Bioremediation Projects

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iGEM 2013 Bioremediation Projects

One area in iGEM where teams are constantly innovative is with bioremediation projects. In 2013, we had almost fifty projects that fit into this category in some way. The major subtypes of this group are:

  • Biosensors
  • Biosynthesis
  • Bioremediation

This page will highlight some of the best teams who worked on these types of projects in 2013.

Paris Bettencourt 2013: ToxiMop

Environment Track

Abstract: The ToxiMop project attempts to tackle the problem of freshwater algal blooms by detecting, reducing, and reporting the levels of the algal toxin microcystin. This toxin causes liver damage and is also speculated to be a carcinogen. Microcystin’s toxic action lies in its ability to bind to the human Protein Phosphatase 1 (PP1), which is a major regulator of cell division, protein synthesis and other essential processes. Using synthetic biology techniques, we engineered bacterial chassis (E. coli and B. subtilis) to express PP1, which covalently binds to microcystin. The engineered bacteria can then be used as a molecular mop, the ToxiMop, to remove microcystin from contaminated water. Applying mathematical modelling to our experiments, we optimised our prototype ToxiMop. Additionally, we attempted to develop a biological detector for microcystin, which was combined with our electronic device, the Moptopus. This device has the potential for real-time monitoring and analysis of water bodies.