Team:CIDEB-UANL Mexico/project abstract

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   <p align="justify">iGEM CIDEB 2014 team&rsquo;s project consists on a bacterial bio-filter, in which sodium ions are filtered out of salty  water. In order to achieve this objective, the project was divided into 4 modules; each one consisting on a separate construction in order to separately  test the effectiveness of the genes used. These modules are named after their function, and the name of the project &ldquo;E.CARU&rdquo; was based in them. The Capture module uses a new gen &ldquo;NhaS&rdquo; registered by the team, to remove sodium ions form  water. The Aroma module is in charge of producing a &ldquo;Winter green&rdquo; odor to report if the filter is working. The resistance module allows <em>E. coli</em> to withstand the salinity of the environment in which it is required to work, and finally, the Union module causes the bacteria to join to silica pearls, facilitating their removal form the filter. The  project&rsquo;s modularity was used for testing the genes; in further development, the  pieces are planned to be joined in a smaller, possibly single construction.</p>
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   <p align="justify"><p>iGEM CIDEB 2014’s project consists on a biological filter in which sodium ions are taken out of saltwater. To achieve this objective, the project reunited 4 different genes, each one giving <i>E. coli</i> a certain ability to perform a specific task.</p>
 +
<p>This year’s project consists of two devices: the first and main one is in charge of the removal of sodium ions. This device uses an aroma to report its effectivity. The second one is responsible of giving resistance to the bacteria to outstand conditions that would normally kill it, and also giving <i>E.coli</i> the ability to bind to silica or glass surfaces.</p>
 +
<p>Even though the project was originally composed by this two devices, for experimental purposes it was divided into four different modules. These modules are named after their function, and the name of the project “E.CARU” is an acronym of each one of them.</p>
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<p>The <a href="https://2014hs.igem.org/Team:CIDEB-UANL_Mexico/project_capture" target="_blank">Capture</a> module uses a completely new gene in iGEM that encodes for a protein that introduces sodium ions into the bacteria. The <a href="https://2014hs.igem.org/Team:CIDEB-UANL_Mexico/project_aroma" target="_blank">Aroma</a> module is in charge of producing a mint-like odor in order to report the functionality of the Capture module. The <a href="https://2014hs.igem.org/Team:CIDEB-UANL_Mexico/project_resistance" target="_blank">Resistance </a> module allows <i>E. coli</i> to withstand the salinity of the environment in which it is required to work, and finally, the <a href="https://2014hs.igem.org/Team:CIDEB-UANL_Mexico/project_union" target="_blank"> Union</a> module causes the bacteria to join to silica or glass surfaces, giving it the ability to act as a biofilter.
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             <p>Water always has been known as a source of life, but nowadays there is not enough fresh water in the world. The global lack of fresh water is an issue that presents a dangerous problem to our future. Ironically, only a small portion of our planet's water is actually usable. Ninety-seven percent of the world's water is too salty for consumption or agricultural use. Furthermore, much of the rest is held in ice caps or other unattainable sources. This leaves approximately one percent of the global water as liquid and fresh; ninety-eight percent of which is groundwater (Bouwer, 2002).</p>
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             <p>Water has been always known as a source of life, but nowadays there is not enough usable fresh water available in the world. The lack of fresh water around the world is an issue that presents a dangerous problem to our future. Only a small portion of Earth’s water is actually usable. Ninety-seven percent of the world's water is too salty for consumption or agricultural use. Furthermore, much of the fresh water is held in ice caps or other unattainable sources. This leaves approximately one percent of the global water as liquid and fresh; ninety-eight percent of which is groundwater (Bouwer, 2002).</p>
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<p>Different methods have been developed to solve these problems. One of them is desalination; converting sea water (rich in salts) into usable water, but this method is very expensive due to the great use of electrical energy, and the extraction process produces dangerous wastes to the environment (Cotruvo, 2010).</p>
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   <p>For solving this problem different methods have been developed. One of them is desalination, converting sea water (rich in salts) into usable water, but this method is very expensive by the great use of electrical energy and the extraction process produces dangerous wastes to the environment (Cotruvo, 2010).</p>
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   <p>For this reason, the project is focused on developing a biological machine capable of performing desalination, reducing costs and avoiding dangerous wastes during the process. For making this possible, <i>E. coli</i> needed to capture Na<SUP>+</SUP> ions in saline environments and to be removed from the water after performing its task.</p>
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  <p>For that reason our project is focused on developing a biological machine capable of performing desalination, reducing costs and avoiding dangerous wastes during the process. For making this possible, E. coli needed to capture Na+ ions in saline environments to be removed from water after performing its task.</p>
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   <p>Before <i>E. coli</i> could be able to remove Na+ ions form water, it was needed to give it resistance to adverse conditions. This could be possible through a protein called IrrE which make <i>E. coli</i> resistant to saline environments as well as UV rays and temperature.</p>
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   <p>Before&nbsp;<em>E. coli</em>&nbsp;could be able to remove Na<sup>+</sup> ions from  water, it needed to aquire a resistance to adverse conditions, in particular  excess salt. This could be possible through a protein called &ldquo;IrrE&rdquo;, which makes&nbsp;<em>E. coli</em>&nbsp;resistant to saline environments as well as UV rays and temperature changes.<br />
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  <p>The protein NhaS (a new part), was used to give the ability to capture Na+ ions (bind and sequestering sodium ions). Also, the reporter BSMT1 opt (optimized), a protein able to react with salicylic acid and release a Wintergreen odor, was used to know if NhaS was expressed. </p>
+
  The protein NhaS (a new part), was used to give <em>E. coli</em> the ability to bind  and capture Na<SUP>+</SUP> ions. Also, the optimized version of the reporter &ldquo;BSMT1&rdquo;, a protein able to react with salicylic acid and release a Wintergreen odor, was used to know if nhaS was expressed.<br />
-
  <p>The final task <i>E. coli</i> should perform is to bind silica pearls to be able to be removed from the water after sequestering Na+ ions. In order to perform this, a fusion protein named L2+AIDA was used. L2 gives <i>E. coli</i> the ability to bind silica and AIDA acts as a tag for making L2 a membrane protein. With this ability <i>E. coli</i> could be removed from water through a biofilter made up of silica.</p>
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  The final task that&nbsp;<em>E. coli</em>&nbsp;should perform was to bind its  membrane to silica pearls, in order to be able to be removed from the water after taking out Na<sup>+</sup> ions. In order to do this, a fusion protein named L2+AIDA was used. L2 gives&nbsp;<em>E. coli</em>&nbsp;the ability to bind silicaand AIDA acts as a tag for making L2 a membrane protein. With this ability&nbsp;<em>E. coli</em>&nbsp;could be removed from water through a bio-filter, made up of silica.<br />
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  <p>The complete circuit is shown in <b>figure 1</b>. BSMT1 opt acts as a reporter for NhaS which is regulated by UV (to have a control over the NhaS expression), and IrrE with L2+AIDA are continuously produced.</p>
+
  The complete circuit is shown in&nbsp;<strong>figure 1</strong>. BSMT1 opt acts as a reporter for nhaS which is regulated by UV (to have a control over the NhaS expression), and IrrE with L2+AIDA are continuously produced.</p>
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<p><b><h2>Project Zoom In</h2></b></p>
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<center><iframe width="854" height="510" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dflyBM3WNxE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center> 
   <p><b><h2>Bibliography/References</h2></b></p>
   <p><b><h2>Bibliography/References</h2></b></p>
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Latest revision as of 03:36, 21 June 2014

iGEM CIDEB 2014 - Project

Abstract

iGEM CIDEB 2014’s project consists on a biological filter in which sodium ions are taken out of saltwater. To achieve this objective, the project reunited 4 different genes, each one giving E. coli a certain ability to perform a specific task.

This year’s project consists of two devices: the first and main one is in charge of the removal of sodium ions. This device uses an aroma to report its effectivity. The second one is responsible of giving resistance to the bacteria to outstand conditions that would normally kill it, and also giving E.coli the ability to bind to silica or glass surfaces.

Even though the project was originally composed by this two devices, for experimental purposes it was divided into four different modules. These modules are named after their function, and the name of the project “E.CARU” is an acronym of each one of them.

The Capture module uses a completely new gene in iGEM that encodes for a protein that introduces sodium ions into the bacteria. The Aroma module is in charge of producing a mint-like odor in order to report the functionality of the Capture module. The Resistance module allows E. coli to withstand the salinity of the environment in which it is required to work, and finally, the Union module causes the bacteria to join to silica or glass surfaces, giving it the ability to act as a biofilter.

Problem

Water has been always known as a source of life, but nowadays there is not enough usable fresh water available in the world. The lack of fresh water around the world is an issue that presents a dangerous problem to our future. Only a small portion of Earth’s water is actually usable. Ninety-seven percent of the world's water is too salty for consumption or agricultural use. Furthermore, much of the fresh water is held in ice caps or other unattainable sources. This leaves approximately one percent of the global water as liquid and fresh; ninety-eight percent of which is groundwater (Bouwer, 2002).

Different methods have been developed to solve these problems. One of them is desalination; converting sea water (rich in salts) into usable water, but this method is very expensive due to the great use of electrical energy, and the extraction process produces dangerous wastes to the environment (Cotruvo, 2010).

For this reason, the project is focused on developing a biological machine capable of performing desalination, reducing costs and avoiding dangerous wastes during the process. For making this possible, E. coli needed to capture Na+ ions in saline environments and to be removed from the water after performing its task.

Overview

Before E. coli could be able to remove Na+ ions from water, it needed to aquire a resistance to adverse conditions, in particular excess salt. This could be possible through a protein called “IrrE”, which makes E. coli resistant to saline environments as well as UV rays and temperature changes.
The protein NhaS (a new part), was used to give E. coli the ability to bind and capture Na+ ions. Also, the optimized version of the reporter “BSMT1”, a protein able to react with salicylic acid and release a Wintergreen odor, was used to know if nhaS was expressed.
The final task that E. coli should perform was to bind its membrane to silica pearls, in order to be able to be removed from the water after taking out Na+ ions. In order to do this, a fusion protein named L2+AIDA was used. L2 gives E. coli the ability to bind silica, and AIDA acts as a tag for making L2 a membrane protein. With this ability E. coli could be removed from water through a bio-filter, made up of silica.
The complete circuit is shown in figure 1. BSMT1 opt acts as a reporter for nhaS which is regulated by UV (to have a control over the NhaS expression), and IrrE with L2+AIDA are continuously produced.

 

IMG_0317

Figure 1. Diagram representing our proposed circuit

But we realized E. coli could have a genetic overload because the circuit was too big (approximately 5000 bp). Also the time we had to finish it was not enough, as well as most of the proteins we wanted to produce were putative or untested. So for a better understanding and for determine if each piece works we divided the project into four modules: capture, union, aroma and resistance, but the project is the result of their correlation. In fact our E. coli was named E. CARU (each letter by each module).

Escherichia coli

Capture

Aroma

Resistance

Union

Project Zoom In

Bibliography/References

● Bouwer, H. (2002). Integrated Water Management for the 21st Century: Problems and Solutions. Journal of irrigation and drainage engineering, 193-200.

● Joseph Cotruvo, N. V. (2010). Desalination Technology: Health and Environmental Impacts. U.S: Taylor and Francis Group.


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