October 21, 2023
UManitoba # PLAnet Zero: A Bio-Based Device for the Degradation of Polylactic Acid # Despite being advertised as a compostable plastic, polylactic acid (PLA) plastic is only effectively degraded under very specific temperature and moisture conditions that are not reached in local commercial composting facilities. As a result, PLA is being diverted to landfills, further amplifying plastic pollution. This year, the UManitoba Prairie iGEM team aims to build a proof-of-concept for a bio-based device that improves the rate of PLA breakdown for application in Manitoban composting facilities.
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October 21, 2023
uniCRETE # Revolutionizing Pesticide Monitoring With DeltaSense: An Innovative Cell-Free Aptamer Biosensor for Deltamethrin Detection. # Crete’s cherished olive cultivation faces a grave threat: the perilous overuse of pesticides. Pesticide consumption in Crete alone is 3.230 tons annually. The use of the pyrethroid deltamethrin, employed to combat the olive oil fly (Bactrocera oleae) introduces a challenge for olive growers, as pesticide’s neurotoxic properties pose a risk to non-target species and may exceed safe limits, disrupting the delicate environmental balance and impacting human health.
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October 21, 2023
UNILA-LatAm # MHETYGUÁ: Microalgae of the species Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as degration devices of PET-type microplastics # Microplastic contamination from various sources is a serious environmental threat. These tiny plastic fragments, less than 5 mm in size, disperse widely, posing dangers to marine life, the food chain and potentially human health. Research has focused on the detection and solution of this problem, highlighting the need to reduce plastic consumption, improve waste management and develop sustainable alternatives.
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October 21, 2023
UNILausanne # Plasticbusters: A biofilm that captures microplastics # Microplastic pollution represents a global threat to ecosystems and human health. Currently, there is no existing solution to efficiently remove microplastics from water bodies. To address this issue, we decided to engineer an Escherichia coli biofilm capable of preventing plastic particles from reaching water bodies. We demonstrated that we can overexpress Curli fibers, the main protein component of E. coli biofilms.
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October 21, 2023
UVU-Utah # Bloom-B-Gone: Preventing Utah Lake Cyanobacterial Blooms by Phosphorous and Nitrogen Sequestration # We chose to focus on bioremediation of Utah Lake because, not only is it a local issue, it is also used worldwide as an example of cyanobacterial blooms. Excess nutrient loading in Utah Lake is causing increased eutrophication, which leads to increased cyanobacterial blooms that produce toxins hazardous to human, animal, and aquatic life. The excess nutrients are composed mostly of nitrogen and phosphorous compounds that enter the lake primarily from wastewater treatment plants, runoff fertilizer, and naturally occurring within inorganic environmental resources.
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October 21, 2023
Washington # Computational Design of NpRdhA for bioremediation of PCBs # Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are widespread persistent pollutants that pose a health risk to humans and wildlife. While bioremediation of PCBs has been demonstrated in bacteria expressing the biphenyl degradation pathway (bph gene cluster), efficiency varies depending on the number and position of the PCB chlorines. A critical step for bioremediation of PCBs is therefore the removal of PCB chlorine atoms catalyzed by dehalogenase enzymes.
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October 21, 2023
WUST-China # Plastic Killer # WUST-China incorporated PETase and MHETase into Rhodococcus rhodococcus PD630 to break down PET and yield ethylene glycol (EG) and terephthalic acid (TPA). Additionally, they explored various promoters, signal peptides, and enhancers to enhance the breakdown of PET plastics. At the same time, the method introduced 1,2 dioxygenase to transform degradation-generated TPA into protocatechuic acid PCA, thus enabling Rhodococcus rhodococcus to effectively use PET and accumulate microbial lipids.
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October 21, 2023
XJTLU-CHINA # Claritein # XJTLU-CHINA design two types of biosorbents applied in the adsorption of heavy and noble metal ions. They make a biological pathway that is composed of the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO), SmtA, carbohydrate-binding module (CBM), and superfolder GFP (sfGFP) to produce the biosorbent absorbing heavy metal ions. For recycling precious metals, they combine curli fiber and AG4 into a fusion protein. Thus, silver ions are recovered by utilizing the adsorption force of AG4 on silver ions.
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October 21, 2023
ZJUT-China # Bacillus-based spontaneous PET remediation solution for sustainable environment # PET, a commonly used plastic material, poses a significant threat to the environment as it is resistant to natural degradation. To tackle this challenge, we have developed an innovative and sustainable approach using engineered Bacillus subtilis. Our bacteria possess five functional modules that enable them to replicate, adhere, break down, and detect PET in the environment. In addition, we have integrated a suicide switch to regulate the bacteria population and guarantee biosafety.
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