Difference between revisions of "Team:HK SSC/Description"
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| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span class="SpellE" | + | <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:150%"><span class="SpellE"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:24.0pt;line-height:150%; |
| + | font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">iGEM</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:24.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif; | ||
| + | mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> 2019 Project Description<o:p></o:p></span></p> | ||
| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: |
| − | EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> | + | "Arial",sans-serif;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> |
| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: |
| − | EN-US">Microcystis aeruginosa is one of the highly deleterious freshwater | + | "Arial",sans-serif;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Microcystis aeruginosa is one of |
| − | cyanobacteria; it is well-known for causing harmful algae blooms in rivers and | + | the highly deleterious freshwater cyanobacteria; it is well-known for causing |
| − | lakes. These algae blooms produce a large number of <span class="SpellE">microcystins</span> | + | harmful algae blooms in rivers and lakes. These algae blooms produce a large |
| − | and neurotoxins, which potentially leads to death of fish and human as well as | + | number of <span class="SpellE">microcystins</span> and neurotoxins, which |
| − | contamination of fresh water. However, M. aeruginosa also poses ecological | + | potentially leads to death of fish and human as well as contamination of fresh |
| − | value in oxygen synthesis and absorption in heavy metal.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | + | water. However, M. aeruginosa also poses ecological value in oxygen synthesis |
| + | and absorption in heavy metal.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | ||
| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: |
| − | EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> | + | "Arial",sans-serif;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> |
| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: |
| − | EN-US">We can see how these cyanobacteria have such a significant impact on the | + | "Arial",sans-serif;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">We can see how these cyanobacteria |
| − | aquatic system which could subject to adverse impacts on the aquatic ecosystem | + | have such a significant impact on the aquatic system which could subject to |
| − | as a whole. Take Lake <span class="SpellE">Taihu</span> as an example; the algae | + | adverse impacts on the aquatic ecosystem as a whole. Take Lake <span class="SpellE">Taihu</span> as an example; the algae blooms are a serious threat |
| − | blooms are a serious threat to drinking water supplies and agriculture | + | to drinking water supplies and agriculture supplies. Chinese ecologists and |
| − | supplies. Chinese ecologists and marine biologists describe the lake as the | + | marine biologists describe the lake as the smell of decaying fish. In the |
| − | smell of decaying fish. In the United States, such harmful cyanobacterial algae | + | United States, such harmful cyanobacterial algae blooms have inflicted around 2 |
| − | blooms have inflicted around 2 billion USD a year in losses as the water is | + | billion USD a year in losses as the water is unfit for drinking, recreation and |
| − | unfit for drinking, recreation and agriculture.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | + | agriculture.<o:p></o:p></span></p> |
| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: |
| − | EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> | + | "Arial",sans-serif;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> |
| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: |
| − | EN-US">Through investigation on the cause of algae blooms, we found out that | + | "Arial",sans-serif;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Through investigation on the cause |
| − | farmland and factories are usually built next to rivers and lakes, as water is | + | of algae blooms, we found out that farmland and factories are usually built |
| − | vital for both agriculture and industrial uses. Since chemical fertilizers and | + | next to rivers and lakes, as water is vital for both agriculture and industrial |
| − | sewage all contain nitrates and phosphates, this catalyzes the reproduction of | + | uses. Since chemical fertilizers and sewage all contain nitrates and |
| − | cyanobacteria such as Microcystis Aeruginosa. However, we realized that | + | phosphates, this catalyzes the reproduction of cyanobacteria such as |
| − | limiting the use of fertilizers and the amount of sewage released from | + | Microcystis Aeruginosa. However, we realized that limiting the use of |
| − | factories are impractical because this would affect the efficiency of | + | fertilizers and the amount of sewage released from factories are impractical |
| − | production.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | + | because this would affect the efficiency of production.<o:p></o:p></span></p> |
| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: |
| − | EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> | + | "Arial",sans-serif;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> |
| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: |
| − | EN-US">Therefore, instead of limiting the use of such fertilizers, our project | + | "Arial",sans-serif;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Therefore, instead of limiting the |
| − | not only aims to mutate M. aeruginosa through modifying its toxin-producing | + | use of such fertilizers, our project not only aims to mutate M. aeruginosa |
| − | gene but also aims to characterize the cyanobacteria’s ability to absorb heavy | + | through modifying its toxin-producing gene but also aims to characterize the |
| − | metal. Dcas9 is transformed into and co-expressed in the toxin-producing gene | + | cyanobacteria’s ability to absorb heavy metal. Dcas9 is transformed into and |
| − | in Microcystis aeruginosa. As dcas9 serves the purpose to block transcription, | + | co-expressed in the toxin-producing gene in Microcystis aeruginosa. As dcas9 |
| − | the transcription of the toxin-producing gene cannot be carried out. Hence the | + | serves the purpose to block transcription, the transcription of the |
| − | toxin-producing ability of M. aeruginosa is eliminated.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | + | toxin-producing gene cannot be carried out. Hence the toxin-producing ability |
| + | of M. aeruginosa is eliminated.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | ||
| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: |
| − | EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> | + | "Arial",sans-serif;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> |
| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><o:p> </o:p></p> | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: |
| + | "Arial",sans-serif;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> | ||
| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><o:p> | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Bibliography:<o:p></o:p></span></p> |
| − | <p class=" | + | <p style="margin-left:1.0cm;text-indent:-1.0cm"><span class="SpellE">Forastier</span>, |
| + | Marina Elizabet, et al. “Occurrence and Toxicity of Microcystis Aeruginosa | ||
| + | (Cyanobacteria) in the Paraná River, Downstream of the <span class="SpellE">Yacyretá</span> | ||
| + | Dam (Argentina).” <span class="SpellE"><i>Revista</i></span><i> De <span class="SpellE">Biologia</span> Tropical</i>, U.S. National Library of Medicine, | ||
| + | Mar. 2016, <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28862419">www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28862419</a>. | ||
| + | Accessed 21 May 2019.</p> | ||
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<p style="margin-left:1.0cm;text-indent:-1.0cm"><o:p> </o:p></p> | <p style="margin-left:1.0cm;text-indent:-1.0cm"><o:p> </o:p></p> | ||
| − | <p style="margin-left:1.0cm;text-indent:-1.0cm"> | + | <p style="margin-left:1.0cm;text-indent:-1.0cm"><span class="SpellE">Giannuzzi</span>, |
| − | et al. | + | Leda, et al. “An Acute Case of Intoxication with Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins |
| − | + | in Recreational Water in Salto Grande Dam, Argentina.” <i>Marine Drugs</i>, | |
| − | Accessed on | + | Molecular Diversity Preservation International, 31 Oct. 2011, <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3229228">www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3229228</a>. |
| + | Accessed on 6 Jun 2019.</p> | ||
| + | |||
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line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> | line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> | ||
| − | <p style="margin-left:1.0cm;text-indent:-1.0cm"><span class="SpellE"> | + | <p style="margin-left:1.0cm;text-indent:-1.0cm">“On Lake <span class="SpellE">Taihu</span>, |
| − | + | China Moves To Battle Massive Algae Blooms.” <i>Yale E360</i>, <a href="https://e360.yale.edu/features/on_lake_taihu_china_moves_to_battle_massive_algae_blooms">https://e360.yale.edu/features/on_lake_taihu_china_moves_to_battle_massive_algae_blooms</a>. | |
| − | + | Accessed on 11 Jun 2019.</p> | |
| − | + | ||
| − | Accessed on | + | |
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| − | <p style="margin-left:1.0cm;text-indent:-1.0cm"><span class="SpellE"> | + | <p style="margin-left:1.0cm;text-indent:-1.0cm">Zhang, <span class="SpellE">Limin</span>, |
| − | + | et al. “Eutrophication Status and Control Strategy of <span class="SpellE">Taihu</span> | |
| − | + | Lake.” <i>SpringerLink</i>, SP Higher Education Press, 6 Aug. 2008, <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11783-008-0062-4">link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11783-008-0062-4</a>. | |
| − | + | Accessed on 9 Jun 2019.</p> | |
| − | + | ||
| − | Accessed | + | |
| − | <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:" | + | <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: |
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Revision as of 13:47, 27 June 2019
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iGEM 2019 Project Description<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Microcystis aeruginosa is one of the highly deleterious freshwater cyanobacteria; it is well-known for causing harmful algae blooms in rivers and lakes. These algae blooms produce a large number of microcystins and neurotoxins, which potentially leads to death of fish and human as well as contamination of fresh water. However, M. aeruginosa also poses ecological value in oxygen synthesis and absorption in heavy metal.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
We can see how these cyanobacteria have such a significant impact on the aquatic system which could subject to adverse impacts on the aquatic ecosystem as a whole. Take Lake Taihu as an example; the algae blooms are a serious threat to drinking water supplies and agriculture supplies. Chinese ecologists and marine biologists describe the lake as the smell of decaying fish. In the United States, such harmful cyanobacterial algae blooms have inflicted around 2 billion USD a year in losses as the water is unfit for drinking, recreation and agriculture.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Through investigation on the cause of algae blooms, we found out that farmland and factories are usually built next to rivers and lakes, as water is vital for both agriculture and industrial uses. Since chemical fertilizers and sewage all contain nitrates and phosphates, this catalyzes the reproduction of cyanobacteria such as Microcystis Aeruginosa. However, we realized that limiting the use of fertilizers and the amount of sewage released from factories are impractical because this would affect the efficiency of production.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Therefore, instead of limiting the use of such fertilizers, our project not only aims to mutate M. aeruginosa through modifying its toxin-producing gene but also aims to characterize the cyanobacteria’s ability to absorb heavy metal. Dcas9 is transformed into and co-expressed in the toxin-producing gene in Microcystis aeruginosa. As dcas9 serves the purpose to block transcription, the transcription of the toxin-producing gene cannot be carried out. Hence the toxin-producing ability of M. aeruginosa is eliminated.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Bibliography:<o:p></o:p>
Forastier, Marina Elizabet, et al. “Occurrence and Toxicity of Microcystis Aeruginosa (Cyanobacteria) in the Paraná River, Downstream of the Yacyretá Dam (Argentina).” Revista De Biologia Tropical, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Mar. 2016, <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28862419">www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28862419</a>. Accessed 21 May 2019.
<o:p> </o:p>
Giannuzzi, Leda, et al. “An Acute Case of Intoxication with Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in Recreational Water in Salto Grande Dam, Argentina.” Marine Drugs, Molecular Diversity Preservation International, 31 Oct. 2011, <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3229228">www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3229228</a>. Accessed on 6 Jun 2019.
<o:p> </o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
“On Lake Taihu, China Moves To Battle Massive Algae Blooms.” Yale E360, <a href="https://e360.yale.edu/features/on_lake_taihu_china_moves_to_battle_massive_algae_blooms">https://e360.yale.edu/features/on_lake_taihu_china_moves_to_battle_massive_algae_blooms</a>. Accessed on 11 Jun 2019.
<o:p> </o:p>
Yan, Hai, et al. “Effects of Nitrogen Forms on the Production of Cyanobacterial Toxin Microcystin-IR by an Isolated Microcystis Aeruginosa.” Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Part A, Toxic/Hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2004, <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15533019">www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15533019</a>. Accessed on 23 Jun 2019.
<o:p> </o:p>
Zhang, Limin, et al. “Eutrophication Status and Control Strategy of Taihu Lake.” SpringerLink, SP Higher Education Press, 6 Aug. 2008, <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11783-008-0062-4">link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11783-008-0062-4</a>. Accessed on 9 Jun 2019.
<o:p> </o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
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