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| <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/9/99/T--CCU_Taiwan--Poster_Introduction.png"> | | <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/9/99/T--CCU_Taiwan--Poster_Introduction.png"> |
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− | Dengue fever can progress into more serious conditions like dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), which has a 20% mortality rate. If conditions continue to worsen, patients experience dengue shock syndrome (DSS), which has a mortality rate up to 40%. An estimated 500,000 patients develop DHF or DSS, resulting in about 25,000 deaths every year. | + | Dengue fever can progress into more serious conditions like dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), which has a 20% mortality rate. If conditions continue to worsen, patients experience dengue shock syndrome (DSS), which has a mortality rate of up to 40%. An estimated 500,000 patients develop DHF or DSS, resulting in about 25,000 deaths every year. |
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− | Taiwan is in the area under the threat of dengue virus. From 2014 to 2015, there were over 44,000 confirmed cases during a dengue fever outbreak that spread from Tainan to other cities, causing 228 deaths. Recently, there was local transmission of dengue fever in Taoyuan, showing that the potentially affected population keeps increasing. | + | Taiwan is in the area under the threat of the dengue virus. From 2014 to 2015, there were over 44,000 confirmed cases during a dengue fever outbreak that spread from Tainan to other cities, causing 228 deaths. Recently, there was a local transmission of dengue fever in Taoyuan, showing that the potentially affected population keeps increasing. |
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| There is no specific treatment or vaccine for dengue, and health care systems are still facing a challenge from dengue fever. | | There is no specific treatment or vaccine for dengue, and health care systems are still facing a challenge from dengue fever. |
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| After infection by the dengue virus, a nonstructural protein, NS1, appears in blood serum early in the infection. The current method of detecting dengue fever uses antibodies to recognize NS1 antigens. Nevertheless, the cost of the antibodies is high, the antibodies are hard to purify, and the procedure of making antibodies is time-consuming. | | After infection by the dengue virus, a nonstructural protein, NS1, appears in blood serum early in the infection. The current method of detecting dengue fever uses antibodies to recognize NS1 antigens. Nevertheless, the cost of the antibodies is high, the antibodies are hard to purify, and the procedure of making antibodies is time-consuming. |
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− | We took a step back to seek an alternative. We aimed to find something smaller and easier to produce to detect dengue virus instead of using antibodies. Symptoms of DHF and DSS result from interaction between C-type lectin domain, family 5, member A (CLEC5A) on macrophages and the envelope protein (E proteins) of dengue virus. | + | We took a step back to seek an alternative. We aimed to find something smaller and easier to produce to detect the dengue virus instead of using antibodies. Symptoms of DHF and DSS result from the interaction between C-type lectin domain, family 5, member A (CLEC5A) on macrophages and the envelope protein (E proteins) of dengue virus. |
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| <div id="imginfo"> | | <div id="imginfo"> |
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| <li><b>Method:</b></li> | | <li><b>Method:</b></li> |
− | We used DLVO theory to calculate the repulsion between AuNPs to estimate the number of AuNPs that would bind to a virus particle. The structure of dengue virus is icosahedral, and the distances between the potential binding sites can be obtained from the structure in the protein data bank (1K4R). We took several representative positions on adjoining faces of the icosahedron to calculate the interactions between the AuNPs based on DLVO theory. | + | We used the DLVO theory to calculate the repulsion between AuNPs to estimate the number of AuNPs that would bind to a virus particle. The structure of the dengue virus is icosahedral, and the distances between the potential binding sites can be obtained from the structure in the protein data bank (1K4R). We took several representative positions on adjoining faces of the icosahedron to calculate the interactions between the AuNPs based on the DLVO theory. |
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| <li><b>Results:</b></li> | | <li><b>Results:</b></li> |
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| We expressed E protein to use it in the control line. | | We expressed E protein to use it in the control line. |
| <br> | | <br> |
− | The weak bands from 63 to 48 kDa indicate expression of the E protein with the HA tag, which has a size of 61.2 kDa. We further confirmed using Western blot with the anti-His tag antibodies. | + | The weak bands from 63 to 48 kDa indicate the expression of the E protein with the HA tag, which has a size of 61.2 kDa. We further confirmed using Western blot with the anti-His tag antibodies. |
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| <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/f/f3/T--CCU_Taiwan--Poster_Results3.png"> | | <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/f/f3/T--CCU_Taiwan--Poster_Results3.png"> |
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| <h4>Public Survey</h4> | | <h4>Public Survey</h4> |
− | We wanted to find out how much the public knows about dengue and their demands for a dengue virus detection kit. Thus, we created a questionnaire and received 248 questionnaires by sharing the it online and distributing it in the community. | + | We want to find out how much the public knows about dengue and their demands for a dengue virus detection kit. Thus, we created a questionnaire and received 248 questionnaires by sharing the it online and distributing it in the community. |
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− | The results showed nearly 70% of people did not know about severe dengue and nearly 70% did not know what kind of treatment is required for dengue fever. This shows that the public in Taiwan lack common understanding about dengue, which leads to low awareness about the severity of this disease in Taiwan. This urged us to conduct outreach and education programs to popularize knowledge of dengue fever. | + | The results showed that nearly 70% of people did not know about severe dengue and nearly 70% did not know what kind of treatment is required for dengue fever. This shows that the public in Taiwan lack a common understanding of dengue, which leads to low awareness about the severity of this disease in Taiwan. This urged us to conduct outreach and education programs to popularize knowledge of dengue fever. |
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− | From the survey we also determined that our detection kit meets their needs, as it should have high sensitivity during the first five days of symptoms, which is when people would consult a doctor. | + | From the survey, we also determined that our detection kit meets their needs, as it should have high sensitivity during the first five days of symptoms, which is when people would consult a doctor. |
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| <h4>Education</h4> | | <h4>Education</h4> |
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| <br><br> | | <br><br> |
| <li><b>Communication</b></li> | | <li><b>Communication</b></li> |
− | We joined the 2020 Taiwan iGEM Conference, which provided us a chance to share our project and received lots of valuable advice from other teams and professors. We also participated in a panel discussion focusing on sustainable development goals (SDGs). This lead us to have a deeper understanding of SDGs. | + | We joined the 2020 Taiwan iGEM Conference, which provided us a chance to share our project and received lots of valuable advice from other teams and professors. We also participated in a panel discussion focusing on sustainable development goals (SDGs). This leads us to have a deeper understanding of SDGs. |
| </ul> | | </ul> |
| </div> | | </div> |
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| We wanted to reach out to communities that are underrepresented in science to allow them to participate in science. Thus, we went to a juvenile correction school to popularize science, as juvenile inmates lack opportunities to learn science. | | We wanted to reach out to communities that are underrepresented in science to allow them to participate in science. Thus, we went to a juvenile correction school to popularize science, as juvenile inmates lack opportunities to learn science. |
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− | From this activity, we found that inclusion in science communication is a two-way street. Science should include communities who lack access to science by eliminating the access barriers with diverse and engaging ways to bring science closer to them. In order to experience the beauty of science, underrepresented communities must overcome conventional thinking that science is too difficult. | + | From this activity, we found that inclusion in science communication is a two-way street. Science should include communities that lack access to science by eliminating the access barriers with diverse and engaging ways to bring science closer to them. In order to experience the beauty of science, underrepresented communities must overcome conventional thinking that science is too difficult. |
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| <h4>Glove Puppetry</h4> | | <h4>Glove Puppetry</h4> |
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| Thus, we collaborated with a glove puppetry troupe to transmit knowledge of dengue by narrating and filming a story as a 13-minute video. | | Thus, we collaborated with a glove puppetry troupe to transmit knowledge of dengue by narrating and filming a story as a 13-minute video. |
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− | We realized that continuous development of science requires adding diverse fields and perspective to make it more widely recognized, just as glove puppetry integrates modern elements to keep up with the times. | + | We realized that the continuous development of science requires adding diverse fields and perspectives to make it more widely recognized, just as glove puppetry integrates modern elements to keep up with the times. |
| </div> | | </div> |
| </div> | | </div> |