Team:SDU-Denmark/safety-b

From 2010.igem.org

(Difference between revisions)
(Hyperflagellation)
Line 87: Line 87:
===Hyperflagellation===
===Hyperflagellation===
 +
====General use====
 +
This BioBrick poses no treat to the welfare of people working with it, as long as this is done in at least a level 1 safety lab by trained people and in non-pathogenic hosts such as E. coli TOP10 or MG1655. No special care is needed when working with this BioBrick.
 +
 +
====Potential pathogenicity====
 +
 +
This biobrick increases the potential of its host to move. Increased motility has been associated the bacteria’s ability to invade humans (1); on the other hand it has also been shown that bacteria that loss the function of the FlhDC operon, are considerable better at colonizing the intestine (2), and so an increased expression might decrease a hosts ability to colonize and invade humans. It is impossible to ensure, that this plasmid is not transferred to pathogenic bacteria since the FlhDC operons is used in a wide array of other bacteria that are known to be pathogenic.
 +
 +
A number of effector cells in the human immune system react specifically to bacteria’s flagella, and so a hyperflagellated host will most likely induce a stronger immune response.
 +
 +
These different considerations lead us to conclude that we do not recommend using this BioBrick in humans.
 +
 +
====Environmental impact====
 +
 +
The biobrick might increase its host ability in finding foods, but we do not think it will be able to outmatch naturally occurring bacteria. It will not increase the hosts ability to replicate, but will increase its ability to spread, which might increase its ability to survive.
 +
 +
The biobrick itself will most likely not make an environmental impact, since it only regulates internal systems of the bacteria.
 +
 +
====Possible malign use====
 +
There is no reason to believe this BioBrick could be used for malign uses; it does not increase the host’s ability to vaporize, create spores or ability to survive under storage conditions. The fact that this BioBrick will likely increase the immune systems response to hosts carrying it makes it a bad candidate for malign use.
 +
 +
====Construct notes====
 +
''What is the origin of the genetic material used? What does the the genetic materiale do in this origin? Are there uncertainty about the genetical materials function? ''
 +
 +
This BioBrick is a modified gene from ''E. coli''. Its function is well known and described above.
 +
 +
''What modification were done on the genetic materiale before insertion? If anything was modified, what function do you hope to achieve? ''
 +
 +
To make the part conform to the iGEM assembly standards we introduced a silent mutation, in an unintended restriction site, at BP 822 from t to c, so that Pst1 would not cleave the DNA there. We do not believe this makes the gene more pathogenic.
 +
 +
''What vector did you use? Which antibiotic resistance were involved? Which protocol was used to insert the vector?''
 +
 +
The gene was inserted into two plasmid backbones, both containing chloramphenicol resistance. Both plasmids are specially made for BioBrick use and as such tested and safe. The plasmid was introduced into E. coli via chemical transformation.
 +
 +
''What is the stability of the insert with respect to genetic traits? ''
 +
 +
We have not yet tested the stability of the organism after insertion of our BioBrick.
 +
 +
''How easily can the insert transfer to other bacteria or lifeforms? ''
 +
 +
We have not tested the vectors ability to transfer the BioBrick to other bacteria.
 +
 +
''Where there safer alternatives to achieve this function? Where there safer alternatives to the host organism and vector used? ''
 +
 +
We considered the gene, the strains of E. coli and used plasmids as safe.
 +
 +
''Is your construct watermarked?''
 +
No.
 +
 +
References
 +
1. Young GM, Badger JL, Miller VL. Motility is required to initiate host cell invasion by Yersinia enterocolitica. Infect. Immun. 2000 Jul;68(7):4323-4326.
 +
 +
2. Gauger EJ, Leatham MP, Mercado-Lubo R, Laux DC, Conway T, Cohen PS. Role of Motility and the flhDC Operon in Escherichia coli MG1655 Colonization of the Mouse Intestine. Infect. Immun. 2007 Jul 1;75(7):3315-3324.
===Photosensor===
===Photosensor===

Revision as of 11:06, 26 October 2010