Team:Berlin diagnostX/Experiments
The Basics
The Tapeworm Taenia solium
Taenia solium, otherwise known as pork tapeworm, is a parasite with potentially serious health effects in humans. It infects millions of people worldwide, leading to severe brain diseases, blindness, epilepsy, and death. Countries where where pork production and consumption are coupled with poor hygiene are the worst affected, including large areas of Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South- and East-Asia, where over 14% of people have experienced an infection at some point [1]. However, a clear picture of how many people are currently infected by T. solium does not exist, due to the current difficulty in making a diagnosis.
The Tapeworm Taenia solium
Taenia solium, otherwise known as pork tapeworm, is a parasite with potentially serious health effects in humans. It infects millions of people worldwide, leading to severe brain diseases, blindness, epilepsy, and death. Countries where where pork production and consumption are coupled with poor hygiene are the worst affected, including large areas of Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South- and East-Asia, where over 14% of people have experienced an infection at some point [1]. However, a clear picture of how many people are currently infected by T. solium does not exist, due to the current difficulty in making a diagnosis.
The Idea
The Tapeworm Taenia solium
Taenia solium, otherwise known as pork tapeworm, is a parasite with potentially serious health effects in humans. It infects millions of people worldwide, leading to severe brain diseases, blindness, epilepsy, and death. Countries where where pork production and consumption are coupled with poor hygiene are the worst affected, including large areas of Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South- and East-Asia, where over 14% of people have experienced an infection at some point [1]. However, a clear picture of how many people are currently infected by T. solium does not exist, due to the current difficulty in making a diagnosis.
The test will be based on a newly developed method called toehold switch sensors. This method has already been successfully applied to the diagnosis of the Zika virus [3]. We are therefore convinced that toehold switch sensors will also be useful in detecting T. solium. In order to develop our test, we first need to achieve two things: The test will be based on a newly developed method called toehold switch sensors. This method has already been successfully applied to the diagnosis of the Zika virus [3]. We are therefore convinced that toehold switch sensors will also be useful in detecting T. solium. In order to develop our test, we first need to achieve two things:
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The Experiments
Production of Toehold Switch Sensors
Taenia solium, otherwise known as pork tapeworm, is a parasite with potentially serious health effects in humans. It infects millions of people worldwide, leading to severe brain diseases, blindness, epilepsy, and death. Countries where where pork production and consumption are coupled with poor hygiene are the worst affected, including large areas of Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South- and East-Asia, where over 14% of people have experienced an infection at some point [1]. However, a clear picture of how many people are currently infected by T. solium does not exist, due to the current difficulty in making a diagnosis.
Toehold Switch Sensor Test
Taenia solium, otherwise known as pork tapeworm, is a parasite with potentially serious health effects in humans. It infects millions of people worldwide, leading to severe brain diseases, blindness, epilepsy, and death. Countries where where pork production and consumption are coupled with poor hygiene are the worst affected, including large areas of Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South- and East-Asia, where over 14% of people have experienced an infection at some point [1]. However, a clear picture of how many people are currently infected by T. solium does not exist, due to the current difficulty in making a diagnosis.
Application
Überschrift
The synthetic biology experiments described here are particularly important for participation in the iGEM competition. Simultaneously, a second team will work on the recovery of T. solium-RNA from patient stool samples in order to make our test applicable for medical purposes. We are currently forming the necessary partnerships for this goal: A working group in Nairobi has already committed to providing us with relevant material. However, these experiments will be conducted in a properly equipped laboratory, independent from the previously described experiments.
