Team

Our team currently consists of six students from Sharon High School that share an interest in biology. We are also guided by two high school biology teachers that have prior experience with iGEM.

Teachers

James Dixon

Zach Snow

Students

Rohit Krishnan

Leanne Lupone

Prashant Maddineni

Scott Xiong

Max Glanz

Luke Emery-Fertitta

Vithusha Thirumavalavan

Evan Kates

Project

What are you working on this semester?

This semester, we are working on engineering a bacteria with a pH sensor that will activate a gene in the presence of gastric acid (pH of 1.5 to 3.5). The gene will then allow the bacteria to excrete a base or stomach mucus to help neutralize the gastric acid in the esophagus, which is the leading cause of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

Notebook

Show us how you spent your days.

Fall 2011 - Learning the basics of the relevant biology

Winter 2012 - Brainstorming possible topics for our project.

3/6/12 - We settled on further investigating the use of a biological medicine to relieve the symptoms of Gastric Reflux Disease. The internet has been our primary method of research. We have found an available pH sensor and researched the current market of GERD medicines. We are currently looking for our desired method of neutralizing the stomach acid.

3/13/12 - We are looking at another iGEM project which featured a bacteria that secretes a base.

3/20/12 - We are continuing research and focusing on updating the wiki for now.

Results/Conclusions

What did you achieve over the course of your semester?

Safety

What safety precautions did your team take? Did you take a safety training course? Were you supervised at all times in the lab?

Every member of our team has experience in multiple laboratories through school and have digested a variety of safety training documents and videos. Additionally, we are supervised by two AP biology teachers in all of our experiments.

Attributions

Wiki Page

Scott ~ Luke ~ Rohit

Fundraising

Prashant ~ Max

Research

Leanne ~ Vithusha

Human Practices

What impact does/will your project have on the public?

Similar to TUMS tablets, our bacteria helps relieve the pain cause by Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Some symptoms that we hope to relieve include heartburn, difficulty swallowing, and chest pain. To make the medicine more easily administered, it will take the form of a solution that can be taken either before or after a meal. One significant advantage of the biological engineering method is the ability to create sustainable bacteria. This will allow the administration of the bacteria to be preemptive in addressing the symptoms GERD, as opposed to the current system of administration after the onset of symptoms.

Considered Parts

Part:BBa_K174002