COLLABORATION

Attendee Projects

• iGEM Unicamp (Brazil):

  This team is focused on biomanufacturing antimicrobial peptides. Their innovation lies in engineering these peptides to remain inactive until required, after which they are reactivated to target specific pathogens. They also aim to culture filamentous fungi on orange industry residues, aligning with circular economy principles.

• iGEM Thessaly (Greece):

  Focusing on virulite particles, the team aims to grow cell lines using bioreactors, transfect viruses, and study the kill curve of the culture. Their broader goal is to contribute to cancer research, particularly targeting cancers with high mortality rates such as pancreatic cancer, and addressing public anxiety surrounding breast cancer.

• iGEM Stony Brook (New York City, USA):

  Working on mimicking HIV in mammalian cell lines, this team seeks to eliminate the symptoms of HIV by designing a one-shot therapeutic that deactivates the virus, reducing the need for repetitive medication. Their current focus is on safe and effective delivery mechanisms.

• iGEM IISER Berhampur (India):

  Developing a biofilter that targets specific heavy metals responsible for diseases, the team is exploring its application in bioremediation. The initial area of study is Odisha, which is known for its heavy metal contamination issues.

Key Discussions

• Uses of Biomanufacturing and Sustainability in Synthetic Biology.

  Biomanufacturing in synthetic biology involves using engineered organisms to produce materials, medicines, and fuels in an eco-friendly way. It lowers dependence on fossil fuels, reduces carbon emissions, and minimizes toxic waste. Utilizing renewable resources and efficient biological processes, it promotes circular economy practices and enables sustainable alternatives to traditional industrial methods.

• What Is the Major Criterion Guiding the Design of Biological Systems?

  • Yield
  • Sustainability
  • Cost-efficiency

• How Did Each Team Choose Their Topic?

  • Unicamp (Brazil): Being a major orange producer, Brazil has witnessed a decline in citrus yield due to pathogens such as HLB. The team aims to address this issue sustainably and economically.
  • Thessaly (Greece): Motivated by the high mortality of cancers like pancreatic cancer and public concern around breast cancer, the team chose to contribute to cancer therapeutics.

• Criteria for Selecting a Chassis for Wet Lab Work

  • Thessaly (Greece):Currently undecided on a specific chassis due to complexities in handling theoretical options. Safety is a major concern as the project involves viruses and cancer cells. Other considerations include gene construct size and vector limitations for gene therapy.
  • Stony Brook (NYC): Due to safety restrictions, they are not working with actual HIV but instead with a cassette mimicking the virus. They will use VERO E6 mammalian cell lines. Only two personnel are permitted to handle these cell lines; others focus on plasmid construction and both in-vitro and in-vivo testing.

• Challenges Faced During Wet Lab Work

  • Unicamp (Brazil):Faced challenges in engineering spores and culturing filamentous fungi on orange residue substrates.
  • Thessaly (Greece): Still developing their experimental setup. Repetitive sequences in their constructs complicate molecular techniques like PCR and cloning, leading to structural instability and potential interference with standard procedures.

The meet highlighted how diverse global teams are leveraging synthetic biology to tackle region-specific and global challenges—from disease treatment to environmental sustainability. Despite differing goals and geographical contexts, all projects emphasized the importance of biomanufacturing, safety, and sustainability. These discussions not only fostered knowledge exchange but also reinforced the collaborative spirit that defines iGEM, encouraging innovation that is both scientifically sound and socially responsible.

iGEM BUCT - 7^th June, 2025

On 7th June 2025 at Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Team Polygone proposed hosting an international poster-making competition on GatherTown, centered on combating marine plastic pollution. Their project focuses on enzymatically degrading PBAT (Polybutylene adipate terephthalate) into TPA, adipic acid, and 1,4-butanediol using targeted enzymes. Through a computational pipeline involving BLAST-based enzyme selection, solubility prediction, 3D structure modeling, and molecular dynamics analysis, they have identified two promising candidates: AM and Glaciecola SP2013. While still in early stages, the team is also exploring enzyme immobilization, considering gum arabica as a potential carrier.

Their Human Practices strategy is based on a logic chain encompassing production, usage, recycling, and accumulation, with efforts directed toward assessing ecological impact and ensuring practical feasibility. They are actively engaging with industries, environmental NGOs, and the public to refine their scientific approach and communication. Although environmental testing is not yet in place, they plan to regionally adapt enzymes for better performance in varying temperatures and intend to study the ecological effects of degradation byproducts in the future. Overall, the team emphasizes a socially responsible, collaborative, and feedback-driven approach to addressing plastic pollution.

iGEM Thessaly

Focusing on virulite particles, the team plans to use bioreactors to grow cell lines, transfect viruses, and analyze the kill curve of the culture, aiming to advance cancer research with a focus on high-mortality cancers like pancreatic cancer and public concerns around breast cancer. While they have not yet finalized a chassis for their wet lab work, safety remains a primary concern due to the involvement of viruses and cancer cells, alongside practical issues such as gene construct size and vector limitations. Their experimental setup is still in progress, and they face technical challenges related to repetitive sequences in their constructs, which hinder molecular techniques like PCR and cloning due to instability and procedural interference.

iGEM Hamburg

The iGEM Hamburg team is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of mushroom intoxication, specifically the lethal toxin produced by the Deathcap mushroom (Amanita phalloides). Using RoseTTAFold, an advanced AI-based protein structure prediction tool, they aim to model the 3D structure of the key toxic protein, which exerts its effect by targeting RNA polymerase II and halting transcription, thereby preventing mRNA formation. Their in vitro studies seek to clarify this interaction and identify strategies to neutralize the toxin’s impact. For their Human Practices, the team plans to consult toxicology helplines and local hospitals to gather data on mushroom poisoning. They are also aiming for Best Wiki and Best Presentation, emphasizing both scientific rigor and effective communication.

iGEM Taipei

This project aims to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change by enhancing the efficiency of carbon fixation in cyanobacteria. The team focuses on optimizing the Carbon Concentrating Mechanism (CCM) pathway, which involves the enzyme Rubisco. Rubisco has a low affinity for CO₂ and can mistakenly bind to O₂, reducing its effectiveness. To address this, the project targets the cmpABCD gene cluster: cmpA functions as a bicarbonate transporter or "grabber," cmpB acts as a tunnel permease facilitating bicarbonate movement, and cmpC and cmpD encode ATPase components that provide the necessary energy. As a novel approach, cyanobacteria will be cultivated in BG11 medium and applied as a thin layer onto polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) sheets. These bioactive sheets will then be suspended laterally to maximize exposure to airflow, promoting enhanced CO₂ capture and fixation.

iGEM Patras

This project focuses on developing an early detection system for sepsis, a life-threatening yet often overlooked medical condition responsible for a significant number of deaths globally, by identifying its onset through the detection of specific biomarkers released in the body during the early stages of infection. To achieve this, the team is designing specialized glucose sensors integrated into epidermal microneedles that can non-invasively monitor these biomarkers through the skin. These microneedle-based sensors will enable rapid, real-time detection of physiological changes associated with sepsis, facilitating timely medical intervention and potentially saving lives. By addressing a critical gap in early diagnosis and leveraging innovative biosensing technology, the project brings attention to sepsis and offers a scalable, accessible solution for early-stage detection.