HP - GlyFloat - Team iGEM UFRGS 2019

INTEGRATED HUMAN PRACTICES

The abusive use of pesticides is a huge environmental problem of our time. The ways the massive use of these chemicals affect the environment are still being studied, even though we already know we are only scratching the surface of the problems of these compounds. In Brazil, only in the present year, 2019, 382 new pesticides have been approved (Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture). This fact does not represent the real impacts on the environment and human health, and it is a setback to many environmental movements that are taking place worldwide, like the prohibition of some agrochemicals in the European Union.

While looking for information about the use of agrochemicals and its effects on ecosystems, we were astonished by the enormous amount of news and research about glyphosate, as well as its controversy. As glyphosate's toxicity and its possible environmental impacts were being reevaluated by the scientific community, the molecule's accumulation in water bodies became a relevant problem to our team.

WHY GLYPHOSATE?

Glyphosate is the most used herbicide worldwide and Brazil is no exception. Its main use includes genetically modified crops like transgenics soybean and corn. In 2019, many studies about glyphosate-based herbicides regarding its toxicity were debated. These discussions are well justified since the composition of these compounds vary among different countries, and for this reason, so does its toxicity. Studies show some of these impacts such as the selection of glyphosate-resistant weeds and microorganisms (Bruggen, 2017), and cause an increase in amphibians mortality (Relyea, 2005). Moreover, even though it is not officially classified as an insecticide, there is evidence of metabolic alteration in bees caused by glyphosate ingestion (Motta, 2018).

WHY DEGRADATION IN WATER?

Everybody knows that water is an essential component for life. But what about the contaminants in it? As a universal solvent in biological systems, water can have harmful substances to health and the environment, extraneous to our knowledge. Air, soil or water. The environment has no boundaries. Due to rains and consequential leaching, part of the components of the glyphosate-based herbicides is carried to rivers and lakes, which can lead to its accumulation and cause a series of disturbances in the ecosystems. In an interview with Phd. Eliane Dallegrave, toxicologist and an agrochemical expert, "The negative impacts caused by the abusive use of glyphosate are not taken into account on public expenses regarding health and environment. Most diseases are multifactorial, such as cancer, endocrine deregulation, allergies, intolerances and infertility." Thus, UFRGS_Brazil identified an immediate need to tackle this subject. Brazil is the country with the largest hydric resources on the planet, dedicating approximately 72% of it in crops irrigation. This is an alarming amount, knowing that our country is one of the major agricultural producers in the world.

As students from a renowned public university and as citizens who are being trained to have different perceptions about the problems around us, we know Biotechnology is practically an unlimited source of knowledge and solutions to problems. With current advances in Synthetic Biology, why shouldn't we use it as a kickstart to the creation of tools for bioremediation?

WHY SYNBIO?

The accumulation of glyphosate in water bodies is an imminent problem, and Synthetic Biology comes with the potential to deal with this problem. UFRGS_Brazil has tackled this subject and decided to use Biotechnology in order to change this reality. Synthetic Biology is a very broad area. According to the National Human Genome Research Institute, Synthetic Biology is able to redesign organisms so that they produce substances such as medicine and renewable fuel. On September 15th, 2018, we discovered iGEM, and so, the idea for GlyFloat started taking form!

Reuniting all the ideas exposed until now, UFRGS_Brazil had the idea to design GlyFloat, a floating filter capable of degrading glyphosate from water bodies! The degradation is done via genetically modified Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria, designed to incorporate the glyphosate molecule and use it as a nutrient in its metabolism.

GLYFLOAT

GlyFloat is still a great dream, but with much effort, it's becoming a reality! Not only a biofilter, GlyFloat represents sixteen young students engaged in a cause that goes much beyond the agronomic instance.

Brazilian science is facing a harsh period. Amidst one of the most significant cuts in the budget destined to science and education, we've managed to move the population, so that approximately 300 people, including sponsor companies, to donate to our project. Through online crowdfunding, we raised over R$ 32,000 (Brazil currency), approximately USD 8,000!

As scientists, as citizens who desire change, it is our obligation to care for the environment. We are aware of the benefits from the use of herbicides for the large scale food production, but even so, the handling of agrochemicals residues should not be underestimated.

According to Eduardo da Costa Goerl, ARPAC CEO, a multinational company of agricultural spraying drones, "Synthetic Biology has tremendous potential. Agriculture and technology go hand in hand, and future agriculture is going to be much different." Eduardo also highlights that "new farmers, the sons and daughters of large producers, are already realizing they cannot manage the soil and the environment irresponsibly. The environment has its own rules, and it is starting to charge for all the damage that's been done."

The use of glyphosate, generally speaking (management, safe amounts, etc.) is being put to debate. Furthermore, a technology capable of using bioremediation to cope with the molecule is becoming each moment more necessary. Thus, GlyFloat arises to change this reality.

Over time, after studying much about genetic engineering, physical engineering, product design (integrating different undergrad courses and team members), and uncountable discussions with professors from the university, we realized that, in order to make our filter functional, some things should be altered. The process of detachment of an idea isn't always simple, but as a team, we acknowledged the need for change. GlyFloat changed, we changed, and both changed for the better.

ABOUT THE FLOATING FILTER

The idea of a filter able to float by rivers and lakes while degrading a toxic molecule is quite imaginative. As stated by Phd. Maria Cristina Almeida, a specialist in Environmental Sanitation, as rivers have proportions which vary significantly, GlyFloat impact would be small given the correlation of its own flow rate, and the river's flow. Additionally, the hardware itself would be laborious to the user, once the filter would end up needing to be floating in the middle of the river or another water body, since it's an environmental crime to install any sort of equipment in the riverside. Therefore, a static biofilter became the most plausible and secure option.

ABOUT THE BACTERIA CONTAINMENT SYSTEM

Initially, the genetically engineered bacteria would be placed in fibers, in which the contact area would be optimized. The idea was inspired by other filters that use fibers, and for doing so, we'd use the electrospinning technique.

In a talk with Phd Douglas Gamba, a polymers specialist, we discussed about the fibers issue, and acknowledged that as the doctor said "putting these fibers inside a filter that would have water flowing with reasonable intensity on it wouldn't work". These fibers are very fragile, so one of the possible strategies would be increasing its resistance, through the execution of a double electrospinning, in which the fiber would be covered by a second layer of a porous fiber, enabling water flow.

The issues faced with this approach were the following: the difficulty of having access to a double electrospinning machine; the high costs of the material required to do so; and the adversity of executing the process itself.

In another talk with Phd Gamba, a new idea came to mind. As Douglas area of research is dedicated to hydrogels, we started working on the idea of making alginate beads, containing the bacteria. And so, we overcame this issue with a way cheaper material, easier to manipulate and much more accessible.

As GlyFloat repercussion in many different Brazilian media increased, UFRGS_Brazil was positively surprised with the proportions that project achieved. Hence, we felt the need to talk to the society about the subjects of science and agriculture.

Talking about science is essential for society to grow together. After all, everybody has the right to knowledge and education. Sharing knowledge simply, yet clearly, is even more important.

Through an online survey, we collected the opinion of approximately 200 people, among these were students, farmers, professors, agronomists and environmentalists. Questions regarding the use of herbicides and their impacts were addressed, emphasising topics about glyphosate, synthetic biology and the use of genetically modified organisms for bioremediation, beyond the possible impacts to the environment and people's lives. You can check our results on the link below: