Difference between revisions of "Team:WPI Worcester/Description"
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<h1>Description</h1> | <h1>Description</h1> | ||
<p> For our project, we tested the antimicrobial properties of various antifreeze proteins and their effect on biofilm formation. Our aim is to apply effective antifreeze proteins to leafy crops to reduce the rate of foodborne illnesses caused by biofilm formation on leaves. We were inspired by the recent E. coli outbreak on romaine lettuce that infected 210 people, causing 5 deaths according to the CDC (CDC, 2018). A past WPI iGEM team had researched the expression of Antifreeze proteins in E. coli strains.We continued their work, using their antifreeze protein expressing E. coli strains to look into their antimicrobial action. We also tested curcumin’s antimicrobial properties against biofilm formation. Purified antifreeze proteins that showed effectiveness against biofilm formation were applied to a leafy surface to model real world applications. The next step would include creating a transgenic plant to produce the protein within the leaf. A homemade gene gun was created to induce antifreeze protein production within the plant leaves. The aim of this project was to help farmers avoid contamination due to E. coli growth on crops and reduce the amount of infections caused by bacterial foodborne illness among the general public..</p> | <p> For our project, we tested the antimicrobial properties of various antifreeze proteins and their effect on biofilm formation. Our aim is to apply effective antifreeze proteins to leafy crops to reduce the rate of foodborne illnesses caused by biofilm formation on leaves. We were inspired by the recent E. coli outbreak on romaine lettuce that infected 210 people, causing 5 deaths according to the CDC (CDC, 2018). A past WPI iGEM team had researched the expression of Antifreeze proteins in E. coli strains.We continued their work, using their antifreeze protein expressing E. coli strains to look into their antimicrobial action. We also tested curcumin’s antimicrobial properties against biofilm formation. Purified antifreeze proteins that showed effectiveness against biofilm formation were applied to a leafy surface to model real world applications. The next step would include creating a transgenic plant to produce the protein within the leaf. A homemade gene gun was created to induce antifreeze protein production within the plant leaves. The aim of this project was to help farmers avoid contamination due to E. coli growth on crops and reduce the amount of infections caused by bacterial foodborne illness among the general public..</p> | ||
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<h3> References </h3> | <h3> References </h3> | ||
<p> E.coli (Escherichia coli). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2018 Jun 28 [accessed 2018 Aug 2]. https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2018/o157h7-04-18/index.html</p> | <p> E.coli (Escherichia coli). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2018 Jun 28 [accessed 2018 Aug 2]. https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2018/o157h7-04-18/index.html</p> | ||
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Revision as of 01:26, 16 October 2018
Description
For our project, we tested the antimicrobial properties of various antifreeze proteins and their effect on biofilm formation. Our aim is to apply effective antifreeze proteins to leafy crops to reduce the rate of foodborne illnesses caused by biofilm formation on leaves. We were inspired by the recent E. coli outbreak on romaine lettuce that infected 210 people, causing 5 deaths according to the CDC (CDC, 2018). A past WPI iGEM team had researched the expression of Antifreeze proteins in E. coli strains.We continued their work, using their antifreeze protein expressing E. coli strains to look into their antimicrobial action. We also tested curcumin’s antimicrobial properties against biofilm formation. Purified antifreeze proteins that showed effectiveness against biofilm formation were applied to a leafy surface to model real world applications. The next step would include creating a transgenic plant to produce the protein within the leaf. A homemade gene gun was created to induce antifreeze protein production within the plant leaves. The aim of this project was to help farmers avoid contamination due to E. coli growth on crops and reduce the amount of infections caused by bacterial foodborne illness among the general public..
References
E.coli (Escherichia coli). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2018 Jun 28 [accessed 2018 Aug 2]. https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2018/o157h7-04-18/index.html