A novel bacteriocin treatment for bovine mastitis
About Our Project
We developed our project through the eyes of dairy farmers, with whom we share the endeavor to cure bovine mastitis. By modifying the mastitis treatment and cow milking processes, we can help eradicate a disease that has evolved and resisted drugs throughout the ages. We have a three pronged approach to solve this problem:
Treatment
We target pathogens utilizing a synthetic biology approach
Prevention
Our system minimizes bacterial infection through our customizable preventative milking shell
Detection
Our system enables early detection with a user-friendly smartphone app for farmers, we believe we’ve done just that.
Time for mastitis to moo-ve over and out.
Udder Defense
We genetically engineered E. coli to produce 13 different bacteriocins to target common and historically significant mastitis-causing pathogens with greater specificity than traditional antibiotics.
FIND OUT MOREThe Milky Way
We created a novel, modular, customizable milking machine shell to prevent bacteria from infecting the cow. With automatic post-dip, UV sterilization, temperature detection, and cold shock functionalities to choose from, the options are limitless when it comes to preventing bovine mastitis.
CHECK IT OUTCowscope
We designed an app with a somatic cell counter through a microscope attachment, a cost calculator, and a data input function, for early and efficient bovine mastitis detection.
DOWNLOAD ITPolicy & Practices
We collaborated with over a dozen dairy farms, companies, and experts at every stage of our project - from brainstorming and tailoring our sketches to finally bringing our product to life.
SEE WHERE WE'VE BEENPublic Engagement
We took our project to the Great New York State Fair, the Sciencenter, campus events, and 4-H youth to raise awareness about bovine mastitis and synthetic biology. More so, we engaged with the public and asked them what they thought. Because your opinion matters.
CONTACT USBusiness
We wrote a business plan that lays the foundation for our marketable product to be translated into a start-up.
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