Team:Goettingen/Human Practice/Public and Media

Improved flagella shall boost bacteria
05102012 6:03 pm

Twelve students of the Master´s program “Biochemistry and Microbiology” of the University Göttingen took on a big task. This autumn, they plan to assert themselves with the results of their own research project at the European „international Genetically Engineered Machine Competition“ (iGEM) in Amsterdam.
Jan Erik Schliep, who became acquainted with iGEM already during his Bachelor studies at the Technical University Munich, quickly found allies amongst his fellow students when planning to participate in the competition. The competition, hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) since 2003, awards a prize to persuasive student research projects in the field of synthetic biology. "This involves the application of biological knowledge strongly inspired by engineering", declares Schliep. Standardized biological components, partially modularly assembled, are specifically used in an entirely new context. Before the experimental work could start the usual steps, that are performed if a scientific project is set up, had to be run through. In the professors Heinz Neumann and Jörg Stülke proponents from the scientific field were found easily. The university supports the first iGEM Team of Göttingen with equipment laboratory workspaces. For the financing of consumables sponsors could be gained.

Flagella enable “Swimming”
Once all structures were established, six further students joined the team so that three subprojects could be processed. On the one hand the isolation of strains of the intestinal bacterium E. coli that can move preferably fast is intended. The already mentioned “Swimming” is enabled by the so-called flagella. At laboratory strains the flagella are often degenerated due to the profuse food availability of the nutrient media. “One of our groups develops a selection system for the fast strains”, explains team member Jan Kampf. A second group is supposed to modify one of the so-called chemoreceptors. With these plainest sensory organs E. coli can detect particular nutritive substances such as dextrose and single protein building blocks to move subsequently towards the location of higher substance concentration. These receptors are aimed to be altered in a way that they can specifically perceive other substances. In this project they are supposed to “learn” to trace substances that are released in the human body during inflammations. “If we succeed, these strains could be further advanced so that they accumulate for instance during chronic intestinal inflammations”, states Schliep. Thus, inflammations of the intestine could be displayed without eteroscopy. The third group develops das selections system for E. coli strains with altered chemoreceptors. Ideally we receive bacteria in the end that can, due to their improved flagella, move very fast towards the substance of desire.

Twelve team members
Since March the twelve team mebers work in the laboratory, each about one or two days per week. Once a week the results are discussed and the tasks for the following week defined, suppoted by Professor Neumann. “During summer holidays the amount of work will arise considerably”, comments Schliep. Besides the three subproject teams there are also people in authority for certain overlapping duties. These include purchasing as well as the documentation and putting online of the results on the iGEM website. The website can be edited till the end of September, then the jury commence operations. “Of those who may present their projects at the European Jamboree on 2^nd October in Amsterdam, about 30 to 40 percent will go to the international finals in Boston a month later”, declares Kampf. The iGEM team of Göttingen has then left five months in the laboratory.

By Heike Jordan