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| <p><b>Amandine Maire<sup>1</sup>, Anu Susan Kurian<sup>1</sup>, Chetan Kumar | | <p><b>Amandine Maire<sup>1</sup>, Anu Susan Kurian<sup>1</sup>, Chetan Kumar |
| Velumurugan<sup>1</sup>, Nicolas Levrier<sup>1</sup>, Nikola Zarevski<sup>1</sup>, | | Velumurugan<sup>1</sup>, Nicolas Levrier<sup>1</sup>, Nikola Zarevski<sup>1</sup>, |
− | Valerie March<sup>1</sup>, Xavier Olessa-Daragon<sup>1</sup>, Ariel | + | Valerie March<sup>1</sup>, Xavier Olessa-Daragon<sup>1</sup></b>, Ariel |
− | Lindner<sup>2</sup>, Jake Wintermute<sup>2</sup>, Radoslaw Ejsmont<sup>2</sup>,
| + | Lindner<sup>2</sup>, Jake Wintermute<sup>2</sup>, Radoslaw Ejsmont<sup>2</sup>, |
− | Alexis Casas<sup>2</sup>, Darshak Bhatt<sup>2</sup></b></p>
| + | Alexis Casas<sup>2</sup>, Darshak Bhatt<sup>2</sup></p> |
| <br /> | | <br /> |
| <p><b><sup>1</sup>Student Team Member</b>, <sup>2</sup>Team Mentor</p> | | <p><b><sup>1</sup>Student Team Member</b>, <sup>2</sup>Team Mentor</p> |
| <br /> | | <br /> |
| <b class="heading">Abstract</b> | | <b class="heading">Abstract</b> |
− | <p>In SynDerma we envisioned therapeutics being administered by engineered microbes integrated into the skin microbiome. First, to understand the perturbaility of the skin microbiome by individual habits such as hygiene, social interaction and exercise, which are all affected by this current unprecedented context of COVID-19 pandemic, we developed a community science project called Quaranskin. In Quaranskin we developed an at-home sampling kit, protocol and survey, in which participants swab four body sites for metagenomic analysis. Further implementation of this study will enable us to correlate the diversity and composition of those microbiome-data, to behaviours noted in the surveys, to uncover any trends. In parallel, we chose the skin commensal microbe Staphylococcus epidermidis to be a chassis for our future vision of microbial therapeutics enabled by synthetic biology. In projects EpiFlex, EpiGlow, and EpiGrow, we built a MoClo kit, expressed fluorescent proteins as a proof of concept, and optimised growth conditions, respectively. | + | <p>SynDerma envisions therapeutics being administered by engineered microbes |
| + | integrated into the skin microbiome. First, to understand the perturbaility of the skin |
| + | microbiome by individual habits such as hygiene, social interaction and exercise, which |
| + | are all affected by this current unprecedented context of COVID-19 pandemic, we |
| + | developed a community science project called Quaranskin. In Quaranskin we developed an |
| + | at-home sampling kit, protocol and survey, in which participants swab four body sites |
| + | for metagenomic analysis. Further implementation of this study will enable us to |
| + | correlate the diversity and composition of those microbiome-data, to behaviours noted in |
| + | the surveys, to uncover any trends. In parallel, we chose the skin commensal microbe |
| + | Staphylococcus epidermidis to be a chassis for our future vision of microbial |
| + | therapeutics enabled by synthetic biology. In projects EpiFlex, EpiGlow, and EpiGrow, we |
| + | built a MoClo kit, expressed fluorescent proteins as a proof of concept, and optimised |
| + | growth conditions, respectively. |
| </p> | | </p> |
| </div> | | </div> |
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| <div class="info"> | | <div class="info"> |
| <!--Write the title of the section --> | | <!--Write the title of the section --> |
− | <div class="title"> Section 3 </div> | + | <div class="title">EpiGrow</div> |
| <!--Write the text explaining this section --> | | <!--Write the text explaining this section --> |
− | <div class="text"> Use this section to explain whatever you would like! Suggestions: Safety, | + | <div class="text"> |
− | Human Practices, Measurement, etc. </div> | + | <p>To effectively implement our goal of developing <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i> as a |
| + | chassis |
| + | for synthetic biology of the skin microbiome, it was essential to explore the growth of |
| + | our target organism. |
| + | </p> |
| + | |
| + | <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/3/3e/T--Paris_Bettencourt--Poster_EpiGrowLogo.png"> |
| + | |
| + | <p>We used the S. epidermidis strain ATCC12228 |
| + | </p> |
| + | |
| + | <p><b class="heading">Parameters Tested</b></p> |
| + | <p>1. Temperature</p> |
| + | <p>We chose to test the temperature range from 32°C-42°C. In fact, skin may reach |
| + | temperatures as low as 33°C (hands, feet, nose), up to 40°C (severe conditions). |
| + | </p> |
| + | <p>For each temperature, the growth was measured in TSB for 15 h via optical density. |
| + | </p> |
| + | <p>2. Acidity</p> |
| + | <p>The acid mantle of the skin is key as it neutralizes alkaline-based aggressors (such as harsh surfactants) and maintains the optimal acid environment in which skin’s natural flora can thrive. The skin’s pH generally fluctuates between 5.6 and 6.4 (armpit, genital area) depending on the region of the body it is covering. |
| + | </p> |
| + | <p>We tested pH range from pH3 to pH10. The measurement has been done in the same way as for the Temperature tests. |
| + | </p> |
| + | <p>3. Salinity</p> |
| + | <p>With respect to the skin, there can be variations in salinity caused mainly by sweat and sebaceous glands. The evaporation of water from the release of heat enables the salts to remain present on the skin. |
| + | </p> |
| + | <p>We made vary the salinity of the media from 0.5% to 5.5% of NaCl. Again, the measurements have been done over 15h of growth in TSB. |
| + | </p> |
| + | |
| + | <p><b class="heading">Results</b></p> |
| + | <ol> |
| + | <li>The growth of S. epidermidis is stunted at lower temperatures, and it grows best at 37°C which is the normal human body temperature. |
| + | </li> |
| + | <li><i>S. epidermidis</i> thrive better in the neutral and basic pH conditions. |
| + | </li> |
| + | <li><i>S. epidermidis</i> is halo tolerant and it grows best in media with about 0.5 percent of NaCl. |
| + | </li> |
| + | </ol> |
| + | </div> |
| </div> | | </div> |
| </div> | | </div> |