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<img src="https://2018.igem.org/wiki/image/T--Manchester--teamiGEM.jpg#file" width = "800" height="451"alt="iGEM 2018"/> | <img src="https://2018.igem.org/wiki/image/T--Manchester--teamiGEM.jpg#file" width = "800" height="451"alt="iGEM 2018"/> | ||
<p>About our project</p> | <p>About our project</p> | ||
− | <p6><i>Listeria monocytogenes </i> is a gram-positive, rod-shaped, food-borne bacterium, capable of causing the rare but potentially fatal disease listeriosis. L.monocytogenes can replicate at temperatures as low as 0°C allowing it to survive in industrial and domestic refrigerators. <i>L.monocytogenes</i> can often grow in soft cheeses, making many varieties of cheese unavailable to those who are immunosuppressed. Man-Cheester aims to modify <i>Lactococcus lactis</i>, a common bacterium in cheese manufacture. We will transform <i>L. lactis</i> in a cheese starter culture to detect AIP, a key quorum signalling molecule produced by <i>L. monocytogenes</i>. This will be done by expressing the agr quorum-sensing system used by <i>L.monocytogenes</i> in <i>L. lactis</i>. On detection of AIP, a colour change will occur within L. lactis causing the cheese to turn purple, alerting the consumer to its contamination. Our concept could be further developed to include other sources of <i>L. monocytogenes</i> contamination such as meats and vegetables to prevent as many cases of listeriosis as possible.</p6> | + | <p6><i>Listeria monocytogenes </i> is a gram-positive, rod-shaped, food-borne bacterium, capable of causing the rare but potentially fatal disease listeriosis. L.monocytogenes can replicate at temperatures as low as 0°C allowing it to survive in industrial and domestic refrigerators. <i>L.monocytogenes</i> can often grow in soft cheeses, making many varieties of cheese unavailable to those who are immunosuppressed. Man-Cheester aims to modify <i>Lactococcus lactis</i>, a common bacterium in cheese manufacture. We will transform <i>L. lactis</i> in a cheese starter culture to detect AIP, a key quorum signalling molecule produced by <i>L. monocytogenes</i>. This will be done by expressing the agr quorum-sensing system used by <i>L.monocytogenes</i> in <i>L. lactis</i>. On detection of AIP, a colour change will occur within <i>L. lactis</i> causing the cheese to turn purple, alerting the consumer to its contamination. Our concept could be further developed to include other sources of <i>L. monocytogenes</i> contamination such as meats and vegetables to prevent as many cases of listeriosis as possible.</p6> |
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<img src="https://2018.igem.org/wiki/image/T--Manchester--logo.jpg" width = "280" height="200"/> | <img src="https://2018.igem.org/wiki/image/T--Manchester--logo.jpg" width = "280" height="200"/> |
Revision as of 14:58, 22 June 2018
The University of Man-cheester
Man-Cheester: Development of a soft cheese with integrated Listeria monocytogenes biosensor
About our project