Contributions

gumeraser

Overview

'GumEraser' (literally 'gum eraser') reflects our determination to combat peach gummosis.

The plant disease triangle is a fundamental concept in plant pathology, illustrating the interaction between three key factors required for disease occurrence: the pathogen, the host, and the environment.

We propose to manipulate these three factors to prevent peach gummosis:

Pathogen

Apply specific RNA-based biopesticides to inhibit pathogen activity

Host

Improve and promote disease-resistant host varieties

Environment

Promote pruning to improve field ventilation conditions

The '+' symbol represents three aspirations:

Boost farmers' income: Reduce orchard management costs while increasing income through chitinase extraction from leaves.
Enhance personal growth: Gain thinking skills and broaden horizons through iGEM.
Promote knowledge transfer: Apply acquired knowledge and skills to other related fields.

Contributions

To iGEM Community

  1. New BioBrick Part

    Created a new BioBrick part BBa_25CSQLVI in the iGEM Registry.

    Profile

    Name: Chitinase (endochitinase EP3)

    Base Pairs: 690 bp

    Amino acids: 229

    Origin: Prunus persica (Peach) (Amygdalus persica), synthetic

    UniProt annotation score: 2/5

    Protein existence: Predicted

    Catalytic activity

    Random endo-hydrolysis of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide (1->4)-beta-linkages in chitin and chitodextrins.

    EC:3.2.1.14 (UniProtKB | ENZYME | Rhea)

    Learn more.

    An IPTG-inducible expression system for the predicted chitinase from Prunus persica (peach) was successfully constructed using the T7-driven pET-28a vector(BBa_25YSLUTM)

    Constructing PpCH1 high-expression vector is just the beginning. Since this sequence was sequenced and predicted in 2013, our team has been the first to dedicate efforts to conducting functional identification, confirming that it truly possesses chitinase (endochitinase) activity.

  2. Shared Resources

    Tools, resources and experience we obtained can considerably assist future iGEM teams.

    With the cost reduction of gene sequencing, thousands of species' genomes have been decoded, but gene function annotation remains a critical gap. Our project addresses this by:

    • Exploring unannotated gene value (e.g., peach chitinase)
    • Developing a simple, high school-friendly protocol to popularize gene function verification.
  3. Optimized Protocols

    Shared optimized protocols based on the normal high school in China.

 

To Ourselves

For high school students, the future often feels like a blank page. We might not know what majors to choose, what careers to pursue, or even what skills will matter most later. But the iGEM journey acts like a 'growth compass' amid this uncertainty, turning vague worries into tangible progress, especially through two key gifts:

Enhance Personal Growth

iGEM is not just about building a project. It is also about training our brains to solve problems like a creator. When you design an RNA-based biopesticide, design disease-resistant peach varieties, or figure out how to help farmers, we are not just learning biology or engineering, we are practicing critical thinking, e.g. 'Why did this experiment fail? How can we adjust?' and systematic thinking, e.g. 'How do pathogen, host, and environment connect?'. These skills aren’t just for iGEM. They’ll help us tackle math exams, college applications, or even future job challenges.

What is more, iGEM broadens our horizons in ways textbooks can not. We will work with teammates from different grades, talk to mentors who have more experience, and see how 'classroom knowledge' turns into real solutions for farmers. This exposure helps us realize: 'Biology is not only about memorizing cells, but also it can help fix crop diseases. Engineering is not only about building robots, but also it can make orchards healthier.' These insights turn abstract subjects into meaningful passions, making it easier to navigate future choices.

Promote Knowledge Transfer

One of the best parts of iGEM is that the skills we gain are not 'locked' to a single project. The knowledge we built for peach gummosis control: like understanding how pathogens interact with hosts, or how to design a solution that balances science and real-life needs can be transferred to other fields, which is perfect for a future full of unknowns. The 'disease triangle' (pathogen-host-environment) thinking from our GumEraser+ project can help understand how human diseases spread and how to prevent them. Even if you choose a non-science path (like business or education), the teamwork and communication skills from iGEM (e.g., explaining your project to judges or farmers) will make you stand out.

iGEM gives us the tools to shape our future. It turns uncertainty into excitement: every experiment, every discussion, every problem we solve is a step toward becoming someone who can adapt, grow, and turn ideas into change, no matter what the future brings.