on the plant’s metabolism, attracts predators only when needed and avoids aphid habituation.</p>
     </div>
     </div>
<div class="span4 greytext video">
<div class="span4 greytext video">
   <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/0/07/Tekeningproject.jpg" alt="banaphids">
   <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/0/07/Tekeningproject.jpg" alt="banaphids">
-
     <p><b>Glucose Model</b><br/> This drawing shows our BanAphid producing EBF and MeS to get rid of the aphids and attract a ladybug.</p>
+
     <p><b>Honeydew System</b><br/> Shows our BanAphids producing EBF to get rid of aphids and MeS to attract ladybugs.</p>
-
</div>
+
-
 
+
-
  </div>
+
-
</div>
+
</div>
</div>
<!--Video -->
<!--Video -->
-
<div class="row-fluid">
 
-
<div class="span12 icon-half">
 
-
  <div class="row-fluid">
 
-
 
-
  <div class="span12 white">
 
-
    <div class="row-fluid">
 
-
 
     <div class="span12 video">
     <div class="span12 video">
-
       <h3>Honeydew model</h3>
+
       <h3>Honeydew system</h3>
       <br/>
       <br/>
   <p><iframe width="740" height="555" src="//www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Z2jOs70fEOs?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
   <p><iframe width="740" height="555" src="//www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Z2jOs70fEOs?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
     </div>
     </div>
-
    </div>
 
-
  </div>
 
   </div>
   </div>
  </div>
  </div>
</div>
</div>
-
 
<!-- TEKST -->
<!-- TEKST -->
Line 71: Line 74:
   <div class="span8">
   <div class="span8">
     <p align = "justify">
     <p align = "justify">
-
 
+
We devised a second system with input from the private end user: the <b><a href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:KU_Leuven/Project/StickerSystem">sticker system</a></b>.  
-
<b>We devised two different systems that might use these molecules.</b> We did this because of response from both private end users and the general public.<br/><br/>
+
Our second method starts from the principle that the <b>BanAphids</b> may not come in direct contact with the plants because of safety and ethical concerns. For this we turned to the <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:Groningen/Sticker">sticker model of the Groningen 2012 iGEM team</a> to use as a container. The sticker is composed of a plastic film, whose pores are too small for the BanAphids to pass, but large enough so that the volatile pheromones it produces still pass. The Groningen 2012 iGEM team has already investigated the biosafety of this sticker. However this means the BanAphids lose direct contact with the honeydew and the Honeydew System fails. To overcome this and permit this containment, we designed our <b><a href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:KU_Leuven/Project/Oscillator/Description">own oscillating system</a></b> so that there is an <b>alternating MeS and EBF production</b>.<br/><br/>
-
 
+
-
In the first model, our <b>glucose (honeydew) model</b>, we spray our <b>BanAphids</b> directly onto the plants. In this system our <b>BanAphids</b> will only produce MeS when aphids are present because they are sensitive to the high concentrations of glucose found in the honeydew produced by the aphids. This interaction minimises the burden on the plant’s metabolism, attracts predators only when needed and avoids habituation.<br/>
+
-
<br/>
+
-
 
+
-
Secondly, we obtained early input from the private end user and we used this to design the <b>oscillator model</b> which uses a special <b>sticker</b>.  
+
-
Our second method starts from the principle that the <b>BanAphids</b> may not come in direct contact with the plantsbecause of seafety concerns. For this we turned We turned to the <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:Groningen/Sticker">sticker model of of the Groningen 2012 iGEM team</a> to use as a container. The sticker is composed of a plastic film, whose pores are too small for the <b>BanAphids</b> to pass, but large enough so the volatile pheromones it produces still pass. The Groningen 2012 iGEM team has already investigated the biosafety of this sticker. However this means our system loses contact with the honeydew. To allow this containment and still avoid habituation we developed an oscillating system so that there is an alternating MeS and EBF production.<br/><br/>
+
-
Finally we want to define the impact of both these models on the ecosystem. In collaboration with relevant industries we performed various <b>ecosystem experiments</b>. This allows us the demonstrate the effect of our models on both plants and insects.<br/></p>
+
Finally we want to define the impact of both these systems on the ecosystem. In collaboration with the relevant industries we performed various plant and insect experiments for the <b><i><a href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:KU_Leuven/Project/Ecological/wetlab">E. coligy</a></b></i> part of our project. This allows us to demonstrate the effect of our systems on the ecosystem.<br/></p>
   </div>
   </div>
   <div class="span4 greytext video">  
   <div class="span4 greytext video">  
     <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/5/5d/Stickermodelverkleind.png">
     <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/5/5d/Stickermodelverkleind.png">
-
     <p><b>"Sticker" or "Oscillator" model</b><br/> This drawing shows how the sticker could be placed in a rose bush to repel aphids and attract ladybugs.</p>  
+
     <p><b>Sticker system</b><br/> How the sticker could be placed in a rose bush to repel aphids and attract ladybugs.</p>  
   </div>
   </div>
Line 107: Line 104:
     <h3>Aphid Background</h3>
     <h3>Aphid Background</h3>
     </a>
     </a>
-
     <p>Crashcourse in aphid biology.</p>
+
     <p>Crashcourse in aphid biology</p>
   </div>
   </div>
   </div>
   </div>
Line 115: Line 112:
   <div class="row-fluid">
   <div class="row-fluid">
   <div class="visible-desktop span3 bg-farnesene">
   <div class="visible-desktop span3 bg-farnesene">
-
     <a href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:KU_Leuven/Project/Honeydew_System">
+
     <a href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:KU_Leuven/Project/HoneydewSystem">
     <i class="livicon activeicon" data-name="drop" data-color="white"></i></div>
     <i class="livicon activeicon" data-name="drop" data-color="white"></i></div>
   <div class="span7 icon-text">
   <div class="span7 icon-text">
     <h3>Honeydew System</h3> </a>
     <h3>Honeydew System</h3> </a>
-
     <p>Our BanAphids react to honeydew.</p>
+
     <p>Our BanAphids react to honeydew</p>
   </div>
   </div>
   </div>
   </div>
Line 133: Line 130:
     <h3>Sticker System</h3>
     <h3>Sticker System</h3>
     </a>
     </a>
-
     <p>An alternative approach</p>
+
     <p>BanAphid population oscillates!</p>
   </div>
   </div>
   </div>
   </div>
Line 152: Line 149:
     <h3><i>E. coligy</i></h3>
     <h3><i>E. coligy</i></h3>
     </a>
     </a>
-
     <p>An autonomous alternative.</p>
+
     <p>Validating the BanAphids in vivo</p>
   </div>
   </div>
   </div>
   </div>

Latest revision as of 01:21, 29 October 2013

iGem

Secret garden

Congratulations! You've found our secret garden! Follow the instructions below and win a great prize at the World jamboree!


  • A video shows that two of our team members are having great fun at our favourite company. Do you know the name of the second member that appears in the video?
  • For one of our models we had to do very extensive computations. To prevent our own computers from overheating and to keep the temperature in our iGEM room at a normal level, we used a supercomputer. Which centre maintains this supercomputer? (Dutch abbreviation)
  • We organised a symposium with a debate, some seminars and 2 iGEM project presentations. An iGEM team came all the way from the Netherlands to present their project. What is the name of their city?

Now put all of these in this URL:https://2013.igem.org/Team:KU_Leuven/(firstname)(abbreviation)(city), (loose the brackets and put everything in lowercase) and follow the very last instruction to get your special jamboree prize!

tree ladybugcartoon

Our goal is to create a sustainable system to reduce the damage that aphids cause to our agricultural industry and reduce the use of insecticides.

The current solution usually requires huge amounts of insecticides, damaging ecosystems in several ways. First, the indiscriminate weakening of insects means that beneficial insects (pollinators, ...) are also affected. Second, insecticides affect vertebrates, including humans, damaging our health. Third, insecticide residues (catabolites) accumulate in each food-chain. The highest organism, be it humans or for example predatory birds, will end up with potentially high levels of residues and their negative effects.
We aim to offer an effective and sustainable alternative for insecticides. Our modified E. coli, the BanAphids (meaning ‘to ban aphids’ as well as provide plants with ‘benefits’), would produce the aphid’s own alarm pheromone, E-β-farnesene (EBF), to repel them off the plant. On top of that we want to attract aphid predators such as the ladybug via the production of Methyl Salicylate (MeS), a phytohormone, by our BanAphids. This way we ensure aphids are thoroughly removed from the plant.

We devised two different systems that might use these molecules. We did this because of response we received from both private end users and the general public.

In the first system, our honeydew system, we spray our BanAphids directly onto the plants. In this system our BanAphids will only produce MeS when aphids are present because they are sensitive to the high concentrations of glucose found in the honeydew produced by the aphids. This interaction minimises the burden on the plant’s metabolism, attracts predators only when needed and avoids aphid habituation.

banaphids

Honeydew System
Shows our BanAphids producing EBF to get rid of aphids and MeS to attract ladybugs.

Honeydew system


We devised a second system with input from the private end user: the sticker system. Our second method starts from the principle that the BanAphids may not come in direct contact with the plants because of safety and ethical concerns. For this we turned to the sticker model of the Groningen 2012 iGEM team to use as a container. The sticker is composed of a plastic film, whose pores are too small for the BanAphids to pass, but large enough so that the volatile pheromones it produces still pass. The Groningen 2012 iGEM team has already investigated the biosafety of this sticker. However this means the BanAphids lose direct contact with the honeydew and the Honeydew System fails. To overcome this and permit this containment, we designed our own oscillating system so that there is an alternating MeS and EBF production.

Finally we want to define the impact of both these systems on the ecosystem. In collaboration with the relevant industries we performed various plant and insect experiments for the E. coligy part of our project. This allows us to demonstrate the effect of our systems on the ecosystem.

Sticker system
How the sticker could be placed in a rose bush to repel aphids and attract ladybugs.

Aphid Background

Crashcourse in aphid biology

Honeydew System

Our BanAphids react to honeydew

Sticker System

BanAphid population oscillates!

E. coligy

Validating the BanAphids in vivo

Parts

BioBrick 'm all!

Data Page

All our achievements on one small page!