Team Tec-Chihuahua’s main objective is to prevent and treat American Foulbrood and European Foulbrood, two diseases that affect bees, as well as to increase the general defenses of the bees and its larvae. The way in which we are planning to accomplish this purpose is by using synthetic biology techniques to synthesize four antimicrobial peptides that are part of the innate immune response of honeybees. Our project can be divided into three parts: first characterizing that our proteins will have an effect on Paenibacillus larvae and Melissococcus plutonius, followed with the microencapsulation and finally having them ready as a product for sale.

The first step in making our dream of saving the bees possible was to design the genetic device that would later on give us our recombinant proteins. In order to express successfully a considerable amount of proteins, we had to create one genetic design for each of the peptides (Figure 1). The main part of this characterization was to prove that these peptides, individually or combined, have antimicrobial activity against both pathogens.

Before even thinking of transforming any E. coli, we got to make sure we have a structured plan on what to do for it to work. The basic idea around the genetic device was having a strong promoter, such as the T7 phage one, plus an RBS, our genes of interest, and finally an efficient terminator, such as the rrnB T1 terminator. Later on, we started thinking ahead, realizing that a secretion signal and a way in which it could be purified might be needed.

Even if the genes worked as they should and the proteins were expressed as we wanted them to, we still needed a way to eliminate inclusion bodies, get the proteins to the periplasmic space for an easier purification and adding a tag to assure the proteins could be purified. The solutions we came up with were 2 main additions. The first one consists of adding a secretion leader sequence, the pelB leader sequence. This secretion signal helps our proteins of interest get to the periplasmic space once they are synthesized by the bacteria, but it has another amazing feature, it prevents the inclusion bodies from forming. The second addition was to add a 6xHis-tag that allows us to purify the proteins easily. Information related to these additions is found in the PARTS section of our wiki.

After solving these problems we finally got to a final version of the plasmids we would use to transform our E. coli´s (Figure 2). This final version contained all the parts previously described for the proteins to be produced as planned.

Once we have pure peptides we need to find out a way for them to reach safely to the larva without denaturalizing or losing its contemplated effect. The way we would do this is by microencapsulation protocols. In simple terms, the process would go as follows.

The materials we will use are PLGA, a biodegradable copolymer whose degradation is pH dependent, and Dichloromethane, (DCM) used as a solvent for the PLGA. The solution both of these substances create is used as the oil phase in the microencapsulation process. The next step is getting our peptides in the form of a powder. Using a centrifuge we’ll combine both substances, the DCM/PLGA solution and the powdered peptides. This last combination is then passed through a membrane using pressurized nitrogen, thanks to its inert properties. After passing through the membrane tiny PLGA capsules containing our peptides are created. After letting the microcapsules dry out, they are ready to use and to be given to the bees.

Now the beekeeper has the microcapsules available, now what? They will be able to add them to the diet they commonly feed them with. It can either be added to a solid diet, which consists of powdered sugar or in a liquid form, which consists of a water and sugar mixture. In either case, these microcapsules won´t be affected nor will the peptides inside them, they won´t lose they antimicrobial activity, plus the microcapsule will keep them viable longer.