Overview
We did lots of work in this year and recorded the work here.
January-March
Adrninistrative Work:
① We put out an open poster in the school to recruit members, and about 50 students became prospective iGEMers.
② Publicize the course of synthetic biology, and popularize the knowledge of synthetic biology while selecting the team members.
③ Explain iGEM rules and award requirements to prospective candidates, and let them understand the values that iGEM advocates.
④ Hold the first NMU-China 2022 plenary meeting, let everyone know each other, and understand everyone's strengths.
Human Practice:
①To learn from old iGEMer, we searched and studied the scheme design and survey and interview methods of Best Human Practice in previous years.
② We conducted a social survey to understand the difficulties in cancer treatment, and summarized the public attitude towards cancer treatment.
③ By analyzing the collected data and information, it is confirmed that tumor heterogeneity is a difficult problem in tumor treatment. So we make it the core problem to be solved in the project.
Education and Communication:
We introduce iGEM to students in the form of fun classes in the school.
Laboratory Work:
A literature reading and study were conducted to understand the latest advances in the treatment of tumor heterogeneity and laboratory work.
April
Adrninistrative Work:
① We trained the team members' English writing ability, and trained how to build web pages and draw together.
② We learned the best projects of the past few years and summarized them.
③ After brainstorming, We proposed PlanA that express multiple CARs on the same cell to fight with tumor heterogeneity.
Human Practice:
After the interviews with the doctors, we decided to take the chimeric antigen receptor technology in cell therapy as the basic treatment method, and put forward the improvement plan.
Education and Communication:
After application, we opened an elective course of synthetic biology on campus.
Laboratory Work:
①Team members were trained to learn plasmid construction, cell culture, lentivirus transfection and flow cytometry.
②Further understanding of cell experimental design was obtained through literature review
Model Work:
Mathematical modeling was carried out according to Plan A, and the analysis showed that the optimal number of CAR species expressed by a single cell was 4-8, which was far from the 106 species we needed, so it was not feasible.
May
Adrninistrative Work:
① Apply for the team on the official website and pay the registration fee.
② We trained the basic methods of animation video production.
③ After brainstorming, NK-92 cells were registered as chassis cell after weighing the advantages and disadvantages.
④CCiC register
Human Practice:
We interviewed Associate Professor Meng Guo from the Department of Immunology, Naval Medical University, and invited him to evaluate our project. He believed that when a single cell expresses multiple CARs, we should consider the ability of a single CAR to stimulate downstream signaling pathways. The expression of only a few CARs does not cause strong cluster effect, and the immune cells have poor ability to kill tumors. At the same time, he also proposed PlanB: whether different CARs can be expressed on multiple immune cells to achieve the killing effect.
Education and Communication:
We have contributed to the revision of the introduction books of synthetic biology and participated in the review and compilation of the data of the Research Manual of synthetic biology
Laboratory Work:
We preliminarily established a cell bank of 10CAR, and experimentally verified the specific killing ability of CAR-NK92 cells, the feasibility of suicide circuit and the dynamic proliferation ability of CAR-NK92 cell bank based on antigen repertory
Model Work:
PlanB was fully discussed to determine the issues that need to be further demonstrated .We analyzed on the cell proliferation efficiency of CAR-NK92, CAR-NK92 signaling pathway, and preliminary models were established.
June
Adrninistrative Work:
Fill in the safety form, check in form.
Human Practice:
① We had the first communication with ZJUintl-China where both sides introduced their own projects and put forward opinions and suggestions for each other's projects. We also established a long-term partnership, and they recommended UniProt webscraping for us.
② Associate Professor Guo Meng was interviewed again about the experiment of 10CAR library. He believed that our 10CAR library experiment is of guiding significance for the whole project, but 10CAR library is far from enough to deal with the heterogeneity of tumors. We need to expand the library capacity in a large number, and pay attention to negative selection in this process.
Education and Communication:
We started to write educational resource package and discussed preliminary discussion of writing scheme, structure design and education audience.
Laboratory Work:
We improved 10CAR related experiments and optimized the scheme, we also sorted out the experimental results and the were analyzed experimental data.
Model Work:
We fully discussed AP1903 induced cell apoptosis and CAR-NK92 antibody library coverage issues then made preliminary modeling.
July
Adrninistrative Work:
①We started making promotional videos
②We started building the Wiki
③Submit track selection
Human Practice:
①We had our first conversation with CHUK, who wanted to post our mathematical model on instagram to promote it.
②We had the second communication with ZJUintl-China, they invited us to participate in the preparation of synthetic biology altas, and put forward their own suggestions on the problem of high number of plasmids and low transduction efficiency.
Education and Communication:
① Started the compilation of Wechat recommended readinbg menu.
② We interviewed stakeholders and improved the content of educational resource package.
Model Work:
The four mathematical models were further improved, and the basic model was basically completed.
Part work:
According to the experimental design requirements, we registered 13 new basic components.
August
Adrninistrative Work:
① Attend the 9th CCiC
② The safety work of all aspects of the project is fully discussed, and we wroted safety in Wiki.
Human Practice:
①We completed cost analysis and market analysis of our project to establish the product form and its own advantages.
②We completed risk analysis to understand the risks that may be encountered, and to design the preplan to avoid the risks.
③We completed preliminary design of product development plan and future treatment process.
Education and Communication:
① Use Blibli to promote the project and let more people know about Whack a Mole and synthetic biology
②Wechat recommended readinbg menu continued to push articles to publicize our project to the public
Model Work:
According to the four basic models and experimental results, the cellular automata simulation experiment is programmed.
Part work:
We also improved the BBa_K3244013 and BBa_K3755010 parts and updated the BBa_K4421031 part.
September
Adrninistrative Work:
① Participate in academic communication conference
② Upload project promotion videos
③ Submit title and abstract
Human Practice:
We communicated with Professor Zhou Jingying from CHUK. She believed that compared with CAR-T, which has a short half-life, we can effectively control the life span of NK cells by using suicide circuit to control cell apoptosis, so as to exert better killing effect. In addition, the professor also raised concerns about the safety of our project, thinking that even with the guarantee of suicide circuit, injection of NK-92 still has certain safety risks.
Education and Communication:
① Go to middle school and present educational resource packs to middle school students in order to communicate our project and synthetic biology.
② We compiled synthetic biology altas, and explained to the public.
③ An educational resource package was written that systematically explained synthetic biology, synthetic immunology, Whack a Mole and iGEM.
Model Work:
The above model and simulation experiments are optimized to further improve the modeling process and improve the credibility and accuracy.
October
Adrninistrative Work:
① Improve Wiki content
② Make the necessary preparations for the presentation
Human Practice:
Upload relevant content to the Wiki
Education and Communication:
A presentation of the project was given to freshmen and brochures were distributed.
Model Work:
Submit the modeling to the Wiki and make the content more readable