Difference between revisions of "Team:Lethbridge/Applied Design"

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<p class="f12">Through contacting Nicole Kimmel from Alberta Environment and Parks, Ryan Dyck from Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, and Shannon Frank from the Oldman Watershed Council; we  have found that our system may be an applicable solution to the combat the spread of zebra mussels. (See our [Human Practices link] page for more details.) This has led us to design a PNC construct from the bacteriophage P22 to encapsulate the <i>Dreissena spp.</i> specific toxin from <i>P. fluorescens</i> strain CL145A, the active agent in Zequanox&reg; (4). We have designed our PNCs to be uptaken by zebra and quagga mussels to emulate the uptake method of Zequanox&reg; which is taken up through the mussels’ filtration system and is degraded in their digestive tracts releasing the toxin (5). (See our [Design link] page for more details.)</p>
 
<p class="f12">Through contacting Nicole Kimmel from Alberta Environment and Parks, Ryan Dyck from Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, and Shannon Frank from the Oldman Watershed Council; we  have found that our system may be an applicable solution to the combat the spread of zebra mussels. (See our [Human Practices link] page for more details.) This has led us to design a PNC construct from the bacteriophage P22 to encapsulate the <i>Dreissena spp.</i> specific toxin from <i>P. fluorescens</i> strain CL145A, the active agent in Zequanox&reg; (4). We have designed our PNCs to be uptaken by zebra and quagga mussels to emulate the uptake method of Zequanox&reg; which is taken up through the mussels’ filtration system and is degraded in their digestive tracts releasing the toxin (5). (See our [Design link] page for more details.)</p>
 
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<p class="f12">[Insert biocontrol schematic from presentation]</p>
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Revision as of 00:17, 15 October 2018



Product Design

One of the numerous benefits of VINCEnT is that it has a very broad range of applications. A growing concern for Southern Alberta is the spread of the aquatic invasive species zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and D. bugensis respectively). The current methods of controlling their spread are: Zequanox®, a heat killed cell lysate of Pseudomonas fluorescens; and “potash” or potassium chloride (1). Zequanox® has only been shown to be effective in very small, sectioned-off areas of water and is also a very expensive product for wide-spread use. In order for potash application to be effective, it would have to be added to concentrations just above acceptable drinking levels (2,3). Even with these constraints, because of its relatively cheap cost potash is the prefered method for zebra and quagga mussel eradication by Alberta Environment and Parks. [HP interviews link]

Method Pros Cons
Zequanox®
  • Highly specific to Dreissena spp.
  • Not 100% effective in eradication
  • Not effective in large, open water bodies
  • Expensive
Potash
  • Cost-effective
  • 100% Dreissena spp. eradication efficiency
  • Is non-specific, being toxic to all freshwater bivalves
  • Need large quantities to be effective
  • Human health and threat to agriculture integrity
P22 PNC with FitD
  • Highly specific to Dreissena spp.
  • Need small amounts to add to be effective
  • Non-replicating therefore not infectious and easily controlled
  • More expensive and labour intensive to produce than potash

Through contacting Nicole Kimmel from Alberta Environment and Parks, Ryan Dyck from Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, and Shannon Frank from the Oldman Watershed Council; we have found that our system may be an applicable solution to the combat the spread of zebra mussels. (See our [Human Practices link] page for more details.) This has led us to design a PNC construct from the bacteriophage P22 to encapsulate the Dreissena spp. specific toxin from P. fluorescens strain CL145A, the active agent in Zequanox® (4). We have designed our PNCs to be uptaken by zebra and quagga mussels to emulate the uptake method of Zequanox® which is taken up through the mussels’ filtration system and is degraded in their digestive tracts releasing the toxin (5). (See our [Design link] page for more details.)

[Insert biocontrol schematic from presentation]