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Human Practices


Supplementary Note

Our Human Practices work was carried out around the core needs of the project, running through the entire process of project design, experimental optimization, and social practice, to ensure a high degree of alignment between our technical approach and societal needs. Throughout the project, we continuously gathered feedback from stakeholders and integrated it into iterative improvements, ultimately forming a comprehensive solution that balances scientific rigor, feasibility, and social value. For more details, please refer to the Best Human Practices Award page.

1. Social Problem-Driven Project

Water safety and public health are pressing issues that require urgent solutions today. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as a typical opportunistic pathogen, is widely present in industrially produced bottled drinking water, hospitals, and public water systems, posing a severe threat to human health. In drinking water and production water, the bacterium can spread through water, creating potential public health risks. In hospitals, it is an important pathogen responsible for nosocomial infections, especially harmful to immunocompromised individuals, and is often associated with pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and wound infections [1][2]. Traditional detection methods often face prominent challenges in practice, including long detection cycles, insufficient sensitivity, complex operations, and high costs [3].

Survey results indicate that these limitations directly affect the needs in different application scenarios: enterprises face quality and economic risks due to lagging detection cycles in production water monitoring; hospitals cannot obtain clinical test results quickly, delaying treatment decisions; testing institutions find it difficult to carry out large-scale screening in emergencies in a timely manner; and the public lacks convenient means to directly perceive water quality safety. It is evident that the lag and limitations of existing detection systems are the core contradictions restricting water safety assurance and public health protection.

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Based on this, we propose to develop a novel detection method that is rapid, low-cost, easy to operate, and capable of visual output, making it applicable at the hospital, enterprise, and public levels. To achieve this goal, we designed a dual-modality biosensor based on PYO/PQS signaling molecules, which achieves qualitative and quantitative detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa through dual signal outputs of coloration and fluorescence [4]. This is intended to break through the bottlenecks of traditional detection methods and promote the practical translation and application of synthetic biology technologies in the fields of public health and water safety.

2. Current Social Situation, Stakeholder Insights, and Project Optimization

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To ensure that the project addresses real societal needs, we conducted multiple surveys and interviews with enterprises, hospitals, water plants, testing institutions, biotech companies, and the public, and optimized the project based on feedback.

To understand the pain points in efficiency and cost of industrial water testing, we visited Yan’an Tingjin Beverage Co., Ltd. on April 3 and interviewed Wu Bo, Chief Quality Control Officer, and Shi Kaiyuan, Director of Plant Affairs. They pointed out that traditional testing methods are time-consuming and expensive, and delayed results could lead to the scrapping of entire batches of products, causing severe economic losses. The company expressed strong interest in low-cost, rapid testing methods and hoped to implement them on the production line. Based on this feedback, we chose the inexpensive substrates ONPG and MUG to reduce testing costs and simplify operations, ensuring feasibility for large-scale industrial applications. The company showed a positive attitude toward these solutions and expressed willingness to collaborate with us in the future.

To clarify hospital needs for Pseudomonas aeruginosa detection, we visited the Respiratory Department of Yan’an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital on April 25 and interviewed Deputy Director Zhang Qiaorong. She explained: “Currently, the hospital’s detection method is culturing specimens, mainly from patients’ sputum, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine, and the culture takes 2–3 days.” This cannot meet the demand for rapid diagnosis and leads to considerable uncertainty in treatment decisions. Based on this feedback, we enhanced our design with a “dual-mode output”: the colorimetric result allows doctors to visually identify outcomes more intuitively and helps hospitals detect P. aeruginosa contamination in water in advance, preventing further nosocomial infections through water transmission. The doctor confirmed that such a combined qualitative and quantitative approach would assist in clinical decision-making.

To ensure our solution meets regulatory requirements and has the potential for standardization, we visited Yan’an Food Quality and Safety Testing Center on May 19 and interviewed research engineer Liu Zhe. He noted that current methods are costly and time-consuming, making it difficult to respond promptly to sudden contamination incidents. He also emphasized that test results must be reproducible and traceable. Based on this feedback, we strengthened result standardization and traceability in our design to ensure future compliance with national and industry testing standards.

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P. aeruginosa
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To understand existing detection methods and products on the market, on June 3 we interviewed Zhan Xiaohua, General Manager of Xi’an Haiyan Biotechnology Co., Ltd. He introduced the characteristics of current mainstream detection products and particularly emphasized that detection technologies must drastically shorten detection times to achieve stronger market competitiveness and application value. Based on this feedback, we prioritized shortening the detection cycle, aiming to achieve one-day detection to meet urgent market and application needs.

To understand public awareness gaps on water safety and microbial risks, we conducted a campus survey. Results showed that the public tends to focus on water turbidity or odor but lacks knowledge about Pseudomonas aeruginosa. When the coloration biosensor was demonstrated, the public showed great interest and hoped it could be used in household settings, believing that such intuitive, low-cost detection methods have practical value. Based on this feedback, we placed greater emphasis on the safety of engineered bacteria in our project, ensuring all experiments are conducted in contained laboratory environments with autoclave treatment of waste. We also strengthened science communication to improve public understanding and acceptance of synthetic biology products.

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In addition, we maintained close communication with Xi’an Haiyan Biotechnology Co., Ltd. and held a donation ceremony on September 8. The company not only donated laboratory consumables to us, but also highly recognized our project objectives and technical roadmap, stating that our detection solution could make the testing process faster and more cost-effective, with strong potential for practical application. This donation provided essential material support for our experiments, further boosted our team’s confidence, and promoted the smooth progress of our experimental work.

3. Education and Public Engagement

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1. Campus Lectures and Exhibitions (May 8)

To raise awareness of bacterial contamination in water and collect feedback for sensor demonstration optimization, on May 8 we organized a campus lecture and exhibition. During the event, we introduced students and faculty to water safety and microbial risks, and demonstrated the dual-modality biosensor on site, allowing participants to intuitively understand the hazards of P. aeruginosa contamination. After the lecture, most participants expressed that the demonstration made complex issues easier to understand and gave positive support to our project.

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2. Public Science Activity (June 22, Yan’an Wuyue Plaza)

To further enhance public awareness of water quality monitoring and microbial risks, and to test public acceptance of the biosensor, on June 22 we held a large-scale science outreach event at Wuyue Plaza in Yan’an. We educated citizens on water safety knowledge and demonstrated biosensor applications in household and commercial water scenarios. Citizens participated enthusiastically, widely acknowledged the practicality and convenience of the biosensor, and expressed support for the project’s social value.

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3. International Student Exchange (July 5)

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To promote cross-cultural scientific exchange and test biosensor comprehensibility across different cultures and environments, on July 5 we organized an exchange with international students. We discussed water quality issues faced by various countries and demonstrated the biosensor detection method for P. aeruginosa. International students highly praised the project’s innovation and social value, and believed the technology has strong international promotion potential.

4. Online Questionnaire Survey (July 6)

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To collect broader public feedback and further optimize science education strategies, on July 6 we conducted an online survey. Results showed that the public generally recognized the value of biosensors in household and community water safety assurance and also provided useful suggestions for improving science communication. The survey provided wide social validation for the project and guided future public education efforts [6].

5.“Breaking Synthetic Biology Myths” National Science Popularization Campaign (August)

In addition to direct science communication with the public, we actively participated in joint initiatives within the synthetic biology community. In August, we joined the “Breaking Synthetic Biology Myths” campaign launched by Jilin University’s JN-iGEM-2025 team. This campaign attracted 33 participating teams from universities and companies nationwide, who collaboratively created educational posters and short videos to debunk common public misconceptions about GMOs and synthetic biology. Through this activity, we not only amplified the impact of our science communication efforts but also strengthened public trust in synthetic biology, creating a more supportive public opinion environment for promoting our project.

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6. Science Communication via New Media

To further enhance public awareness of water safety and the importance of water quality testing, we have been operating our official WeChat and TikTok accounts since April, regularly publishing popular science content on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, water pollution prevention, and applications of synthetic biology. Through short videos, articles, and interactive Q&A sessions, we aim to present the social significance of water testing and the core concept of our project in a vivid and easily understandable way.

During the operation process, we received extensive feedback from different audience groups. For instance, some viewers pointed out that certain polluted images in the promotional videos might cause discomfort and suggested reducing such visual elements. Others believed that the content should focus more on scientific principles and the project itself rather than on dramatized storytelling. Based on these suggestions, we promptly adjusted our content strategy by removing overly stimulating visuals and strengthening the scientific and technical presentation of our project, making the dissemination more professional, clear, and accessible to the public.

This process has deepened our understanding of the public’s aesthetic preferences and acceptance boundaries in scientific communication, while helping us establish a more effective science popularization model. Through continuous online engagement, we have not only expanded our project’s outreach channels but also enhanced public understanding of synthetic biology and water safety issues, laying a solid foundation for the project’s social promotion and sustainable development.

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Through multi-level and diverse forms of public participation, we not only validated the social application value of the biosensor but also significantly improved public scientific understanding of water safety and microbial risks, laying a solid foundation for project promotion and long-term development.

4. Teamwork and Academic Exchange

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During the project, we actively engaged in academic exchanges at multiple levels and in various forms. Team members presented project progress at the Northeast iGEM Exchange, Tianjin Six Universities Exchange, Xi’an Jiaotong University and Northwest University Exchange, Western iGEM Exchange, as well as national conferences (CCiC, Synbiopunk). Through cross-team interaction and feedback, we continuously optimized experimental design and social practice strategies.

During exchanges, different teams provided specific suggestions that prompted targeted optimizations:

1. Modeling and Signal Analysis: XJTU-China suggested building a 3D kinetic model to visually present signal molecule changes during biosensor detection. We optimized by constructing a 3D visualization model, making signal trends under different conditions clear, and using it to guide experimental design and sensor parameter adjustments.

2. Culture Media and Experimental Conditions: When we encountered an issue where sealing film materials for culture media blocked oxygen flow, preventing bacterial growth, NWU-China recommended excellent materials (permeable to air but impermeable to water) to ensure sufficient oxygen. We sought such materials, optimized conditions, and solved the oxygen shortage issue.

3. Detection Reliability and Specificity: NWU-China pointed out that other microorganisms may interfere with detection and suggested introducing controllable resistance genes to reduce errors. We adopted this strategy and introduced a triclosan resistance gene, effectively reducing non-target microbial interference and improving specificity and reliability.

4. Social Practice and Public Engagement: TJUSLS-China shared their experience in public science education and standardized operating procedures. We adopted these experiences to improve biosensor demonstrations, public interaction strategies, and standardization of experiments, making social practice more understandable and impactful.

Through multiple rounds of exchange and optimization, we not only developed a more systematic experimental workflow and social practice strategy but also deepened our understanding of the synthetic biology community’s spirit of “openness, collaboration, and sharing.” We also established long-term collaborations with some teams, planning further cooperation on sample testing, data sharing, and standardization discussions. Academic exchange not only broadened our technical horizons but also enhanced the project’s influence and sustainable development potential in domestic and international academic circles.

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5. Ethics, Safety, and Sustainability

Throughout the project, we placed ethics, safety, and sustainability at the core. In response to public concerns about risks of engineered bacteria, we clarified through science communication that all detection work is conducted in closed laboratory environments and engineered bacteria will not enter drinking water. Laboratory operations strictly followed BSL-1 protocols, and all waste was autoclaved to ensure no bacterial leakage, securing safety at the source.

To enhance sustainability, we designed a low-cost and simple-to-operate detection method, making it applicable in resource-limited regions, thereby improving accessibility and inclusiveness.

During the project, we participated in the CCiC “Biosafety & Responsibility Workshop,” where we received systematic training on ethics in synthetic biology from Prof. Xue Yang, Associate Researcher Gao Lu, Researcher Chen Bokai, and Dr. Su Yeyang. Dr. Su specifically discussed ethical principles in synthetic biology research, ethical considerations for public engagement, and scientific responsibility, emphasizing that in science outreach and demonstrations, transparency of information, clarity of experimental boundaries, and strict adherence to bioethics must be ensured. Guided by this, we paid greater attention to ethical norms in experimental design, public communication, and science education, ensuring that the public understands both technological innovations and the project’s social responsibility and boundaries.

Through these measures, we not only ensured the project’s ethical compliance but also enhanced public trust and social acceptance, providing a solid foundation for social value and sustainable development [7].

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6. Potential Social Impact

Our project holds significant positive impacts on the societal level. For hospitals, rapid detection technology can improve diagnostic efficiency, help identify sources of Pseudomonas aeruginosa contamination in water at an early stage, prevent nosocomial infections transmitted through water, and assist medical institutions in risk warning and water safety management, thereby supporting more rational clinical prevention and treatment decisions. For enterprises, the low-cost and user-friendly detection method helps reduce testing expenses and minimize production risks. For testing agencies, this method expands their detection capacity and enhances their emergency response to unexpected events. Meanwhile, the public, through participation in science popularization activities and sensor demonstrations, gains a deeper awareness of water safety, which contributes to improving overall public health.

At the same time, we have carefully assessed the potential risks associated with the project. For instance, the public may misinterpret detection results, or improper management of engineered bacteria may lead to biosafety concerns. To mitigate these risks, we have adopted a series of effective measures: strengthening science communication to ensure transparency and comprehensibility of information; establishing strict regulatory and compliance frameworks to standardize experimental procedures and data usage; and rigorously implementing BSL-1 laboratory protocols during experiments, with all waste sterilized by autoclaving to ensure no bacterial leakage.

Through these measures, we not only maximize the social benefits of the project but also effectively reduce potential risks, laying a solid foundation for the sustainable development and social application of the project.

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7. Reflection and Future Outlook

Through a series of Human Practices activities, we have profoundly realized that science and technology are not only challenges of academic exploration but also carry social responsibility. The development of technology must be framed within ethical and safety boundaries in order to truly benefit society. Feedback from all sectors of society is not merely supplementary information but serves as a core driving force for the optimization and iteration of the project.

Looking ahead, we plan to further validate the feasibility of our detection method using real water samples and collaborate with industry partners to develop portable detection devices, bringing the technology closer to practical application. At the same time, we will work with regulatory authorities to promote the standardization and compliance of detection methods, ensuring reliability and sustainability in social adoption.

In addition, we will continue to carry out science popularization and international exchanges, so that the outcomes of the project may truly reach both society and the world, strengthening public scientific awareness of water safety. Ultimately, we can clearly state: our project is both responsible and beneficial to society. It not only embodies the innovative spirit of synthetic biology but also provides new ideas and practical approaches for water safety governance, making tangible contributions to the protection of public health.

References

[1] G. P. Bodey, R. Bolivar, V. Fainstein, and L. Jadeja, “Infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa,” Reviews of Infectious Diseases, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 279–313, 1983.

[2] J. A. Driscoll, S. L. Brody, and M. H. Kollef, “The epidemiology, pathogenesis and treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections,” Drugs, vol. 67, no. 3, pp. 351–368, 2007.

[3] M. F. Moradali, S. Ghods, and B. H. Rehm, “Pseudomonas aeruginosa lifestyle: a paradigm for adaptation, survival, and persistence,” Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, vol. 7, p. 39, 2017.

[4] Y. Zhang et al., “A dual-modality biosensor for rapid detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa,” Biosensors and Bioelectronics, vol. 165, p. 112439, 2020.

[5] J. C. Way, J. J. Collins, J. D. Keasling, and P. A. Silver, “Integrating biological redesign: where synthetic biology came from and where it needs to go,” Cell, vol. 157, no. 1, pp. 151–161, 2014.

[6] J. D. Miller, “The acquisition and retention of scientific information by American adults,” International Journal of Science Education, vol. 23, no. 11, pp. 1187–1203, 2001.

[7] National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Safeguarding the Bioeconomy. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2019.

[8] D. E. Cameron, C. J. Bashor, and J. J. Collins, “A brief history of synthetic biology,” Nature Reviews Microbiology, vol. 12, no. 5, pp. 381–390, 2014.


Best Human Practices Award


1. How does your project affect society and how does society influence the direction of your project?

Our project addresses the urgent social issue of water safety and public health by developing a rapid, low-cost, and user-friendly method for detecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This technology benefits hospitals by enabling faster diagnosis and infection prevention, supports enterprises by reducing the risk of product recalls, strengthens testing institutions’ ability to respond to emergencies, and empowers the public with greater awareness of water safety.

Society profoundly shaped the direction of our project. We interviewed hospitals, enterprises, regulatory bodies, and the public to understand their needs. Their feedback led us to:

• Select low-cost substrates (ONPG, MUG) to ensure affordability.

• Enhance dual-modality output (colorimetric + fluorescence) to support intuitive interpretation in clinical and public settings.

• Prioritize result standardization and traceability to meet regulatory requirements.

• Shorten the detection cycle to one-day results to align with real-world urgency.

• Strengthen biosafety measures and public communication to increase societal acceptance.

2. How might ethical considerations and stakeholder input guide your project purpose, design, and experiments?

Ethical considerations were at the core of our work. We ensured all experiments followed BSL-1 standards, used closed laboratory systems, and autoclaved all waste to prevent environmental release. After participating in the CCiC “Biosafety & Responsibility Workshop,” we incorporated transparent communication strategies to help the public understand our technology’s scope and limitations. Stakeholder input directly shaped our experiment design, guiding substrate selection, signal design, and safety protocols, ensuring the project was socially responsible and scientifically robust.

3. How did this feedback enter into the process of your work throughout the iGEM Competition?

Feedback was integrated continuously:

• April: Enterprise interviews drove cost reduction strategies.

• April–May: Hospital input inspired intuitive signal outputs and emphasized early contamination detection.

• May: Regulatory experts pushed us to design standardized and traceable results.

• June: Market research shifted our focus to shorten detection time.

• June–August: Public surveys and science outreach confirmed the value of visual, easy-to-use tools, leading us to reinforce biosafety and expand education efforts.

This iterative loop allowed us to constantly refine our technical design and Human Practices strategy.

4. How well was the Human Practices work integrated throughout the project?

HP was fully embedded in every stage — from defining the problem, optimizing experiments, to planning future deployment. Rather than a separate activity, HP acted as the “compass” of our project, aligning our technical route with real-world needs.

5. How inspiring an example is it to others?

Our project demonstrates how Human Practices can be a driver of innovation, not just a compliance step. We combined stakeholder engagement, education, and technical design into an iterative cycle, providing a replicable model for future iGEM teams seeking to bridge synthetic biology with public health challenges.

6. To what extent is the Human Practices work documented so that others can build upon it?

Our documentation includes detailed records of interviews, feedback, design decisions, and outreach activities. We clearly explain the context, rationale, and methods of each HP activity, enabling other teams to replicate our process, reuse our survey templates, and further develop our biosensor design in different contexts.

7. How thoughtfully was it implemented? How well did they explain the context, rationale, and prior work?

Our HP approach is highly reflective. We provided background on the societal problem, cited scientific literature, and explained why each activity was necessary. This context-rich narrative allows others to appreciate not only what we did, but also why it mattered.

8. How well did it incorporate different stakeholder views?

We engaged a diverse set of stakeholders — including hospitals, enterprises, testing centers, regulatory experts, biotechnology companies, and the public. Each group’s perspective was considered in our design and decision-making process, resulting in a solution that is practical, scalable, and socially responsible.

Our Human Practices work has been centered on the core needs of the project from the very beginning, running through the entire process of project design, experimental optimization, and social engagement to ensure a high degree of alignment between the technical route and societal demands. The following sections provide an overview of our key practices in social impact, ethical considerations, stakeholder engagement, and continuous optimization. For full details, please refer to the Human Practices page.