Difference between revisions of "Team:WPI Worcester"

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<h1> Welcome to iGEM 2017! </h1>
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<h2> Project Summary </h2>
<p>Your team has been approved and you are ready to start the iGEM season! </p>
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<h3>Two Bacteria = Two Solutions </h3>
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<p>Our project seeks to engineer two separate strains of bacterium to solve problems related to lead pollution. Our first bacterium, <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>, will function as a biosensor by changing colors to indicate how much lead contamination, if any, is present in a sample of water. If lead is present, our second bacterium, <i>Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG</i>, can be taken daily as a probiotic to potentially reduce the amount of lead contamination in ingested water. </p>
<h5>Before you start: </h5>
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<p> Please read the following pages:</p>
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<ul>
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<li>  <a href="https://2017.igem.org/Competition">Competition Hub</a> </li>
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<li> <a href="https://2017.igem.org/Competition/Deliverables/Wiki">Wiki Requirements page</a></li>
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<li> <a href="https://2017.igem.org/Resources/Template_Documentation">Template documentation</a></li>
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<h3>Got Lead? </h3>
<h5> Styling your wiki </h5>
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<p>Lead contamination in drinking water is becoming a larger problem due to the aging infrastructure present in America and other countries with lead pipes (Ciccatelli). Our project was namely inspired by the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, which has left many of the city’s inhabitants without drinkable tap water since 2014 (Flint). While the problem in Flint certainly is extreme, lead pollution is actually found all over the US, including Massachusetts (Globe). If there is a lead pipe anywhere between the source of your water and your faucet, you could have lead contamination. <br/> </p>
<p>You may style this page as you like or you can simply leave the style as it is. You can easily keep the styling and edit the content of these default wiki pages with your project information and completely fulfill the requirement to document your project.</p>
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<p>Unfortunately, many lead detection products today only offer a ‘yes/no’ detection system, set off if the quantity of lead in the sample is above a certain level. Even once lead is detected, homeowners and renters alike may be unable to change the source of their water due to financial and other restrictions associated with lead filtration and other methods available today. Our project aims to overcome these problems, while affordably and accessibly providing answers to the questions “Is there lead in my water, and how much?” as well as “What can I do about the lead right now?” </p>
<p>While you may not win Best Wiki with this styling, your team is still eligible for all other awards. This default wiki meets the requirements, it improves navigability and ease of use for visitors, and you should not feel it is necessary to style beyond what has been provided.</p>
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<h5> Wiki template information </h5>
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<h3>The Engineering Behind it All </h3>
<p>We have created these wiki template pages to help you get started and to help you think about how your team will be evaluated. You can find a list of all the pages tied to awards here at the <a href="https://2017.igem.org/Judging/Pages_for_Awards">Pages for awards</a> link. You must edit these pages to be evaluated for medals and awards, but ultimately the design, layout, style and all other elements of your team wiki is up to you!</p>
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<h5>Bio-Detection </h5>
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<p>Our <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> biosensor will contain a plasmid with three chromoprotein genes, each with a slightly different version of a promoter which is responsive to lead concentration. This will result in three different colors to be produced at different concentrations of lead: low, medium, and high. This will help users understand that they have lead in their water in addition to how much. <br/> </p>
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<h5>Probiotic Purification </h5>
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<p><i>Lactobacillus rhamnosus</i> has natural lead-binding capabilities (Marc). When <i>Lactobacillus</i> binds lead, it keeps the lead from being absorbed by your system, allowing the normally toxic metal to pass harmlessly out of your body by just taking one pill every day. We plan to “force-evolve” <i>Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG</i> to have enhanced lead-binding capabilities as well as the ability to survive in higher concentrations of lead by exposing it to the metal and observing its growth. <br/><br/></p>
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<h5> Editing your wiki </h5>
 
<p>On this page you can document your project, introduce your team members, document your progress and share your iGEM experience with the rest of the world! </p>
 
<p> <a href="https://2017.igem.org/wiki/index.php?title=Team:Example&action=edit"> </a>Use WikiTools - Edit in the black menu bar to edit this page</p>
 
 
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<h5>Tips</h5>
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<h5> Sources: </h5>
<p>This wiki will be your team’s first interaction with the rest of the world, so here are a few tips to help you get started: </p>
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<ul>
 
<ul>
<li>State your accomplishments! Tell people what you have achieved from the start. </li>
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<li>Ciccatelli, Amanda. “How America’s Aging Infrastructure is Creating More Toxic Lawsuits.” Inside Counsel. ALM Media, 30 March 2017. Web. 23 June 2017. </li>
<li>Be clear about what you are doing and how you plan to do this.</li>
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<li>"Flint Water Crisis Fast Facts." CNN. Cable News Network, 10 Apr. 2017. Web. 16 June 2017. </li>
<li>You have a global audience! Consider the different backgrounds that your users come from.</li>
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<li>Globe, The Boston. "High lead levels found in water at 160 Mass. schools." Boston.com. The Boston Globe, 16 Nov. 2016. Web. 16 June 2017. </li>
<li>Make sure information is easy to find; nothing should be more than 3 clicks away. </li>
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<li>Marc, and Jeremy P. Burtona And. "Possible Role of Probiotics" Applied and Environmental Microbiology. N.p., 01 Sept. 2012. Web. 16 June 2017. </li>
<li>Avoid using very small fonts and low contrast colors; information should be easy to read. </li>
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<li>Start documenting your project as early as possible; don’t leave anything to the last minute before the Wiki Freeze. For a complete list of deadlines visit the <a href="https://2017.igem.org/Calendar">iGEM 2017 calendar</a> </li>
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<li>Have lots of fun! </li>
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<h5>Inspiration</h5>
 
<p> You can also view other team wikis for inspiration! Here are some examples:</p>
 
<ul>
 
<li> <a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:SDU-Denmark/"> 2014 SDU Denmark </a> </li>
 
<li> <a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:Aalto-Helsinki">2014 Aalto-Helsinki</a> </li>
 
<li> <a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:LMU-Munich">2014 LMU-Munich</a> </li>
 
<li> <a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:Michigan"> 2014 Michigan</a></li>
 
<li> <a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:ITESM-Guadalajara">2014 ITESM-Guadalajara </a></li>
 
<li> <a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:SCU-China"> 2014 SCU-China </a></li>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
 
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<h5> Uploading pictures and files </h5>
 
<p> You can upload your pictures and files to the iGEM 2017 server. Remember to keep all your pictures and files within your team's namespace or at least include your team's name in the file name. <br />
 
When you upload, set the "Destination Filename" to <br><code>T--YourOfficialTeamName--NameOfFile.jpg</code>. (If you don't do this, someone else might upload a different file with the same "Destination Filename", and your file would be erased!)<br><br>
 
 
<a href="https://2017.igem.org/Special:Upload">
 
UPLOAD FILES
 
</a>
 
</p>
 
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Revision as of 03:45, 24 June 2017

WPI_Worcester

Project Summary

Two Bacteria = Two Solutions

Our project seeks to engineer two separate strains of bacterium to solve problems related to lead pollution. Our first bacterium, Bacillus subtilis, will function as a biosensor by changing colors to indicate how much lead contamination, if any, is present in a sample of water. If lead is present, our second bacterium, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, can be taken daily as a probiotic to potentially reduce the amount of lead contamination in ingested water.

Got Lead?

Lead contamination in drinking water is becoming a larger problem due to the aging infrastructure present in America and other countries with lead pipes (Ciccatelli). Our project was namely inspired by the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, which has left many of the city’s inhabitants without drinkable tap water since 2014 (Flint). While the problem in Flint certainly is extreme, lead pollution is actually found all over the US, including Massachusetts (Globe). If there is a lead pipe anywhere between the source of your water and your faucet, you could have lead contamination.

Unfortunately, many lead detection products today only offer a ‘yes/no’ detection system, set off if the quantity of lead in the sample is above a certain level. Even once lead is detected, homeowners and renters alike may be unable to change the source of their water due to financial and other restrictions associated with lead filtration and other methods available today. Our project aims to overcome these problems, while affordably and accessibly providing answers to the questions “Is there lead in my water, and how much?” as well as “What can I do about the lead right now?”

The Engineering Behind it All

Bio-Detection

Our Bacillus subtilis biosensor will contain a plasmid with three chromoprotein genes, each with a slightly different version of a promoter which is responsive to lead concentration. This will result in three different colors to be produced at different concentrations of lead: low, medium, and high. This will help users understand that they have lead in their water in addition to how much.

Probiotic Purification

Lactobacillus rhamnosus has natural lead-binding capabilities (Marc). When Lactobacillus binds lead, it keeps the lead from being absorbed by your system, allowing the normally toxic metal to pass harmlessly out of your body by just taking one pill every day. We plan to “force-evolve” Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG to have enhanced lead-binding capabilities as well as the ability to survive in higher concentrations of lead by exposing it to the metal and observing its growth.

Sources:
  • Ciccatelli, Amanda. “How America’s Aging Infrastructure is Creating More Toxic Lawsuits.” Inside Counsel. ALM Media, 30 March 2017. Web. 23 June 2017.
  • "Flint Water Crisis Fast Facts." CNN. Cable News Network, 10 Apr. 2017. Web. 16 June 2017.
  • Globe, The Boston. "High lead levels found in water at 160 Mass. schools." Boston.com. The Boston Globe, 16 Nov. 2016. Web. 16 June 2017.
  • Marc, and Jeremy P. Burtona And. "Possible Role of Probiotics" Applied and Environmental Microbiology. N.p., 01 Sept. 2012. Web. 16 June 2017.