IGEM:Imperial/2010/Detection module/Parasites: Difference between revisions
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We came to think that parasites can be an issue in the developing world. However, not knowing much about the situation out there we have decided to invite [http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/staff-directory/zoology/m-betson/index.html Dr Martha Betson] who is specialist who is an expert in Biomedical Parasitology who is currently working on the "Control of schistosomiasis and molecular epidemiology of Schistosoma mansoni in Ugandan infants and pre-school children". | We came to think that parasites can be an issue in the developing world. However, not knowing much about the situation out there we have decided to invite [http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/staff-directory/zoology/m-betson/index.html Dr Martha Betson] who is specialist who is an expert in Biomedical Parasitology who is currently working on the "Control of schistosomiasis and molecular epidemiology of Schistosoma mansoni in Ugandan infants and pre-school children". | ||
[[Image:Schistosoma_presentation.JPG|600px|thumb|center|alt=A|Martha Betson explaining the life cycle of Schistosoma]] | [[Image:Schistosoma_presentation.JPG|600px|thumb|center|alt=A|Martha Betson explaining the life cycle of Schistosoma]] | ||
==Schistosomiasis== | |||
We would like to detect schistoma cercariae. This could be done by inducing them to produce proteases using lipids such as linoleic acid and linolenic acid. We would express a protein on the surface of a Gram positive bacterium, which would be cleaved by one of the schistoma proteases. The resulting peptides would then be sensed by quorum sensing receptors on the surface of our bacterium, resulting in a downstream signaling cascade. | |||
So, to detect cercariae, we need to: | |||
# Induce them to release proteases | |||
# Express a protein on the bacteria's surface which can be specifically cleaved by one of the proteases | |||
# Detect one of the resultant cleavage peptides | |||
# Transduce this signal to produce a response | |||
Revision as of 10:25, 15 July 2010
We came to think that parasites can be an issue in the developing world. However, not knowing much about the situation out there we have decided to invite Dr Martha Betson who is specialist who is an expert in Biomedical Parasitology who is currently working on the "Control of schistosomiasis and molecular epidemiology of Schistosoma mansoni in Ugandan infants and pre-school children".
Schistosomiasis
We would like to detect schistoma cercariae. This could be done by inducing them to produce proteases using lipids such as linoleic acid and linolenic acid. We would express a protein on the surface of a Gram positive bacterium, which would be cleaved by one of the schistoma proteases. The resulting peptides would then be sensed by quorum sensing receptors on the surface of our bacterium, resulting in a downstream signaling cascade.
So, to detect cercariae, we need to:
- Induce them to release proteases
- Express a protein on the bacteria's surface which can be specifically cleaved by one of the proteases
- Detect one of the resultant cleavage peptides
- Transduce this signal to produce a response
