Team:CMUQ/Parts

We collaborated with the Pitt iGEM team to characterize osmolarity sensitive promoters. Sulfate Reducing Bacteria (SRB) require high salt and low oxygen conditions to grow. Therefore genetically engineering a strain of bacteria that can report osmolarity in environments such as oil pipelines and then activate a remediation circuit would be beneficial.

Firstly the promoter was tested by making a sensor with a fluorescent protein reporter. The sensor will induce expression of RFP when osmolarity is high. The sensor can be utilized to measure salt concentrations to determine if SRB can survive. The promoter can then be used to produce Dispersin B enzyme to degrade the biofilm where SRB can accumulate and ultimately, corrode the pipes. With the deadlines approaching, we shared the sequences for the osmolarity sensors with Pitt iGEM.

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