The objective for our project is ultimately to express human integrins on the surface of E.Coli cells. By expressing
human integrins on bacteria cells, we can manipulate the cells to respond to specific stimuli in their environment. The
specific integrin we are trying to express on the E.Coli cell has the ability to bind to fibrinogen. If it is successfully placed
on the cell, the cell will be able to bind to fibrinogen, effectively coagulating or clotting blood. This has applications in the
medical field, where the integrin-containing E.Coli (BioBots, as we like to call them) can be administered as a topical solution
and prevent excessive bleeding on major surface wounds. A bacteria’s ability to express integrins has other applications as
well. Since the bacteria will be able to send and receive signals to its environment, the bacteria can theoretically detect and
locate cancer cells, as well as any other specific cell or structure of concern. These novel bacterial robots will represent the
first prokaryotic use of heterodimeric integrins for a sensory function and will represent a platform that will enable future
“design” of integrins sensory function through molecular evolution techniques.
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