Prairie View A&M University 2006

From 2006.igem.org

Latest revision as of 11:37, 4 November 2006

Students

More Group Pictures

Advisors

Dr Raul Cuero,(PhD)

Dr. Raul Cuero, (PhD), Microbiologist, Distinguished Professor.Research Leader, Scientist and Contact Person for Prairie View A&M University iGEM 2006 group. Dr Cuero holds 8 scientific inventions and more than 90 scientific publications.Dr Cuero is currently working on fungal toxins at the molecular level, and on biogenesis. He is also the author of the book "Triumph and Survival".

Email: olimpa@aol.com

www.raulcuerobiotech.com

Dr Harriet Howard-Lee Block

Dr Block

Dr Dierdre Vaden

Dr Vaden

Dr Huajan Fan

Dr Fan

Student Profiles

Laina | Leslie | Christian | George | Oludayo | Jessica | Terry|Fredrick | Victor

Face File [[1]]

Project

(We have changed the title of our project so many times)

Tri-Metallic Biosensor- PVAMU [[2]]

Background

There exists two essential needs which enabled us to design the trimetallic probe. The need for alternative forms of oil, in fact their methods and the bioremediation of metals ions from the environment.

Micrococcus luteus strain (ATCC 4698) was transformed by plasmid pUC57-S-3M, in which Fe (II), Ni (II) and V (II) were fused to the fluorescence proteins (ECFP, EYFP, and mRFP respectively and to a fluorescent protein coding region [C0061(lux I)] ligated with a signaling sequence BBa_I13207.

Favorite Biobrick Map(Upcoming)

The pUC57-S-3M was standardized for its specific sensoribility response to three metal ions and to sulfur (S), in order to detect metal contamination and/or hydrocarbons associated to these metals. Single and combination of the tree metals were used at different concentrations (0.2, 2, 50 ppm). The pUC57-S-3M was grown in the presence and absence of oxygen and/or hydrocarbon (Thiophenol). Only results from combined metals are reported. The biosensoribility was determined by the response of the pUC57-S-3M to the different concentrations of the metals. This response was measured by bioluminescence, fluorescence, DNA concentration, bacterial growth. These parameters were related to sensoribility of the pUC57-S-3M.

Parts used

/ / / / / / / /

Favorite Parts/ A promoter Biosenser

Project Planning Diary

Calender

May

-Brainstorming and recruiting.

June No entry

July

'August ' -We have been able to isolate a few colonies of transformants of E.coli containing the plasmid 19H (pSB1A2 or BBa I13543). We have been bent on picking up sequences containig lux genes.

September

-So far we have tried to isolate several plasmids but results have not been good. So far we have successfully amplified and isolated 4 plasmids. Well no one will believe how much we got done in such a small amout of time. [Laina's Diary]

October Determined that we will base our sensor on the concentrations of three metals ions, Vanadium, Iron and Nickel,and including elemental sulfur. Our focus is on the DNA expression, determined by luminesence and flourescence.

References

1.Cuero, R, Oullet T. Metal ions modulate gene expression and accumulation of the mycotoxins aflatoxin and zearalenone.J Appl Microbiol. 2005;98(3):598-605. �

2.Lovley, DR (2003). "Cleaning up with genomics: applying molecular biology to bioremediation". NATURE REVIEWS. MICROBIOLOGY. 1 (1): 35–44. PMID 15040178. Holmes et al 1993b. Holmes D.S et al, 1993. Development of Biosensor to Measure Metal Ions

3. Bioavailability in mining and metal waste.pp659-666. In Biohydrometallurgical Technologies. Vol. II. A.E Torma, M.L Apel and C.L Brierle,TMS, Warrendale, PA,USA.Eds.

4.Holmes, D.S. Dubey, U.K and Gongolli, 1993. Development of Biosensor for the detection of Mercury andCopper Ions.Environ, Geochem. Health 16: 229-233.

5.Leonard G. Davis, Mark D. Dibner, James F Battey. Basic Methods in Molecular Biology. Elsevier Science Publishers.1986, New York, Amsterdam and London.