Difference between revisions of "Team:Lethbridge HS/Introduction"

 
(116 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 75: Line 75:
 
}
 
}
 
      
 
      
                    function makeBiofilms(){
+
              function makeBiofilms(){
 +
jQuery("#slide15Paragraph").text('Biofilms are notoriously resilient and have the ability to develop resistance to antimicrobial treatments thus making current methods such as applying antiseptics, antimicrobials, biocides, and physical removal, expensive and ineffective. Instead of focussing on killing the bacteria inside of the bacterial biofilm, we are trying to degrade the extracellular polymeric (EPS) matrix that encloses the bacteria. This would make the treatment more universal for biofilms because although not all EPS matrices are comprised of the same substances, they all contain extracellular DNA and sugars. This is why we chose to use Nuclease and Dextranase to degrade the EPS matrix. Nuclease works to break down nucleic acids, a component of DNA, and Dextranase breaks down dextran, a polysaccharide. After the matrix has been successfully degraded, standard cleaning productions can be used to kill the bacteria. We plan to use our construct in a hospital setting, primarily on surgical tools because this is where biofilms can cause the most damage. Our construct will not degrade the medical equipment because it only targets nucleic acid and dextran.');
 +
document.getElementById("arrowhp").style.borderTopColor = "#EBF7F8";
 
document.getElementById("arrow_down_aspects").style.borderTopColor = "#0e83cd";
 
document.getElementById("arrow_down_aspects").style.borderTopColor = "#0e83cd";
document.getElementById("arrow_down_solution").style.borderTopColor = "#EBF7F8";
 
jQuery(".tile").removeClass("tile_yellow");
 
 
document.getElementById("slide5").style.backgroundColor = "#0e83cd";
 
document.getElementById("slide5").style.backgroundColor = "#0e83cd";
 
document.getElementById("slide2").style.backgroundColor = "#EBF7F8";
 
document.getElementById("slide2").style.backgroundColor = "#EBF7F8";
Line 86: Line 86:
 
                         jQuery("#mainTitleText").text('Lethbridge High School iGEM');
 
                         jQuery("#mainTitleText").text('Lethbridge High School iGEM');
 
                     jQuery("#coloredTitle").text('Biofilms');
 
                     jQuery("#coloredTitle").text('Biofilms');
                     jQuery("#slide1Title").text('Overview');
+
                     jQuery("#slide1Title").text('Introduction');
 
                     jQuery("#slide1Paragraph").text('For years, bacterial biofilms have been a cause for concern in medicine. Biofilms are comprised of colonial microorganisms that can adhere to almost any surface with adequate moisture and nutrients. Biofilms often harbour pathogens, and can be extremely problematic in clinical settings. 65% of all hospital acquired infections can be attributed to pathogenic biofilms. Current methods to destroy biofilms include antimicrobial agents and hydraulic flushing. These are ineffective because biofilms are surrounded by a matrix of sugars and DNA. We intend to create an all-purpose biological counterattack capable of dispersing and eliminating a wide variety of biofilms by utilizing enzymes to destroy the structures within. This will be achieved through the secretion of dextranase, which degrades the exopolymeric matrix, and DNase, that targets the extracellular DNA responsible for maintaining biofilm structure. This double phased attack will be highly efficient compared to current removal methods.');
 
                     jQuery("#slide1Paragraph").text('For years, bacterial biofilms have been a cause for concern in medicine. Biofilms are comprised of colonial microorganisms that can adhere to almost any surface with adequate moisture and nutrients. Biofilms often harbour pathogens, and can be extremely problematic in clinical settings. 65% of all hospital acquired infections can be attributed to pathogenic biofilms. Current methods to destroy biofilms include antimicrobial agents and hydraulic flushing. These are ineffective because biofilms are surrounded by a matrix of sugars and DNA. We intend to create an all-purpose biological counterattack capable of dispersing and eliminating a wide variety of biofilms by utilizing enzymes to destroy the structures within. This will be achieved through the secretion of dextranase, which degrades the exopolymeric matrix, and DNase, that targets the extracellular DNA responsible for maintaining biofilm structure. This double phased attack will be highly efficient compared to current removal methods.');
 +
jQuery("#hp_paragraph").text('Although the science is an integral part of our project, we put some emphasis on human practices as well. Every team member contributed so that we could have a diverse and engaging set of human practices. We reached out many individuals, including one of our MLAs, who is also the Minister of Environment to get her support of our project; rural beekeepers in Southern Alberta to ask about the viability of our project; we also talked to our city council, and an urban planner to see how we could make our city more “bee-friendly”. We interacted with the public by handing out seed packets in parks, and informing them about the decline of bees and the city by-law that makes urban bee-keeping illegal; many signed a petition that we created to remove this by-law. To promote iGEM, we went to two middle schools to tell the students a little bit about our project and what iGEM is.');
 
                     document.getElementById("projectIcon").src ="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/4/4b/LethHS2015_Plasmid.png";
 
                     document.getElementById("projectIcon").src ="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/4/4b/LethHS2015_Plasmid.png";
                     document.getElementById("projectSwitchIcon").src = "https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/8/88/LethHS2015_Varroa_icon.png";
+
                     document.getElementById("projectSwitchIcon").src = "https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/4/4b/LethHS2015_Plasmid.png";
 
                     document.getElementById("slide1Image").src = "https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/5/5d/LethHS2015_408.jpg";
 
                     document.getElementById("slide1Image").src = "https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/5/5d/LethHS2015_408.jpg";
 
                     jQuery("#mainTitleText").style.color("#31B2DE");
 
                     jQuery("#mainTitleText").style.color("#31B2DE");
 +
  
 
                 }
 
                 }
 
                 function makeBees(){
 
                 function makeBees(){
document.getElementById("arrow_down_solution").style.borderTopColor = "#FFFDCD";
+
document.getElementById("arrowhp").style.borderTopColor = "#FFFDCD";
 +
document.getElementById("slide2").style.backgroundColor = "#FFFDCD";
 
document.getElementById("arrow_down_aspects").style.borderTopColor = "#eea303";
 
document.getElementById("arrow_down_aspects").style.borderTopColor = "#eea303";
jQuery(".tile").addClass("tile_yellow");
 
 
document.getElementById("slide5").style.backgroundColor = "#eea303";
 
document.getElementById("slide5").style.backgroundColor = "#eea303";
document.getElementById("slide2").style.backgroundColor = "#FFFDCD";
 
 
document.getElementById("nswitchIcon").style.backgroundColor = "#FFE545";
 
document.getElementById("nswitchIcon").style.backgroundColor = "#FFE545";
 
document.getElementById("coloredTitle").style.color = "#FFE545";
 
document.getElementById("coloredTitle").style.color = "#FFE545";
Line 105: Line 106:
 
                         jQuery("#mainTitleText").text('Lethbridge High School iGEM');
 
                         jQuery("#mainTitleText").text('Lethbridge High School iGEM');
 
                     jQuery("#coloredTitle").text('Varroa');
 
                     jQuery("#coloredTitle").text('Varroa');
                     jQuery("#slide1Title").text('Overview');
+
                     jQuery("#slide1Title").text('Introduction');
 
                     jQuery("#slide1Paragraph").text('The top 100 food crops produced provide 90% of the world’s nutrition. 70% of these crops are pollinated by bees. A phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has decimated honeybee colonies across the world, halving the number of productive colonies worldwide. One of the main factors hypothesized to contribute to CCD is the mite and viral vector Varroa destructor. While feeding on the bee’s hemolymph, Varroa destructor expels RNA viruses into the bee crippling colony’s strength. Current commercial methods to eradicate Varroa have seen a gradual development of resistance in treated populations. Using synthetic biology, we plan to target Varroa more effectively by directly delivering the miticide, oxalic acid into Varroa and utilizing RNA interference to eliminate Varroa populations within commercial hives.');
 
                     jQuery("#slide1Paragraph").text('The top 100 food crops produced provide 90% of the world’s nutrition. 70% of these crops are pollinated by bees. A phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has decimated honeybee colonies across the world, halving the number of productive colonies worldwide. One of the main factors hypothesized to contribute to CCD is the mite and viral vector Varroa destructor. While feeding on the bee’s hemolymph, Varroa destructor expels RNA viruses into the bee crippling colony’s strength. Current commercial methods to eradicate Varroa have seen a gradual development of resistance in treated populations. Using synthetic biology, we plan to target Varroa more effectively by directly delivering the miticide, oxalic acid into Varroa and utilizing RNA interference to eliminate Varroa populations within commercial hives.');
 +
jQuery("#slide15Paragraph").text('A few methods to deal with V. destructor are ineffective as they do not target the mite at a crucial phase when the bee is most susceptible. Others rely on chemicals that increase bee mortality rate. For example, formic acid has a harmful effect on capped and uncapped honey bee brood. We are working on killing the mites more effectively by directing delivery of the miticide, oxalic acid. Oxalic acid is an optimal weapon against the mites because the concentration needed to kill a mite is 70 times less lethal to the bee. The acid is already being used in syrup and spray solutions. Our method differs from other oxalic acid methods as it directly transfers the oxalic acid to the mite through the blood-like substance of the bee. Specifically, we are aiming to put E. coli in the midgut of the bee via ingestion, the E. coli would then produce oxalic acid which would be absorbed into the bloodstream. From there, when the mite attacks the bee and drinks its hemolymph, the oxalic acid will be there as a defense mechanism.');
 +
 +
jQuery("#hp_paragraph").text('Although the science is an integral part of our project, we put some emphasis on human practices as well. Every team member contributed so that we could have a diverse and engaging set of human practices. We reached out many individuals, including one of our MLAs, who is also the Minister of Environment to get her support of our project; rural beekeepers in Southern Alberta to ask about the viability of our project; we also talked to our city council, and an urban planner to see how we could make our city more “bee-friendly”. We interacted with the public by handing out seed packets in parks, and informing them about the decline of bees and the city by-law that makes urban bee-keeping illegal; many signed a petition that we created to remove this by-law. To promote iGEM, we went to two middle schools to tell the students a little bit about our project and what iGEM is.');
 
                     document.getElementById("projectIcon").src ="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/8/88/LethHS2015_Varroa_icon.png";
 
                     document.getElementById("projectIcon").src ="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/8/88/LethHS2015_Varroa_icon.png";
                     document.getElementById("projectSwitchIcon").src = "https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/4/4b/LethHS2015_Plasmid.png";
+
                     document.getElementById("projectSwitchIcon").src = "https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/8/88/LethHS2015_Varroa_icon.png";
 
                     document.getElementById("slide1Image").src = "https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/4/4d/LethHS2015_bees_intro_slide1_pic.jpg";
 
                     document.getElementById("slide1Image").src = "https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/4/4d/LethHS2015_bees_intro_slide1_pic.jpg";
 
                     jQuery("#mainTitleText").style.color("#FFE545");
 
                     jQuery("#mainTitleText").style.color("#FFE545");
 
                 }
 
                 }
 +
               
 +
 
                  
 
                  
 
                                
 
                                
Line 163: Line 169:
 
                 <!--Lethbridge HS iGEM Logo -->
 
                 <!--Lethbridge HS iGEM Logo -->
 
                 <div class="navbar-header">
 
                 <div class="navbar-header">
                     <a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Introduction" id="nav-head" class="navbar-brand" style="margin-top:10px;"><h1 id="headerText" style="font-weight:100; font-family: 'Mohave'; ">Lethbridge iGEM      </h1></a>
+
                     <a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Introduction" id="nav-head" class="navbar-brand" style="margin-top:10px;"><h1 id="headerText" style="font-weight:100; font-family: 'existence'; ">Lethbridge iGEM      </h1></a>
 
                  
 
                  
  
Line 182: Line 188:
 
                                 <li>
 
                                 <li>
 
                                     <a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Description">Background</a>
 
                                     <a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Description">Background</a>
                                     <a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Description">Parts</a>
+
<a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Experiments">Experiments</a>
<a href="#">Achievements</a>
+
<a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Results">Results</a>
 +
                                     <a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Parts">Parts</a>
 +
<a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Achievements">Achievements</a>
 +
 
 
                                 </li>
 
                                 </li>
 
                             </ul>     
 
                             </ul>     
Line 190: Line 199:
 
                         <li margin-top:2%; style="margin-top:2%;"><a class="textItem" href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Notebook">Notebook</a></li>
 
                         <li margin-top:2%; style="margin-top:2%;"><a class="textItem" href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Notebook">Notebook</a></li>
 
                         <li margin-top:2%; style="margin-top:2%;"><a class="textItem" href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Safety">Safety</a></li>
 
                         <li margin-top:2%; style="margin-top:2%;"><a class="textItem" href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Safety">Safety</a></li>
<li class="texItem"  style="margin-top:2%;"><a class="" href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Software">Software</a></li>
 
 
  <li class= "dropdown texItem" style="margin-top:2%;">
 
  <li class= "dropdown texItem" style="margin-top:2%;">
 
                             <a class="textItem" href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Team" class="dropdown-toggle" data-toggle = "dropdown">Team<b class="caret"></b></a>
 
                             <a class="textItem" href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Team" class="dropdown-toggle" data-toggle = "dropdown">Team<b class="caret"></b></a>
Line 196: Line 204:
 
                                 <li>
 
                                 <li>
 
                                     <a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Team">Students</a>
 
                                     <a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Team">Students</a>
                                     <a href="#">Advisors</a>
+
                                     <a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Team#section2">Advisors</a>
<a class="texItem" href="#">Sponsors</a>
+
<a class="texItem" href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Team#section3">Sponsors</a>
 
<a class="texItem" href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Attributions">Attributions</a>
 
<a class="texItem" href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Attributions">Attributions</a>
<a class="texItem" href="#">Collaborations</a>
+
<a class="texItem" href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Collaborations">Collaborations</a>
 
                                 </li>
 
                                 </li>
 
                             </ul>     
 
                             </ul>     
 
                         </li>
 
                         </li>
                       <li class=""><a class="picItem" href="team.html"><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/2/21/LethHS2015_igemlogo.png" width="50px" height="45px" style="margin-top:-9%; margin-bottom:-10%;"></a></li>
+
                       <li class=""><a class="picItem" href="https://2015.igem.org/Main_Page"><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/2/21/LethHS2015_igemlogo.png" width="50px" height="45px" style="margin-top:-9%; margin-bottom:-10%;"></a></li>
 
  <li class=""><div  onclick="myFunction()" id="nswitchIcon" class="navBarSwitchButton picItem"><img id="projectSwitchIcon" src="images/plainicon.com-48232-512px-7b5.png" class="img-responsive"></div> </li>
 
  <li class=""><div  onclick="myFunction()" id="nswitchIcon" class="navBarSwitchButton picItem"><img id="projectSwitchIcon" src="images/plainicon.com-48232-512px-7b5.png" class="img-responsive"></div> </li>
 
                     </ul>
 
                     </ul>
Line 218: Line 226:
 
                                 <div class="col-md-12">
 
                                 <div class="col-md-12">
 
                                 <div id="projectTitle">
 
                                 <div id="projectTitle">
                                     <p id="mainTitleText" class=""> Lethbridge High School iGEM  <span style="color:#31B2DE;"></span> <br><small><span style="color:#88D648"></span> </small> </p>
+
                                     <p id="mainTitleText" class="" style="margin-bottom:20px;"> Lethbridge High School iGEM  <span style="color:#31B2DE;"></span> <br><small><span style="color:#88D648"></span> </small> </p>
 
                      
 
                      
 
   
 
   
Line 224: Line 232:
 
                     <div class="row" style="text-align:center;">   
 
                     <div class="row" style="text-align:center;">   
 
                         <div class="col-md-12 col-xs-12 col-sm-12" style="display:inline-block;float:none;">
 
                         <div class="col-md-12 col-xs-12 col-sm-12" style="display:inline-block;float:none;">
                               <p id="subTitleText" class="">Eliminating <span id="coloredTitle">Varoa Destructor</span> </p>   
+
                               <p id="subTitleText" class=""  style="font-family: 'existence';" >Eliminating <span id="coloredTitle" style="font-weight:600;">Varoa Destructor</span> </p>   
 
                             <img id="projectIcon" src="images/plainicon.com-48232-512px-7b5.png" width=200px class="img-responsive  animated bounceInUp fas" style="margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; margin-bottom:-1%;">
 
                             <img id="projectIcon" src="images/plainicon.com-48232-512px-7b5.png" width=200px class="img-responsive  animated bounceInUp fas" style="margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; margin-bottom:-1%;">
 
                              
 
                              
Line 249: Line 257:
 
                         <div class="col-md-12">
 
                         <div class="col-md-12">
 
                             <div id="goDown">
 
                             <div id="goDown">
                             <a href="#firstSlide"><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/7/72/LethHS2015_Arrow_down.png" width="150" height="110" class="img-responsive downImg"></a>
+
                             <a href="#firstSlide"><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/7/72/LethHS2015_Arrow_down.png" width="50" height="40" class="img-responsive downImg"></a>
 
                             </div>
 
                             </div>
 
                         </div>
 
                         </div>
Line 258: Line 266:
 
         </div>
 
         </div>
 
         <a name="firstSlide"></a>
 
         <a name="firstSlide"></a>
         <div class="jumbotron" id="slide1">
+
         <div class="jumbotron bigPadding" id="slide1" style="padding-bottom:2%;">
 
                 <div class="container-fluid" style="">
 
                 <div class="container-fluid" style="">
 
                     <div class="row">
 
                     <div class="row">
 
                         <div clas="col-md-12">
 
                         <div clas="col-md-12">
                             <h1 id="slide1Title" class="slideTitle"> Overview <br><small></small></h1>
+
                             <h1 style="font-family: 'existence'; " id="slide1Title" class="slideTitle"> Overview <br><small></small></h1>
 
                         </div>
 
                         </div>
 
                     </div>
 
                     </div>
 
                     <div class="row" style="margin-bottom:1%;">
 
                     <div class="row" style="margin-bottom:1%;">
                        <div class="col-md-4" style="">
+
 
<div class="animatedParent animateOnce">
+
 
                            <img id="slide1Image" src="images/honeybeeinflight.jpg" height=300px width=400px class="img-responsive regularimg animated fadeInLeftShort">
+
<div class="col-md-12">
                            </div>
+
                           
+
                        </div>
+
                        <div class="col-md-8">
+
                           
+
 
                             <div class="animatedParent animateOnce">
 
                             <div class="animatedParent animateOnce">
+
                             <p style="text-align:left; font-size:1.3em;" id="slide1Paragraph" class="animated fadeInRightShort">The top 100 food crops produced provide 90% of the world’s nutrition. 70% of these crops are pollinated by bees. A phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has decimated honeybee colonies across the world, halving the number of productive colonies worldwide. One of the main factors hypothesized to contribute to CCD is the mite and viral vector Varroa destructor. While feeding on the bee’s hemolymph, Varroa destructor expels RNA viruses into the bee crippling colony’s strength. Current commercial methods to eradicate Varroa have seen a gradual development of resistance in treated populations. Using synthetic biology, we plan to target Varroa more effectively by directly delivering the miticide, oxalic acid into Varroa and utilizing RNA interference to eliminate Varroa populations within commercial hives.</p>
 
+
                   
                             <p style="text-align:left;" id="slide1Paragraph" class="animated fadeInRightShort">The top 100 food crops produced provide 90% of the world’s nutrition. 70% of these crops are pollinated by bees. A phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has decimated honeybee colonies across the world, halving the number of productive colonies worldwide. One of the main factors hypothesized to contribute to CCD is the mite and viral vector Varroa destructor. While feeding on the bee’s hemolymph, Varroa destructor expels RNA viruses into the bee crippling colony’s strength. Current commercial methods to eradicate Varroa have seen a gradual development of resistance in treated populations. Using synthetic biology, we plan to target Varroa more effectively by directly delivering the miticide, oxalic acid into Varroa and utilizing RNA interference to eliminate Varroa populations within commercial hives.</p>
+
<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/e/ea/LethHS2015_beeinfographic.png" class="img-responsive" width=600px style="margin-bottom:20px; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; ">
                   
+
 
</div>
 
</div>
 
                              
 
                              
Line 291: Line 293:
 
             </div>  
 
             </div>  
 
         </div>
 
         </div>
<div class="jumbotron" id="slide2" style="padding:0;">
+
<div class="jumbotron bigPadding" id="slide2" style="padding-bottom:2%; ">
 
                 <div class="container-fluid">
 
                 <div class="container-fluid">
 
                     <div class="row">
 
                     <div class="row">
Line 298: Line 300:
 
                         </div>
 
                         </div>
 
                     </div>
 
                     </div>
 +
<div class="row">
 
                     <div class="col-md-12">
 
                     <div class="col-md-12">
                           <h1 id="slide1Title" class="slideTitle"  style="margin-top:1%"> Our Solution <br><small></small></h1>
+
                           <h1 style="font-family: 'existence'; " id="slide1Title" class="slideTitle"> Our Solution <br><small></small></h1>
 
                         </div>
 
                         </div>
 +
</div>
 
                     <div class="row">
 
                     <div class="row">
                         <div class="col-md-6">
+
                         <div class="col-md-12">
                            <img src="images/Oxalic-acid-3D-balls.png" height=415      width=500 class="img-responsive regularimg">
+
<div class="animatedParent animateOnce">
 +
                           
 +
</div>
 
                         </div>
 
                         </div>
                         <div class="col-md-6">
+
                         <div class="col-md-12">
 
                             <section class="cbp-so-section">
 
                             <section class="cbp-so-section">
                            <p style="text-align:left;" class="cbp-so-side cbp-so-side-right">The top 100 food crops produced provide 90% of the world’s nutrition. 70% of these crops are pollinated by bees. A phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has decimated honeybee colonies across the world, halving the number of productive colonies worldwide. One of the main factors hypothesized to contribute to CCD is the mite and viral vector Varroa destructor. While feeding on the bee’s hemolymph, Varroa destructor expels RNA viruses into the bee crippling colony’s strength. Current commercial methods to eradicate Varroa have seen a gradual development of resistance in treated populations. Using synthetic biology, we plan to target Varroa more effectively by directly delivering the miticide, oxalic acid into Varroa and utilizing RNA interference to eliminate Varroa populations within commercial hives.</p>
+
<div class="animatedParent animateOnce">
 +
 
 +
<p style="text-align:left; font-size:1.3em;" id="slide15Paragraph" class="animated fadeInRightShort">A few methods to deal with V. destructor are ineffective as they do not target the mite at a crucial phase when the bee is most susceptible. Others rely on chemicals that increase bee mortality rate. For example, formic acid has a harmful effect on capped and uncapped honey bee brood. We are working on killing the mites more effectively by directing delivery of the miticide, oxalic acid. Oxalic acid is an optimal weapon against the mites because the concentration needed to kill a mite is 70 times less lethal to the bee. The acid is already being used in syrup and spray solutions. Our method differs from other oxalic acid methods as it directly transfers the oxalic acid to the mite through the blood-like substance of the bee. Specifically, we are aiming to put E. coli in the midgut of the bee via ingestion, the E. coli would then produce oxalic acid which would be absorbed into the bloodstream. From there, when the mite attacks the bee and drinks its hemolymph, the oxalic acid will be there as a defense mechanism.
 +
</p>
 +
</div>
 +
                            </section>
 +
                        </div>
 +
                    </div>
 +
                </div>
 +
            </div>
 +
<div class="jumbotron bigPadding" id="slide2" style="background-color:#283339; padding-bottom:2%; ">
 +
                <div class="container-fluid">
 +
                    <div class="row">
 +
                        <div class="col-md-12">
 +
                            <div id="arrowhp" class="arrow_down_1"></div>
 +
                        </div>
 +
                    </div>
 +
                    <div class="col-md-12">
 +
                          <h1 style="font-family: 'existence'; color:white; " id="slide1Title" class="slideTitle"> Human Practices <br><small></small></h1>
 +
                        </div>
 +
                    <div class="row">
 +
                        <div class="col-md-12">
 +
<div class="animatedParent animateOnce">
 +
                            <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/a/a2/LethHS2015_group1.jpg"    style="margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"  width=700px class="img-responsive regularimg animated fadeInLeftShort">
 +
</div>
 +
                        </div>
 +
                        <div class="col-md-12">
 +
                            <section class="cbp-so-section">
 +
<div class="animatedParent animateOnce">
 +
                            <p id="hp_paragraph" style="text-align:left; color:white;" class="animated fadeInRightShort">Although the science is an integral part of our project, we put some emphasis on human practices as well. Every team member contributed so that we could have a diverse and engaging set of human practices. We reached out many individuals, including one of our MLAs, who is also the Minister of Environment to get her support of our project; rural beekeepers in Southern Alberta to ask about the viability of our project; we also talked to our city council, and an urban planner to see how we could make our city more “bee-friendly”. We interacted with the public by handing out seed packets in parks, and informing them about the decline of bees and the city by-law that makes urban bee-keeping illegal; many signed a petition that we created to remove this by-law. To promote iGEM, we went to two middle schools to tell the students a little bit about our project and what iGEM is.
 +
 
 +
 +
</p>
 +
</div>
 
                             </section>
 
                             </section>
 
                         </div>
 
                         </div>
Line 317: Line 356:
 
                     <div class="row">
 
                     <div class="row">
 
                         <div class="col-md-12">
 
                         <div class="col-md-12">
                             <div style=" border-top: 35px solid #FFFDCD;" class="arrow_down_1" id="arrow_down_solution"></div>
+
                             <div style=" border-top: 35px solid #283339;" class="arrow_down_1" id=""></div>
 
                         </div>
 
                         </div>
 
                     </div>
 
                     </div>
Line 325: Line 364:
 
                             <h1 id="slide1Title" class="slideTitle" style="color:white; margin-top:1%;"> Aspects of Our Project <br><small></small></h1>
 
                             <h1 id="slide1Title" class="slideTitle" style="color:white; margin-top:1%;"> Aspects of Our Project <br><small></small></h1>
 
                         </div>
 
                         </div>
                         <div class="row">
+
<div class="animatedParent animateOnce">
 +
                         <div class="row animated fadeInUpShort">
 
                         <div class="col-md-3 col-sm-4 col-xs-6">
 
                         <div class="col-md-3 col-sm-4 col-xs-6">
 
                             <div class="tileBorder">
 
                             <div class="tileBorder">
                             <div class="tile flaticon-dna9"></div>
+
 
 +
                             <div onclick="location.href='https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Description';" style="cursor:pointer;" class="tile flaticon-dna9"></div>
 +
 
 
                             <p class="tileDescription"> Project</p>
 
                             <p class="tileDescription"> Project</p>
 
                             </div>
 
                             </div>
Line 334: Line 376:
 
                         <div class="col-md-3 col-sm-4 col-xs-6">
 
                         <div class="col-md-3 col-sm-4 col-xs-6">
 
                             <div class="tileBorder">
 
                             <div class="tileBorder">
                             <div class="tile flaticon-familiar17"></div>
+
 
 +
                             <div onclick="location.href='https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Practices';" style="cursor:pointer;" class="tile flaticon-familiar17"></div>
 +
 
 
                             <p class="tileDescription"> Human Practices</p>
 
                             <p class="tileDescription"> Human Practices</p>
 
                             </div>
 
                             </div>
Line 340: Line 384:
 
                           <div class="col-md-3 col-sm-4 col-xs-6">
 
                           <div class="col-md-3 col-sm-4 col-xs-6">
 
                             <div class="tileBorder">
 
                             <div class="tileBorder">
                             <div class="tile flaticon-book228"></div>
+
                             <div onclick="location.href='https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Notebook';" style="cursor:pointer;" class="tile flaticon-book228"></div>
 
                             <p class="tileDescription"> Notebook</p>
 
                             <p class="tileDescription"> Notebook</p>
 
                             </div>
 
                             </div>
Line 346: Line 390:
 
                             <div class="col-md-3 col-sm-4 col-xs-6">
 
                             <div class="col-md-3 col-sm-4 col-xs-6">
 
                             <div class="tileBorder">
 
                             <div class="tileBorder">
                             <div class="tile flaticon-cone10"></div>
+
                             <div onclick="location.href='https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Safety';" style="cursor:pointer;" class="tile flaticon-cone10"></div>
 
                             <p class="tileDescription"> Safety</p>
 
                             <p class="tileDescription"> Safety</p>
 
                             </div>
 
                             </div>
Line 352: Line 396:
 
                             <div class="col-md-3 col-sm-4 col-xs-6">
 
                             <div class="col-md-3 col-sm-4 col-xs-6">
 
                             <div class="tileBorder">
 
                             <div class="tileBorder">
                             <div class="tile flaticon-smartphone66"></div>
+
                             <div onclick="location.href='https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Parts';" style="cursor:pointer;" class="tile flaticon-bricks3"></div>
                             <p class="tileDescription"> Software</p>
+
                             <p class="tileDescription"> Parts</p>
 
                             </div>
 
                             </div>
 
                         </div>
 
                         </div>
 
                             <div class="col-md-3 col-sm-4 col-xs-6">
 
                             <div class="col-md-3 col-sm-4 col-xs-6">
 
                             <div class="tileBorder">
 
                             <div class="tileBorder">
                             <div class="tile flaticon-prize3"></div>
+
                             <div onclick="location.href='https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Practices';" style="cursor:pointer;" class="tile flaticon-prize3"></div>
 
                             <p class="tileDescription"> Achievements</p>
 
                             <p class="tileDescription"> Achievements</p>
 
                             </div>
 
                             </div>
Line 364: Line 408:
 
                             <div class="col-md-3 col-sm-4 col-xs-6">
 
                             <div class="col-md-3 col-sm-4 col-xs-6">
 
                             <div class="tileBorder">
 
                             <div class="tileBorder">
                             <div class="tile flaticon-businessman276"></div>
+
                             <div onclick="location.href='https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Team';" style="cursor:pointer;" class="tile flaticon-business53"></div>
 
                             <p class="tileDescription"> Team</p>
 
                             <p class="tileDescription"> Team</p>
 
                             </div>
 
                             </div>
Line 370: Line 414:
 
                             <div class="col-md-3 col-sm-4 col-xs-6">
 
                             <div class="col-md-3 col-sm-4 col-xs-6">
 
                             <div class="tileBorder">
 
                             <div class="tileBorder">
                             <div class="tile flaticon-brainstorm"></div>
+
                             <div onclick="location.href='https://2015.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/Collaborations';" style="cursor:pointer;" class="tile flaticon-brainstorm"></div>
 
                             <p class="tileDescription"> Collaborations</p>
 
                             <p class="tileDescription"> Collaborations</p>
 
                             </div>
 
                             </div>
 
                         </div>
 
                         </div>
  
                          
+
                         </div>
 
                          
 
                          
 
                         </div>
 
                         </div>
Line 384: Line 428:
 
         <div class="jumbotron" id="slide3" style="padding:0; padding-bottom:2%;">
 
         <div class="jumbotron" id="slide3" style="padding:0; padding-bottom:2%;">
 
                 <div class="container-fluid">
 
                 <div class="container-fluid">
                     <div class="row">
+
 
 +
                     <div class="row ">
 
                         <div class="col-md-6">
 
                         <div class="col-md-6">
 
                             <div style=" border-top: 35px solid #283339" class="arrow_down_2" id="arrow_down_aspects"></div>
 
                             <div style=" border-top: 35px solid #283339" class="arrow_down_2" id="arrow_down_aspects"></div>
Line 392: Line 437:
 
                             <h1 id="slide1Title" class="slideTitle" style="color:black; margin-top:1%;"> Thanks to our amazing sponsors <br><small></small></h1>
 
                             <h1 id="slide1Title" class="slideTitle" style="color:black; margin-top:1%;"> Thanks to our amazing sponsors <br><small></small></h1>
 
                         </div>
 
                         </div>
                    <div class="row">
+
<div class="animatedParent animateOnce">
 +
  <div class="row animated fadeInUpShort">
 
                         <div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-xs-6">
 
                         <div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-xs-6">
 
                             <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/0/05/LethHS2015_Geekstarter.png" height=415      width=300 class="img-responsive  sponsorImg">
 
                             <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/0/05/LethHS2015_Geekstarter.png" height=415      width=300 class="img-responsive  sponsorImg">
Line 399: Line 445:
 
                             <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/8/8c/LethHS2015_AITF.png" height=415      width=300 class="img-responsive  sponsorImg">
 
                             <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/8/8c/LethHS2015_AITF.png" height=415      width=300 class="img-responsive  sponsorImg">
 
                         </div>
 
                         </div>
 +
  
 
                         <div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-xs-6">
 
                         <div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-xs-6">
 
                             <img style="margin-top:10%;" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/1/1b/LethHS2015_uofl2.png" height=415      width=300 class="img-responsive  sponsorImg">
 
                             <img style="margin-top:10%;" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/1/1b/LethHS2015_uofl2.png" height=415      width=300 class="img-responsive  sponsorImg">
 
                         </div>
 
                         </div>
 +
</div>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
  <div class="row">
+
<div class="animatedParent animateOnce">
                         <div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-xs-6">
+
<div class="row animated fadeInUpShort">
 +
 
 +
                         <div class="col-md-3 col-sm-6 col-xs-6">
 
                             <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/9/92/LethHS2015_ARRTI.png" height=415      width=300 class="img-responsive  sponsorImg">
 
                             <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/9/92/LethHS2015_ARRTI.png" height=415      width=300 class="img-responsive  sponsorImg">
 
                         </div>
 
                         </div>
                             <div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-xs-6">
+
                             <div class="col-md-3 col-sm-6 col-xs-6">
 
                             <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/a/a0/LethHS2015_ATB.png" height=415      width=300 class="img-responsive  sponsorImg">
 
                             <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/a/a0/LethHS2015_ATB.png" height=415      width=300 class="img-responsive  sponsorImg">
 
                         </div>
 
                         </div>
  <div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-xs-6">
+
  <div class="col-md-3 col-sm-6 col-xs-6">
 
                             <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/5/5c/LethHS2015_tecconnect.png" height=415      width=300 class="img-responsive  sponsorImg">
 
                             <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/5/5c/LethHS2015_tecconnect.png" height=415      width=300 class="img-responsive  sponsorImg">
 +
                        </div>
 +
<div class="col-md-3 col-sm-3 col-xs-6">
 +
                            <img style="" src="http://filecenter.bestforagents.com/fileManager/Brokerage%20Logo/Sutton%20Group/Sutton%20Group.jpg?src=System" height=300      width=200 class="img-responsive  sponsorImg">
 
                         </div>
 
                         </div>
 
                    
 
                    
 
                     </div>
 
                     </div>
 +
</div>
 
                 </div>
 
                 </div>
            </div>
+
</div>
 +
 
  
         <div class="jumbotron" id="slide7" style="padding:0">
+
         <div class="jumbotron slide7" id="" style="padding:0; margin-bottom:0;">
 
                 <div class="container-fluid">
 
                 <div class="container-fluid">
 
                     <div class="row">
 
                     <div class="row">
Line 430: Line 485:
 
                          
 
                          
 
                         <div class="col-md-12">
 
                         <div class="col-md-12">
                             <h1> Who are we <br><small>Blah blah blah</small></h1>
+
                             <h1 id="slide1Title" class="slideTitle" style="color:white; margin-top:1%;"> Who are we? <br><small></small></h1>
                             <div>Icons made by <a href="http://www.freepik.com" title="Freepik">Freepik</a> from <a href="http://www.flaticon.com" title="Flaticon">www.flaticon.com</a>            is licensed by <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/" title="Creative Commons BY 3.0">CC BY 3.0</a></div>
+
<iframe style="margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FsN6121Ss5c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 +
<div class="animatedParent animateOnce ">
 +
<div class="animated fadeInUpShort" style="width:70%; text-align:center;margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; ">
 +
<p style="color:white; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">We are a High School team composed of three local high school within the Lethbridge city area in Southern Alberta, Canada. Team members hail from Winston Churchill High School, Chinook High School, and Lethbridge Collegiate School. Team meetings along with wet lab activities are hosted by the University of Lethbridge Chemistry and Biochemistry department. <br><br>
 +
</p>'</div></div>
 +
                             <div style="color:white;">Icons made by <a href="http://www.freepik.com" title="Freepik">Freepik</a> from <a href="http://www.flaticon.com" title="Flaticon">www.flaticon.com</a>            is licensed by <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/" title="Creative Commons BY 3.0">CC BY 3.0</a></div>
 +
 
 
                         </div>
 
                         </div>
 
                     </div>
 
                     </div>

Latest revision as of 03:27, 19 September 2015

Overview

The top 100 food crops produced provide 90% of the world’s nutrition. 70% of these crops are pollinated by bees. A phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has decimated honeybee colonies across the world, halving the number of productive colonies worldwide. One of the main factors hypothesized to contribute to CCD is the mite and viral vector Varroa destructor. While feeding on the bee’s hemolymph, Varroa destructor expels RNA viruses into the bee crippling colony’s strength. Current commercial methods to eradicate Varroa have seen a gradual development of resistance in treated populations. Using synthetic biology, we plan to target Varroa more effectively by directly delivering the miticide, oxalic acid into Varroa and utilizing RNA interference to eliminate Varroa populations within commercial hives.

Our Solution

A few methods to deal with V. destructor are ineffective as they do not target the mite at a crucial phase when the bee is most susceptible. Others rely on chemicals that increase bee mortality rate. For example, formic acid has a harmful effect on capped and uncapped honey bee brood. We are working on killing the mites more effectively by directing delivery of the miticide, oxalic acid. Oxalic acid is an optimal weapon against the mites because the concentration needed to kill a mite is 70 times less lethal to the bee. The acid is already being used in syrup and spray solutions. Our method differs from other oxalic acid methods as it directly transfers the oxalic acid to the mite through the blood-like substance of the bee. Specifically, we are aiming to put E. coli in the midgut of the bee via ingestion, the E. coli would then produce oxalic acid which would be absorbed into the bloodstream. From there, when the mite attacks the bee and drinks its hemolymph, the oxalic acid will be there as a defense mechanism.

Human Practices

Although the science is an integral part of our project, we put some emphasis on human practices as well. Every team member contributed so that we could have a diverse and engaging set of human practices. We reached out many individuals, including one of our MLAs, who is also the Minister of Environment to get her support of our project; rural beekeepers in Southern Alberta to ask about the viability of our project; we also talked to our city council, and an urban planner to see how we could make our city more “bee-friendly”. We interacted with the public by handing out seed packets in parks, and informing them about the decline of bees and the city by-law that makes urban bee-keeping illegal; many signed a petition that we created to remove this by-law. To promote iGEM, we went to two middle schools to tell the students a little bit about our project and what iGEM is.

Aspects of Our Project

Project

Human Practices

Notebook

Safety

Parts

Achievements

Team

Collaborations

Thanks to our amazing sponsors

Who are we?

We are a High School team composed of three local high school within the Lethbridge city area in Southern Alberta, Canada. Team members hail from Winston Churchill High School, Chinook High School, and Lethbridge Collegiate School. Team meetings along with wet lab activities are hosted by the University of Lethbridge Chemistry and Biochemistry department.

'
Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com is licensed by CC BY 3.0