Difference between revisions of "Team:UGent Belgium/Demonstrate"

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<h2 id="measurements">Demonstration</h2>
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<h1 id="demonstration">Demonstration</h1>
<p>The goal of or project is to provide a working product that can collect a substantial amount of water. To this end, we performed some experiments to measure the exact quantity of water collected by our shape, coated with polylactic acid (PLA) with biotin and treated with the Ice Nucleating Protein (INP)-streptavidin complex.</p>
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<p>The goal of or project is to provide a working product that can collect a substantial amount of water. To this end, we performed some experiments to measure the exact quantity of water collected by our 3D-printed shape, coated with polylactic acid (PLA) with biotin and treated with the Ice Nucleating Protein (INP)-streptavidin complex.</p>
<p>We used a mixture of PLA and biotin dissolved in dichloromethane. These were used to either coat water collectors or to dip microscope slides. The coated objects are left to dry overnight in a laminar flow cabinet, allowing the solvent to evaporate.</p>
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<p>We used a mixture of PLA and biotin dissolved in dichloromethane. These were used to either coat water collectors. The coated objects are left to dry overnight in a laminar flow cabinet, allowing the solvent to evaporate.</p>
 
<p>We considered four biological treatments:</p>
 
<p>We considered four biological treatments:</p>
<ol>  
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<ol style="list-style-type: decimal">
<li> <strong>INP + INP_NC-mSA2</strong> = whole cells expressing both full length INP and membrane-bound monomeric streptavidin (mSA2)</li>
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<li><strong>INP + INP_NC-mSA2</strong>: whole cells expressing both full length INP and membrane-bound monomeric streptavidin (mSA2)</li>
<li> <strong>RFP + INP_NC-mSA2</strong> = control: cells expressing membrane-bound mSA2 and a red fluorescent protein</li>
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<li><strong>RFP + INP_NC-mSA2</strong> (control): cells expressing membrane-bound mSA2 and a red fluorescent protein</li>
<li> <strong>INP_RC-mSA2</strong> = protein extract: INP nucleating domain - mSA2 fusion protein</li>
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<li><strong>INP_RC-mSA2</strong>: protein extract: INP nucleating domain - mSA2 fusion protein</li>
<li> <strong>mGFPuv2-mSA2</strong> = control: mGFPuv2 - mSA2 fusion protein</li>
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<li><strong>mGFPuv2-mSA2</strong> (control): mGFPuv2 - mSA2 fusion protein</li>
 
</ol>
 
</ol>
<p>In each experiment, the measurements were performed in a <a href="https://2016.igem.org/Team:UGent_Belgium/Hardware">controlled humidified chamber</a>. Both the temperature and the humidity were constantly monitored and the latter was actively controlled using on-off control.</p>
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<p>The measurements were performed in the controlled humidified chamber. Both the temperature and the humidity were constantly monitored and the latter was actively controlled using on-off control.</p>
<h3 id="experiment-1-effect-biological-treatments-on-the-water-collectors">Experiment 1: effect biological treatments on the water collectors</h3>
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<p>In each experiment, the measurements were performed in a <a href="https://2016.igem.org/Team:UGent_Belgium/Hardware">controlled humidified chamber</a>. Both the temperature and the humidity was constantly measured and the latter was actively controlled using <a href="https://2016.igem.org/Team:UGent_Belgium/Software">bang-bang control</a>.</p>
<h4 id="setup">Setup</h4>
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<h2 id="effect-biological-treatments-on-the-water-collectors">Effect biological treatments on the water collectors</h2>
<p>In a first experiment we probed to the effect of the four biological treatments described above.</p>
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<h3 id="setup">Setup</h3>
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<p>In this demonstrative experiment, we probed to the effect of the four biological treatments described above.</p>
 
<p>The dome of four water collector were coated using the PLA-biotin solution. Subsequently each collector was sawn in half in order to have a treatment and associated control for each experimental unit.</p>
 
<p>The dome of four water collector were coated using the PLA-biotin solution. Subsequently each collector was sawn in half in order to have a treatment and associated control for each experimental unit.</p>
<div class="figure" align="middle" >
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<div class="figure">
<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/f/fb/T--UGent_Belgium--halfcollector.jpeg" width="500"/>
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/f/fb/T--UGent_Belgium--halfcollector.jpeg" alt="Half a water collector." /><p class="caption">Half a water collector.</p>
<p class="caption center" align="center"> Water collector half. </p>
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<p>One half of each collector was treated with a different biological function (i.e. mGFPuv-mSA2, RFP + INP-NC-mSA2, inaZ + INP-NC-mSA2 and INP-mSA). After waiting five minutes, to allow biotin-streptavidin bonds to form, all half-collectors were rinsed thoroughly with a physiological solution. Each halve was placed on a petri dish.</p>
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<p>One half of each collector was treated with a different biological function (i.e. INP + INP_NC-mSA2, RFP + INP_NC-mSA2, INP_RC-mSA2 and mGFPuv2-mSA2). After waiting five minutes, to allow biotin-streptavidin bonds to form, all half-collectors were rinsed thoroughly with a physiological solution. Each halve was placed on a petri dish.</p>
<p>All halves were dried and weighted on an analytical scale. Finally, all petri dishes with collector halfs were randomly placed in the humidistat. They were left under a flow of humid air for one night. Afterwards, all halves were weighted again, as such that the accumulation of water could be determined.</p>
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<p>All halves were dried and weighted on an analytical scale. Finally, all petri dished with half a collector were randomly placed in the humidified chamber. They were left under a flow of humid air for one night. Afterwards, all halves were weighted again, as such that the accumulation of water could be determined.</p>
<div class="figure" align="middle">
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<div class="figure">
<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/9/9c/T--UGent_Belgium--humchamb.jpeg" alt="The collectors in the humidified chamber." width="500" />
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/9/9c/T--UGent_Belgium--humchamb.jpeg" alt="The collectors in the humidified chamber." /><p class="caption">The collectors in the humidified chamber.</p>
<p class="caption center" align="center">The collectors in the humidified chamber.</p>
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<h4 id="results">Results</h4>
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<h3 id="results">Results</h3>
 
<p>The following bar chart shows the difference of in water accumulation in gram of each treatment compared to the half that was used as a control.</p>
 
<p>The following bar chart shows the difference of in water accumulation in gram of each treatment compared to the half that was used as a control.</p>
<div class="figure" align="middle">
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<div class="figure">
<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/4/41/Water_collection_collectors.png" alt="Results first experiment. Difference in water collection between different treatments." width="500" />
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/4/41/Water_collection_collectors.png" alt="Difference in water collection treatment versus control for the four treatments." /><p class="caption">Difference in water collection treatment versus control for the four treatments.</p>
<p class="caption center" align="center">Results first experiment. Difference in water collection between</p>
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</div>
 
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<p>The average amount of water collected by all the experimental units is <span class="math inline">3.07 ± 0.38</span> gram. The difference of the effect of the different treatments (between -0.92 and 0.6 gram difference in water collection of treatment versus control). Unfortunately, it appears that the INP treatments result in a decrease in water collection. As the effect is quite small and we could not perform any replications, it is perhaps safest to conclude that these results do not support any conclusions either way.</p>
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<p>The average water amount of water collected by all the experimental units is <span class="math">3.07 ± 0.38</span> gram. The difference of the effect of the different treatments (between -0.92 and 0.6 gram difference in water collection of treatment versus control). Unfortunately, it appears that the INP treatments result in a decrease in water collection. As the effect is quite small and we could not perform any replications, it is perhaps safest to conclude that these results do not support any conclusions either way.</p>
<h3 id="experiment-2-comparison-biological-treatments-on-microscope-slides">Experiment 2: comparison biological treatments on microscope slides</h3>
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<h4 id="setup-1">Setup</h4>
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<p>For this smaller experiment, we dipped four microscope slides in the PLA-biotin solution and subsequently applied all biological treatments to each of the slides. Afterwards, all slides were rinsed thoroughly with physiological solution.</p>
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<p>The slides were placed straight up in a falcon tube, allowing moist air to reach the treated surface. All four slides in a falcon were weighted on the analytical scale.</p>
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<div class="figure" align="middle">
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/6/6c/T--UGent_Belgium--slideshum.jpeg" width="500" />
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</div>
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<p>The falcons were placed randomly in the humidified chamber for six hours. Their places were changed periodically to decrease the chance of confounding errors. Afterwards, the accumulation of water was determined for each experimental unit.</p>
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<h4 id="results">Results</h4>
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<p>The amount of water collected of the four slides, by treatment, is shown in the bar chart below.</p>
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<div class="figure" align="middle">
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/2/2c/Water_collection_micro.png" width="500" />
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<p>Again, the difference between the treatments is relatively small and the treatments with INP do not seem to collect more water. As for the previous experiment, this experiment could not prove that PLA bonded with INP could efficiently extract moisture from the air.</p>
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Revision as of 09:09, 18 October 2016

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Demonstration

The goal of or project is to provide a working product that can collect a substantial amount of water. To this end, we performed some experiments to measure the exact quantity of water collected by our 3D-printed shape, coated with polylactic acid (PLA) with biotin and treated with the Ice Nucleating Protein (INP)-streptavidin complex.

We used a mixture of PLA and biotin dissolved in dichloromethane. These were used to either coat water collectors. The coated objects are left to dry overnight in a laminar flow cabinet, allowing the solvent to evaporate.

We considered four biological treatments:

  1. INP + INP_NC-mSA2: whole cells expressing both full length INP and membrane-bound monomeric streptavidin (mSA2)
  2. RFP + INP_NC-mSA2 (control): cells expressing membrane-bound mSA2 and a red fluorescent protein
  3. INP_RC-mSA2: protein extract: INP nucleating domain - mSA2 fusion protein
  4. mGFPuv2-mSA2 (control): mGFPuv2 - mSA2 fusion protein

The measurements were performed in the controlled humidified chamber. Both the temperature and the humidity were constantly monitored and the latter was actively controlled using on-off control.

In each experiment, the measurements were performed in a controlled humidified chamber. Both the temperature and the humidity was constantly measured and the latter was actively controlled using bang-bang control.

Effect biological treatments on the water collectors

Setup

In this demonstrative experiment, we probed to the effect of the four biological treatments described above.

The dome of four water collector were coated using the PLA-biotin solution. Subsequently each collector was sawn in half in order to have a treatment and associated control for each experimental unit.

Half a water collector.

Half a water collector.

One half of each collector was treated with a different biological function (i.e. INP + INP_NC-mSA2, RFP + INP_NC-mSA2, INP_RC-mSA2 and mGFPuv2-mSA2). After waiting five minutes, to allow biotin-streptavidin bonds to form, all half-collectors were rinsed thoroughly with a physiological solution. Each halve was placed on a petri dish.

All halves were dried and weighted on an analytical scale. Finally, all petri dished with half a collector were randomly placed in the humidified chamber. They were left under a flow of humid air for one night. Afterwards, all halves were weighted again, as such that the accumulation of water could be determined.

The collectors in the humidified chamber.

The collectors in the humidified chamber.

Results

The following bar chart shows the difference of in water accumulation in gram of each treatment compared to the half that was used as a control.

Difference in water collection treatment versus control for the four treatments.

Difference in water collection treatment versus control for the four treatments.

The average water amount of water collected by all the experimental units is 3.07 ± 0.38 gram. The difference of the effect of the different treatments (between -0.92 and 0.6 gram difference in water collection of treatment versus control). Unfortunately, it appears that the INP treatments result in a decrease in water collection. As the effect is quite small and we could not perform any replications, it is perhaps safest to conclude that these results do not support any conclusions either way.