Team:UI-Indonesia/Project/Approach and Overview

Overview

Our team genetically enginereed E.coli, an indigenous gut flora, to specifically detect quorum sensing (QS) molecule from V. cholerae. The mutagenic E.coli is able to detect quorum sensing molecule by expressing CqsS histidine-kinases receptor which is naturally expressed in transmembrane domain of V. cholerae. This receptor will sense Cholerae Autoinducer-1 (CAI-1) which is secreted continously and used as a specific interspecies communication signal (Shao Yi, 2014). CAI-1 molecule act as “find me signal” for mutagenic E.coli when QS molecule binds CqsS receptor and activates motility gene, CheZ, which will enable the E.coli to migrate into the source of infection. It will also activate the killing gene which enables E.coli to produce biofilm enzyme degrading matrix such as: α-amylase, substilisin, and nuclease. After that, our E.coli will secrete peptide 1018, a novel antibiotic peptide indigenous to innate regulator immunity peptide from human cathelicidin, killing V. cholerae. By interconecting the principles of pathogen-directed motility with the dual system degrading and killing biofilm, we significantly develop a novel curative approach or even possibility of short term post-disaster vaccine, by connecting it with slow time based safety module.