Initially we were working on the reliable detection of manganese in water samples, with the goal of generating a product for a more reasonable price than what is currently on the market. We aim to provide a way for families and those reliant on groundwater, a way to test their water prior to consumption. Our project aims to help decrease young children's exposure to high levels of manganese, which can cause learning delays and behavioral problems. Our proposed usage can also help reduce lifetime exposure to manganese, which in old age can lead to degeneration of the nervous system, leading to mental degradation and Parkinson's-like symptoms.
We envision an end product very similar to pH strips. By drying our cell cultures on strips of paper in either a whole cell or cell- free format , the test strip could be dipped in water, and unsafe manganese levels would be determined by sfGFP or another color reporter. This would be a very simple process, allowing almost anyone to test any source of water in a short time period and get immediate results. This project was developed to cover gaps in the systems already on the market, not to replicate them, so our project has different strengths than other preexisting sensors. The goal end user is the average family that may need to test their water, and since it does not require difficult procedures or lab testing, it should be more accessible to them. The manganese sensors currently on the market are much too expensive for most people to access and often require samples to be sent to a lab for testing; we hope to be a part of the solution.
We believe it is possible to engineer a bacterium that will not only sense the presence of manganese, but also will produce a response to chelate it from the water. We are currently looking into phytochelatin as a method of pulling the manganese out of solution. We envision something similar to a water filter which could be attached to a faucet or placed in a water pitcher and would remove manganese. Through our discussions with Mike Ekberg of the Miami Conservancy District, we found that if a water source has extremely high levels of manganese, there is very little which can be done without a large investment. Often the simplest method is to find a new water source, but of course that is not always a possibility.
Through our discussions with Mike Ekberg of the Miami Conservancy District, we found that if a water source has extremely high levels of manganese, remediation often requires a large financial investment and sustained maintenance costs. Often the simplest method is to find a new water source, but that is not always feasible for the individual user. One current method of treating high manganese levels is a reverse osmosis filter under the sink, which will treat one faucet for a household. However, this system is expensive and requires frequent maintenance. We believe it is possible to engineer a bacterium that will not only sense the presence of manganese, but also will produce a response to chelate it from the water. We are currently looking into phytochelatin as a method of pulling the manganese out of solution. We envision something similar to a water filter which could be attached to a faucet or placed in a water pitcher and would remove manganese.
Our proposed end goal would be no more difficult to use than a Brita filter and would allow people to treat their own water when high levels of manganese are present.
When working with bacterial sensors and field applications, it is important to take precautions to prevent the spread of engineered bacteria to the environment. We have used E. Coli bacteria in our sensor, which has the capability of being unhealthy when ingested. We would take the necessary biocontainment measures for our proposed implementations. Accidental release of the engineered bacterium could be prevented with the test strip implementation by placing clear instructions on the packaging that one should not drink the water used for testing. Preliminary testing would be performed on the test strips to confirm safe use. For the water filter, placing an additional filter beneath the layer of bacteria to ensure only the water passes through might be one method of ensuring safety, but validation of proper biocontainment methods for safe use would require additional testing.
The final challenges we need to consider in our work are packaging, shelf life, and patenting. We have only begun the process of investigating these challenges, and while we have developed a working sensor, we will need to spend time in the future to do all other aspects that go into releasing a product. In 2021, we did research on how a product is taken to market and we can use that information as well as some of our contacts from this year to help with that process. We intend that this will also be something to look further into for next year's team.
