Team:Johns Hopkins/Description
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Project Inspiration and Description
Many people consume certain food and drink items, such as green tea, cocoa, and berries, because they are known to have certain health benefits.1 These health-boosting qualities are in large part due to catechins, natural antioxidants that also improve cardiovascular well-being.
However, the concentration of catechins in food and beverages is relatively low. Our iGEM Team decided to create a more effective way to reap the health benefits of catechins. Our project involves genetically engineering non-pathogenic E. coli to secrete catechins. The purified catechins can then be encapsulated and distributed as a supplement and preventative measure against cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Since bacteria reproduce at rapid rates, a significant amount of catechins can be produced in a relatively short time. A catechin pill will allow individuals with busy lifestyles to maintain their health in an efficient manner.
References
Sources: Source 1: “Catechin.” Catechin - an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics, 2019, www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/catechin. Source 2: “Index of Flowers.” Index of /Flowers/H/HottentotFig, www.wildflowerfinder.org.uk/Flowers/H/HottentotFig/.