From 2014.igem.org

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Revision as of 02:49, 18 October 2014

TOUR

Results

Here we provide you with a quick overview of our key results. Please follow the links to receive more background information.

Sensing of Staphylococcus aureus

Sensing of Streptococcus pneumoniae

The two-component system ComDE from Streptococcus pneumoniae, introduced into B. subtilis, can sense the QS peptide CSP and activate the corresponding promoters P_comC and P_comAB.

Adhesion to Streptococcus pneumoniae

Three peptides were shown to bind to S. pneumoniae when fused to a maltose binding protein. Anchors to the B. subtilis cell wall are still in work.

Adhesion: Binding of the peptides C4P, CSP and A5P to S. pneumoniae cells was evaluated with the results strongly indicating the adhesion. Our BioBricks [http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1351001 BBa_K1351001], [http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1351002 BBa_K1351002] and [http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1351003 BBa_K1351003] thus can serve as a helpful tool for biomedical applications targeting ‘’S. pneumoniae’’.

Subtilin has inhibitory impact on S. pneumoniae

Spot-on-lawn assays proved the inhibitory effect of the antimicrobial agent on S. pneumoniae.

Subtilin immunity BioBrick

Suicide Switch

A delayed expression can be achieved by wiring the ecf σ factor σ_ecf41 and its target promoter P_ydfG between the input promoter and the output. Furthermore, the resistance factor SdpI leads to higher resistance against the antimicrobial peptide SdpC, enabling it to survive until the suicide switch kicks in.

BioBrickBox

Modeling

Application:

We developed a nasal spray for the application of BaKillus against sinusitis.

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.

Team:LMU-Munich/Results