Difference between revisions of "Team:UiOslo Norway"
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<h3 style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: right;">UiOslo_Norway</h3> | <h3 style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: right;">UiOslo_Norway</h3> | ||
| − | <h3 style="text-align:center; text-decoration: italic;">Awarded Best Diagnostic Project, Nominated Best Presentation, Gold Medal</h3> | + | <h3 style="text-align:center; text-decoration: italic;">Awarded Best Diagnostic Project, </br>Nominated Best Presentation, Gold Medal</h3> |
Revision as of 15:15, 2 November 2018
Fast detection of vulvovaginal Candida albicans infections using CRISPR/dCas9
UiOslo_Norway
Awarded Best Diagnostic Project, Nominated Best Presentation, Gold Medal
During their lifetime 75% of women will experience a Candida albicans infection, one of the most common vulvovaginal yeast infections. Currently there are no fast methods to detect whether an infection is caused by C. albicans. As a result, women purchase over-the-counter antimycotics without knowing the cause of their infection. This contributes to the rise of antimycotic resistance, making treatment of future infections more difficult.
Based on previous projects, UiOslo_Norway aims to develop a fast detection kit for C. albicans infections, using CRISPR/dCas9. Upon a suspected infection, a vaginal sample will be treated with glucanase to selectively lyse yeast cells walls, exposing the fungal DNA. Afterwards, modified dCas9 enzymes fused with split β-lactamase are added. Using specifically designed guideRNAs, the dCas9 complexes bind adjacently on C. albicans specific DNA sequences. This activates the β-lactamase to cleave its substrate nitrocefin, producing a colored product indicating the presence of C. albicans DNA.