Killing Nosema ceranae

Introduction

Bee

Defense against Pathogens!!

Our main goal is to kill Nosema ceranae without harming the bees.

First, we came up with several chemicals that might achieve our goal. They are antimicrobial peptides, such as Apidaecin, [http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1104300 Abaecin], Hymenoptaecin, [http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1104301 Defensin1], which are all antimicrobial peptides in bees. Because these chemicals are secreted by bees themselves, they definitely do no harm to bees. Among four kinds of antimicrobial peptides, Abaecin and Defensin are much smaller in terms of their molecular sizes so it would be easier for us to biosynthesize them, that was the first reason why we chose [http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1104300 Abaecin] and [http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1104301 Defensin1] to treat bees. The second reason was that the sequence of Apidaecin cannot be found at this moment. The third reason is that [http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1104300 Abaecin] and [http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1104301 Defensin1] have been relatively well-studied. In addition to antimicrobial peptides, we figured out other chemicals, which are Chitinase, Herein, Protofil, Cytochrome P450. Unfortunately, Chitinase, Herein, Protofil, and Cytochrome P450 have several defects. For example, they are all macromolecules, which make them difficult to be synthesized by E. coli. Moreover, even if E. coli can successfully synthesize them, it is still too hard to make these chemicals be released out of the cells. Based on all of the above reasons, we finally decided to use [http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1104301 Defensin1] and [http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1104300 Abaecin] to treat the bees infected by Nosema ceranae.

Background

How Do AntiMicrobial Peptides Work?

The cytoplasmic membrane is a frequent target, but peptides may also interfere with DNA and protein synthesis, protein folding, and cell wall synthesis. The initial contact between the peptide and the target organism is electrostatic, as most bacterial surfaces are anionic, or hydrophobic. Their amino acid composition, amphipathicity, cationic charge and size allow them to attach to and insert into membrane bilayers to form pores by ‘barrel-stave’, ‘carpet’ or ‘toroidal-pore’ mechanisms. Alternately, they may penetrate into the cell to bind intracellular molecules which are crucial to cell living. Intracellular binding models includes inhibition of cell wall synthesis, alteration of the cytoplasmic membrane, activation of autolysin, inhibition of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis, and inhibition of certain enzymes. One emerging technique for the study of such mechanisms is dual polarisation interferometry. In contrast to many conventional antibiotics these peptides appear to be bactericidal instead of bacteriostatic.

• See more("articles & pictures" modified from) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimicrobial_peptides http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimicrobial_peptides]

After deciding the chemicals that are able to kill Nosema ceranae without harming the bees and how they work, we designed our experiment. The following is our material list as well as experimental procedure.

Circuit Design & Experimental Methods

Circuit Design

[http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1104300 Abaecin]

[http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1104301 Defensin1]

Experimental Methods

Testing the influence of antimicrobial peptides on Bee. coli

1. Make experiment group and control group with our Bee. coli

　　(Experiment:transformed with the Defensin1 gene circuit；Control: w/o the gene)

2. Determine both groups' OD 600 for three to five days

3. Collect and Analyze the data and make growth-rate graphs to check whether Defensin1 would kill or inhibit

　　Bee. coli

4. Change the gene circuit into the Abaecin one and do step 1~3 in parallel with the Defensin1 experiments

Check the efficiency of our products to against Nosema

1. Make experiment group and control group with our Bee. coli

　　(Experiment:transformed with the Defensin1 gene circuit；Control: w/o the gene)

2. Both add 5x10³ spores in the liquid for experiment and control groups, respectively

3. Around three days after step 2, collect data for three to six days

　　(Determine the change amount of Nosema spores through RBC counting chamber)

4. Analyze all the information and make growth-rate graphs to check Defensin1's killing ability

5. Change the gene circuit into the Abaecin one and do step 1~3 in parallel with the Defensin1 experiments