Difference between revisions of "Team:Aix-Marseille/Description"

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<h1>KILL XYLL</h1>
 
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[[File:T--Aix-Marseille--Xylellaworld.png]]
 
  
 
==Abstract==
 
==Abstract==
  
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Kill Xyl is a cure against the disease caused by ''Xylella fastidiosa'', a plant pathogene. Actually, no extensive cure exist against this disease that causes the loss of thousands of hectares of European crops.
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'''KILL XYL''' is a cure against the disease caused by ''Xylella fastidiosa'', a plant pathogene. Actually, no extensive cure exist against this disease that causes the loss of thousands of hectares of European crops.
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Kill Xyl has the goal to detect the symptom of the disease, then use  specific phage-likes particles in order to inject toxins into ''X. fastidiosa''. Finally, with the help of fatty acid it quench the quorum sensing activity of the bacterium and with an enzyme it degrade the biofilm, which is the principal cause of plants death.
+
'''KILL XYL''' has the goal to detect the symptom of the disease, then use  specific phage-likes particles in order to inject toxins into ''X. fastidiosa''. Finally, with the help of fatty acid it quench the quorum sensing activity of the bacterium and with an enzyme it degrade the biofilm, which is the principal cause of plants death.
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To be specific to ''X. fastidiosa'', Kill Xyl use a specific phage like particle able to recognized the pili and some extracellular protein by which the bacterium can be identified in a background of millions.
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To be specific to ''X. fastidiosa'', '''KILL XYL''' use a specific phage like particle able to recognized the pili and some extracellular protein by which the bacterium can be identified in a background of millions.
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==Motivation==
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''Xylella fastidiosa'' is a bacterium that infects the xylem tissues of a wide range of plants. This bacterium has been widespread in the Americas for many years and occurs also in Asia. The bacterium is associated with several diseases of crops of economic significance, and has a wide range of host plants comprising 312 species.
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''X. fastidiosa'' is transmitted from plant to plant by xylem sucking insects. The bacterium can persist in symptomless uncultivated plants, from which insects may acquire the bacterium and pass it to crops. Symptoms of disease are only observed when xylem vessels are highly colonized by the bacterium. The xylem transports water and soluble mineral, nutrients from the roots throughout the plant, and used to replace water lost during transpiration and photosynthesis. Xylem vessels are interconnected by bordered pits, which allow the passage of xylem sap, but block the passage of larger objects (such as bacterium) by a membrane.
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The control of the movement of potential hosts and insect vectors and the eradication of infected material is considered the most effective method of limiting the spread of the disease in the European Union. But there is no method yet to cure the trees.
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==Using phages against Xylella fastidiosa==
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[[File:T--Aix-Marseille--Xylellaworld.png]]Distribution map of ''Xylella fastidiosa'' worldwide.
  
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An electron micrograph of bacteriophages attached to a bacterium, from Graham Beards
 
  
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Xylella fastidiosa is currently causing an epidemic that lacks any effective management strategy. One solution consistent with the objective of iGEM is to engineer a phage both specific and lethal to the bacterium, but without posing any harmful effects to associated beneficial microflora.
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==KILL XYL concept==
  
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Bacteriophages are a class of extremely specific viruses that infect bacteria and lack the ability to infect more complex organisms such as mammals. This approach to the problem seems very promising.
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At Aix-Marseille University we thought about a solution that enclose many aspect of the cure.  
  
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So what is the purpose of our group ? We aim is to create phage-like particles that will be efficient and non-replicative but kill X. fastidiosa. This will give us a safe and biological treatment able to cure the disease caused by the bacteria in over 100 species of plant including olive trees and grape vines. This will reduce the economic consequences for producers, while maintaining the high quality of their products.
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First, we wanted to improve the detection of the disease, to do so we wanted to use a NDVI camera that will help us to see if the plant do photosynthesis or not. If the plant is heavily affected by ''Xylella fastidiosa'', it support a hydric stress that stop the photosynthesis.
  
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==A Quorum sensing approach==
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Secondly, we want to get rid of the bacterium. Phages are natural predators of bacteria. They can also be used to transfect DNA into a bacterial cell. Phages has also the advantage of being specific to a strain and to be modulable. As we wanted to be eco-friendly, we create phage-likes particles, that aren't able to spread. Thus we have nanobots specific to ''Xylella fastidiosa'', capable to inject toxic genes into the bacterium.
  
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Quorum sensing is a method of communication between bacteria. It is used to coordinate their behaviour. X. fastidiosa uses this communication to biofilm production and virulence. We will turn the communication against the bacterium. By interfering with the communication using biological products we will inhibit biofilm formation. Some of these products can even kill the bacteria.
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The main cause of the plants death, is the hydric stress induced by the accumulation of biofilm into the xylem vessels. To disrupt the biofilm we thought about different solutions. The first one is to stop the bacterium producing any extra poly-saccharide. This could be achieved by quenching the quorum sensing of the bacterium with the help of a little fatty acid called : 2-cis-decenoic acid. Secondly, we wanted to destroy the exo-polysaccharids. An enzyme coming from a bacteriophage could fulfill the use by the hydrolysis of polysaccharides.  
  
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Biofilms are an important cause of mortality, as the xylem provides nutrients for the tree, but they are also important for the spread of the disease. We hope by using this approach to make X. fastidiosa less virulent and less infectious. Providing a curative and preventative solution.
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Hence, '''KILL XYLL''' simply detects, disrupt and kill ''Xylella fastidiosa''.
  
  

Revision as of 13:07, 16 August 2017

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KILL XYLL

Abstract

KILL XYL is a cure against the disease caused by Xylella fastidiosa, a plant pathogene. Actually, no extensive cure exist against this disease that causes the loss of thousands of hectares of European crops. KILL XYL has the goal to detect the symptom of the disease, then use specific phage-likes particles in order to inject toxins into X. fastidiosa. Finally, with the help of fatty acid it quench the quorum sensing activity of the bacterium and with an enzyme it degrade the biofilm, which is the principal cause of plants death. To be specific to X. fastidiosa, KILL XYL use a specific phage like particle able to recognized the pili and some extracellular protein by which the bacterium can be identified in a background of millions.

Motivation

Xylella fastidiosa is a bacterium that infects the xylem tissues of a wide range of plants. This bacterium has been widespread in the Americas for many years and occurs also in Asia. The bacterium is associated with several diseases of crops of economic significance, and has a wide range of host plants comprising 312 species.

X. fastidiosa is transmitted from plant to plant by xylem sucking insects. The bacterium can persist in symptomless uncultivated plants, from which insects may acquire the bacterium and pass it to crops. Symptoms of disease are only observed when xylem vessels are highly colonized by the bacterium. The xylem transports water and soluble mineral, nutrients from the roots throughout the plant, and used to replace water lost during transpiration and photosynthesis. Xylem vessels are interconnected by bordered pits, which allow the passage of xylem sap, but block the passage of larger objects (such as bacterium) by a membrane.

The control of the movement of potential hosts and insect vectors and the eradication of infected material is considered the most effective method of limiting the spread of the disease in the European Union. But there is no method yet to cure the trees.


T--Aix-Marseille--Xylellaworld.pngDistribution map of Xylella fastidiosa worldwide.


KILL XYL concept

At Aix-Marseille University we thought about a solution that enclose many aspect of the cure.

First, we wanted to improve the detection of the disease, to do so we wanted to use a NDVI camera that will help us to see if the plant do photosynthesis or not. If the plant is heavily affected by Xylella fastidiosa, it support a hydric stress that stop the photosynthesis.

Secondly, we want to get rid of the bacterium. Phages are natural predators of bacteria. They can also be used to transfect DNA into a bacterial cell. Phages has also the advantage of being specific to a strain and to be modulable. As we wanted to be eco-friendly, we create phage-likes particles, that aren't able to spread. Thus we have nanobots specific to Xylella fastidiosa, capable to inject toxic genes into the bacterium.

The main cause of the plants death, is the hydric stress induced by the accumulation of biofilm into the xylem vessels. To disrupt the biofilm we thought about different solutions. The first one is to stop the bacterium producing any extra poly-saccharide. This could be achieved by quenching the quorum sensing of the bacterium with the help of a little fatty acid called : 2-cis-decenoic acid. Secondly, we wanted to destroy the exo-polysaccharids. An enzyme coming from a bacteriophage could fulfill the use by the hydrolysis of polysaccharides.

Hence, KILL XYLL simply detects, disrupt and kill Xylella fastidiosa.


Description

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