Team:LMU-Munich/Human Practice/Panel Discussion

From 2014.igem.org

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Revision as of 11:19, 6 October 2014

TOUR

Panel Discussion

This year’s project BaKillus combines approaches gained by the synthetic biology with the medical issue fighting against MSRA. In July 2014 we organized the panel discussion “Does Germany need Synthetic Biology to improve the (personalized) medicine” inviting citizens to join and learn more about this new appearing field of the modern biology. As our project BaKillus is related to the controversial issue applying engineered bacteria to cure patients in the distant future, discussing the acceptance of using the tools of synthetic biology in the modern medicine, in a population with a very critical opinion concerning the genetic engineering was our aim.

The event started with a short introduction about Synthetic Biology, given by Prof. Dr. Thorsten Mascher (LMU Munich, Synthetic Microbiology). He explained the characteristic features of synthetic biology, giving examples like the construction of a synthetic version of the third chromosome of Saccharomyces cerevisae.

In the main section, three scientists moderated by PD Bernd Giese (University of Bremen, Department of Technology Development and Design) discussed the pros and cons of the Synthetic Biology and were open for questions from the audience.

We invited the following experts:

Prof. Dr. Ralf Wagner
University of Regensburg, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene

Dr. rer. nat. Martin Siemann-Herzberg
University Stuttgart, Germany, Institute of Biochemical Engineering

PD Dr. Alexander Bogner
Austrian Academy of Science, Institute for Technology Assessment

Dr. med. Frank Bartram - Unfortunately he had to decline his invitation.
First Chairman of the German Environmental Health Organization (Deutscher Berufsverband der Umweltmedizin)

To learn more about our experts (click here)

PD. Bernd Giese (Foto daneben)
Bernd Giese is research associate at the Department of Technological Design and Development, University of Bremen with the focus on Synthetic Biology. In his time as post-doctoral fellow at the University of Greifswald he studied the molecular mechanisms of intracellular infection with Staphylococci, which are the target of BaKillus, and discovered mechanisms and factors involved in the infection of mammalian cells with these pathogens. He is current working in/at the following projects: Innovation and Technology Analysis of Synthetic Biology (SynBioTA) and Attentive Technologies – Guiding principles for an age-appropriate technology design (AttenTech)

Prof. Dr. Ralf Wagner
Ralf Wagner is university professor at the Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, where he is heading the Medical Microbiology and Gene Therapy Unit. He was amongst the first scientists to recognize the value of gene design and synthesis for different areas of biotechnology including vaccine development, thus consequently translating basic research tools into scalable technologies and a quickly emerging business in the field of Synthetic Biology. His current scientific focus lies on merging aspects of synthetic biology with state of the art vaccine development.

Dr. rer. nat. Martin Siemann-Herzberg (Foto daneben)
Martin Siemann-Herzberg is deputy head of the institute of Biochemical Engineering, University Stuttgart with the speciality in Synthetic Biology and Systems Biology, emphasizing the application of science for technical purpose. MEHR?

PD Dr. Alexander Bogner (Foto daneben)
Alexander Bogner is a habilitated sociologist working in the Institute of Technology Assessment at the Austrian Academy of Science with the main emphasis on science, technic and environment, analysing Green Genetic Engineering and other upcoming technologies, like the Synthetic Biology, in the context of policy and the general public. His current project SYNENERGENE aims to pique public’s interest to the Synthetic Biology and fathom the possibilities of a responsible design of technology

Hi there!

Welcome to our Wiki! I'm BaKillus, the pathogen-hunting microbe, and I'll guide you on this tour through our project. If you want to learn more about a specific step, you can simply close the tour and come back to it anytime you like. So let's start!

What's the problem?

First of all, what am I doing here? The problem is, pathogenic bacteria all around the world are becoming more and more resistant against antimicrobial drugs. One major reason for the trend is the inappropriate use of drugs. With my BaKillus super powers, I want to reduce this misuse and thus do my part to save global health.

Sensing of pathogens

To combat the pathogenic bacteria, I simply eavesdrop on their communication. Bacteria talk with each other via quorum sensing systems, which I use to detect them and trigger my responses.

Adhesion

The more specific and effective I can use my powers, the lower the danger is of provoking new resistance development. So I catch pathogens whenever I get hold of them and stick to them until my work is done.

Killing

Talking about my work - killing pathogens is finally what I am made for. In response to quorum sensing molecules of the pathogens, I export a range of antimicrobial substances leading to dissipation of biofilms and the killing of the targeted bacteria.

Suicide switch

When the job is done and all the bad guys are finished, you don't need a super hero anymore. So after fulfilling my work I say goodbye to the world by activating my suicide switch.

Application

Of course I'm not only a fictional hero, but a very real one. In two different prototypes, I could be used for diagnosis or treatment of pathogen-caused diseases. However, there is still a whole lot of regulational and economical questions that have to be answered before.

See you!

So now you know my short story - and it is time for me to return to my fight for a safer world. Feel free to take a closer look on my super powers, the process of my development or the plans for a medical application.

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 <br><br>To learn more about our experts (click here)
 <br><br>'''PD. Bernd Giese''' (Foto daneben)
-Bernd Giese is research associate at the Department of Technological Design and Development, University of Bremen with the focus on Synthetic Biology. In his time as post-doctoral fellow at the University of Greifswald he studied the molecular mechanisms of intracellular infection with Staphylococci, which are the target of BaKillus, and discovered mechanisms and factors involved in the infection of mammalian cells with these pathogens.
+<br>Bernd Giese is research associate at the Department of Technological Design and Development, University of Bremen with the focus on Synthetic Biology. In his time as post-doctoral fellow at the University of Greifswald he studied the molecular mechanisms of intracellular infection with Staphylococci, which are the target of BaKillus, and discovered mechanisms and factors involved in the infection of mammalian cells with these pathogens.
 He is current working in/at the following projects: Innovation and Technology Analysis of Synthetic Biology (SynBioTA) and Attentive Technologies – Guiding principles for an age-appropriate technology design (AttenTech)
 <br><br>'''Prof. Dr. Ralf Wagner'''
-Ralf Wagner is university professor at the Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, where he is heading the Medical Microbiology and Gene Therapy Unit. He was amongst the first scientists to recognize the value of gene design and synthesis for different areas of biotechnology including vaccine development, thus consequently translating basic research tools into scalable technologies and a quickly emerging business in the field of Synthetic Biology. His current scientific focus lies on merging aspects of synthetic biology with state of the art vaccine development.
+<br>Ralf Wagner is university professor at the Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, where he is heading the Medical Microbiology and Gene Therapy Unit. He was amongst the first scientists to recognize the value of gene design and synthesis for different areas of biotechnology including vaccine development, thus consequently translating basic research tools into scalable technologies and a quickly emerging business in the field of Synthetic Biology. His current scientific focus lies on merging aspects of synthetic biology with state of the art vaccine development.
 <br><br>'''Dr. rer. nat. Martin Siemann-Herzberg''' (Foto daneben)
-Martin Siemann-Herzberg is deputy head of the institute of Biochemical Engineering, University Stuttgart with the speciality in Synthetic Biology and Systems Biology, emphasizing the application of science for technical purpose. MEHR?
+<br>Martin Siemann-Herzberg is deputy head of the institute of Biochemical Engineering, University Stuttgart with the speciality in Synthetic Biology and Systems Biology, emphasizing the application of science for technical purpose. MEHR?
 <br><br>'''PD Dr. Alexander Bogner''' (Foto daneben)
-Alexander Bogner is a habilitated sociologist working in the Institute of Technology Assessment at the Austrian Academy of Science with the main emphasis on science, technic and environment, analysing Green Genetic Engineering and other upcoming technologies, like the Synthetic Biology, in the context of policy and the general public. His current project SYNENERGENE aims to pique public’s interest to the Synthetic Biology and fathom the possibilities of a responsible design of technology
+<br>Alexander Bogner is a habilitated sociologist working in the Institute of Technology Assessment at the Austrian Academy of Science with the main emphasis on science, technic and environment, analysing Green Genetic Engineering and other upcoming technologies, like the Synthetic Biology, in the context of policy and the general public. His current project SYNENERGENE aims to pique public’s interest to the Synthetic Biology and fathom the possibilities of a responsible design of technology