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Team:Dundee/Project/Mop
From 2013.igem.org
Toxi Mop - Splash and the toxin's gone!
The Microcystin Monster
Algal blooms are an ever-growing problem in freshwater systems. At the Beijing Olympics 2008, 10,000 people were hired to clean up the extensive algal bloom in time for the sailing regatta. The main concern is the level of a toxin called microcystin, which is released by cyanobacteria when they die and lyse.
Currently, the method of detection takes a day to produce results, so our aim as a team is to develop a 60 minute microcystin detection system, as well as a method to combat the rising levels of the toxin in lakes, ponds, etc. The iGEM Dundee team were inspired to act on this problem due to not only its effect on the local freshwater reservoirs, but worldwide.
Save the Janitor, Save the world!
Microcystin, a toxin released by Microcystis aeruginosa, is harmful to mammals due to its ability to latch on to the human protein PP1, thus ceasing its operation.
We are exploiting the ability of the human protein phosphatase (PP1) to covalently bind to microcystin, in order to develop a biological mop ‘janitor’ to rid algal bloom water of the toxin.
By changing domains on receptors on the cell surface of e.coli and b.subtilis, we plan to develop a method of microcystin detection. Thirdly, iGEM Dundee are creating ‘Moptopus’; a remote environmental monitoring device which is designed to detect pH, temperature, light, dissolved oxygen in H2O and even has a robotic eye. Moptopus can be controlled online and can even send tweets to alert the public whenever an algal bloom is imminent.
Unmasking the Monster
The public generally considers synthetic biology as an immoral concept, although if you imagine it as an episode of Scooby Doo, it doesn’t seem so bad; everyone is scared of this unknown monster, but underneath this mask is just a janitor. In the case of our project ToxiMop, we are using a ‘janitor bacterium’ to mop up the microcystin toxin from freshwater reservoirs!
The Universe's Lego Kit
What comes to people's mind when they hear the term 'synthetic biology'? Many people don't know what it is, or have an ambiguous idea that it is something dangerous, potentially immoral. It can be thought of as playing with the universe's lego kit. Building with what is already here, naturally, biologists attempt to create better biological systems and machinery to advance life on earth.
Toxi-Mop
We are using cloning techniques to genetically engineer B. subtilis and E. coli to express PP1 so that they can inhibit the toxin microcystin in algal blooms, therefore reducing harm to freshwater ecosystems. ”
Project Mop-topus
A remotly accessed electronic environmental sensor that detects and monitors the state of a lake and its susceptibility to algal blooms by measuring light, temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen variables.
The Detector
We are making 2 different microcystin detectors by substituting domains of bacterial cell surface receptors involved with gene regulation, with PP1 molecules.
Our Team
The team is consists of biologists, a mathematician, a math biologist, a physicist and a software engineer. By bringing together students with different expertise, we strive to maintain and improve upon previous iGEM teams' achievements.
