2025 Projects
In each section, you can view the visual abstract and project description along with links to the team’s presentation and the full project report.
Experimental Projects
Team GENoM
Our aim with our project cosmobiome (CO-culture with Silicon MObilization for BIOmanufacturing using Martian rEgolith) is to establish a proof-of-concept of conducting In Situ Resource Utilization in outer space. A co-culture of bacteria and diatom is used to utilise the silicates and martian regolith, while the bacteria is engineered to produce compounds of interest, namely limonene
IISER TVM
PETal tackles the overexploitation of sandalwood trees and plastic pollution using engineered P. putida. Santalum album, a globally sought-after resource faces pressure from cosmetic industries. This project provides a sustainable solution by engineering the santalol synthesis pathway in P. putida to utilise PET monomers as a feedstock and produce santalol which is the key component of sandalwood.
MIT MAHE
Coffee leaf rust (CLR), caused by the fungus Hemileia vastatrix, is a devastating disease that severely affects Coffea arabica, a species responsible for the majority of global coffee production. Our project aims to combat CLR by enhancing the production of Iturin A, a potent antifungal lipopeptide produced by Bacillus species, which are natural inhabitants of the coffee plant microbiota.
Tulane SynBio
CRISPRi is a crucial method for studying genetics without removing any DNA allowing for more stability in the cell and a wider range of data to be collected. However, incomplete repression can allow for phenotypic expression leading to incomplete results. By combining CRISPR dCas12a, repressing transcription, and CRISPR dCas13a, repressing translation, we aim to achieve 100% gene repression.
Michigan Syn Bio
1,4-Dioxane is a Group 2B carcinogen that poses immediate risk to human health and is a byproduct of many common industrial processes. We engineered and optimized Pseudomonas putida S16 with a tetrahydrofuran monooxygenase gene complex (THFMO) known to naturally degrade 1,4-dioxane. Our bacteria is suited to operate within a bioreactor, in tandem with existing infrastructure.
USP EEL
Cannabidiol (CBD) offers therapeutic benefits but faces access barriers in Brazil due to legal complexities. This study proposes producing cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), a CBD precursor, using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. By combining yeast and Cannabis sativa pathways, CBDA is synthesized, purified, and converted into CBD, offering a cost-effective, accessible solution for patients.
Computational Projects
iGEM UGM
We used Nicotiana tabacum as a bioreactor to create a plant-based dengue vaccine. We maximized antigen stability and immunogenicity by combining structure prediction, docking simulations, and site-directed mutagenesis. With a binding free energy analysis and molecular dynamics, the best candidate was found to have -128.01 kcal/mol. A plasmid system was designed for effective expression.
Emas45
We developed a multimer chimera vaccine to reduce the TB burden in Indonesia, targeting the Ag85 protein and tailored to the population's predominant HLA alleles. Using in-silico approaches, we constructed a vaccine that elicits a strong immune response while maintaining safety. This approach holds promise for significantly decreasing TB incidence in Indonesia and the world.
Proposal Projects
UWC CSC
Atrazine, a toxic pesticide, is shown to have build up in water sources across many countries. Current biodegradation is inefficient, or artificial degradation can be tedious. We propose using Pseudomonas sp. pADP-1 plasmid, creating a plasmid containing the atrazine degrading genes, and inserting into a fast replicating bacterium. Packaging and local use will help with bioremediation of atrazine.
CPU_Gliofighter
Given the recurrent nature and clinical challenges of gliomas, we have developed a self-assembly RNAi system (Hepato Stella System) by taking a synthetic biology approach. The implementation of this RNAi system opens a new avenue for precision medicine, further advancing the concept of personalized treatments for possible pan-cancer therapy.
TOOL
This project develops PLGA-based droplet nanoparticles encapsulating eupatilin for treating CagA-positive H. pylori-induced gastritis. Coated with chitosan-mPEG/MMT for stability, biocompatibility, and acid resistance, the system ensures controlled release. Characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD, and MTT, it offers a novel, efficient therapeutic approach.
RHS Calgary
Our project addresses the high energy demands of ice rink refrigeration to maintain surface temperatures between -4°C and -8°C for ice crystallization. We aim to engineer E. coli with genes from Pseudomonas syringae to produce ice-nucleating proteins (INPs). These proteins facilitate ice formation at higher temperatures, reducing reliance on energy-intensive cooling systems.
Casper
This project explores the potential of pyrophilic fungi enzymes to restore wildfire-damaged ecosystems. By cloning biomass-degrading genes from Morchella eximia into Saccharomyces cerevisiae, it shows enzyme activity to break down pyrolyzed organic matter (PyOM). This accelerates nutrient cycling, supports biodiversity, and aids ecological recovery post-fires.
Mercury Guard
We aim to design a biofilm capable of sequestering mercury from waterways. This can be applied to fish farming or filtering water for households. The biofilm is made up of engineered E. coli with a plasmid that contains the mer operon which helps to convert mercury to its elemental form and csg operon that creates amyloid structures in the extracellular space that the elemental mercury binds to.
LacPro
Lactose intolerance affects over 65% of people worldwide, causing digestive issues due to lactase deficiency. Current solutions, such as lactase pills and lactose-free dairy, are often expensive or limit nutritional intake. Our project aims to engineer a lactase-producing probiotic using Streptococcus thermophilus, providing a natural, sustainable, and affordable solution for lactose intolerance.
BioTech Danes
Currently, the most widely used biomarker for ovarian cancer detection, CA-125, has low sensitivity and specificity in early-stage ovarian cancer diagnosis. Our research explores the potential usefulness of the Human Epididymis Protein (HE4) biomarker in screening for early-stage ovarian cancer, with the goal of improving patient prognosis.
BiOrion
This study targets Huntington's disease using the HspB5 chaperone protein to reduce toxic protein aggregation. The HspB5 gene was cloned into the pYES2 vector, transfected into S. cerevisiae, and purified proteins were tested on HT22 cells. Aggregation reduction was evaluated using ThT staining, SDS-PAGE, Western Blot, and confocal microscopy.
