iGEM 2021 — Team NEU_CHINA

[![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/8/8b/HQ_page_logo.jpg)](https://2021.igem.org)

# Team:NEU CHINA/Notebook

# Notebook

Document the dates you worked on your project. This should be a detailed account of the work done each day for your project.

### What should this page have?

* Chronological notes of what your team is doing.
* Brief descriptions of daily important events.
* Pictures of your progress.
* Mention who participated in what task.

### Inspiration

You can see what others teams have done to organize their notes:

* [2018 Munich](https://2018.igem.org/Team%3AMunich/Notebook)
* [2019 Georgia State](https://2019.igem.org/Team%3AGeorgia_State/Notebook)
* [2019 Newcastle](https://2019.igem.org/Team%3ANewcastle/Notebook)
* [2020 IISER Pune India](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AIISER-Pune-India/Notebook)
* [2020 Lund](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3ALund/Notebook)
* [2020 NOVA LxPortugal](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3ANOVA_LxPortugal/Notebook)
* [2020 RDFZ China](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3ARDFZ-China/NoteBook)

[![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/8/8b/HQ_page_logo.jpg)](https://2021.igem.org)

# Team:NEU CHINA/Engineering

TopNavloading-Temp

* [HOME](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA)
* PROJECT▼
  + [Description](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Description)
  + [Design](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Design)
  + [Engineering Success](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Engineering)
  + [Proposed Implementation](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Implementation)
  + [Proof of Concept](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Proof_Of_Concept)
  + [Contribution](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Contribution)
* WET LAB▼
  + [Results](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Result)
  + [Notebook](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Note_Book)
  + [Protocols](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Protocols)
  + [Safety](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Safety)
  + [Future Experiment](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Future_Experiment)
* DRY LAB▼
  + [Model](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Model)
* HP▼
  + [Integrated Human Practices](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Human_Practices)
  + [Collaborations](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Collaborations)
  + [Science Communication](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Communication)
  + [Education](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Education)
* [HARDWARE](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Hardware)
* PARTS▼
  + [Basic & Composite Parts](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Part)
  + [Improvement](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Improvement)
* TEAM▼
  + [Meet the Team](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Team)
  + [Attribution](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Attributions)
  + [Partnership](https://2021.igem.org/Team%3ANEU_CHINA/Partnership)

NEU\_CHINA

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/7/76/T--NEU_CHINA--back1.png)

**Engineering Success**

In the course of the project, the experimental results are analyzed timely. We would try the best to find out
drawbacks, and continuously improved the design and experiments to make our project much more better.

Design

Build

Test

Analysis and learning

Design

Build

Test

Analysis and learning

Design

Build

Test

Analysis and learning

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/4/43/T--NEU_CHINA--goToTop.png)

**Design**

The PmrCAB two-component system is originally located in Salmonella. The Fe(III) sensitive domain were replaced by the receptor core domains of SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, HCoV-229E respectively, to make the sensor protein PmrB sensitive to viral stimulation and respond to it as soon as possible. Therefore, the fluorescence signal expressed by the bacteria could be captured immediately and precisely.

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/0/06/T--NEU_CHINA--engnew_%287%29.png)
Fig. 1 The recombinant PmrCAB detective system.

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/b/bd/T--NEU_CHINA--EngNext21.png)

**Build**

Three plasmids were constructed in pETDuet-1 as the vector of modified PmrCAB virus detection system. After transforming into E. coli BL21 (DE3), the first stage of detector was completed.

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/8/88/T--NEU_CHINA--engnew_%289%29.jpg)
Fig. 2 A: The plasmid was constructed to detect SARS-CoV-2’s spike protein(BBa\_K3611002). B: The plasmid was constructed to detect MERS-CoV’s spike protein(BBa\_K3896007). C: The plasmid was constructed to detect HCoV-229E’s spike protein(BBa\_K3896008).

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/b/bd/T--NEU_CHINA--EngNext21.png)

**Test**

To verify the validity of our bacteria, the characterization experiments are as follows.

When the bacteria grew to a suitable stage, IPTG was added to induce the expression of PmrB and PmrA. The appropriate amount of three kind of spike protein, corresponding to three types of coronavirus, and the sensor PmrB was stimulated to start a series of reactions to turn on the expression of downstream reporter gene by PmrC.

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/b/b1/T--NEU_CHINA--engnew_%286%29.png)
Fig. 3 The fluorescence of engineered bacteria with ACE2 receptor
![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/archive/c/ca/20211020083912%21T--NEU_CHINA--engnew_%285%29.png)
Fig. 4 The fluorescence of engineered bacteria with DPP4 receptor.
![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/6/60/T--NEU_CHINA--engnew_%284%29.png)
Fig. 5 The fluorescence of engineered bacteria with hAPN receptor.

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/b/bd/T--NEU_CHINA--EngNext21.png)

**Analysis and learning**

According to the result graph, it can be seen that the engineered bacteria receive the virus signal and finally successfully emit green fluorescence through a series of reactions. These results confirmed that our PmrCAB system is worked.

However, the concentration of spike protein added in the experiment is higher than that in the actual environment, thus solving the problem that virus titer might be extremely low in practical application. Thus, we focused on quorum sensing.

**Design**

We selected LuxI/LuxR quorum sensing system in E. coli.

When the engineered bacteria recognize the virus, PmrC initiates the expression of the downstream gene LuxI and LuxR. Catalyzed by LuxI, AHL starts to be synthesized continuously and part of it penetrates the cell membrane to the extracellular. When the concentration of extracellular AHL reaches a threshold, it re-enters the cell and combines with LuxR to form a LuxR-AHL co-complex, the co-complex can activate the corresponding promoter PLux\_HS and express the reporter gene EGFP.

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/3/39/T--NEU_CHINA--EngNext2.png)

**Build**

We added LuxI/LuxR quorum sensing system to the design and constructed the following two plasmids with pETDuet-1 and pACYCDuet-1 as the vectors, which were co-transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3), and the vectors carried ampicillin and chloramphenicol resistance, respectively.

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/8/84/T--NEU_CHINA--engnew_%282%29.jpg)
Fig. 6 The two plasmids were constructed with pETDuet-1 and pACYCDuet-1 as the vectors, and were co-transformed to E. coli BL21(DE3) to verify the quorum sensing system (BBa\_K3896016 & BBa\_K3896017).

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/3/39/T--NEU_CHINA--EngNext2.png)

**Test**

To verify whether the quorum sensing system is effective. Our characterization experiments were as follows.

When the bacterial fluid OD reached certain conditions, IPTG was added to induce the expression of PmrB and PmrA, and then a small amount of Spike protein was added, and the fluorescence intensity and absorbance were measured every hour with an enzyme-labeled instrument, and the following are the results four hours after the addition of S protein.

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/d/d3/T--NEU_CHINA--engnew_%281%29.png)
Fig. 7 The fluorescence intensity of engineered bacteria without quorum sensing system and with quorum sensing.

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/3/39/T--NEU_CHINA--EngNext2.png)

**Analysis and learning**

Based on the above results, we can see that the addition of quorum sensing can detect the results even if the amount of spike protein is reduced, which indicates that the LuxI/LuxR quorum sensing can improve the sensitivity of detection.

We noted that in this design, the extracellular concentration of AHL is the key element, which needs to reach a certain threshold and enter the cell for the quorum sensing to work. We learned from the literature that the threshold for AHL is typically 4-8 𝝁mol/L. We wanted to know at what concentration AHL in bacterial solution could enter the cell and bind to LuxR to form a complex in our actul experiment, so we performed the following design.

**Design**

We designed to add a range of concentrations of AHL that reached a threshold to enter the bacteria and bind to endogenous LuxR to form co-complex LuxR-AHL to activate the promoter and express the reporter gene EGFP.

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/a/a1/T--NEU_CHINA--EngNext222.png)

**Build**

We successfully constructed and transformed the following plasmids into E. coli BL21 (DE3) using pACYCDuet-1 as a vector, which itself carries chloramphenicol resistance.

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/5/50/T--NEU_CHINA--engnew_%288%29.jpg)
Fig. 8 The plasmid was constructed with pACYCDuet-1 as the vector to explore the concentration threshold of AHL.

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/a/a1/T--NEU_CHINA--EngNext222.png)

**Test**

We simulated the extracellular release of AHL from bacteria under natural conditions by artificially adding AHL. we set a concentration gradient of AHL (0 𝝁mol/L to 13 𝝁mol/L), waited for the bacteria to grow to a suitable period, added different concentrations of AHL, and AHL that reached the concentration threshold entered the engineered bacteria, combined with the endogenous LuxR to activate the PLux\_HS promoter, and induced expression of downstream genes. After incubation for appropriate time, the fluorescence intensity and absorbance were measured. The results obtained are as follows.

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/a/af/T--NEU_CHINA--AHL.png)
Fig. 9 The fluorescence intensity of engineered bacteria under different concentrations of AHL.

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/a/a1/T--NEU_CHINA--EngNext222.png)

**Analysis and learning**

Based on the above experimental results, we found that the fluorescence intensity would be enhanced with the increase of the concentration, and reached the peak at 9 𝝁mol/L. Continuing to increase the concentration, the experimental results no longer varied regularly.

[![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/8/8b/HQ_page_logo.jpg)](https://2021.igem.org)

# Team:NEU CHINA/Experiments

# Experiments

Describe the research, experiments, and protocols you used in your iGEM project. These should be detailed enough for another team to repeat your experiments.

If you made Parts this year, please remember to put all information, characterization, and measurement data on the Part's Main Page on the [Registry](http://parts.igem.org/Main_Page).

### What should this page contain?

* Protocols
* Experiments

### Inspiration

* [2019 Nantes](https://2019.igem.org/Team%3ANantes/Experiments)
* [2019 TU Eindhoven](https://2019.igem.org/Team%3ATU_Eindhoven/Experiments)
* [2019 Mingdao](https://2019.igem.org/Team%3AMingdao/Demonstrate)
* [2020 Amsterdam](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AAmsterdam/Experiments)
* [2020 NCTU Formosa](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3ANCTU_Formosa/Experiments)
* [2020 USAFA](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AUSAFA/Experiments)

[![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2021/8/8b/HQ_page_logo.jpg)](https://2021.igem.org)

# Team:NEU CHINA/Results

# Results

You can describe the results of your project and your future plans here.

### What should this page contain?

* Clearly and objectively describe the results of your work.
* Future plans for the project.
* Considerations for replicating the experiments.

### Describe what your results mean

* Interpretation of the results obtained during your project. Don't just show a plot/figure/graph/other, tell us what you think the data means. This is an important part of your project that the judges will look for.
* Show data, but remember **all measurement and characterization data must also be on the Part's Main Page on the [Registry](http://parts.igem.org/Main_Page).** Otherwise these data will not be in consideration for any medals or part awards!
* Consider including an analysis summary section to discuss what your results mean. Judges like to read what you think your data means, beyond all the data you have acquired during your project.

### Project Achievements

You can also include a list of bullet points (and links) of the successes and failures you have had over your summer. It is a quick reference page for the judges to see what you achieved during your summer.

* A list of linked bullet points of the successful results during your project
* A list of linked bullet points of the unsuccessful results during your project. This is about being scientifically honest. If you worked on an area for a long time with no success, tell us so we know where you put your effort.

### Inspiration

See how other teams presented their results.

* [2019 Newcastle](https://2019.igem.org/Team%3ANewcastle/Results)
* [2019 Munich](https://2019.igem.org/Team%3AMunich/Results)
* [2019 Tec Chihuahua](https://2019.igem.org/Team%3ATec-Chihuahua/Results)
* [2020 Aalto Helsinki](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AAalto-Helsinki/Results)
* [2020 GreatBay SCIE](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AGreatBay_SCIE/Results)
* [2020 Queens Canada](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AQueens_Canada/Results)