Applications

Combining all sensors: the Logbook

The iGEM part registry contains many sensors and every year a lot of newly developed sensors are added. These sensors are very much needed in today’s world where many new threats and problems arise as unexpected dangers.

Unfortunately all sensors differ on a fundamental level. They either come from different species or microorganisms and all have a different output. All of these factors create a divergence in the means of sensing and registering. Our Cellular Logbook aims to create a single microorganism with the ability to sense a wide range of different signals en register them efficiently.

Our system can be linked to any sensory system that is in or can be introduced into a microorganism. If multiple sensors are present or can be introduced, all can be linked to the system creating a multiple-sensor-microorganism. Since the registration of a signal occurs via site-directed methylation a specific signal can be stored effectively for either a short or a longer period of time. To eventually be read-out in an easy digestion providing a simple yes or no.

Debugger

The scientific world relies on experiments. Besides simply measuring or tracking a substance or concentration any researcher in the biological world can encounter unexplainable or vague findings. Especially when experimenting with modified or synthetically engineered proteins or genetics. Many general questions rise: Is the pathway I’m working with still active? Does my introduced or suspected protein actually activate my promoter?

The system of our cellular logbook can help answer these questions. Our methylation based system only requires a methyltransferase(Mtase) and our specialized memory plasmid. Any promoter can be set before our Mtase and can thus be effectively tested. And since the memory plasmid is so expandable not just one but multiple promoters can be tested in the same experiment. Allowing any scientist to simultaneously test all parts of a pathway or multiple pathways at the same time, creating a fuller understanding of any complex mechanism.

Time and concentration indicator

Threats and dangers are thing are a master of evasion because they need to be. In many occasions any danger can be missed on the moment of measurement. This chance for this problem can be lowered by performing multiple measurements but still does not solve the problem. For any reliable measurement a sensor must be present the entire time.

Our modified bacteria is a natural occurring bacteria that has no pathogenic capability. Therefore it can be released into any environment without a problem and stay there for as long as needed. When considering a population of bacteria there is bound to be only a portion that is activated. Knowing this and the fact that for this application our tweaked system does not pass on the registration to its progeny we can use the growth rate and the proportional activation to determine an exact moment in time where our system is activated.

Bonus perk: Easy to use

A perk and very welcomed bonus of our system is that it is easy. It is easy in use, easy to read and straight forward to understand. For any circumstance specialized systems can be made which can be used in any condition for fast insight. The most stripped down version, that could only sense a few signals of our system, could even be used on site. All you need is: our specialized bacteria, a centrifuge, a mini-prep kit, restriction enzymes, a gel and a UV tray. Bring a PCR machine and even the fully customized bacteria can be used!