Production Module

     Till now, we have tested the enzymatic ability of opSam2 expressed from Bacillus subtilis, but we still need more quantified experiments to characterize its expression strength and dynamics. Meanwhile, we are required to express such part in our target probiotic Bifidobacterium longum and test whether opSam2 can function in such gram-positive bacteria like B. subtilis. On the other hand, we have verified the expression and the membrane localization of opPet8p in B. subtilis. However, we do not have enough time to test its transporting function. So it can be the next step to verify its function, and after it works in B. subtilis, we will construct this part in B. longum.

Directed Evolution

     Limited by our present knowledge and the equipment, we applied positions that had been studied in previous research, exploring its ability to combine different types of substances. We wish that we could use intelligent analysis in the future to find residues that contribute more to the response of lactose concentration, which would make our mutagenesis more effective and accurate. Besides, using selective culture to separate the desired variant is convenient but not precise. Utilizing equipment with greater throughput such as flow cytometry would be of great development.

Safety switch

    We are considering finding more reliable basic parts to make our design work well. We believe that if we overcome those problems, our design of the safety switch will be a promising method for engineered probiotics in the human gut. We will discuss the feasibility and design experiments for all of these to make our project safe for mankind.

HP

    In the future, with the gradual improvement of experimental results, we will pay more attention to entrepreneurship. Deepen communication with enterprises and patients, and explore key issues such as product forms and product effects. At the same time, we will continue to carry out popular science activities on synthetic biology and depression, sow the seeds of hope, and welcome more iGEMers. We will carry out more extensive social research, expand the influence of the project, and truly contribute to the world.

Entrepreneurship

    We are making effort to put our product into the real world in two different ways. First, we hope to make further progress in our design. We plan to transfer our biobricks into the genome of the probiotic, so as to achieve the requirements of the European Pharmacopeia that there should be no plasmids in probiotics. Second, we are devoted to the amplification of our project by communicating with medical companies and making a further business plan. Considering the lack of intestinal probiotics drugs in today’s market, we are trying every step to put our product into the real world as fast as we can.