Team:IONIS Paris/Description

Our project

Popularization of Synthetic Biology

By 2 different approaches

Design of a real synthetic biology game: the Bio-Console

It is based on the control of engineered bacteria in a microfluidic chip connected to a computer interface. Our game is dependent on:

• optogenetic signals leading to either the fluorescence of our bacteria in order to visualize it, or the death of our bacteria. The latter allows us to control our system leading to an efficient kill switch.
• luciferin if the vizualisation of bacteria is made by bioluminescence

The mobile application: Biology, Synthetic Biology & Safety!

Our team wants to promote Synthetic Biology using an original point of view. The goal is to make this field accessible to everyone by using a playful & entertaining tool..

What do we do exactly?

Subtitled version

The Bio-Console

How will work our Bio-Console ?

To begin, we need our bacteria to be visible to the player. That's why we added the genes responsible for bacteria fluorescence or bioluminescence. Our genetic constructions will allow us to induce bacteria fluorescence through light signals or bioluminescence. In this way, we can make each group of bacteria directly visible before starting of the game. Then, the bacteria will be introduced in an aqueous medium having the same density as the water. In this environment, the bacteria will have all the molecules that allow them to survive in the game. There will be as well some liposomes (small capsules where the internal environment is separated by membranes from the external environment). Inside of these liposomes, bacteria destructive toxins will be present, and this is where the gameplay of our game relies. Once the bacteria are visible, we will introduce the aqueous medium in our microfluidic chip. This chip will be placed beforehand under an optical microscope itself connected to the computer screen. The aqueous medium then forms a sort of bubble containing BactMan and toxins trapped in the vesicle. This bubble will be directly controlled by the player by flows through the joystick as it is related to the computer.

The goal of the game !

The goal is simple: to allow BactMan to survive as long as possible. Stop him from getting in contact with the virtual lasers that will appear faster and faster as the game goes on. If BactMan were to be touched, a bright flash will appear at the microscope and will activate the liposomes opening. The toxins will eliminate our hero that will lose his fluorescence ... GAME OVER