m |
|||
Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
<h2>Problem</h2> | <h2>Problem</h2> | ||
<p> | <p> | ||
− | <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>is a type of bacteria commonly found in hospitals, sports facilities, | + | <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> is a type of bacteria commonly found in hospitals, sports facilities, |
− | and even the bodies of healthy individuals(1). As many as one third of the population carries | + | and even the bodies of healthy individuals (1). As many as one third of the population carries |
− | <i>S. aureus</i>in their nose, and about 20% of people carry <i>S. aureus</i> on the skin(1). While <i>S. aureus</i> | + | <i>S. aureus</i>in their nose, and about 20% of people carry <i>S. aureus</i> on the skin (1). While <i>S. aureus</i> |
does not normally cause severe problems, it can cause infections of the skin, blood, and soft tissues, | does not normally cause severe problems, it can cause infections of the skin, blood, and soft tissues, | ||
− | with approximately 20,000 deaths reported in the United States in 2017 as a result of <i>S. aureus</i> infection(2). | + | with approximately 20,000 deaths reported in the United States in 2017 as a result of <i>S. aureus</i> infection (2). |
Methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, or MRSA, is a potent strain of <i>S. aureus</i> that is resistant to | Methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, or MRSA, is a potent strain of <i>S. aureus</i> that is resistant to | ||
− | common antibiotic treatments(1). This resistance to conventional treatment makes MRSA infections difficult to | + | common antibiotic treatments (1). This resistance to conventional treatment makes MRSA infections difficult to |
combat, turning <i>S. aureus</i> into a much more deadly pathogen. To overcome antibiotic resistance, the medical | combat, turning <i>S. aureus</i> into a much more deadly pathogen. To overcome antibiotic resistance, the medical | ||
community must find new ways to combat bacterial infection. | community must find new ways to combat bacterial infection. | ||
Line 30: | Line 30: | ||
<h2>Inspiration</h2> | <h2>Inspiration</h2> | ||
<p> | <p> | ||
− | Our team was inspired by a 2013 paper by Hwang et al. titled “Reprogramming Microbes to be Pathogen-Seeking Killers”(3). | + | Our team was inspired by a 2013 paper by Hwang et al. titled “Reprogramming Microbes to be Pathogen-Seeking Killers” (3). |
Hwang et al. engineered <i>E. coli</i> to detect and fight <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> infections using a seek-and-kill technique. | Hwang et al. engineered <i>E. coli</i> to detect and fight <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> infections using a seek-and-kill technique. | ||
Their design is modular, which makes it possible to use their approach to target different bacteria. We found that the | Their design is modular, which makes it possible to use their approach to target different bacteria. We found that the | ||
Line 44: | Line 44: | ||
(AIP) while Gram-negative species use acyl homoserine lactones (AHL) (4). Our target species, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, | (AIP) while Gram-negative species use acyl homoserine lactones (AHL) (4). Our target species, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, | ||
uses four forms of AIP in the accessory gene regulator (agr) quorum sensing system. In the agr system, the genes AgrA and | uses four forms of AIP in the accessory gene regulator (agr) quorum sensing system. In the agr system, the genes AgrA and | ||
− | AgrC code for proteins that detect AIP produced by neighboring <i>S. aureus</i> and activate the P2 promoter in response(5). | + | AgrC code for proteins that detect AIP produced by neighboring <i>S. aureus</i> and activate the P2 promoter in response (5). |
</p> | </p> | ||
<p> | <p> |
Revision as of 02:16, 29 June 2019