Awards

 


Bronze

1. Competition Deliverables

  1. According to the deliverable page on IGEM’s website    

          i. We have created a wiki page

          ii. We have submitted a project promotion video before the deadline

          iii. We have prepared a presentation video

          iv. We have submitted the judging form before the deadline 

 

2. Project Attributions

  1. We have received a lot of help from professionals, teachers from other schools and other people during the development of our project. We have an attribution page for those who have devoted themselves to our project.

 

3. Project Description

  1. Our project aims to develop a synthetic biology method to produce an accurate, non-invasive and safe prostate cancer diagnostic test for people in need. To know more, please visit our inspiration and description on our description page.

4. Contribution

  1. During our research, we have encountered many obstacles and undergone a process of trials and errors. Therefore, we developed a comprehensive guide to help other iGEM teams.

 


Silver

1. Engineering Success

  1. Engineering acts as a crucial part in our project for synthesising plasmid containing the sequence of PSMA antibodies(J591). We have also utilised a strain of E. coli to produce antibodies. In addition, we used experimental techniques to ensure our success in genetic engineering. Please visit our Engineering page for further information.

 

2. Human Practices

  1. Human practice plays an important role in how we spread our ideas beyond the laboratory and to the public. We have organised talks on information about prostate cancer to the public so as to raise their awareness of the importance of early detection. Hence, we visited prostate cancer patients and conducted an interview with them.

Gold

General Biological Engineering


2. New Composite Part

  1. In order to detect the PSMA antigen, we designed and synthesised an antibody to bind with PSMA antigen. We had decided to develop a full-length IgG so that we designed a light chain and heavy chain to form a full igG antibody. As we composited new antibody gene sequences, we can easily use it for lateral flow assay and increase the efficiency of detection. 

4. Measurement

  1. In order to ensure the success of genetic modification, we used the ELISA kit to detect and quantify the presence of our genes. Fortunately, we successfully composed the target antibody.

5. Model

  1. To find out the optimal concentration of antibodies in our test kit, we built a mathematical model. Additionally, to ensure the gene sequences that we design resembles the same structure as antibodies, we used computer model Alphafold2 to predict the appearance and structure of gene sequences. Hence, we used computer model AbAglntPre by entering the sequences of antibody and antigen so as to ensure the antibody can bind with the antigen.

Specializations


5. Integrated Human Practices

  1. We have worked closely with professionals and reach out to the public. We could understand more towards prostate cancer by conducting a survey and deepen their understanding to cancer and raise their awareness through organising a talk. We reached out to Hong Kong Cancer Fund where they collaborated with us to organise a talk to the general public. We reached out to collaborate with Yan Oi Tong Tin Ka Ping Secondary School. We received consultation from Dr Wong and Dr Ng for our product design and future direction. We have also been in contact with The Beijing Genomics Institute and continuously discussing the possibility of a partnership. They give us advice regarding the future development of our product to make our product closer to reality.