Team:Calgary/Project/Achievements
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- | <li>Thoroughly researched our <span class="Orange">target markets</span> and <span class="Orange">differing legislations</span> that could affect our system</li> | + | <li>Thoroughly researched our <span class="Orange"><b>target markets</b></span> and <span class="Orange">differing legislations</span> that could affect our system</li> |
- | <li>Connected with many different experts in the fields of infectious diseases, anti-malarial medications and public health to truly understand the needs and <span class="Orange">feasibility</span> of the project</li> | + | <li>Connected with many different experts in the fields of infectious diseases, anti-malarial medications and public health to truly understand the needs and <span class="Orange"><b>feasibility</b></span> of the project</li> |
<li>Connected with the foremost authority in low cost diagnostics, Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), to discuss the <span class="Orange">viability</span> of our design and concept</li> | <li>Connected with the foremost authority in low cost diagnostics, Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), to discuss the <span class="Orange">viability</span> of our design and concept</li> | ||
<li>Connected with a small village clinic in rural Uganda, which gave an opportunity to see the facility as well as discuss the topic with <span class="Orange">local physicians</span></li> | <li>Connected with a small village clinic in rural Uganda, which gave an opportunity to see the facility as well as discuss the topic with <span class="Orange">local physicians</span></li> |
Revision as of 02:09, 18 October 2014
Achievements
Policies and Practices:
- Thoroughly researched our target markets and differing legislations that could affect our system
- Connected with many different experts in the fields of infectious diseases, anti-malarial medications and public health to truly understand the needs and feasibility of the project
- Connected with the foremost authority in low cost diagnostics, Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), to discuss the viability of our design and concept
- Connected with a small village clinic in rural Uganda, which gave an opportunity to see the facility as well as discuss the topic with local physicians
- Featured iGEM and our project on a global stage at the United Nations, in Geneva, and created discussion regarding the advancement of synthetic biology
Modelling:
- Designed and manufactured a prototype of informed design based on our biological system
- Cost analysis of our prototype and system to ensure that this project is feasible in developing nations
- Quantified the visible threshold of detection for several reporters using time-lapsed cell count and absorbance readings, as well as a programmed colour sensor
- Programmed an Arduino UNO microcontroller, colour sensor, and LCD screen to detect colour change among detection chambers, allowing for quantification of the colour
- Applied circuitry of a heating pad/temperature considerations for ideal isothermal PCR conditions
- Used Autodesk Maya Software to visually model and represent our system
- Used Solid-works Software to model fluid flow analysis for different prototype designs
Transformation:
- Transformed B. subtilis with a primer product containing 125 bp of homologous sequence flanking our gene of interest
- Modified and optimized general transformation: characterized effect of changing xylose concentrations, temperature, and shaking
- Optimization of transformation in small, liquid volume
- Sporulated B. subtilis
- Activated B. subtilis spores back to vegetative state
- Isolated the master regular for competency, comK from the genome of B. subtilis using PCR and inserted it into a Biobrick vector for future application as an iGEM standard part.
Sample Preparation:
- Demonstrated efficacy of isothermal PCR to amplify DNA sequences without the need of a thermocycler, using freeze-dried components
- Demonstrated ability to amplify target DNA sequence from whole E. coli cells in a blood mixture
- Obtained specificity in target sequence primers - specific to numerous strains of N. meningititis but not other pathogens including a commensal strain of N. meningititis
Detection/Genetic circuit
- Designed composite regulatory promoter sequences - used to allow repression of a downstream reporter with a specific repressor. Includes 5 variants of repressible promoters in either single or triplicate repeats for variation in strength of repression
- Demonstrated interaction (i.e. repression) between the reporter gene and repressor gene in E. coli
- Demonstrated the efficacy of homologous recombination in B. subtilis and showed the minimum length of flanking sequences
- Biobricked and submitted the full-length lacZ gene, previously non-existent in the latest distribution plates
- Constructed a reporter operon consisting of a constitutive promoter (Pveg), ribosome binding site, operator (C1434) and reporter (LacZ/RFP).
- Constructed a complementary repressor operon consisting of a constitutive promoter (Pveg), ribosome binding site, and repressor pertaining to the operator. Repressor was also flanked with regions homologous to certain sequences within our pathogens of interest.