Partnership

BUCT & LZU-CHINA

In the iGEM 2023 competition, BUCT (Beijing University of Chemical Technology) and LZU-CHINA (Lanzhou University China Team) maintained a highly productive collaborative relationship throughout.

First meeting:

Gut probiotic therapy has been a subject of considerable interest in the forefront of medical research. The BUCT team targeted the alleviation of symptoms in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, while LZU-CHINA focused on addressing high cholesterol issues. Both teams engaged in deep cooperation, sharing experiences, knowledge, and resources to investigate how probiotics could enhance the treatment approaches for these two conditions. At the same time, we also discussed how to ensure biological safety.

Effective communication was a key factor in this collaboration. We held numerous meetings, discussing their respective research progress and challenges while jointly devising solutions. While LZU-China raised the question of how to improve the survival rate and activity of probiotics in the intestine, BUCT was puzzled in ensuring biological safety.

In order to solve the challenges encountered by both sides, BUCT consulted the literature to design a probiotic suicide system. (Details: Safety)

At the same time, BUCT also visited the pharmaceutical manufacturer "Zhen Bao Island Pharmaceutical" and Yakult Factory in Tianjin Province to seek knowledge about intestinal probiotics. (Details: Integrated Human Practice)

Second meeting:

The collaboration extended beyond theoretical research, as both teams conducted a series of experiments to validate the potential benefits of gut probiotics for CKD and high cholesterol patients. These experimental results provided robust support for the projects of both teams and laid a solid foundation for future clinical applications.

Suicide design

BUCT has difficulties in biosafety. We introduced our original design to LZU-China, which is the probiotics will start the suicide procedure when it exceeds 30℃ to 37℃. But after discussing with the teacher, we found some shortcomings, because this temperature range is too large. LZU-China also thinks that our suicide procedure may not be very sensitive. They suggested that ammonia is toxic, so why not design a suicide system that is highly responsive to ammonia.

LZU-China also introduced us to their oxygen suicide system. Their ideas prompted us to think, so we designed a double safeguard mechanism, which is the oxygen suicide switch. However, this design adopts the idea of seniors and sisters in 2021.

Unfortunately, LZU-China's oxygen suicide design failed. BUCT contributed LZU-China mature biosafety systems, including the design scheme for the oxygen suicide system, and helped address LZU-CHINA's queries regarding the design of the kill switch.

How can probiotics colonize intestines effectively?

In addition, BUCT has encountered challenges in the colonization of intestinal tract by probiotics. We want to solve the problem of survival rate and activity of probiotics in intestinal tract, so we learned a microencapsulation technology by consulting literature and visiting the pharmaceutical manufacturer "Zhen Bao Island Pharmaceutical". However, our laboratory does not have the conditions for relevant experiments. Unfortunately, BUCT can't test the performance of microencapsulated capsules, and simulate and predict the situation of probiotics in intestinal environment through modeling.

But fortunately, we met LZU-China. They offered insights for the design of ACA and chitosan microcapsule embedding systems, enabling BUCT to more effectively design probiotic formulations while preserving bacterial activity for improved efficacy.(Details: Implementation )

This collaboration highlights that iGEM is not just a competitive platform but also an opportunity to foster scientific research cooperation and innovation. The successful partnership between BUCT and LZU-CHINA is an inspiration, encouraging more teams to collaborate on the international stage and contribute their efforts to solving global health issues.

In conclusion, the collaboration between BUCT and LZU-CHINA demonstrates the power of teamwork and interdisciplinary innovation. Through deep cooperation and concerted efforts, they made outstanding contributions to the development of gut probiotic therapy and the well-being of patients, setting an example for the scientific and medical communities. This collaboration will continue to inspire more research cooperation and innovation, bringing hope to future medical research and treatment.

BUCT & BUCT-China

The two teams from Beijing University of Chemical Technology, BUCT and BUCT-China, have long-established friendly communication and collaboration. From 2020, we have been working together to complete the competition, and this year is no exception.

This spirit of collaboration continued in this year's iGEM 2023 competition. Unfortunately, due to our different concerns, we mainly cooperated in iHP and education. However, we have also achieved remarkable achievement.

Education

Sharing of popular science materials

BUCT and BUCT-China have made different popular science contents, but we are all worried about the authenticity and scientificity of popular science contents. Therefore, we checked the educational materials with the doctors in our respective interviews. BUCT went to Beijing 301 Hospital to consult the nursing and nutrition knowledge of protecting kidney. Subsequently, the online publicity and education contents of BUCT and BUCT-China were shared by both parties.(Details: Integrated Human Practice)

The Internet can turn the world into a small village. In order to make more people accept scientific knowledge and expand their influence, BUCT has created several online platforms. Through these online platforms, BUCT and BUCT-China have conducted many online education activities.

Together, we used WeChat WeChat official account to send tweets, launched live popular science activities through bilibili, and recorded educational videos and put them on the Internet. We have gained more than 2000 readings altogether.

More importantly, we also carried out offline popular science activities, taking the public into science. We held a debate contest with the theme of synthetic biology together, with more than 200 people on the scene, which was very lively.

In addition, we also held a lecture to popularize the knowledge of synthetic biology and iGEM to celebrate the 20th anniversary of iGEM.

(See in here: Education)

iHP

We have successfully completed an interview with Deputy Director Cai Yi of the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital through our collaboration

Exchanging ideas with doctors who have been working tirelessly at the forefront of clinical practice for many years has been immensely beneficial for us. We deeply appreciate how engineered biological entities developed using synthetic biology techniques can exhibit greater robustness and controllability. (Detailes: iHP)

We participated in a team exchange event at Beijing Normal University.

In fact, BUCT and BUCT-China have had many offline informal exchanges, and this exchange activity of Beijing Normal University is our first formal meeting. At the exchange meeting, BUCT-China made great suggestions to BUCT, which made us think about how to reduce the load capacity of engineering bacteria. For this reason, we changed the way to degrade urea.

iG20

As is well known, there is an organization in the world whose influence is second only to the United Nations, known as the Group of Twenty (G20). The power of unity is great, and conducting closer cooperation and engaging in more interesting educational activities are what we need in the competition and what the public enjoys. The engaging activities we conduct can attract more social attention and have a greater impact on the world.

Therefore, drawing inspiration from the example of the G20, which unites 20 countries to lead the world economy, we conceived the iG20 activity for this occasion. BUCT has joined forces with teams such as LZU-CHINA, NWU-CHINA-A, Nanjing-NFLS, UESTC-China, CSU-CHINA, UM-Macau, DUT-China, NJTech-China-A, HNU-China, HiZJU-CNINA, XMU-China, HUBU-HUBEI-CHINA, and others for this collaborative endeavor.

The establishment of the iG20 Intestinal Alliance marks a new era in the field of educational activities. The goal of this alliance is not only to achieve honors in the iGEM competition but also to combine education with social responsibility, making a positive impact on society through engaging activities. This is not just an innovative response to the competition but also a way to give back to society.

Engaging activities are an effective way to capture public attention. Through these activities, the iG20 Intestinal Alliance can convey scientific knowledge to the general public in a more vivid and approachable manner. This not only enhances public awareness of intestinal health and related issues but also inspires more people to participate in research and improvements in this important field.

The strength of the iG20 Intestinal Alliance lies in the unity of numerous teams. This cross-team collaboration not only brings together the wisdom and resources of various parties but also provides more diverse and innovative ideas for educational activities. The power of unity enables this alliance to realize its greater potential in both the competition and educational activities.

The iG20 Intestinal Alliance is an exciting initiative that combines educational activities with scientific competitions to promote closer collaboration and social impact. Through engaging activities, this alliance is expected to attract more social attention, drive the development of intestinal health, and set a positive example for global education and social responsibility. This innovative initiative opens up new possibilities for future research collaboration and social impact.