Team:UT-Dallas/Modeling

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MODELING




We utilized the CRISPR/Cas system with gRNA engineered to recognize genes from infectious bacteria using bacterial specific phages delivery system. Specifically, we target Cholera as a proof of principle. To target the Choleras genome, our team focus on (1) cutting efficiency of the gRNA-CRISPR/Cas9 system and (2) the delivering efficiency of the phage delivery system.

There are two important features we have to look at:

  • 1. On the Intracellular level, in a single Cholera cell, the CRISPR/Cas9-gRNA system is transcript and translated. The complex then cleaves the Cholera native genome, leading to cell death.
  • 2. On the population level, the phagemid deliver the CRISPR/Cas9-gRNA plasmid from the probiotics to
Our Mathematical Model and computer simulation provide a great way to describe the functioning and operation of our system. Enjoy!



Figure 1. Intracellular Model with large amount of Dox and active CRISPR system from minute zero-th to 1400th
(a) Cas9 is continuously being transcript, thus a logarithmic growth of mRNA molecules of Cas9 (blue line, mRNA-Cas9) is observed. Counterbalanced by natural degradation rate, the total count of mRNA-Cas9 reaches a stable population and switches to a plateau.
Cas9 Protein (green line, pro-cas9) total count is keep at zero, due to immediate conversion into CRISPR complex.
(b) gRNA (blue line) total count grows logarithmically and reaches a plateau due to natural degradation. The size of gRNA is 7 times smaller than Cas9, thus it is transcript much faster than Cas9. Thus the CRISPR complex (green line, Cas9-gRNA) is much lower in comparison with the blue line.
(c) This figure shows the huge starting amount of Dox (red line, Dox) for this simulation 10e11. Dox is not regenerated and only goes down due to natural degradation and binding with TetR protein (green line, pr-tetR) to form Dox-TetR Complex (cyan line, Dox-tetR). All the other amount are too low in relation to Dox, thus harder to observe in the figure. (Go here for a better look at mRNA of TetR, TetR protein, and Dox-TetR Complex: https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2014/0/03/UTDallas_Figure1SCALE_DOWN.jpg)
(d) Yellow Fluorescence Protein (green line, pr-YFP) go through a logarithmic growth, reaching a peak, and then degrades. Total count molecules mRNA of Yellow Fluorescence Protein (blue line, mRNA-YFP) observes a much higher logarithmic growth and then degrades really fast as the transcription is stopped by the YFP-DNA cleaving of CRISPR Complex.




CAS9 INACTIVE






Figure 2. Intracellular Model without Dox and Inactive CRISPR system from minute zero-th to 1400th
(a) Cas9 is transcript with a rapid logarithmic growth of total free mRNA molecules of Cas9 (blue line, mRNA-Cas9) then quickly declines into logarithmic death phase. Cas9 Protein (green line, pro-cas9) total count is keep at zero as no mRNA is available for translation.
(b) gRNA (blue line) total count grows logarithmically and reaches a plateau due to natural degradation. The size of gRNA is 7 times smaller than Cas9, thus it is transcript much faster than Cas9. Thus the CRISPR complex (green line, Cas9-gRNA) is much lower in comparison with the blue line. No formation of Cas9 Protein implies no binding of Cas9 and gRNA, implies no formation of CRISPR complex.
(c) No Dox (red line, Dox) is added in this simulation. Thus TetR protein (green line, pr-tetR) is not binded with dox to form Dox-TetR Complex (cyan line, Dox-tetR), therefore Dox-TetR Complex is always zero. TetR protein and mRNA of TetR total count grow logarithmically and reach the plateau phase due to natural degradation.
(d) Without the effect of CRISPR Complex, Yellow Fluorescence Protein (green line, pr-YFP) and molecules mRNA of Yellow Fluorescence Protein (blue line, mRNA-YFP) grow logarithmically and reach the plateau phase due to natural degradation.




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