Imperial/Infector Detector/Specification
From 2007.igem.org
m |
|||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
__NOTOC__ | __NOTOC__ | ||
| - | + | = Infector Detector: Specifications = | |
| + | == Specifications Table == | ||
| + | <br> | ||
{|border="1" width="80%" align="center" | {|border="1" width="80%" align="center" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| - | + | |width="20%" style="background:#ffffcc"|<center>'''Property'''</center> | |
| - | + | |width="--"|<center>'''Value'''</center> | |
|- | |- | ||
| - | |Inputs | + | |style="background:#ffffcc"|Inputs |
|<center>System must be sensitive to AHL concentration between 5-50nM</center> | |<center>System must be sensitive to AHL concentration between 5-50nM</center> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| - | |Outputs | + | |style="background:#ffffcc"|Outputs |
|<center>System must give a visual signal if bacteria is present</center> | |<center>System must give a visual signal if bacteria is present</center> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| - | |Operating Conditions | + | |style="background:#ffffcc"|Operating Conditions |
|<center>System must operate within temperature 20-30°C</center> | |<center>System must operate within temperature 20-30°C</center> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| - | | | + | |style="background:#ffffcc"| |
|<center>System must operate within pH range of 6-8</center> | |<center>System must operate within pH range of 6-8</center> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| - | |Health Regulations | + | |style="background:#ffffcc"|Health Regulations |
|<center>System Must not be living replicating bacteria</center> | |<center>System Must not be living replicating bacteria</center> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| - | |Response Time | + | |style="background:#ffffcc"|Response Time |
|<center>System needs to have a response time under 3 hour</center> | |<center>System needs to have a response time under 3 hour</center> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| - | |Lifespan | + | |style="background:#ffffcc"|Lifespan |
|<center>System must have a shelf life of 7 days</center> | |<center>System must have a shelf life of 7 days</center> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 33: | Line 35: | ||
|<center>System must be portable and convenient to use</center> | |<center>System must be portable and convenient to use</center> | ||
|} | |} | ||
| + | <br clear="all"> | ||
| + | |||
== Project Plan == | == Project Plan == | ||
Revision as of 17:51, 21 October 2007
Infector Detector: Specifications
Specifications Table
| Inputs | |
| Outputs | |
| Operating Conditions | |
| Health Regulations | |
| Response Time | |
| Lifespan | |
| Packaging |
Project Plan
The formation of biofilms in bacteria is a common phenomenon and is present in many opportunistic pathogens. The biofilm is composed of a series of polysaccharides and proteins, which binds together to form a large complex, adhering the bacteria together. The presence of biofilms act as a defensive barrier against the immune system, and also external anti-microbial agents. In order to coordinate the formation of a biofilm, the concentration of bacteria must be relatively large. To do this, many bacteria uses some form of quorum sensing to orchestrate the formation of a biofilm^1^.
Many forms of quorum sensing components are used be bacteria. Some systems including the Lux (Las) system, encoded by the lux operon used in Escherichia bacteria. The lux system produces acyl-homoserine lactones (AHL), which is freely diffusible. Also the fsr system found in Enteroccous encodes for a signaling peptide, which is detected by a two component signaling system. Both systems are found to be active during biofilm formation, suggesting that quorum sensing is essential in biofilm formation.
For our project, we have decided to target the Lux system, since it is a better understood. Our device will detect the specific signaling molecule 3-oxohexanoyl-homoserine lactone (3OC6HSL). This molecule can be detected by the counterpart LuxR.
For future research, it is possible to attempt to use detectors in other quorum sensing systems, such as those found in Enteroccocus. Alternatively, other pathogen-secreted materials can be used to detect biofilms. Examples will include α-toxins found in Staphylococcus.
