We propose a synthetic biological approach to control aphid infestation in tea plantations,
how did we root our idea on the ground?

1. We tested our part in a laboratory environment and obtained certain results.
2. We designed hardware equipment that can be applied in the tea garden environment.

Detection system

We successfully constructed the receptor test strain and performed preliminary fluorescence intensity tests. We found some positive correlation between the ratio of fluorescence intensity to biomass at lower benzaldehyde concentrations, and proposed a further improvement plan of the experiment.

Production system

We successfully integrated MLPLA and NEPS1 genes into the original strain, and achieved a significant increase in nepetol production and successfully produced nepetalactone. We used GC-MS to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the products, and to predict and analyze the by-products, providing further improving orientation for our project.

We designed a device in which we can put the engineered yeasts equipped with the detection and releasing systems into. This device allows the yeasts to work and interact with the environment properly in a bio-secure environment. Our device contains a designed box and portable panels, which could immobilize engineering yeasts on mediums and are a key part of the device to be installed into the box. The device could be standing among tea plants and then performing its function. The Hardware page also contains our brainstorming progress for the device and its "evolution" progress.