Team:SouthBendMishawakaIN

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!align="center"|[[Team:SouthBend-Mishawaka-HS/Attributions|<font color=#99FFFF >Sponsors</font>]]
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<center>
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<h4>Abstract</h4>
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<Br>
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Millions of people worldwide are exposed to toxic levels of arsenic through contaminated
 +
 +
drinking water.  In last year’s project, we began the development of an E. coli-based
 +
 +
arsenic biosensor using an arsenic-induced promoter from the Registry (K190015).  Like the
 +
 +
Groningen Team, we found that this promoter is “leaky,” having a constant low level of
 +
 +
activity.  We explored ways of reducing background activity to improve the sensitivity of
 +
 +
our device.  We have built and characterized biosensors using K190015 and a number of
 +
 +
chemiluminescence generators from Vibrio fisheri and two species of fireflies.  In order to
 +
 +
standardize our biosensor we have designed and built a simple luminometer.  Paired with our
 +
 +
device, this can be used to inexpensively and rapidly detect arsenic in water, even by
 +
 +
people in underdeveloped parts of the world.
 +
</center>

Revision as of 19:41, 12 June 2012

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Abstract


Millions of people worldwide are exposed to toxic levels of arsenic through contaminated

drinking water. In last year’s project, we began the development of an E. coli-based

arsenic biosensor using an arsenic-induced promoter from the Registry (K190015). Like the

Groningen Team, we found that this promoter is “leaky,” having a constant low level of

activity. We explored ways of reducing background activity to improve the sensitivity of

our device. We have built and characterized biosensors using K190015 and a number of

chemiluminescence generators from Vibrio fisheri and two species of fireflies. In order to

standardize our biosensor we have designed and built a simple luminometer. Paired with our

device, this can be used to inexpensively and rapidly detect arsenic in water, even by

people in underdeveloped parts of the world.