We focused on improving the environmental management of Phaeodactylum tricornutum. First, we verified the feasibility of wastewater culture of Fucus trituberculatus. Subsequently, three single gene elements were constructed, after which the three new genes （CA CA2 PRK） were successfully recombined into the composite plasmid vectors CA-PRK and CA2-PRK. Two transgenic algal strains were successfully constructed and cultured and functionally validated. We found that the transgenic strains could be well cultured in seawater and wastewater, and the ability of carbon sequestration, nitrogen removal and phosphorus removal was enhanced.
Fig1. Experimental design idea diagram
We choose immobilized cell technology. Our experimental materials - Phaeodactylum tricornutum were made into algal spheres using sodium alginate as the embedding material. At the same time, material exchange can still be carried out between the inside and outside of the algal sphere, which will not affect the normal growth of Phaeodactylum tricornutum.
Fig2. Immobilized microalgae actual photo
（The numbers marked in the graph are the number of days of incubation of Integrated Human Practices）
A photobioreactor suitable for algae spheres was designed and fabricated, which can control the regulation of water temperature, light intensity, and ventilation gas through a chip. It provides an airtight environment for microalgae culture, isolating the microalgae from the larger environment. The bioreactor is equipped with UV lamps to inactivate the microalgae when necessary. In addition, the equipment is equipped with three different positions of water outlets, which, in addition to the basic function for water exchange, also have the function for collecting algae balls in unused positions.
Fig3. Photobioreactors
We have established a microalgae factory site selection model with the target of largest rate of fixed carbon dioxide. Based on the selection results, we further established a comprehensive water quality evaluation model in Fujian. Based on the evaluation results, the worst-scoring Longjiang predictive model was established. At the same time, we combined with cellular automata algorithms to simulate the diffusion of water system pollutants before and after the addition of microalgae.
Our models combine computer science and modeling the classic computer algorithm to achieve cross-disciplinary cooperation. We provide support for each stage of the microalgae project which including microalgae factory site selection, water quality analysis and prediction of microalgae water purification, simulation of microalgae water purification system, etc. And we provide certain strategies for the future promotion of microalgae products.
Education was one of the most important parts of our practical efforts this year. In order to reach the public
with the key elements of our project and to communicate the central idea of our project more clearly to people,
we conducted a variety of educational activities to expand our reach. Gaining the support of the educated
community is essential for the team to complete the educational activities. In this regard, we have developed an
all-age student-based approach to synthetic biology, making our content more accessible to the public through
lectures, online workshops, and the production of popular science books. We went to elementary schools, high
schools and universities to enhance the fun of our science initiatives with lively formats and witty language to
get full interaction. More than a hundred students of different age groups received our educational activities
and felt that they were very rewarding and had strong educational significance. In this way, we completed the
work of communicating the meaning of the project, and also let everyone understand the core content of the
project using microalgae for wastewater treatment, eliminating their doubts about the unknown and new things,
and fully paving the way for the actual results to go to daily life. At the same time, we target special groups,
less developed areas, and use a variety of communication methods, as well as the correct use of graphic design
tools to promote the project. In addition, in our education section you can find all the educational materials
we have developed (slides, science books, hand-drawn books, etc.) for use by future iGEM teams. Full
documentation of our teaching materials, complete records, the main audience groups they are designed for, and
examples of how we use them are provided in our education section; all of them are used according to expert
advice on educational topics.
It is important to mention that creating a strong connection with the community is another goal of our practice.
The support of the community is inspirational to our projects and leads us to better find the end result of
project transformation. Our members go out into the community to help people solve existing problems and get
their buy-in for our projects. Our members went to the community's wastewater treatment plant, where they
learned about how wastewater is treated and showed them the main components of our project to treat wastewater.
We demonstrated to the community that synthetic biology plays a key role in solving real-world problems and can
encourage more teams and people working in related fields to go into the community to better translate
experimental results into field applications. You can find the community section in our HP section.
We collected 768 valid questionnaires and verified the validity of the data through data tests such as reliability and validity. Then, a user cognitive model based on Blom's theory is established, scored by the six dimensions of its cognition, and the public's understanding of microalgae water purification technology is analyzed. Based on the scoring results, we further conduct cluster analysis of users from five dimensions: gender, age, occupation, education, and cognition, identify potential users, and propose corresponding publicity methods for different groups of people.