Team:KU Leuven/Project/modelling

From 2013.igem.org

(Difference between revisions)
 
(12 intermediate revisions not shown)
Line 22: Line 22:
  <div class="span12 white">
  <div class="span12 white">
   <p align = "justify">
   <p align = "justify">
-
Our initial system for the production of methyl salicylate and β-farnesene relied on direct interaction between the bacteria and the aphids, our BanAphids would be sprayed on the plant. This is ethically and practically challenging since our <b>BanAphids</b> could end up in the environment. <b>We therefore designed an alternative pheromone production system, where the bacteria are kept in semi-permeable pouches</b>. These allow the pheromones to disperse in the air yet the bacteria themselves remain in the bags. Consequently, the presence of aphids secreting honeydew cannot be used as a trigger for the production of both pheromones. <b>Since constitutive production of β-farnesene rapidly renders aphids insensitive, concentrations should fluctuate to prevent habituation. This is typically achieved in an oscillator.</b> Here we will mainly focus on the modelling of a β-farnesene oscillator as a proof of principle, a part of it will be actually made in the lab. The production of methyl salicylate can be regulated similarly.</p>
+
Our project aims to reduce crop loss due to aphid infestations. With an environmental project like ours, the computer is our best friend: through modelling and prediction algorithms we can <b>reduce the real costs of field tests</b>. The figure below shows how our different modeling aspects interact and allows for easy navigation to the different parts.</br></br>
 +
 
 +
The production of the pheromones E-β-farnesene and methyl salicylate will have a great effect on the cell itself. To figure out the impact of our system on <b>the cellular level</b> we performed a Flux Balance Analysis. Once we knew that our bacteria could handle the production of the pheromones we tried to predict the exact production amounts and find the rate limiting steps. Here our goal was also to feed wetlab data into our algorithms.
 +
</br></br>
 +
Secondly, to optimise the impact of the released pheromones on the aphids and the ladybugs, we designed an oscillating transcription factor network to regulate their production. This oscillator also communicates between cells, enforcing the oscillating rhythm onto the whole colony. So this is modelling on a <b>colony level</b>.
 +
</br></br>
 +
The last step in the modelling was to predict the effect of our pheromones on the environment and the ecosystem through a series of modelling steps: our <b>ecosystem</b> level work.
 +
</br></br>
 +
Summarised, these algorithms allow us to model our system from the cellular metabolism throughout to the environmental impact. Based on our models, we adapted the actual building of the system towards the <b>most effective circuit</b>. Finally, our mathematical predictions will provide significant benefits once we prepare our BanAphids for field tests and will give valuable data to the end user.
 +
</p>
  </div>
  </div>
</div>
</div>
 +
 +
<!-- IMAGE MAP -->
 +
 +
<div class="row-fluid">
 +
<div class="span12 white">
 +
  <h4>Click anywhere on the picture:</h4>
 +
 +
  <div style="text-align:center; width:865px; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">
 +
<img id="Image-Maps_6201310272011575" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/9/91/Model_%281%29.png"" usemap="#Image-Maps_6201310272011575" border="0" width="865" height="1164" alt="" />
 +
<map id="_Image-Maps_6201310272011575" name="Image-Maps_6201310272011575">
 +
<area shape="rect" coords="49,12,290,613" href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:KU_Leuven/Project/Modelling/Cellular_Level" alt="" title="let’s dive into the cell’s metabolism"    />
 +
<area shape="rect" coords="263,0,860,444" href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:KU_Leuven/Project/Ecological/Modelling" alt="" title="let’s see how the ecosystem will react"    />
 +
<area shape="rect" coords="269,635,860,1078" href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:KU_Leuven/Project/Oscillator/Modelling" alt="" title="Find out more about the mathematics behind our model"    />
 +
<area shape="rect" coords="0,638,350,1159" href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:KU_Leuven/Project/Oscillator/Description" alt="" title="find out how we designed our very own oscillator"    />
 +
</map>
 +
</div>
 +
 +
</div>
 +
</div>
 +
 +
<!-- IMAGE MAP END-->

Latest revision as of 02:40, 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 project aims to reduce crop loss due to aphid infestations. With an environmental project like ours, the computer is our best friend: through modelling and prediction algorithms we can reduce the real costs of field tests. The figure below shows how our different modeling aspects interact and allows for easy navigation to the different parts.

The production of the pheromones E-β-farnesene and methyl salicylate will have a great effect on the cell itself. To figure out the impact of our system on the cellular level we performed a Flux Balance Analysis. Once we knew that our bacteria could handle the production of the pheromones we tried to predict the exact production amounts and find the rate limiting steps. Here our goal was also to feed wetlab data into our algorithms.

Secondly, to optimise the impact of the released pheromones on the aphids and the ladybugs, we designed an oscillating transcription factor network to regulate their production. This oscillator also communicates between cells, enforcing the oscillating rhythm onto the whole colony. So this is modelling on a colony level.

The last step in the modelling was to predict the effect of our pheromones on the environment and the ecosystem through a series of modelling steps: our ecosystem level work.

Summarised, these algorithms allow us to model our system from the cellular metabolism throughout to the environmental impact. Based on our models, we adapted the actual building of the system towards the most effective circuit. Finally, our mathematical predictions will provide significant benefits once we prepare our BanAphids for field tests and will give valuable data to the end user.

Click anywhere on the picture: