Difference between revisions of "Team:UiOslo Norway"

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<h3 style="text-align: center;">UiOslo_Norway</h3>
 
<h3 style="text-align: center;">UiOslo_Norway</h3>
  
<h3 style="text-align:center; text-decoration: italic; border: 1px gold;">Awarded Best Diagnostic Project</br>Nominated Best Presentation</h3>
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<h3 class="goldborder" style="text-align:center; text-decoration: italic;">Awarded Best Diagnostic Project</br>Nominated Best Presentation</h3>
  
  

Revision as of 12:36, 7 November 2018

Fast detection of vulvovaginal Candida albicans
infections using CRISPR/dCas9

Concept graphic

UiOslo_Norway

Awarded Best Diagnostic Project
Nominated Best Presentation

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.

Contact information: uioslonorway (at) gmail dot com