IGEM:Harvard/2007/Brainstorming/
I wanted to put forth an idea -- vitamin production & microbial therapy. The idea comes from the fact that vit B producing microbes inhabit the ruminant gut so these animals almost never have B-deficiency. But for humans, without a proper diet, we end up getting diseases like Beriberi. One way to put an end to this could be synthesizing bacteria that can inhabit the human stomach and produce vitamins of all kinds. ...that's the idea
Project Ideas 3/19/07
Brainstorming with Sammy, Alex, Shaunak, Stephanie, Mingming, Perry, and George. TFs and Advisors in attendance Nick, Mike, Harris, Tamara, George Church, Jagesh Shah, William Shih, and Alain Viel.
Biological Based Fuel Cells
Bacterial that Respond to (by fluorescence) or Degrade Plaque
Viruses as a Transfer Mechanism
Engineering E. coli to Resist Mutations
--The intention is prevention of evolution that would ruin biological parts; however, we recognize that directed evolution is a useful tool in 'discovering' potentially useful parts and mutations.
http://www.seas.harvard.edu/projects/weitzlab/Jeremy%20web%20page.htm
Cellulose to EtOH in Algae or other system
""~~Some Papers on this Subject (added by SAV, feel free to add more)11:22, 2 April 2007 (EDT)""
Lynd, Zyl, et al. "Consolidated bioprocessing of cellulosic biomass: an update" Current Opinion in Biotechnology 2005, 16:577-583
---This paper gives a pretty good overview of research into consolidated bioprocessing of cellulose into ethanol, and some of the main problems as well. If we're interested in looking at fuels, this is definitely a good paper to look at.
Jeffries, Thomas. "Engineering yeasts for xylose metabolism" Current opinion in biotechnology 2006, 17:320-326.
---This paper looks at turning xylose into ethanol via yeasts, and recent results in this field of research. If we think we might not want to use bacteria, this is a good overview.
Sticklen, Mariam. "Plant genetic engineering to improve biomass characteristics for biofuels." Current Opinion in Biotechnology 2006, 17:315-319
--Looks at problems from biomass cellulose, such as lignin, and current research into ways to treat it. Also looks at other ways to engineer plants. I think less relevant for us, but still interesting as a way for getting a feel of some of the issues surrounding biomass cellulose
Fatty Acid Production and Degradation for Energy
Molecular Motors
Sequestration of Toxic Compounds by Bacteria (arsenic)
Bacterial Surface Expression
Vascular Tissues
Artificial Vascularization in Bacterial Biofilms
Bacterial Biosensors (Detection in the Environment) (Water Samples)
Project Ideas from Second Meeting (04/05/07) Additional notes added by Stephanie; please contact her with questions.
- Selection mechanisms for key/lock riboregulators (see 2006 Berkeley Project)
- Though sequence complementary is necessary, which allows little variation in that region, the rest of the RNA might differ
- The RNA acts as a "key" to release the lock; only when both are present, allows for expression
- This can allow for creation of networks, if the expression "unlocked" is for another key
- Monitored by Red Fluorescent Protein, experimentally
- Advantage = fast response
- Can be used for either activation or inhibition
- Suggestion: look into the Duke group: human encryption
- Biofuel & light sensitive proton pump (see background reading #3) (Pseudomonas Putida for exportation of short chain alkanes)
- Powering medical devices
- Bacteria that can extract energy from sugars in blood and convert these to electricity
- Question posed: how often do the devices need energy? A: Depends on specific devices
- Related idea: implantable devices that release, or even synthesize, drugs
- Artificial cells
- Use of psuedomonas putida? (bacterial strain)
- High tolerance to many saturated alkanes (can we get it to form octane?)
- Issue: export vs. metabolism
- Quorum sensing and biofilms
- Mirror image proteins
- Nonribosomal synthesis of proteins
- Radon sensor (practical considerations of working with Radon)
Short discussion of project logistics: rather than attempting to tackle multiple projects at once (as we will tend to be overambitious!), perhaps we can propose a sequence of experiments that we would like to attempt over the summer. We should treat these as 'checkpoints' and finish one before proceeding to the next.
