Team:TU-Delft/Project

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Latest revision as of 10:10, 20 September 2011

StickE. Coli : Single Protein Attachment of Escherichia coli

Natural attachment of micro-organisms relies on a complex network of varying compounds known as biofilms. This complexity hinders an easy control and regulation of attachment and detachment. We will give Escherichia coli a simple, effective and controllable mechanism for biofilm formation, based on the strong glue from mussel feet. E. coli, expressing the strongest-binding mussel foot protein Mfp5 on the outer cell surface, can robustly attach to a wide variety of surfaces, including glass, plastic and itself.
Using highly sensitive TIRF microscopy and atomic force measurements we visualize and characterize the localization and attachment of cells. Combining these results with our mathematical models allows us to predict the attachment speed and stability as well as cell clustering and settling. The controllable, strong attachment opens up new possibilities for the use of bacterial machines in environmental applications, medicine and industry.

Workflow

Our workflow has been designed in such a way that each project is individual and independent. All the projects however can enhance each-other and contribute to one greater project.

In March we started by gathering project ideas with the team members, advisors, and supervisors. In April we did a lot of research on bio-adhesion and mussel foot proteins. In May we started with sponsoring and working on our wiki. In June we designed our first BioBrick. We did some modelling and worked on our lab plan. Also, we made a plan to make the Dutch society aware of synthetic biology. Now, in July, we continue with all the subprojects we started. By the end of September, we hope to have succeeded in all our separate projects and reached our goal on a scientific level. We hope to have a good modeling plan, well characterized Biobricks, a fruitful collaboration with other iGEM teams and the Rathenau Institute and a wonderful exposition in the Science Centre.

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-=='''Project Overview''' ==
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+=='''StickE. Coli : Single Protein Attachment of Escherichia coli''' ==
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-Our aim of competing in the 2011 iGEM competition is to engineer a bacterial strain to give it new properties in order to achieve controllable adhesion of microbial reactors. The main theme to achieve this aim is to control cell-cell attachment and cell-surface attachment in such a way that it is applicable for industry and fundamental research.
-In our project we strive for full control of the attachment and detachment of cells. In nature attachment consists of a complex network involving an extracellular matrix containing a wide variety of compounds. This complexity has hindered easy regulation. We will give ''Escherichia coli'' a much simpler but equally effective way of binding: mussel glue. Expressing the strongest protein responsible for the attachment of mussels to rocks, we can allow ''E. coli'' to strongly attach to even glass and plastic, whenever we want it, and subsequently releasing it again. This system should be viewed in the same category as “ the wheel”, by itself it is just a neat trick, but combination is key. Combining it for example with an ''E. coli'' capable biocatalytic conversion , one can create microbial production lines, use attachment for temporary rapid settling of biomass before product removal, or achieve fundamental premiers like bacterial cells forming a micro circle on command.
+<p>
+Natural attachment of micro-organisms relies on a complex network of varying compounds known as biofilms. This complexity hinders an easy control and regulation of attachment and detachment. We will give Escherichia coli a simple, effective and controllable mechanism for biofilm formation, based on the strong glue from mussel feet. E. coli, expressing the strongest-binding mussel foot protein Mfp5 on the outer cell surface, can robustly attach to a wide variety of surfaces, including glass, plastic and itself.<br/>
+Using highly sensitive TIRF  microscopy and atomic force measurements  we visualize and characterize the localization and attachment of cells. Combining these results with our mathematical models allows us to predict the attachment speed and stability as well as cell clustering and settling. The controllable, strong attachment opens up new possibilities for the use of bacterial machines in environmental applications, medicine and industry.
 ===Workflow===
-Our workflow has been designed in such a way that each project is individual and independent. All the projects however contribute to one greater project.
+Our workflow has been designed in such a way that each project is individual and independent. All the projects however can enhance each-other and contribute to one greater project.
 [[File:TUDelft-Horizontal_Workflow.jpg]]
-In March we started by gathering project ideas with the team members, advisors, and supervisors. In April we did a lot of research on bioadhesion and mussel foot proteins. In May we started with sponsoring and working on our wiki. In June we designed our first BioBrick. We did some modeling and worked out our lab plan. Also, we made a plan to make the Dutch society aware of synthetic biology. Now, in July, we go on with al the subprojects we started. By the end of September, we hope to have succeeded in all our separate projects and reached our goal on scientific level. We hope to have a good modeling plan, well characterized Biobricks, a fruitful collaboration with other iGEM teams and the Rathenau Institute and  wonderful exposition in the Science Centre.
+In March we started by gathering project ideas with the team members, advisors, and supervisors. In April we did a lot of research on bio-adhesion and mussel foot proteins. In May we started with sponsoring and working on our wiki. In June we designed our first BioBrick. We did some modelling and worked on our lab plan. Also, we made a plan to make the Dutch society aware of synthetic biology. Now, in July, we continue with all the subprojects we started. By the end of September, we hope to have succeeded in all our separate projects and reached our goal on a scientific level. We hope to have a good modeling plan, well characterized Biobricks, a fruitful collaboration with other iGEM teams and the Rathenau Institute and a wonderful exposition in the Science Centre.
-=='''Safety proposal''' ==
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