Revision as of 13:57, 13 July 2011

Dual function E. coli: anti-freeze & ice-nucleation

Our team will engineer a bacterium that can perform 2 different functions; depending on the stimulus used, it will either induce ice crystallization or inhibit ice formation. To stimulate ice formation, we will let our bacterium produce Ice Nucleating Proteins (INP), which stimulate the formation of ice crystals. These bacteria could be used in lakes to make the ice stronger, so maybe in future, we can once again have a “11-stedentocht” in the Netherlands. You could use this property as well for the creation of fluorescent ice on ski-slopes or for trendy cocktails with glowing ice cubes in it. Also, it would decrease ice-melting of glaciers, thereby effectively slow down global warming. The second function of E.D. Frosti is the anti-freeze function by the production of Anti Freeze Proteins (AFP). These bacteria could then be used as anti-freeze biofilms on roads, which would help the roads become ice and snow free in winters. Also other applications which require ice melting could benefit from our bacterium.

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 <h1>Dual function E. coli: anti-freeze & ice-nucleation</h1>
-Our team will make a bacteria that can perform 2 useful functions in winter using two different stimuli:
+Our team will engineer a bacterium that can perform 2 different functions; depending on the stimulus used, it will either induce ice crystallization or inhibit ice formation.
-The first function is the ice-formation function using Ice Nucleating Proteins (INP), our purpose is to use bacteria in lakes to make the ice stronger. Maybe in future, we can have again a “11-stedentocht” in the Netherlands. You could use this property as well for fluorescent ice on ski-slopes or for trendy cocktails with glowing ice cubes in it. Also, it would decrease ice-melting of glaciers, thereby effectively slow down global warming.  The signal is red color induced by lycopene pigment if the plasmid is compatible with inner genetic networks and functions well.
-The second function of ''E.D. Frosti'' is the anti-freeze function using Anti Freeze Proteins (AFP), then you can use the bacteria as anti-freeze biofilms on roads, which would help the roads become ice and snow free in winters. The signal is black color induced by melanin pigment if the plasmid is compatible with inner genetic networks and works well.
+To stimulate ice formation, we will let our bacterium produce Ice Nucleating Proteins (INP), which stimulate the formation of ice crystals. These bacteria could be used in lakes to make the ice stronger, so maybe in future, we can once again have a “11-stedentocht” in the Netherlands. You could use this property as well for the creation of fluorescent ice on ski-slopes or for trendy cocktails with glowing ice cubes in it. Also, it would decrease ice-melting of glaciers, thereby effectively slow down global warming.
+The second function of E.D. Frosti is the anti-freeze function by the production of Anti Freeze Proteins (AFP). These bacteria could then be used as anti-freeze biofilms on roads, which would help the roads become ice and snow free in winters. Also other applications which require ice melting could benefit from our bacterium.
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Team:KULeuven

From 2011.igem.org

Revision as of 13:57, 13 July 2011

Dual function E. coli: anti-freeze & ice-nucleation