Difference between revisions of "Team:UNC-Chapel Hill"

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<h3 style="color:#56A0D3;">Background</h3>
 
<h3 style="color:#56A0D3;">Background</h3>
 
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Type-1 diabetes is a disease that affects the production of insulin in the body, requiring strenuous monitoring of glucose levels in order to prevent severe symptoms eventually ending in death. With the rise of solutions to produce insulin reminiscent of synthetic biology, the production of insulin is no longer problematic in developed countries; however, glucose monitoring is and continues to be a source of financial trouble for many people with Type-1 diabetes.  
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Type 1 diabetes affects the production of insulin in the body, requiring continual monitoring of blood glucose levels in order to prevent the worsening of symptoms, which in many cases lead to death. With the development of solutions to produce supplemental insulin emerging, the production of insulin is no longer problematic in developed countries. However, glucose monitoring is and continues to be a source of financial trouble for many people with Type 1 diabetes. The current method for measuring blood sugar levels in diabetics utilizes a blood sugar monitor and expensive testing strips. The most basic can cost at least of 30$ and test strips 1.38$ each(One Touch Ultra)<sup>1</sup>, and when taken into account that diabetics must test their blood at least five times a day with these non reusable strips, the glucose monitoring equipment can cost at a minimum 2500$ a year. In addition, insulin costs may be much higher, creating an even bigger burden.
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    The current solution for measuring blood sugar involves the use of a blood sugar monitor and expensive test strips. The problem with this system is that it is expensive, monitors cost from 10 to 50$ and test stips-1.38 $/strip (One Touch Ultra)<sup>1</sup>. Furthermore, diabetics are recommended to take their blood sugar at least five times a day and these test strips are not reusable. This means the approximate cost of glucose monitoring is 2528.5$ per year (assuming new glucose monitor every three years). In addition, for developing countries, this cost does not reflect the cost of insulin, which may be an even greater burden to persons suffering Type-1 diabetes.  
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<h3 style="color:#56A0D3;">Our Solution</h3>
 
<h3 style="color:#56A0D3;">Our Solution</h3>
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<p>We will attempt to construct a synthetic biological system not dependent on expensive and non-reusable test strips, inspired by the durable nature of cells and ability to detect chemical changes in the environment. We plan to assemble a 3-part reporter system specific to diabetes-relevant levels of glucose in the blood, ranging from 30 ng/dL to 300 ng/dL<sup>2</sup>. Our system will utilize iGEM registry chromoproteins, which will allow for easy visual characterization and hence prevent the need for patients to have equipment outside of a standard fridge.</p>
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<p>Through the development of a novel glucose sensing system in which glucose-responsive promoters drive the expression of three reporter chromoproteins, it will allow for the quantization of glucose concentration based on fluorescence emitted by the cell. With each chromoprotein linked to a different promoter with unique glucose sensitivities, each wavelength will correspond to a specific concentration of glucose. In conjunction with preexisting parts, we designed four novel glucose-sensitive promoters and tested their ability to drive expression of reporter chromoproteins at various concentrations.
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<h3 style="color:#56A0D3;">Originality and Improvement</h3>
 
<h3 style="color:#56A0D3;">Originality and Improvement</h3>
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<p>Glucose-related reporter systems are not a new concept to iGEM, as is apparent from the 2011 Missouri Miners team, who tested an OmpR-based reporter system; the 2008 Edinburgh team, who constructed a synthetic cAMP reporter system; and WHU China 2012, who created a repressible cAMP reporter system. However, a three-part multi-color system is novel and would solve the qualitative characterization flaw inherent in one-color systems, especially those utilizing chromoproteins. Additionally, as Edinburgh’s cAMP inducible promoter<sup>3</sup> and WHU China’s cAMP repressible promoter<sup>4</sup> offer levels of sensitivity close to what we wish to achieve, we will seek to improve the existing characterization of those parts.</p>
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While glucose sensitive reporter systems are not a new to concept to iGEM, our novel three-color system revolutionizes the creation of sensing systems. This would solve the qualitative characterization flaw inherent in the current one-color systems, especially those utilizing chromoproteins. Our sensor has cut sites before and after each promoter, allowing the interchange of various promoters depending on what the user wants to measure. This customization allows for the three-color system to be applied into other fields where sensitive measurement is of vital importance.  
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Revision as of 14:13, 25 August 2015

Background

Type 1 diabetes affects the production of insulin in the body, requiring continual monitoring of blood glucose levels in order to prevent the worsening of symptoms, which in many cases lead to death. With the development of solutions to produce supplemental insulin emerging, the production of insulin is no longer problematic in developed countries. However, glucose monitoring is and continues to be a source of financial trouble for many people with Type 1 diabetes. The current method for measuring blood sugar levels in diabetics utilizes a blood sugar monitor and expensive testing strips. The most basic can cost at least of 30$ and test strips 1.38$ each(One Touch Ultra)1, and when taken into account that diabetics must test their blood at least five times a day with these non reusable strips, the glucose monitoring equipment can cost at a minimum 2500$ a year. In addition, insulin costs may be much higher, creating an even bigger burden.

Our Solution

Through the development of a novel glucose sensing system in which glucose-responsive promoters drive the expression of three reporter chromoproteins, it will allow for the quantization of glucose concentration based on fluorescence emitted by the cell. With each chromoprotein linked to a different promoter with unique glucose sensitivities, each wavelength will correspond to a specific concentration of glucose. In conjunction with preexisting parts, we designed four novel glucose-sensitive promoters and tested their ability to drive expression of reporter chromoproteins at various concentrations.

Originality and Improvement

While glucose sensitive reporter systems are not a new to concept to iGEM, our novel three-color system revolutionizes the creation of sensing systems. This would solve the qualitative characterization flaw inherent in the current one-color systems, especially those utilizing chromoproteins. Our sensor has cut sites before and after each promoter, allowing the interchange of various promoters depending on what the user wants to measure. This customization allows for the three-color system to be applied into other fields where sensitive measurement is of vital importance.

Additional Endeavors

In addition to our project and characterization goals, we will seek to model how our system can be used effectively in the real world and educate the community in order to further the possibility of this model becoming a reality. We also hope to have a lot of fun doing it!

References

1. "Diabetic Test Strips : Home Diagnostic Tests - Walmart.com." Walmart.com. Walmart, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2015.
2. Nazario, Brunilda. "Normal Blood Sugar Levels Chart for Adults." WebMD. WebMD, 23 Oct. 2014. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.
3. http://parts.igem.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K118011
4. http://parts.igem.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K861171

We will list all of our important sponsors here!