Team:Groningen

From 2014.igem.org

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Our aim is to introduce a ‘smart’ bandage that will moderate the use of antibiotics in modern healthcare. As a case-study for this concept, we want to make a bandage specifically designed for burn-wounds that offers an alternative to the current (antibiotic-intensive) treatment. With the ever increasing antibiotic resistance it will become harder to treat all kinds of bacterial infections, thus an alternative to the use of antibiotics is sought for.
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Starting in 2008 the University of Groningen has attended the iGEM (international Genetically Engineered Machine) competition every year. This year the team of Groningen is making a bandage containing <i>Lactococcus lactis</i>. <i>L. Lactis</i> is generally known as the lactic acid producing bacterium used in the food industry such as in the production of yoghurt. This bacterium is able to protect the wound against several bacteria that can cause painful infections in burn wounds.
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When activated, our bandage aims to abate the most common infections in burn-wounds. These are caused by either <I>Pseudomonas aeruginosa </I> and/or <I>Staphylococcus aureus</I>. Our bandage will secrete three kinds of anti-microbial molecules, each targeting a different aspect of the infection. The first molecule is the lantibiotic called nisin, which aims to kill the gram-positive<I> S. aureus</I.. Nisin is used more often in the food industry, but seldom used for medical purposes. Besides nisin we want AiiA (auto inducer inactivator) and DspB (Dispersin B) to be secreted by our bandage. The AiiA protein is a quorum quenching molecule that will disturb the quorum sensing of<I> P. aeruginosa</I>. DspB is an anti-biofilm molecule, which will destroy the biofilm formed by<I> P. aeruginosa</I>. Similar to nisin, AiiA and DspB are not widely used in a medical context. In line with our choice for reducing the general use of antibiotics, the three anti-microbial compounds only are to be secreted when the pathogens are present. The key lies with the fact that the bandage will be activated when an infection arises. At this point, secretion of anti-microbial compounds will start. The system thus prevents an excess use of antibiotics. As a chassis we will use<I> Lactococcus lactis</I>. The modified<I> L. lactis</I> will be put into a contained compartment within the bandage and will not be able to enter the wound or environment. As a back-up, the bandage should be able to sense these kind of infections by producing a blue chromoprotein, amilCP. This helps users to know if they should seek further medical attention. To increase the safety of our product we are considering certain kill switches that come into play when the bacterium is released into the
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Infections in burn wounds are currently only treatable with antibiotics. An increase in antibiotic resistance makes it harder every day to fight these bacteria. In our system <i>L. Lactis<i> produces a so-called lantibiotic, nisin. Nisin is effective against about half of all bacteria species and resistance against nisin is hardly ever found and if found, the resistance does not last.
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environment (e.g. when the bandage is thrown in the dustbin).
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Beside nisin the <i>L. lactis</i> will be able to produce AiiA and DspB. AiiA will disrupt the communication mechanism of the harmful bacteria, this way the bacteria will not cause any trouble because it 'thinks' it is alone.  DspB is a molecule that prevents the harmful bacteria to form a layer (biofilm) on the wound. Additionally we want to try to make the bandage 'active' (producing nisin, DspB and AiiA) only when harmful bacteria are present in the wound. The bandage targets <i>Staphyolococcus Aureus</i> and <i>Pseudomonas Aeruginosa</i> specifically, two bacteria that are a problem in burn wound centres.  
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The design of the bandage is important as well. <i>L. lactis</i> should not be able to get out of the bandage, but the anti-microbial molecules should be able to reach the wound. Besides containing <i>L. Lactis</i> the bandage should allow sufficient oxygen to reach the wound.
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Finally, the whole package needs to be able to be stored for quite a while and still work. Therefore <i>L. lactis</i> will be stored as a powder and can be activated with water when the bandage is needed.
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We are also investigating the possibilities of having L. Lactis produce growth factors to aid in wound healing and to link the detection to the production of a chromoprotein to show when the bandage detects harmful bacteria.
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This bandage minimizes the use of antibiotics when treating burn-wounds. In the future, this system of
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detection and secretion of anti-microbial molecules might be used in other fields, thus preventing antimicrobial
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resistance and helping society.
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Revision as of 09:13, 18 July 2014

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Starting in 2008 the University of Groningen has attended the iGEM (international Genetically Engineered Machine) competition every year. This year the team of Groningen is making a bandage containing Lactococcus lactis. L. Lactis is generally known as the lactic acid producing bacterium used in the food industry such as in the production of yoghurt. This bacterium is able to protect the wound against several bacteria that can cause painful infections in burn wounds. Infections in burn wounds are currently only treatable with antibiotics. An increase in antibiotic resistance makes it harder every day to fight these bacteria. In our system L. Lactis produces a so-called lantibiotic, nisin. Nisin is effective against about half of all bacteria species and resistance against nisin is hardly ever found and if found, the resistance does not last. Beside nisin the L. lactis will be able to produce AiiA and DspB. AiiA will disrupt the communication mechanism of the harmful bacteria, this way the bacteria will not cause any trouble because it 'thinks' it is alone. DspB is a molecule that prevents the harmful bacteria to form a layer (biofilm) on the wound. Additionally we want to try to make the bandage 'active' (producing nisin, DspB and AiiA) only when harmful bacteria are present in the wound. The bandage targets Staphyolococcus Aureus and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa specifically, two bacteria that are a problem in burn wound centres. The design of the bandage is important as well. L. lactis should not be able to get out of the bandage, but the anti-microbial molecules should be able to reach the wound. Besides containing L. Lactis the bandage should allow sufficient oxygen to reach the wound. Finally, the whole package needs to be able to be stored for quite a while and still work. Therefore L. lactis will be stored as a powder and can be activated with water when the bandage is needed. We are also investigating the possibilities of having L. Lactis produce growth factors to aid in wound healing and to link the detection to the production of a chromoprotein to show when the bandage detects harmful bacteria.

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