Team:UT Dallas/project part2

From 2013.igem.org

Dex

How It works
Another way to detect S. mutans in the mouth is to detect dextran through dextranase. Dextranase is an enzyme/surface protein that contains a binding domain for Dextran, a very complex, branched polymer of glucans. When Dextranase is on the surface of the bacteria, it binds to Dextran and holds the polymer to the bacteria. We presently believe that Dextranase constitutively works as a surface protein in E. Coli.

What We Did
By using dextranase, we may be able to keep E. Coli in close proximity to S. Mutans, thereby effectively delivering destructive factors to S. Mutans. The dex gene would be included in the E. Coli plasmid to transcribe as a surface protein.

NspC/Norspermidine
How It Works
Norspermidine is a compound that breaks down biofilm by directly interacting with the exopolysaccharid. Norspermidine does this by interacting with charged or polar groups in secondary structure of the exopolysaccharide.

What We Did
Now that we have determined the presence of S. Mutans in the mouth, we can deliver a destructive system to stop bacteria growth. We have determined two ways to accomplish this:
By destroying the biofilm upon which the S. Mutans grows through NspC
By tightly controlling the populations of S. Mutans through CSP and effectively killing all bacteria.
The gene NspC codes for Norspermidine and could be added to our detection systems.

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