Human Practices

Interaction between the world and humanity is the heart of team Exterminatrix. We are committed to the principle that science doesn't exist in isolation, but is intrinsically connected to human life, society, and the environment. Therefore, when designing projects, we not only prioritize innovation, feasibility, and sustainability, but also emphasize its positive impact on humanity, society, the environment, and the world. Our goal is to harness the power of synthetic biology to address real-world challenges and foster a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature while promoting a sustainable development

At the Human Integrative Practices, we actively engage with the community, listening to diverse perspectives across multiple disciplines. By fostering communication and dialogue with professionals, scholars, and the public, we ensure that our projects genuinely address societal needs and expectations.

Simultaneously, we aim to inspire greater interest and attention of the greater public in science, promoting public understanding and participation in cutting-edge fields. Our ultimate goal is to foster a mutually beneficial relationship where science and society grow and advance together. We are committed to creating a scientifically rigorous and socially responsible research project, ensuring science truly serves the world and makes the world a better place.

Figure 1. The journey of our Integrated Human Practices

The Integrated Human Practices (IHP) of UM-iGEM, serves as the foundational framework guiding our project from inception to implementation. It ensures that our scientific work is continuously shaped and refined through meaningful dialogue with society, stakeholders, and experts, evolving a novel idea into a responsible and impactful solution.

For our project, Exterminatrix, IHP has served as the central thread throughout our journey. Our process began by Discovering Unmet Needs through social surveys and interviews with pest control practitioners. This approach helped us understand the public's ideal expectations for termite control products and shed insights in the market dynamics and regulatory framework within the industry which directly inspired our project.

We then progressed to the Strategic Project Design phase, where brainstorming sessions, literature review, and team discussions helped us conceptualize our initial approach. Inspired by a lecture on synthetic biology, we decided to leverage this field in our project. Subsequent consultations with professors validated the technical feasibility of our concept and inspired its core design.

Recognizing the importance of responsibility, we proactively worked to Integrate Ethics and Safety by researching relevant regulations, considering animal ethics, and seeking advice from biolaw experts. Concurrently, we engaged with Key Stakeholders, including campus administrators and heritage site managers, to understand the specific needs and challenges of controlling termites in public and historically significant buildings.

Throughout the project's development, we continued to Integrate Expert Insights from entomology and termite control specialists via emails and in-person meetings. Their critical feedback was instrumental in iterating our product design and prototype. Finally, this entire process of external engagement has allowed us to Chart the Future Path for Exterminatrix, guiding our plans for further prototyping and paving the way toward entrepreneurship (Figure 1).

By embedding IHP at every stage, we have established a closed feedback loop between our laboratory research and real-world applications. This not only ensures the scientific rigor and practicality of Exterminatrix but also demonstrates our commitment to a sustainable and socially responsible application of synthetic biology.

Our process began by Discovering Unmet Needs through literature review. Social surveys and interviews with pest control practitioners helped us understand the public's ideal expectations for termite control products, market dynamics and regulatory framework within the industry. These insights directly inspired and influenced our project.

By consulting journals such as"Termites in Macau" and numerous academic literatures, we have found that China is currently facing severe challenges brought about by termite infestation in the protection of ancient buildings and trees, and there are still many unmet core demands in the current prevention and control work.

In the field of ancient building protection, in 2004, the Dapeng Ancient Town complex in Shenzhen (covering an area of 100,000 square meters and containing over 2,000 houses) had 1,200 termite infestations, with a infestation rate as high as 78.3%, causing economic losses of over 20 million yuan. This exposes the dual deficiencies of the existing termite control schemes for ancient buildings in both "preventive protection" and "damage control".

In the field of tree protection, among the 238 ancient trees in Huizhou in 2000, 122 were affected by termites, with a damage rate of 51.26%. By 2003, the number of affected trees had increased to 181, and the damage rate had climbed to 76.05%. In 2018, the damage rate of 344 trees (7 types) in Foshan Sanshui Forest Park was 27.6%, and the damage rate of 1,015 trees in Dahanshan Ecological Public Welfare Forest Farm was 14.2%. Additional data consistently indicate that protecting ancient trees is a crucial application scenario that must be considered in termite control efforts.

Data Reduction: 《The location of termite damage》:

Trees in Jiangmen that have been infested by termites

To assess the public's cognition of termite infestations, prevention, and their ideal expectations for termite control products, we conducted online and offline questionnaire surveys and collected 208 genuine and valid responses. The data revealed that over half of the respondents had encountered termites, which underscores the urgent need for termite control. Regarding awareness of termite hazards, "damage to building structures" emerged as the top concern, as it directly threatens living safety, incurs high repair costs, and is closely tied to the public’s livelihoods. When it comes to ideal termite control products, the public clearly prioritized "environmental friendliness as the core, while considering practicality, affordability, and target specificity"—a preference that became the core goal of our product development.

We also interviewed Mr. Huang, Technical Director of Guangdong XX Co., Ltd., a pest control industry practitioner. From him, we learned that chemical control remains dominant today due to its low costs and high profit margins, but the risks of volatile pollution and environmental harm it poses directly conflict with the public’s growing demands for safety and sustainability. This further confirmed the public’s potential expectation: termite control products must not only be highly effective at killing termites but also avoid damaging the environment, human health, or protected buildings. At the market dynamics level, Mr. Huang noted that China’s pre-construction termite control market is essentially monopolized, creating entry barriers but also leaving room for innovation in segments like existing building protection and residential termite control. The shift in consumer preference toward sustainable solutions also pointed to a key unmet need—developing termite control products that balance cost-effectiveness and environmental performance to align with green consumption trends. From the regulatory framework perspective, he emphasized that pre-construction termite prevention has been elevated to a legal requirement in many parts of China, becoming a mandatory standard for real estate development; meanwhile, historical buildings are required to use biological control methods. These regulatory constraints, combined with market and public demands, make green, eco-friendly, and safe termite control solutions an urgent industry need—all of which collectively shaped the direction of our project.

Questionnaire Survey About Synthetic Biology and Termite Cognition

Introduction:

In June and July, our team conducted an online and offline questionnaire survey multiple times and eventually collected a total of 208 genuine and valid responses.

Goal:

1. To assess the public's cognition of termite infestations, prevention, and their ideal expectations for termite control products
2. Gain a deeper insight into public’s understanding of biosynthetic technology
3. Improve our product design to better meet the public's expectations for new termite control solutions

Summary of data form the questionnaire survey:

The public has a certain basic cognition of synthetic biology, but it has not been widely popularized, and more than 80% of the people have a low overall cognition level of this discipline. On the one hand, this is because synthetic biology, as a cutting-edge interdisciplinary subject, involves professional knowledge such as molecular biology and genetic engineering, resulting in a high threshold for understanding. On the other hand, the existing popular science channels are scattered, failing to form a large-scale and systematic knowledge dissemination system, making it difficult for the public to have an in-depth understanding. However, it is worth noting that the public generally recognizes the technical value of synthetic biology and has a strong willingness to learn, with sufficient interest potential in this field, which provides a good foundation for the subsequent popularization of knowledge and technology promotion.

In terms of cognition and demand related to termites, more than half of the respondents have had the experience of contacting termites, and there are significant regional high-incidence characteristics - the proportion of people who have seen termites in southern areas such as Macao and Guangdong (66.67% and 70% respectively) is significantly higher than that in other regions. This not only confirms the living habit of termites preferring warm and humid environments, but also highlights the urgency of termite prevention and control needs in these areas. In terms of the cognition of termite hazards, "damage to building structures" has become the most concerning type of hazard because it directly threatens living safety, incurs high repair costs and is closely related to the public's life interests. In terms of the demand for ideal insecticides, the public shows a clear tendency of "taking environmental friendliness as the core and considering practicality, economy and targeting", which is highly consistent with the product characteristics of our team, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent commercial promotion of the product.

Complete Data Analysis:

Consultation with a Termite Prevention Specialist

Introduction:

On 24 June 2025, three members of our team traveled to Zhongshan to visit Mr. Huang, Technical Director of Guangdong XX Ltd., a Co., a national high-tech enterprise integrating soil remediation and eco-agriculture, with core competencies in agricultural Ltd., and plant-health crop protection.

Goal:

1. Gain deep insights into the termite-control field
2. Discuss the feasibility and market potential of our project
3. Seek expert suggestions for our project

Process:

We had an open discussion with Mr. Huang, shared our project and asked him about the termite market, the serious situation of termites. He introduced the following contents to us:

1. Current state of termite control: Termite prevention for newly built houses has been elevated to a legal building requirement in many places in China and has become a mandatory requirement for real estate development.
   Long-vacant houses are more vulnerable to termite infestation than occupied ones.
   The market for pre-construction termite control in China is essentially monopolized.
   Chemical control is still the dominant method—low cost, high margin, long residual. For buildings, medicine is mixed into cement or injected into subterranean zones where termites may nest; this carries risks of volatilization and environmental contamination. For active infestations in occupied houses, the same chemicals are applied to walls. For historic buildings, bio-control agents (e.g., Metarhizium-based microbial pesticides) are used to avoid chemical damage to protected structures.
2. Market potential: Mr. Huang believes that in the future, with the enhancement of environmental awareness and the improvement of consumption levels, more environmentally friendly biological agents will become mainstream.
   Termite control companies have extremely high profits. The initial research and development cost is relatively high, but the production cost of chemical agents in the later stage is low.
3. Project recommendations: The efficacy of our proposed cellulose-bait device hinges on the probability that termites attack the toxic bait before the surrounding wood.

Outcome:

The team members have an in-depth understanding of current termite-control methods and market, providing directions for refining our project. The device's structure needs improvement to deliver the toxin more accurately to termites, while reducing environmental pollution.

Mr.Hunag's gifts(Chenpi) for us

Translating User Needs into Molecular Solutions

Guided by the clear mandates from our market research, we meticulously selected molecular components that collectively fulfill the desired profile of being eco-friendly, effective, and economically viable.

1. Addressing Environmental Friendliness and Specificity

The strong demand for an eco-friendly product led us to avoid persistent, broad-spectrum chemicals. Instead, we selected specific and biodegradable biological agents.

• Attractant HQ: We chose hydroquinone (HQ), a natural phagostimulating pheromone secreted by termites themselves, ensuring high specificity and minimal off-target impact [1].
• Toxin EcTI: This plant-derived protease inhibitor is not only highly effective against termites by disrupting their digestion, but it is also environmentally benign and easily degraded, preventing long-term pollution [2].
• Toxin Ligand-Hecate/Melittin: This innovative approach uses a ligand to deliver a lytic peptide specifically to protozoa in the termite gut, which are essential for the insect's survival. This precision dramatically reduces toxicity to non-target eukaryotes [3,4]. Furthermore, the rapid environmental degradation of these peptides minimizes ecological pressure and persistence [4].

2. Ensuring Efficacy and Ease of Use

The requirement for "ease of use" translates to high reliability and long-term effectiveness, which we achieve through potent and resistance-mitigating mechanisms.

• The powerful attraction of HQ ensures termites are reliably lured to the bait with minimal effort required from the user [1].
• Our multi-mechanistic toxin strategy—simultaneously inhibiting digestion (EcTI) and eliminating essential gut symbionts (Ligand-Hecate/Melittin)—creates a synergistic effect that enhances efficacy and reduces the likelihood of resistance emerging [4, 5].

Sustainable and Scalable Production

To fully realize the principles of sustainability and cost-effectiveness defined by our market research, synthetic biology was not just an option but a necessity.

Idea of Sustainable Production: Inspired by a lecture from Prof. Chenli Liu from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT), we got an idea of synthetic biology and wanted to applied this idea to our pesticide. Transitioning from chemical synthesis to fermentation-based production using engineered E. coli aligns perfectly with the core demand for environmental friendliness, as it significantly reduces energy consumption and hazardous waste.

Validation of Feasibility:Our commitment to a feasible design was confirmed through consultation with experts like Dr. Xiao Yi from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT). His validation of our synthetic pathways assured us that this user-inspired, sustainable production model is technically achievable.

This integrated approach—from listening to user needs to designing a bespoke molecular strategy and employing advanced biological manufacturing—ensures that Exterminatrix is not only a scientific innovation but a responsible and market-ready solution poised to make a tangible impact.

Attending a SynBio Lecture by Professor Chenli Liu

Introduction

At 4:00 PM on May 27, members of the IHP team participated in the "Frontiers Science center for Precision Oncology Seminar Series" organized by the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau. The lecture was delivered by Professor Liu Chenli on the topic of "Quantitative Synthetic Biology: Build to Learn to Build".Professor Liu Chenli has participated in the iGEM competition as a PI multiple times, and we hoped to seek his additional guidance in our conceptualization.

Goal:

1. Attend Professor Liu Chenli's lectures on synthetic biology (a leading expert in China's synthetic biology field) to enable team members to better understand the frontiers of this field and broaden the team's vision.
2. Communicate with Professor Liu Chenli (who has participated in the iGEM competition as a PI multiple times) to gain his insights and experiences as an iGEMer.
3. Learn about the Synbiochallenges competition in Shenzhen, and strive to meet more iGEM teams at this event to discuss and improve our project design.

Process

In the lecture, Professor Liu comprehensively introduced the development history, current progress and future prospects of synthetic biology and quantitative biology. The content is concerned with single-cell and multi-cellular level research, revealing the general quantitative laws consistent with natural and synthetic biological systems, and elaborating how to apply these laws to the rational design and quantitative prediction of synthetic biological systems.

During the Q&A session, the IHP team asked, "In what areas would it be more valuable for us as an iGEM team to learn in depth?" Professor Liu first reviewed his precious experience as iGEMer in the early years, and shared many insights and gains in the process of participating in iGEM. Then he pointed out that with the rapid development of synthetic biology, the team should keep a close eye on these cutting-edge trends, strive to apply emerging technologies to solve practical problems, and fully demonstrate their innovative thinking and scientific research capabilities in the competition.

After the lecture, team members had cordial communication with Professor Liu. Professor Liu introduced the synthetic biology related competition sponsored by Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, and encouraged our team to actively participate in it to promote communication and cooperation with other teams and achieve win-win results.

Outcome:

1. This lecture enabled our team to gain a deeper understanding of synthetic biology and quantitative biology, especially the frontiers of these fields.
2. The team has a more comprehensive understanding of the Synbiochallenges competition and has started preparing for this grand gathering of Asian iGEM teams.
3. The team has established contact with the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, laying the foundation for the team's future visit to Shenzhen.
4. It is worth mentioning that this activity is the first iHP activity our iGEM team has carried out after entering the summer vacation, so it can be said that we have made a good start!

Prof. Liu’s lecture.

Group photo with Prof. Liu (5th from the right), the Dean of FHS (1st from the left), and our primary PI (1st from the right).

Our Visit to the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT)

Introduction

On June 31st, our four team members visited the Institute of Synthetic Biology (iSynBio) at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT) and the Weiguang Life Science Park. This visit provided a valuable opportunity to gain insight into China's cutting-edge research and industrial applications in synthetic biology.

Goal

Our visit aimed to:

1. Learn about the latest synthetic biology technologies and their real-world industrial applications.

2. Validate the rationality and innovation of our current synthetic biology project design.

3. Seek expert suggestions to improve the scientific foundation of our termite-control project.

Process

Our visit was structured into three main segments, each offering unique insights and engagement opportunities:

1. Guided Tour at iSynBio Exhibition Hall

Dr. Xiao Yi led us through the ground-floor exhibition area, which detailed the development of synthetic biology in China. We explored displays featuring innovative products and companies originating from the institute. We learned how synthetic biology has evolved from conceptual research to real-world applications across fields such as agriculture, medical aesthetics, drug production, and fashion. Dr. Yi emphasized that the success of a synthetic biology product depends not only on its scientific value but also on its broader impact on the economy and society—such as how producing artemisinic acid using yeast could significantly reduce manual farming labor, underscoring the importance of humanistic considerations in technological innovation.

2. Lab Visit and Project Discussion with Dr. Yi’s Research Team

We then proceeded to Dr. Yi’s laboratory, which specializes in evolutionary synthetic biology. Here, we observed custom-built experimental setups used for bacterial and bacteriophage cultivation. The visit provided a hands-on perspective on cutting-edge research tools and methods. We also presented our project—which employs engineered symbiotic microbes to combat termite infestation—to Dr. Yi. In his office, we detailed our design, and he offered actionable advice to enhance clarity and emphasize innovation.

3. Exploration of Weiguang Life Science Park

The final phase of the visit took us to the Weiguang Life Science Park, a state-of-the research complex integrating facilities for brain science and synthetic biology. We toured robotic experimental platforms where artificial intelligence assists in high-throughput research, creating a futuristic and highly automated R&D environment. The advanced instrumentation and interdisciplinary approach left a strong impression regarding how AI is reshaping modern scientific exploration.

Outcomes

1. Inspiration and Learning: We witnessed how synthetic biology has transitioned from theoretical concepts to real-world products that benefit society. The slogan of iSynBio, “Instead of waiting for the future, create it yourself,” deeply motivated us. We learned that successful entrepreneurship in synbio depends not only on technological value but also on market impact and social responsibility. For instance, producing artemisinic acid using yeast may replace traditional farming, highlighting the importance of humanistic consideration in technological innovation.

2. Feedback from Dr. Yi: He provided specific suggestions to improve our project and presentation:

• Appreciate our innovative application and kindly suggest us don't be worry about the industry cost first.
• Clearly explain the relationships between the three major parts of our system.
• Specify which components are produced by E. coli.
• Strengthen the way we demonstrate innovation in our design.

3. Broadened Perspective: The visit exposed us to groundbreaking ideas, such as using bacteria for constructing buildings on Mars and targeting cancers with engineered organisms. We left with a renewed sense of purpose, understanding that individuals from diverse backgrounds can use synthetic biology to solve real-world problems.

Ethics and safety are vital priorities for Exterminatrix, and IHP made consistent efforts to ensure that these considerations were reviewed and refined throughout the process. In the development of our termite-targeting device based on synthetic biology, our team adopts a cyclical “Design–Feedback–Optimization” approach. Through Human Practice activities, we continuously engage with experts, the public, and relevant industries to gather feedback and reflect on the rationality of our safety design. These practices not only help us identify potential risks but also prompt us to consider ethical constraints and social acceptance more deeply in our design. Human Practice has been a key driving force in the continuous improvement of our safety framework, reminding us throughout the project to uphold the scientific principle of “Safety First.”

To systematically assess and manage potential risks, we categorize safety into three main dimensions: laboratory safety, experimental design safety, and policy safety.

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1. Laboratory Safety

We strictly adhere to biosafety level requirements to ensure that all experiments are conducted in a safe and regulated environment. Standardized operating procedures are implemented throughout the experimental process, along with appropriate protective equipment and waste disposal systems, to safeguard both researchers and the environment.

[Click here to jump to Wet Lab Safety page]

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2. Experimental Design Safety

Although our product is still in the early stages of design, we adopt a forward-thinking approach to safety, covering all phases from initial concept and continuous optimization to future application. We have conducted self-assessments focusing on the following 4 key aspects:

• Environmental Safety
• User Safety
• Project Controllability
• Bioethics

● Is the product safe for users? Has public acceptance been considered?

Through discussions with industry professionals, we found that the current termite pesticide market prioritizes control effectiveness, often placing user safety as a secondary concern. For example, we visited Mr. Huang, the head of a pesticide company in Zhongshan, and he recommended that we need to focus on efficiency. However, at the same time, Mr. Huang emphasized that the industry believes in the coming decades, high-safety biopesticides are expected to replace traditional chemical agents and become the industry standard. Further, we also received the same demands for user safety during our communications with stakeholders such as the Campus Management and Development Office (CMDO) of the University of Macau, residents, and the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. This shift highlights the need for pesticide effectiveness to coexist with environmental and public health protection.

To meet basic pest control requirements while ensuring user safety, we select components with low toxicity to humans as the foundation of our bait system. [Click here to jump to “project” page: why we choose these components] This approach helps minimize potential harm to non-target organisms.

Given that our product is intended for urban residential use, we place strong emphasis on public acceptance of synthetic biology. Initially, our design did not account for the impact of extreme weather conditions on pesticide performance. After conducting questionnaire-based interactions with potential users, especially those living in Macau in older wood-based structures, we received valuable feedback regarding concerns about safety and environmental sustainability. In response, we added an environmental factor assessment module to evaluate how variables such as humidity and temperature affect bait performance, ensuring stability and safety across diverse ecological settings.

To further build public trust, we plan to include detailed user protection guidelines in the product manual. Additionally, we are committed to transparent science communication throughout the design process by openly sharing our design logic and safety mechanisms through scientific meetings and interactions with users. This helps foster public understanding and confidence in eco-friendly pest control technologies and the broader goals of environmental protection.

● Is the product environmentally safe?

Yes. To support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 6, 11, we prioritized the use of biodegradable and low-residue active ingredients in our pesticide design. This approach aims to minimize the risk of long-term pollution to soil, water bodies, and surrounding ecosystems.

In the process of toxin screening and combination, we have verified through animal experiments that there is no antagonistic interaction among ECTI, MLT, and Hecate, indicating that their mechanisms of action are independent. [Click here to jump to dry lab: insert actual link to See results from Wet Lab – Animal Experiment Conclusions] This result provides a scientific foundation and practical flexibility for adjusting toxin combinations based on their physicochemical properties under different environmental conditions.

● How does the product address bioethical constraints?

Termites are species that possess both destructive potential and ecological functions. Therefore, any control strategy must strike a balance between “effective management” and “ethical responsibility.”

Our approach focuses on targeting invasive species which is Coptotermes formosanus specifically, avoiding large-scale extermination. Instead, we aim to gradually weaken colony survival by disrupting their internal microbial metabolic systems. This strategy emphasizes ecological regulation rather than ecological destruction.

● How is product controllability ensured?

Our selection of bacterial strains, toxins, and attractants is based on well-documented literature, ensuring both efficacy and safety. On the hardware side, we retained the traditional bait bucket design.

And after investigating the situation of termites in ancient trees through books, field investigation, interviews and other channels, we confirmed the need for ancient tree protection. Combined with the suggestions obtained from the communication with Prof. Wang for South China Agricultural University, we innovatively developed a syringe-shaped baiting device. This design enhances adaptability and precision, allowing for more targeted application in diverse field conditions.

Traditional Bait Bucket Design

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3. Policy Safety

Our communication and dialog with the Faculty of Law at the University of Macau, via chatting with the doctoral students of Professor Duli, helped us shift from a technology-driven to a regulation-driven approach. This encouraged us to incorporate legal compliance considerations at the early design stage, avoiding potential obstacles during future implementation. We recognized that the practical application of pesticides requires not only technical feasibility but also strict adherence to regulations such as the Pesticide Administration Ordinance and Environmental Impact Assessment procedures.

As a result, we introduced a dedicated Policy Safety module to systematically review legal frameworks related to synthetic biology.

These policies not only provide a compliance framework for our experimental design, but also guide us in making scientifically informed decisions regarding strain selection, ingredient selection, and hardware design of product development. For example, we selected Metarhizium as our chassis organism initially. However, we found it necessary to modify more than 10 genes, which posed significant challenges in terms of safety and controllability within the limited timeframe of the competition. To ensure biosafety and maintain precise regulation of our engineered strain, we ultimately switched to Escherichia coli, a well-characterized and widely used model organism in synthetic biology. And we decided to use HQ, Melittin, Ligand-hatate ingredient, and relevant regulation changed our hardware design by having us use different concentrations of ingredients in different hardware.

We also recognize that experimental safety and policy safety intersect in key areas like user protection and environmental sustainability. These concerns are both central to technical design and core regulatory requirements. Therefore, we consistently uphold a dual standard of technical innovation and legal compliance, ensuring our project maintains a balance between scientific rigor, ethical responsibility, and social accountability.

Policy analysis

• Strain Selection
• Ingredient Selection
• Design of hardware

Strain Selection

Perspective	Specific Laws / Requirement	Countermeasure
Classification of Microbes	Clause 7 of the Regulations on the Biosafety Management of Pathogen Microorganisms Laboratory (2018 Revised) indicates: The State shall classify pathogenic microorganisms into four categories based on their infectivity, the degree of harm they cause to individuals or groups after infection, and whether they are microorganisms that have not been found or have been declared eradicated in China: Class I: Microorganisms that can cause very serious diseases in humans or animals, as well as microorganisms that have not been found or have been declared eradicated in China. Class II: Microorganisms that can cause serious diseases in humans or animals and are easily transmitted directly or indirectly between people, animals, and environments. Class III: Microorganisms that can cause diseases in humans or animals, but usually do not pose serious harm to humans, animals, or the environment, have limited transmission risks, rarely cause serious diseases in laboratory infections, and have effective treatment and prevention measures. Class IV: Microorganisms that usually do not cause diseases in humans or animals. Class I and Class II pathogenic microorganisms are collectively referred to as highly pathogenic microorganisms.	The microorganisms used in our project belong to Class IV pathogens: microorganisms that usually do not cause diseases in humans or animals.
Genetic Engineering Safety Level	Article 6 of the Regulations on Safety Management of Genetic Engineering: According to the potential degree of danger, genetic engineering work is divided into four safety levels: Safety Level I: No danger to human health and ecological environment. Safety Level II: Low degree of danger to human health and ecological environment. Safety Level III: Moderate degree of danger to human health and ecological environment. Safety Level IV: High degree of danger to human health and ecological environment.	The microorganisms used in our project are no danger to human health and ecological environment. They are classified as Safety Level I.

Ingredient Selection

Selection of Project Ingredient	Specific Laws / Requirement	Countermeasure
Attractant / Media	Clause 4.2.5 of JGJ/T 245-2024 Technical Standard for Termite Control in Buildings: Termite bait formulations must meet the following requirements: The target termite species must match those specified in the pesticide registration certificate. The bait must be highly palatable to termites.	Pine wood strips sprayed with HQ and tea polyphenols serve as attractants. Pine wood is the main food type for termites. HQ is a pheromone specific to Coptotermes formosanus (Formosan subterranean termite), which has a physiological attraction effect and shows species-specificity toward Coptotermes; adding tea polyphenols significantly enhance its attractiveness.
“Toxins”	Clause 4.2.5 of JGJ/T 245-2024 Technical Standard for Termite Control in Buildings: Termite bait formulations shall meet the following requirements: The toxicity to humans and livestock should be low or slightly toxic, with no attraction or avoidance effect on termites and should have a chronic stomach poisoning effect.	Melittin: Melittin has a wide range of antibacterial and cell membrane disruption capabilities, and exhibits significant toxic effects on aquatic organisms such as Daphnia magna (water flea). (Emilia Galdiero, Valeria Maselli, Annarita Falanga, Renato Gesuele, Stefania Galdiero, Domenico Fulgione, Marco Guida, Integrated analysis of the ecotoxicological and genotoxic effects of the antimicrobial peptide melittin on Daphnia magna and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Environmental Pollution, Volume 203, 2015, Pages 145-152, ISSN 0269-7491, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2015.03.046.) Ligand-Hecate: High bactericidal efficiency; adding ligand to Hecate has a targeting effect on termites.

Hardware Design

Hardware Type	Specific Laws / Requirement	Countermeasure
Syringe Device	Clause 4.2.4 of JGJ/T 245-2024 Technical Standard for Termite Control in Buildings: Termiticides used for residual spraying must meet the following requirements: They should be low in toxicity and odorless. They must exhibit significant toxic effects against termites.	Our ingredients are odorless. The concentration of “toxins” is higher than those contained in the bucket device, resulting in lower transitivity but can kill termites more quickly, while remaining low in toxicity to humans. The injectable product can only be used on trees that have been eaten by termites; these syringe devices will be injected into the surface of damaged trees, avoiding more serious injuries to the trees.

Although current regulations have clear requirements regarding user safety and toxicity control, we recognize that there is still significant room for improvement in terms of environmental safety. Most pesticide-related laws remain at the baseline of “not harming humans or livestock,” lacking systematic standards for long-term ecological impact, soil and water residue, and interference with non-target species.

Taking urban pest control pesticides (such as termiticides) as an example, existing regulations have yet to establish limits for soil and water residues, biodegradability standards, or specific requirements for impacts on non-target organisms. We believe that as the concept of sustainable development deepens, future legislation should gradually shift from a “harm prevention” mindset to a proactive approach that promotes environmental protection.

Therefore, our project's further goal is to provide a practical case through environmentally safe design, demonstrating the potential of synthetic biology in advancing green technologies. We hope this exploration can serve as a reference for future pesticide regulations that are more stringent and encourage eco-friendly innovation, in response to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 2, 12 and 15.

Overview

Exterminatrix places extreme value in engagement as it fosters diverse perspectives, enhances relevance and fosters collaboration and trust among all involved parties. By communicating with stakeholders, we can obtain market situations, identify potential risks, clarify customer needs and regulatory requirements, etc. Their feedback directly shapes and refines our project, which is essential and crucial for our final success. Thus, we connect with multiple dimensions including users, cases, companies and so on to obtain comprehensive information.

To address the distinct challenges of termite prevention in public and historically significant buildings, the project engaged with key stakeholders in both sectors. Through consultations with the University of Macau's Campus Management and Development Office (CMDO) and the management of the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Zhongshan, the team documented their respective prevention strategies and operational difficulties. These insights directly informed the product development process, guiding adaptations to enhance its suitability for these critical environments.

Our strategic roadmap is charted across three consecutive, iterative stages, designed to transform our scientific innovation into a dominant market force through continuous learning and adaptation, guided by deep stakeholder partnerships.

Phase 1: Laying the Foundation (Months 3-6)

This initial phase is dedicated to de-risking our technology and validating our core value proposition. We will rigorously confirm all critical technical specifications—from active ingredient content and stability to safety profiles—ensuring full compliance with Good Laboratory Practice standards. Concurrently, we will initiate a collaborative dialogue with regulatory bodies and potential early-adopter partners, embedding their insights into our development process from the very beginning. In parallel, we will secure intellectual property for our core technologies (CYP450 mutant, dual-toxin and triple-attractant formula) with the University of Macau's IPO and build a preliminary commercial model grounded in real-world data from target market research (retail warehouses, forestry stations).

Phase 2: Piloting & Co-Creation (Months 6-9)

Here, we transition from the lab to the real world, scaling our process and forging the key partnerships that will underpin our commercial ecosystem. We will lock down the manufacturing process and partner with qualified pilot-scale facilities for production. A central pillar of this phase is active market validation and co-creation. We will deploy pilot products for trial sales, establishing direct feedback channels with retail and forestry customers. This input will fuel our first major product iteration cycle, ensuring the final product is finely tuned to market needs. We will also secure our supply chain (e.g., agreements with recyclers for cellulose) and test our hybrid "multi-tier distribution + direct supply" channel model in a live environment with partners like Guangdong Forestry.

Phase 3: Scaling & Market Leadership (Months 9-12)

The final phase is about achieving operational excellence and driving rapid market penetration. We will execute a full-scale launch, managing the entire chain from raw material procurement to logistics, while obtaining all necessary mass production qualifications. Leveraging the validated channel strategy from Phase 2, we will aggressively expand our market coverage. Our focus will shift towards continuous optimization—reducing unit costs through scale and refining production efficiency. Crucially, we will institutionalize feedback loops with our entire stakeholder network to systematically plan for future product generations and enhancements, ensuring we not only enter the market but continue to lead it through sustained innovation and adaptation.

An Adaptive Commercialization Strategy

Our path is not linear but adaptive. By treating each stage as a learning cycle and prioritizing deep integration with our stakeholders, we ensure that our product roadmap remains dynamically aligned with market evolution. This disciplined, iterative approach is how we will translate a proven concept into a scalable, self-improving, and commercially dominant enterprise.

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At the heart of our iGEM journey lies a deep commitment to collaboration and outreach. Exterminatrix is all about connecting with people of all backgrounds, ages, and fields. We firmly believe that by working together effectively, we can achieve far more than we could alone. Through active engagement on platforms such as iGEM Slack and participation in regional and international events, we have connected with diverse teams, exchanging ideas, supporting one another, and communicating openly to generate invaluable insights and refine our projects. These interactions have not only enriched our scientific approach but also helped us build trust, strengthen our team, and create a positive environment where everyone's strengths can shine. Collaboration enables us to address challenges creatively, align our work with global sustainability goals, and amplify our real-world impact. Ultimately, this spirit of mutual support is fundamental to our team's mission and strongly aligns with our goals.