iGEM Evry 2013 achievements

Here we detail how we fulfilled each of the iGEM medal requirements.

Gold Medal (requires any one of the following goals)

• Improve the function of an existing BioBrick Part or Device: we characterize the LacO-RFP BioBrick and improve it by integrating it with an aceB-LacI iron sensor.
• Help any registered iGEM team
• As our project involves treating a human genetic disorder using genetically-engineered bacteria, it has numerous implications for human health, safety and security, and ethics. To enable safe delivery of therapeutic bacteria to the human intestine, we designed and constructed a polymer-based capsule. We also explored safety and ethics consequences of our project as the Human Practices studies:
  1. We discussed the medical feasibility and implications of this treatment in a series of interviews and discussions with renowned experts on iron overload diseases.
  2. We carefully analyzed the safety issues and potential consequences of our bacteria using consequence-based decision tree.
  3. We organized and hosted a scientific conference on iron overload disorders and perceptions of our our project on 18 September 2013. This conference was attended by both medical experts and iron disorder patients.
  4. We prepared and disseminated a patient perception survey about how our treatment could potentially help hemochromatosis patients. We received and analyzed the results from over 250 patients who responded to our survey.
  5. We wrote an extensive report on our conclusions about how synthetic biology can treat genetic disorders, which is the fruit of our many discussions over the summer.

Silver Medal (requires each of the four following goals)

• We experimentally validate the aceB-sfGFP biobrick that we submitted to the iGEM Parts registry using a TECAN and microfluidics.
• We document the characterization of our aceB-sfGFP and other BioBricks in "Main Page" section of the Parts Registry.
• We submitted the following BioBricks parts to the iGEM Parts Registry The 4 sGFP constructs function as iron sensors and the lacI constructs are used to build a Fur-based genetic inverter that activates gene expression in response to iron.
  • BBa_K1163102: AceB-sfGFP characterization
  • BBa_K1163103: AceB-lacI characterization
  • BBa_K1163105: FepA-sfGFP characterization
  • BBa_K1163106: FepA-lacI characterization
  • BBa_K1163108: Fes-sfGFP characterization
  • BBa_K1163109: Fes-lacI characterization
  • BBa_K1163111: YncE-sfGFP characterization
  • BBa_K1163112: YncE-LacI characterization
• We describe how our project has implications for safety and ethics

Bronze Medal (requires each of the five following goals)

• We registered our team for iGEM 2013 and are attending the European Regional Jamboree
• We completed and submitted the Judging form
• We made a comprehensive and accessible iGEM Evry 2013 Wiki to convey our educational and scientific advances
• We will present a poster and give an oral presentation at the iGEM European Jamboree in Lyon, France.
• We document 22 BioBricks used in our project and submit 8 news BioBricks to the Parts Registry (see list above in Silver Medal Requirements).

And more precisely ?!

Biology

• We design and create 4 Iron sensing systems, that could also works with an invertor !
• We design an Iron chelating system and isolate genes of the enterobactins biosynthesis pathway !
• We use TECAN and microfluidic to analyse our systems and show that they work !
• We created a pill adapted to our project and that fulfilled basic requirements of the European Pharmacopeia !