Difference between revisions of "Team:Glasgow"

 
(11 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
{{Glasgow}}
+
{{GlasgowHeader}}<html>
−
<html>
+
<div class="photo-block" id="headline">
−
 
+
<div class="text left">
−
<div class="column full_size" >
+
<div class="title">
−
<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/0/02/Glasgow_Logo.png">
+
Enriching yoghurt with beta-carotene
 +
</div>
 +
<div class="sub">
 +
Using synthetic biology to tackle vitamin A deficiency
 +
</div>
 +
</div>
 
</div>
 
</div>
−
 
+
<div class="text-block" id="project-desc">
−
<div class="column full_size" >
+
<div class="title">
−
<h2> Glasyo Project Description</h2>
+
Project Description
−
<p>Vitamin deficiencies are a major problem across the globe, especially in developing countries. Hypovitaminosis A (deficiency in Vitamin A) is the primary cause of preventable blindness in children, whereas folate deficiency is linked to an increased rate of spina bifida.  
+
</div>
−
We hope to target these ailments by manipulating yogurt bacteria to produce beta-carotene and produce more folate. Our final goal is to introduce three genes in the beta-carotene synthesis pathway and upregulate the production of folate in a strain of lactic acid bacteria e.g. Streptococcus thermophilus. The yogurt produced from the bacteria would be rich in both beta-carotene (which is converted by the body into Vitamin A) and folate.
+
<div class="copy_container row">
−
Alongside this, we also aim to characterise lactic acid bacteria in various ways in order to increase understanding and ability to work with these potentially useful organisms.
+
<div class="large-6 columns">
−
Additionally, we aim to make an accessible solar water bath incubator that could be used in developing countries to pasteurise milk and make yogurt. </p>
+
<p class="copy">Vitamin deficiencies are a major problem across the globe, especially in low-resource settings. Vitamin A deficiency (hypovitaminosis A) is the primary cause of preventable blindness in children. We hoped to target this ailment by manipulating yogurt bacteria to produce beta-carotene - a precursor that can be converted into vitamin A by the body.
−
 
+
                Production of beta-carotene coinciding with the conversion of milk to yogurt would result in an enriched dairy product. Considering dried bacteria can be easily packaged and distributed and milk is readily available in many of the areas that have high incidence of hypovitaminosis A, we think this could be an ideal solution.</p>
−
</div>  
+
</div>
−
 
+
<div class="large-6 columns">
−
<div class="column half_size" >
+
<p class="copy">We successfully introduced four genes in the beta-carotene synthesis pathway into E. coli and designed a shuttle vector for these genes to be transferred into the yogurt bacteria S. thermophilus. In order to improve understanding of this bacteria, we developed S. thermophilus as a chassis and explored its behaviour using transcriptomics. We hope this will encourage people to consider using S. thermophilus and yogurt as a vector for nutrition in the future.</p>
−
<h5>Before you start: </h5>
+
<p class="copy">Considering the popularity of yogurt in many low-resource settings, we aimed to enhance manufacturing ability. To this end, we also designed an accessible solar concentrator to assist with pasteurization of milk and highly efficient production of yogurt.</p>
−
<p> Please read the following pages:</p>
+
</div>
−
<ul>
+
</div>
−
<li>  <a href="https://2016.igem.org/Requirements">Requirements page </a> </li>
+
−
<li> <a href="https://2016.igem.org/Wiki_How-To">Wiki Requirements page</a></li>
+
−
<li> <a href="https://2016.igem.org/Resources/Template_Documentation"> Template Documentation </a></li>
+
−
</ul>
+
 
</div>
 
</div>
−
 
+
<div class="photo-block" id="eppendorf">
−
<div class="column half_size" >
+
<div class="text right">
−
<div class="highlight">
+
<div class="title">
−
<h5> Styling your wiki </h5>
+
Engineering <span class="i">E. Coli</span> to produce beta-carotene
−
<p>You may style this page as you like or you can simply leave the style as it is. You can easily keep the styling and edit the content of these default wiki pages with your project information and completely fulfill the requirement to document your project.</p>
+
</div>
−
<p>While you may not win Best Wiki with this styling, your team is still eligible for all other awards. This default wiki meets the requirements, it improves navigability and ease of use for visitors, and you should not feel it is necessary to style beyond what has been provided.</p>  
+
</div>
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
<div class="photo-block" id="bottles">
 +
<div class="text right">
 +
<div class="title">
 +
Creating a genetic toolkit for working with <span class="i">S. thermophilus</span>
 +
</div>
 +
</div>
 
</div>
 
</div>
−
 
+
<div class="photo-block" id="eppendorf2">
−
<div class="column full_size" >
+
<div class="text right">
−
<h5> Wiki template information </h5>
+
<div class="title">
−
<p>We have created these wiki template pages to help you get started and to help you think about how your team will be evaluated. You can find a list of all the pages tied to awards here at the <a href="https://2016.igem.org/Judging/Pages_for_Awards/Instructions">Pages for awards</a> link. You must edit these pages to be evaluated for medals and awards, but ultimately the design, layout, style and all other elements of your team wiki is up to you!</p>
+
Engineering a mechanism of inactivation to improve public perception
−
 
+
</div>
−
</div>
+
</div>
−
 
+
−
 
+
−
 
+
−
 
+
−
<div class="column half_size" >
+
−
<h5> Editing your wiki </h5>
+
−
<p>On this page you can document your project, introduce your team members, document your progress and share your iGEM experience with the rest of the world! </p>
+
−
<p> <a href="https://2016.igem.org/wiki/index.php?title=Team:Example&action=edit"> Click here to edit this page! </a></p>
+
−
 
+
 
</div>
 
</div>
−
 
+
<div class="photo-block" id="prototype">
−
 
+
<div class="text right">
−
<div class="column half_size" >
+
<div class="title">
−
<h5>Tips</h5>
+
Designing a solar concentrator for accessible yogurt production
−
<p>This wiki will be your team’s first interaction with the rest of the world, so here are a few tips to help you get started: </p>
+
</div>
−
<ul>
+
</div>
−
<li>State your accomplishments! Tell people what you have achieved from the start. </li>
+
−
<li>Be clear about what you are doing and how you plan to do this.</li>
+
−
<li>You have a global audience! Consider the different backgrounds that your users come from.</li>
+
−
<li>Make sure information is easy to find; nothing should be more than 3 clicks away.  </li>
+
−
<li>Avoid using very small fonts and low contrast colors; information should be easy to read.  </li>
+
−
<li>Start documenting your project as early as possible; don’t leave anything to the last minute before the Wiki Freeze. For a complete list of deadlines visit the <a href="https://2016.igem.org/Calendar">iGEM 2016 calendar</a> </li>
+
−
<li>Have lots of fun! </li>
+
−
</ul>  
+
 
</div>
 
</div>
−
 
+
</html>{{GlasgowFooter}}
−
 
+
−
<div class="column half_size" >
+
−
<h5>Inspiration</h5>
+
−
<p> You can also view other team wikis for inspiration! Here are some examples:</p>
+
−
<ul>
+
−
<li> <a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:SDU-Denmark/"> 2014 SDU Denmark </a> </li>
+
−
<li> <a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:Aalto-Helsinki">2014 Aalto-Helsinki</a> </li>
+
−
<li> <a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:LMU-Munich">2014 LMU-Munich</a> </li>
+
−
<li> <a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:Michigan"> 2014 Michigan</a></li>
+
−
<li> <a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:ITESM-Guadalajara">2014 ITESM-Guadalajara </a></li>
+
−
<li> <a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:SCU-China"> 2014 SCU-China </a></li>
+
−
</ul>
+
−
</div>
+
−
 
+
−
<div class="column half_size" >
+
−
<h5> Uploading pictures and files </h5>
+
−
<p> You can upload your pictures and files to the iGEM 2016 server. Remember to keep all your pictures and files within your team's namespace or at least include your team's name in the file name. <br />
+
−
When you upload, set the "Destination Filename" to <code>Team:YourOfficialTeamName/NameOfFile.jpg</code>. (If you don't do this, someone else might upload a different file with the same "Destination Filename", and your file would be erased!)</p>
+
−
 
+
−
 
+
−
<div class="button_click"  onClick=" parent.location= 'https://2016.igem.org/Special:Upload '"> 
+
−
UPLOAD FILES
+
−
</div>
+
−
 
+
−
</div>
+
−
 
+
−
 
+
−
 
+
−
 
+
−
 
+
−
 
+
−
 
+
−
</html>
+

Latest revision as of 23:09, 19 October 2016

Glasgow iGEM 2016
Enriching yoghurt with beta-carotene
Using synthetic biology to tackle vitamin A deficiency
Project Description

Vitamin deficiencies are a major problem across the globe, especially in low-resource settings. Vitamin A deficiency (hypovitaminosis A) is the primary cause of preventable blindness in children. We hoped to target this ailment by manipulating yogurt bacteria to produce beta-carotene - a precursor that can be converted into vitamin A by the body. Production of beta-carotene coinciding with the conversion of milk to yogurt would result in an enriched dairy product. Considering dried bacteria can be easily packaged and distributed and milk is readily available in many of the areas that have high incidence of hypovitaminosis A, we think this could be an ideal solution.

We successfully introduced four genes in the beta-carotene synthesis pathway into E. coli and designed a shuttle vector for these genes to be transferred into the yogurt bacteria S. thermophilus. In order to improve understanding of this bacteria, we developed S. thermophilus as a chassis and explored its behaviour using transcriptomics. We hope this will encourage people to consider using S. thermophilus and yogurt as a vector for nutrition in the future.

Considering the popularity of yogurt in many low-resource settings, we aimed to enhance manufacturing ability. To this end, we also designed an accessible solar concentrator to assist with pasteurization of milk and highly efficient production of yogurt.

Engineering E. Coli to produce beta-carotene
Creating a genetic toolkit for working with S. thermophilus
Engineering a mechanism of inactivation to improve public perception
Designing a solar concentrator for accessible yogurt production