Team:Paris Bettencourt

From 2011.igem.org

(Difference between revisions)
Line 57: Line 57:
-
<li>Used <em>rational design</em> in combination with <em>modeling</em> to create <b>6</b> new couple of emitter and receiver constructs <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Designs">(1)</a> that could help characterize nanotubes' properties, using <b>synthetic biology</b> approach.</li>
+
<li>Used <em>rational design</em> in combination with <em>modeling</em> to create <b>6</b> new couples of emitter/receiver constructs <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Designs">(1)</a> that could help characterize nanotubes' properties, using <b>synthetic biology</b> approach.</li>
<li>Proofs of principle of <b>5</b> working <em>emitter</em> and <em>receiver</em> devices.<a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiments/T7_diffusion">(2)</a> <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiments/tRNA_diffusion">(3)</a> <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiments/YFP_TetR_diffusion">(4)</a></li>
<li>Proofs of principle of <b>5</b> working <em>emitter</em> and <em>receiver</em> devices.<a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiments/T7_diffusion">(2)</a> <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiments/tRNA_diffusion">(3)</a> <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiments/YFP_TetR_diffusion">(4)</a></li>
-
<li>Sucessfully reproduced the <em>GFP experiment</em> of the Ben-Yehuda's team paper <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/GFP_diff">(5)</a>, indirectly proving <em>the existence of the nanotubes</em> under our microscopes.</li>
+
<li>Successfully reproduced the <em>GFP experiment</em> of the founding paper <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/GFP_diff">(5)</a>, indirectly proving <em>the existence of the nanotubes</em> under our microscopes.</li>
-
<li>Developped <b>two</b> original <em>models</em> <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Modeling/Diffusion">(6)</a> <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Modeling/Assisted_diffusion">(7)</a> that could explain the observed transport parameters through the nanotubes.</li>
+
<li>Developed <b>two</b> original <em>models</em> <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Modeling/Diffusion">(6)</a> <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Modeling/Assisted_diffusion">(7)</a> that could explain the observed transport parameters through the nanotubes.</li>
-
<li>Builded a new original <em>microfluidic chemostat chip</em>, to monitor single bacterial layers under controled conditions.<a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiments/Methodologies/Microchemostat_HastyJ">(8)</a></li>
+
<li>Built a <em>microfluidic chemostat chip</em>, to monitor single bacterial layers under controlled conditions.<a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiments/Methodologies/Microchemostat_HastyJ">(8)</a></li>
-
<li>Reproduced the original <em>antibiotic experiment</em> <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Atb_exp">(9)</a>, design completary controls and proposed alternative explanations for the results observed.</li>
+
<li>Reproduced the original <em>antibiotic experiment</em> <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Atb_exp">(9)</a>, design complementary controls and proposed alternative explanations for the results observed.</li>
-
<li>Created new original 38 parts <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Parts">(10)</a> and devices for B. <i>subtilis</i>, and send them to the registry.</li>
+
<li>Created 38 new biobricks, based on new charachterized parts, all are now at the registry <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Parts">(10)</a> and devices for B. <i>subtilis</i>.</li>
-
<li>Created and characterized an <em>efficient amplifier</em> with positive feedback loop of T7 RNA polymerase on T7 promoter.<a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiments/T7_diffusion">(11)</a></li>
+
<li>Specifically, created and characterized an <em>efficient amplifier</em> with positive feedback loop of T7 RNA polymerase on T7 promoter.<a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiments/T7_diffusion">(11)</a></li>
<li>Created devices aiming at hijacking <b>two</b> endogenic <em>bistable switches</em> in B. <i>subtilis.</i> <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Designs">(12)</a></li>
<li>Created devices aiming at hijacking <b>two</b> endogenic <em>bistable switches</em> in B. <i>subtilis.</i> <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Designs">(12)</a></li>
-
<li>Characterized a fully functionning fluorescent concentrator device.<a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiments/YFP_TetR_diffusion">(13)</a></li>
+
<li>Characterized a fully functioning fluorescent concentrator device.<a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiments/YFP_TetR_diffusion">(13)</a></li>
-
<li><em>Collaborated</em> with a nice iGEM team for the <em>human practice</em><a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/HumanPractice">(14)</a>, building a <b>scientific and citizen proposal on synthetic biology</b>.</li>
+
<li><em>Collaborated</em> with the Grenoble iGEM team for the <em>human practice</em><a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/HumanPractice">(14)</a>, building a <b>scientific and citizen proposal on synthetic biology</b>.</li>
-
<li>Most importantly, we have learned a lot during this <em>iGEM</em> competition.</li>
+
<li>Most importantly, we have learned a lot during this <em>iGEM</em> phase of the competition. Looking forward to learn more!</li>
</ul>
</ul>

Revision as of 01:57, 22 September 2011

Team IGEM Paris 2011

Using synthetic biology to investigate newly discovered biological phenomena

iGEM Logo

The interest: A recent ground-breaking paper [1] described a new cell-to-cell bacterial communication system: nanotubes. Through excellent electronic microscopy images, antibiotic resistance transfer and faint fluorescence transfer , and cross-antibiotic resistance, previously unknown exchange channels were revealed between B.subtilis cells and even between completely different species. Results suggest that protein and/or RNA can travel through these tubes. This discovery may lead to a redefinition of individuality in bacteria. Given the many applications of known communication systems (e.g., quorum sensing, conjugation) in synthetic biology, harnessing the capacity of the nanotubes will open endless possibilities for new applications as amorph computing....


The challenge: Using synthetic biology to characterize the nanotubes, the structure, composition and control of which are still unknown. We decided to work on this challenging problem by providing other proofs to support this discovery.



See our work!


our logo

The project: We bet-hedged our chances using different reporter systems by creating several devices relying on protein or RNA diffusion. Our devices rely on an emitter cell and a receiver cell that amplifies the signal. We chose to work with signaling molecules of different sizes and natures to test thoroughly the diffusion possibilities. Experiments were coupled with a thorough modeling approach tackling both the detection devices as well as diffusion, assisted transfer within the tubes and the membrane fusion within.


our logo
The Team:

We are fifteen students from parisian universities coming from many different disciplines who came together to participate in the iGEM competition. Come and meet the Team.

our logo
The values:

Ethics and safety are two main concerns when building genetically engineered organisms.

You can visit our Human practice work and our safety page.


Achievements

We have:

  • Used rational design in combination with modeling to create 6 new couples of emitter/receiver constructs (1) that could help characterize nanotubes' properties, using synthetic biology approach.
  • Proofs of principle of 5 working emitter and receiver devices.(2) (3) (4)
  • Successfully reproduced the GFP experiment of the founding paper (5), indirectly proving the existence of the nanotubes under our microscopes.
  • Developed two original models (6) (7) that could explain the observed transport parameters through the nanotubes.
  • Built a microfluidic chemostat chip, to monitor single bacterial layers under controlled conditions.(8)
  • Reproduced the original antibiotic experiment (9), design complementary controls and proposed alternative explanations for the results observed.
  • Created 38 new biobricks, based on new charachterized parts, all are now at the registry (10) and devices for B. subtilis.
  • Specifically, created and characterized an efficient amplifier with positive feedback loop of T7 RNA polymerase on T7 promoter.(11)
  • Created devices aiming at hijacking two endogenic bistable switches in B. subtilis. (12)
  • Characterized a fully functioning fluorescent concentrator device.(13)
  • Collaborated with the Grenoble iGEM team for the human practice(14), building a scientific and citizen proposal on synthetic biology.
  • Most importantly, we have learned a lot during this iGEM phase of the competition. Looking forward to learn more!

References

  1. Intercellular Nanotubes Mediate Bacterial Communication, Dubey and Ben-Yehuda, Cell, available here