Team:BGU-Israel/Poster

Poster: BGU-Israel



Wipeout
Design your sewer system.
Introduction
Team Members
Omer Kirshner Khalaily, Doron Ziv, Gal Davidian, Talia Shaler, Judith Elkaim, Nitsan Nimni, Reut Yakobi.
Supervised by: Prof. Lital Alfonta and Instructors: Eden Ozer, Mor Pasi, Yonatan Cohen, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.


Abstract
Over the last two decades, the use of wet wipes has become commonplace across the globe. Disposal of wet wipes through the toilet and their accumulation in the sewer systems cause extensive damage; In Israel alone, repairing the wet wipes damage to sewer systems is estimated by 3,360,000$ per year! "Wipeout" presents a leading and innovative solution to this unsolved, global problem of biodegradation of domestic contamination of sewage and water systems. We aim to utilize biological methods, including genetically engineering the sewer systems' bacterial populations, using bacterial surface- display systems. Our final goal is to solve the clogging problems caused by an accumulation of cellulose fibered wipes in sewer systems and prevent a generation of "fatbergs", which are thousands of wipes stacked together with other flushed solids and fats. By finding a solution to this problem we may be able to prevent both ecological and economic damages.
Inspiration
Uses of wet wipes



  • House cleaning
  • Substitute for toilet paper
  • Used in medicine
  • Removing  makeup
  • Sanitizing public and private areas since the COVID-19 pandemic


Common way of disposing of wipes


Problem
Fatbergs


fatbergs form from wipes that were tied and tangled together inside the sewer system. It absorbs high amount of water next, accumulate and conglomerate along with oils and grease

Idea
Meet our plumber

Goal
Create genetically modified organisms (GMO) bacteria for the degradation of wipe’s aggregation in fatbergs.
Engineering
Plasmid Construction
Main construct includes 4 parts


Endo-5a - degrading cellulose fibers


CBD - cellulose binding domain


AIDA - monomeric auto transporter


AIDA - monomeric auto transporter






AIDA-I1 gives us the ability to present the cellulase + CBD on the E. coli outer membrane.


CBD- enriching the cellulase surface attraction for the organism. The degradation will be more efficient.
Delivery system- ICE
Finding a delivery system - Transformation of the complex to other bacteria in the sewer . Integrative and Conjugative Elements (ICE) are:
  • Mobile genetic elements
  • Can integrate into a host genome
  • Passively distributed during cell differentiation.


With the help of ICE elements, we would be able to insert the first system to the bacterial community in sewer systems and enable major distribution of those genes and qualities among it.



Tn916- our choice2:
  • Suitable for E.coli
  • Small size ~20kb


Collaboration
Mey Brak
  • The ninth-largest in Israel, Bnei - Brak is a city located in the Tel Aviv district.
  • About 48% of its population are young children (5+ children on average within each family)

  • Frequency of sewer blockages in Bnei - Brak.
  • Effect of population density on sewer blockages
  • Optional collaboration with water treatment and campaign.







Tel-Aviv University IGEM STAUbility Team

  • provide a solution to the genomic instability problem of the plasmid
  • Minimization of GC content on the plasmid where applicable - Codon Usage 
  • Slippage-site-regions (SSR) 
  • The evolutionary failure mode (EFM) calculator



Future Plans
  • Compare the rate of degradation of with our engineered E. coli against commercial cellulase (Endo-1,4-β-glucanase).
  • Check if conjugation occurring by testing it on Selective plates.
  • Test if our bacteria will survive and grow in a sample of sewage.
  • Collaboration with local water corporation and Wastewater Treatment Plant for a contained test in the sewer system.
Results
Human practices

Virtual Lesson for High School students


Consulting with researches and Organizations


Surveys


Podcast
References and Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
DR. MICHAL SHANI-SEKLER, DR. ANNA BAKHRAT, PROF. DANIEL CHAMOVITZ, PROF. CHAIM HAMES, YOTAM DAHAN, KESHET COHEN, SHALEV BEN ELYA, PROF. ARIEL KUSHMARO, DR. YUVAL DORFAN, MR. YEHUDA GANOT, MR. DAVID TZELNIK, DR. EFRAT MILLER, MR. LLOYD PINE.





References
  • Jose, J., & Meyer, T. F. (2007). The Autodisplay Story, from Discovery to Biotechnical and Biomedical Applications. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, 71(4), 600–619.
  • Roberts, A. P., & Mullany, P. (2009). A modular master on the move: the Tn916 family of mobile genetic elements. Trends in microbiology, 17(6), 251-258.