Module 1 builds synthetic haploid strains with refactored mating loci that are conjugated to make a functional IOD. These strains have the wild-type mating phenotype and differentially express a reprogrammed signalling pathway in their diploid state proving the feasibility of the clone-free assembly concept.

• Constructed a set of reporter promoters for yeast cells
• Characterized reporter promoters in all mating types
• Designed and materialized synthetic MATa and MATx strains
• Built a synthetic diploid strain with a functional yeast pheromone pathway
• Demonstrated the correct functionality of yeast pheromone pathway in synthetic diploids

Module 2 builds a set of orthogonal pheromones and receptors. These pheromone-receptor pairs enable specific localized signalling proving the feasibility of multichannel signal transmission underlying logic operations necessary for reliable diagnosis.

• Constructed a set of yeast plasmids with different mating pheromones and their receptors and contributed to the Registry with 6 BioBricks
• Verified the correct coupling of the receptors to the yeast pheromone mating pathway
• Verified the correct expression and secretion of the different pheromones
• Showed the orthogonality of the used receptors and pheromones

Module 3 builds a set of location tags that recognize common tumor surface markers and agglutinate cell populations. Location tags displayed in the correct conformation strengthen cell-cell interactions to enable localization of signal transmission.

• Expressed streptavidin, EpCAM, Anti-EpCAM scFv, c-Myc scFv and anti-HuA scFv on the surface of yeasts
• Demonstrated the ability of our receptors to bind chosen markers
• Monitored the dynamic binding of our receptors and their corresponding markers

Module 4

• Developed a simulation environment CeCe to capture the complexity of cell-cell signal transmission
• Designed an IOD chemical reaction network model
• Developed a schematic architecture for conceptual modeling of signal transmission networks
• Designed a two IOD signal transmission network suitable for the IOD band
• Illustrated the robustness and efficiency of the IOD band design in CeCe simulations

Module 5

• Set of microfluidic devices fabricated by PDMS soft-lithography.
• Characterization of signal transmission range between wildtype MATa and MATx Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells.
• Dynamic characterisation of signal transmission between synthetic MATa and MATx Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells.
• Comparison with mathematical model of signal transmission mechanism and estimation of the activation threshold for different cell concentrations.
• Demonstrated yeast induced blood agglutination on-chip by human antigen A displayed on cell surface by Yeast Surface Display.