Team:University College London/Module 2

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Module 2: Aggregation

Description | Design | Construction | Characterisation | Shear Device | Modelling | Results | Conclusions

Description

The Aggregation Module is a means of conferring onto our bacteria the ability to construct islands from smaller plastic fragments. To do so we have decided to transform our bacterium with a circuit to produce an adhesive protein called Curli. As Curlis are non-specific in the surfaces they bind, we also have a module (Module 1) for limiting their production unless they are in the presence of plastic.

Production of Curli is dependent on activation of the Sal Operon promoter of Module 1. In our system Curlis will encourage adhesion of bacteria to the plastic fragment, and assist the formation of biofilms. Adhesion between biofilm-covered plastic fragments will allow smaller plastic fragments to aggregate into larger plastic formations.