Team:Newcastle

Our project focuses on the creation and applications of L-forms: bacteria that grow without a cell wall. We propose L-forms as a novel chassis for synthetic biology. Our principle BioBrick switches Bacillus subtilis cells between rod-shape and L-form.

We will use microfluidics to attempt genome shuffling and shape-shifting. It is easier to fuse bacteria without cell walls. Fusion will cause genetic recombination, allowing directed evolution. We will put L-forms in moulds to observe if they adopt different shapes.

L-forms exist symbiotically in plants, which we will visualise by growing GFP labelled L-forms inside seedlings. L-forms could be engineered to supply nutrients to their host. L-forms are osmotically sensitive, giving biosecurity that they lyse if they escape from the plant.

As outreach we reflected upon our project's implications with stakeholders, created a BioGame for the public and developed a workshop for those new to modelling. Finally, we evaluated the relationship between synthetic biology and architecture.