Initial brainstorming meetings (February-June)

• Our initial project ideas:
  
  1. Bacterial drones
     Engineering bacteria to carry particular substances to specific locations via manipulation of chemotaxis
  2. Defrosting streets in winter
     To engineer bacteria expressing anti-freeze proteins from an arctic fish in order to provide an alternative for using salt in winter to defrost streets
  3. Light sensor
     Engineering bacteria that would sense the intensity of light in our surrounding and respond when it falls below a certain threshold by producing light (e.g. to keep optimal light levels when reading). Geobacter could be used since it can transmit an electric current
  4. Tetrodotoxin detector
     Designing a biosensor which would be able to detect lethal concentrations of tetrodotoxin in prepared Fugu fish, allowing a decision whether it is safe to consume
  5. Recycling nappies
     A bacterium which would be able to degrade a filling used in baby nappies
  6. Polyester degradation
     Engineering bacteria to degrade polyester and hence enable recycling of polyester based thrash, e.g. margarine packages and yoga mats
  7. Biological night light
     Engineering plants to express luminescent luciferase in order to create a touch-activated night light for children which wouldn't require electricity
  8. Bacterial pen
     Filling a pen with bacteria manipulated to synthesize dye. Such a pen would never run out of ink as long as we would feed it with nitrogen and sugar. A water-soluble and insoluble dyes could be synthesized.
  9. Supplementation of Vitamin C
     Engineering probiotic bacteria to synthesize vitamin C in order to produce Vit. C fortified food products
  10. Biofilm degradation
      The idea is to engineer bacteria to synthesize an enzyme capable of degrading extracellular polymeric substances which create biofilms. This would ideally reduce biofilm-associated infections by disrupting quorum sensing, decreasing antibiotic resistance in bacteria and increasing their sensitivity to cleaning agents. Engineered bacteria could be incorporated into a toothpaste.
  11. Water contamination detectors
      Engineered bacteria would sense a presence of one of the following in water and respond via a colour change upon detection.
      1. Vibrio cholerae
      2. arsenic
      3. aluminium
      4. fluoride
      5. asbestos
  12. Bacterial drones
      Engineering bacteria to carry particular substances to specific locations via manipulation of chemotaxis
  13. Bacterial drones
      Engineering bacteria to carry particular substances to specific locations via manipulation of chemotaxis
  14. Bacterial drones
      Engineering bacteria to carry particular substances to specific locations via manipulation of chemotaxis
  15. Bacterial drones
      Engineering bacteria to carry particular substances to specific locations via manipulation of chemotaxis
  16. Bacterial drones
      Engineering bacteria to carry particular substances to specific locations via manipulation of chemotaxis
  17. Bacterial drones
      Engineering bacteria to carry particular substances to specific locations via manipulation of chemotaxis
  18. Bacterial drones
      Engineering bacteria to carry particular substances to specific locations via manipulation of chemotaxis
  19. Bacterial drones
      Engineering bacteria to carry particular substances to specific locations via manipulation of chemotaxis

We have worked all summer towards what we hope would turn out to be some peace of mind for a lot of people. The goal is to develop a novel method for diagnosing Trypanosomiasis. A simpler, cheaper alternative to current methods that would be more versatile in developing countries and their remote regions. We wish to create a test that would be portable, endure harsh environmental conditions and most importantly be sensitive to the early stages of the disease.

This would give a lot of unsuspecting sufferers the chance to get diagnosed early. This way they can get cured quickly, before the disease reaches its later stages, when it is virtually incurable.