Team:KU Leuven/Project/StickerSystem

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 BanAphids could end up in the environment. We therefore designed an alternative pheromone production system, where the bacteria are kept in semi-permeable pouches. 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. Since constitutive production of β-farnesene rapidly renders aphids insensitive, concentrations should fluctuate to prevent habituation. This is typically achieved in an oscillator. The oscillator is extensively elaborated in the oscillator model section. Here we will mainly focus on the design of a β-farnesene oscillator, a part of it will be actually made in the lab. The production of methyl salicylate can be regulated similarly.