At the close of 2022, we held numerous brainstorming sessions to select an experimental topic where the team leader suggested intertwining our personal experiences with synthetic elements, leading to the theme of environmental remediation.
In early 2023, each team member performed field research in their hometowns. After our online communication, we discovered that plastic pollution is prevalent in China, while litter is worsening. Plastic waste is omnipresent in busy city centres and remote suburban areas. After conducting a thorough literature review, it was reported that plastic not only pollutes the environment but also poses a threat to human health. Moreover, the natural degradation rate of plastic is slow. Hence, material processing is the only effective way to tackle plastic accumulation. Incineration or landfill, which are commonly used methods, fail to degrade plastics and cause secondary pollution effectively. Therefore, bioremediation technology is crucial and holds great promise in the current era. Technical term abbreviations will be explained when first used. All plastic degradation through bioremediation technology has a promising future and is necessary in the current climate.
Plastic pollution is a global issue that extends beyond China. According to the UN's Immediate Action section, plastics produced 1.8 billion metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, accounting for 3.4% of the global total. Unfortunately, less than 10% of plastic is recycled, and discarded plastic can remain in the environment for hundreds of years. Only 9% of all plastic waste generated is recycled, approximately 12% is incinerated, and the remaining 79% accumulates in landfills, dumps, or the natural environment. On a global scale, one million plastic beverage bottles are sold every minute, and up to five trillion single-use plastic bags are used yearly. In total, 50% of all plastic products are disposable, which indicates that they are discarded after use.
While dealing with the 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic, it is imperative to address plastic pollution to create a clean, hygienic, and environmentally friendly living environment. We must adopt a long-term perspective by conceptualising sustainable solutions to safeguard the planet from plastic waste pollution. Reducing plastic waste pollution that harbours pathogens and creating hygienic and environmentally friendly living environments is a crucial response to the 2019 coronavirus. Degrading plastic waste holds promise for defeating the pandemic once it is over. It is essential to address this issue objectively and with a clear structure, including causal connections between statements. Clear, objective language that adheres to standard grammar and spelling rules is also crucial. Lastly, balanced and precise language must be used to avoid bias and ensure the text is grammatically correct. The COVID-19 pandemic presents an opportunity to alleviate environmental pollution caused by plastic waste, as the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific reported. The pause in human activity reduced population movement, and lower demand for resources during the pandemic has diminished demand for plastics. This respite for the heavily plastic-polluted environment has provided much-needed breathing room and contributed to environmental recovery.
After a literature review, PET plastic was selected as the degradation topic for this iGEM project. It was discovered that PETase and MHETase can effectively degrade PET plastic into terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol. Additionally, Rhodococcus erythropolis exhibits greater tolerance to aromatic compounds than commonly used chassis organisms like E. coli and Bacillus cereus for PETase production. Furthermore, Rhodococcus erythropolis can utilise these aromatic substrates to produce microbial oils and fats. Therefore, we decided to incorporate the PETase-MHETase dual enzyme system into Rhodococcus erythropolis for the degradation and conversion of PET.
To enhance our experimental program, we extensively consulted with academic specialists and manufacturers in plastic degradation. Through educational exchanges, we have decided to enhance the enzymes' thermal stability and degradation efficiency via targeted mutation of the two enzymes. We will also improve the secretion and expression of PETase by adding promoters, signal peptides, and enhancers. Our ultimate goal is to achieve effective PET plastic degradation and promote microbial oils and fat accumulation. In conclusion, our team is dedicated to solving the environmental issue of plastic pollution. We actively respond to the sustainable development policy of "carbon neutrality and peak carbon," provide solutions to address the global energy crisis, and promote innovative plastic degradation solutions through synthetic biology remediation technology.
Meanwhile, as the first iGEM team at Wuhan University of Science and Technology (WUST), our team conducted numerous on-campus activities to raise environmental awareness among teachers and students. Through our actions and voices, we aim to promote our iGEM project and publicise the prospects and advantages of synthetic biology applications. Additionally, we aimed to increase student engagement by raising awareness of our project's objectives.
We have conducted various promotional events on campus and delivered various on-campus scientific lectures and activities, reaching hundreds of students with talks on plastics and environmental conservation. We have also raised awareness of the iGEM competition among a wider audience.
1、Team Formation
The WUST-China team was established in mid-December 2022 under the guidance of PI Li Fei. The group, led by leader Du Yuwei, comprises 33 students from various majors and regions across China. Our shared goal is to address environmental issues through bioremediation techniques in synthetic biology.
2、Communication with HUST-China
On 10 December 2022, WUST-China extended their first invitation to the HUST-China team for exchange regarding biosynthesis and iGEM competitions. This exchange proved incredibly valuable for our first-time iGEM team, as we incorporated HUST-China's competitor experiences to allocate tasks amongst our team members better. Furthermore, this exchange lays the foundation for future work. It's worth noting that this is our team's initial participation in the iGEM competition. It is our team's debut iGEM exchange, which profoundly impacts both our experiments and HP activities. The iGEM exchange allows us to understand other teams' projects and learn from their outstanding experiences, improving our deficiencies.
On 18 May 2023, we participated in an iGEM project exchange with the HUST-China team from Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST). Through the discussion, we discovered that HUST-China is dedicated to utilising synthetic biology to propose its research for producing cosmic oxygen. Furthermore, they provided us with valuable suggestions for improvement. Our team received numerous practical and effective tips during this exchange. Consequently, we restructured the team's composition, dividing the practice team into three groups: responsible for video production, wiki design, and HP.
Additionally, we required all members to participate in experimental work, strengthening the link between our practice and experiments. It significantly boosted the team's motivation, enabling us to continuously improve by learning from experienced and excellent iGEM teams. As a result, we aim to keep enhancing our knowledge and skills.
3、Team Communication
At the start of 2023, PI Li Fei consulted with us to improve the project. We decided to utilise Rhodococcus opacus PD630 as the primary organism to introduce a dual enzyme system comprising PETase-MHETase for plastic degradation. Furthermore, the team enhanced PET degradation by screening different signal peptides, enhancers, promoters, and other factors. All components were systematically assessed to create an optimised scheme. Meanwhile, to adhere to safety regulations, we have designed a fail-safe switch and are considering introducing a light-responsive promoter via gene editing to mitigate the risk of leakage.
4、Academic exchanges
In March, we corresponded with Professor Guo Ruiting of Hubei University. While Professor Guo supported our experimental idea, they also mentioned their success in modifying keratinase for the complete degradation of PBAT in their enzyme engineering research. Although the raw material used for degradation differs from ours, the final product achieved is the same as TPA. Hence, exploring other degradation enzymes for plastic degradation would be worthwhile. This exchange discovered that various genes could be introduced to degrade different types of plastics, broadening the scope of plastic degradation and increasing the project's depth and breadth.
5、Communication with LZU-China
On 31st July 2023, our team held a video conference with the team from Lanzhou University. Zhaocheng Li, from the LZU-China team, introduced their project - Intelligent Cholesterol Management System. The LZU-China team utilises gut microbes to develop an intelligent cholesterol control system to guide nutrition. They use gut microbiota to transform cholesterol into faecal sterols (Coprostanol), which the human body cannot assimilate. Additionally, they utilise gene promoter components to metabolise cholesterol only when it surpasses a particular amount, guaranteeing normal nutrient absorption concurrently. Furthermore, they develop diverse bacterial strains with gene components to discover the optimum solution.
On 31st July 2023, our team held a video conference with the team from Lanzhou University. Zhaocheng Li, from the LZU-China team, introduced their project - Intelligent Cholesterol Management System. The LZU-China team utilises gut microbes to develop an intelligent cholesterol control system to guide nutrition. They use gut microbiota to transform cholesterol into faecal sterols (Coprostanol), which the human body cannot assimilate. Additionally, they utilise gene promoter components to metabolise cholesterol only when it surpasses a particular amount, guaranteeing normal nutrient absorption concurrently. Furthermore, they develop diverse bacterial strains with gene components to discover the optimum solution.
During the meeting, the teams from WUST and LZU shared their ideas. WUST team member Pan Wenjing posed several inquiries to the LZU-China team regarding Integrated HP. The leader of LZU-HP, Su Zhaoyin, outlined the inclusive nature of HP activities. It became clear that by utilising the geographical advantage and explicitly targeting minority groups within society, and by undertaking IHP-related HP activities emphasising inclusivity, we can raise awareness of the human issues that synthetic biology aims to address. This event provided direction for our team's future HP initiatives.
6、Participation in bioremediation thematic workshops
On 5 August 2023, the WUST-China team members attended the Bioremediation Thematic Academic Forum, a multi-university iGEM joint exchange meeting. This meeting was attended by Hangzhou No. 4 High School, Nanjing Normal University, Northeastern University, Nanjing University of Technology, Shenzhen University, Tianjin University, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology, Xijiao Liverpool University, and Zhejiang University.
The epidermal preservation of Northeastern University's iGEM team is highly innovative. They utilised E. coli MG1655, a typical strain, as a carrier and combined the mussel foot filament proteins, which mussels rely on for attachment to reefs, with cell membrane proteins to address the adhesion and persistence issues prevalent in conventional bio epidermal membranes. At the same time, a system of biomineralisation was introduced to enhance preservation effectiveness. A multi-faceted approach was taken to achieve success in real-world situations.
This seminar meeting taught us that this year, the iGEM teams from the Zhejiang University of Technology and Nanjing Normal University also do PET plastic degradation. Our three teams used different chassis organisms, and all of them also made further modifications to the PETase. Through learning from other groups, our team continuously optimised and improved our experimental solutions; at the same time, we also shared projects from other iGEM teams. At the same time, we also learned a lot of creative HP activities from the projects shared by other iGEM teams. This workshop also bridged the communication between us and other iGEM teams, and we worked with iGEM teams from different countries with different creativity to provide our intelligent solutions for bioremediation technology.
7、Manufacturer exchange
On the 6th of September, 2023, the WUST-China team conducted field research at Wuhan Jinfa. Jinfa possesses 56 subsidiaries along with R&D and production facilities in South Asia, North America, Europe, and other international areas. Jinfa Tech offers a range of eight product categories, comprising modified plastics, environmentally-friendly high-performance recycled plastics, fully biodegradable plastics, special engineering plastics, carbon fibres and composites, light hydrocarbons and hydrogen energy, styrene resins, and medical and healthcare polymer materials. JDF materials are exported to over 130 countries worldwide due to their environmental friendliness and exceptional performance, serving over 1,000 well-known enterprises.
The WUST-China team is concentrating on plastic degradation via microbial technology to break down PET plastics and convert waste. Goldfarb is a prominent plastics manufacturer, producing both biodegradable and non-biodegradable products. We were introduced to the biodegradable plastics PHA and PHB during our discussions. These eco-friendly alternatives are becoming increasingly prevalent daily, providing both convenience and the benefit of biodegradability, which is more favourable for the environment. Cupriavidus necator H16 can utilise carbon sources for producing degradable plastic PHB. In our design, PETAse-MHETase can transform PET into EG and TPA. Our design scheme includes using Rhodococcus opacus to convert the degradation substrate into microbial oil.
Furthermore, Cupriavidus necator H16 can exploit the accumulation of TPA to produce PHB. PET plastic is used as a raw material for degradable plastics. It has led us to concentrate on the degradation substrate of PET plastics. We can convert this substrate and produce a more comprehensive array of products by introducing more enzymes or using other organisms. It will help to enhance the practical use of waste plastics.
During the February winter holidays this year, we continued our research through the internet, despite returning to our home towns, to confirm the need for our experiment as soon as possible. Our objectives included national policies, plastic pollution in our regions, and conventional treatments. At the same time, we took advantage of the fact that we were dispersed throughout the country during our holidays to conduct social fieldwork in our respective hometowns. We discovered that in today's world, plastics are diverse and widely utilised and severely pollute the environment. Furthermore, they harm all flora and fauna, including human beings. Therefore, our team proposed the theme "Plastic Degradation" after careful deliberation. Before this, we conducted online and offline questionnaires aimed at the general public and university students to investigate public awareness of plastic and their understanding of plastic degradation.
1、Survey
We generated an online questionnaire and quiz to ascertain the public's comprehension of plastics. We obtained a total of 150 responses.
According to the survey results, most people know the importance of environmental protection and the negative impact of plastic. It indicates that ecological protection awareness has become deeply ingrained in society due to the widespread promotion of eco-friendly concepts. However, despite this awareness, most people do not actively recycle plastic and instead casually dispose of it. Therefore, the current plastic issue lies in the improper disposal of plastic waste. Expanding and improving public awareness of plastic recycling during future environmental protection activities is essential. It serves as a reminder to raise public awareness of plastic recycling during the upcoming HP activities.
Over 95% of individuals supported government intervention in plastic control, and more than 98% stated a willingness to utilise recyclable plastic products. Additionally, household consumption of disposable paper cups decreased to less than 60% (59.9%).
More importantly, the questionnaire survey revealed that most of the public knows bioremediation technology to manage plastics (refer to the statistical chart). Currently, plastics are primarily treated through incineration, landfill, and other methods, whereas innovative bioremediation technology can degrade plastics and convert them into resources. However, the survey results show that most of the audience needs a thorough understanding of bioremediation technology. Therefore, during the HP activities, our team will present a speech to explain our bioremediation technology program and introduce this year's iGEM project - plastic degradation. It will expand the reach of synthetic biology and raise awareness among the audience.
2、 Waste incineration plant visit
After conducting previous literature research, our team discovered that the primary methods for disposing of plastic waste are incineration or landfill. However, incinerating plastics releases harmful and toxic gases and consumes significant energy resources. Equally problematic is the slow natural degradation rate of plastics in landfills. In addition, plastics can erode soil, exacerbating soil crises.
As the primary source of plastic waste, the selected disposal method indicates the prevalent approach towards plastic. Our team aims to investigate the current practice of treating plastic waste in landfills through on-site research.
Our team visited a waste incinerator in Zhaoqing City. Before our visit, we had questioned whether the incinerator was being used to dispose of waste. Subsequently, we discussed this matter with the responsible party at the facility. It has been discovered through careful analysis that the waste disposal site primarily employs incineration to produce electricity, with a power output efficiency of 500 kWh per tonne of waste. Although this falls well below the 3500 kWh efficiency rate of coal-fired power plants, it provides insight into a promising avenue for waste reduction and resource reutilization. Waste plastics can be repurposed to create added-value products using synthetic biology methods and electricity generation.
We learned that the waste-to-energy plant was established in 2019 in line with China's "carbon peak, carbon neutral" concept. China's energy saving and emission reduction policy is reflected throughout society, and landfills are transforming into environmentally friendly and sustainable development arenas. Over generations, the importance of environmental protection has seeped into the consciousness of individuals, leading to their application in everyday life for sustainable development. Turning waste into usable products has been a positive outcome for society. Our team achieved numerous rewards. The innovative plastic transformation concept will further enhance our experimental program. As Wust-China, we have been utilising synthetic biology methods to address environmental issues for one week.
3、Freshwater quality survey
After participating in the bio-remediation workshop on 5 August 2023, our team joined the Freshwater Remediation Consortium and the Light Up China campaign with Xijiao Liverpool University. Synthetic biology can solve environmental issues and help tackle global pollution. As such, we joined their team and investigated the plastic pollution in the water quality in Wuhan.
Our team travelled to East Lake in Wuhan, China, on 2 September 2023 to conduct a water quality survey. The survey focused on waste plastic pollution in the lake and microplastics in freshwater. We have amalgamated our previous offline interviews with online questionnaire survey data and field observation. Our findings indicate that the water quality of East Lake is clear and clean, with no discarded plastic bottles on the surface and fewer impurities and microplastics in the water. These results suggest that Wuhan has done an exceptional environmental management job, particularly in water quality management. Furthermore, citizens appear to possess a strong awareness of environmental protection, as we did not observe any undesirable phenomena, such as the random disposal of plastic bottles throughout the lake area.
However, following our survey, we conducted a network study investigating water pollution. We discovered that some regions of freshwater lakes still contain significant quantities of discarded plastic bottles, indicating that plastic pollution remains prevalent. The natural degradation rate of plastic bottles is slow, and as degraded plastic particles accumulate in freshwater organisms, they can pollute the water, ultimately posing a health hazard to humans.
Therefore, our team's plastic degradation technology requires continual refinement and experimentation to expand beyond laboratory limitations and aid in future synthetic biology bioremediation applications.
4、Science Lecture
On the 22nd of April, 2023, we held a sequence of scientific lectures on synthetic biology and the iGEM competition with our team on campus. We presented WUST-China's iGEM project this year and aimed to raise awareness on plastic degradation, environmental protection, and the expanding influence of synthetic biology in tackling environmental issues.
Through exchanging team members and interactive questions and questionnaires, we received favourable feedback from students who have come to comprehend and focus on synthetic biology, the iGEM competition, and our team's self-media platform.
In the lecture summary meeting, our team successfully enticed students from diverse majors, utilising sharing, who showed great interest in synthetic biology and its applications.
The lecture imparted valuable experience for our team to organise large-scale publicity events independently and positively initiated our subsequent HP activities. Meanwhile, we have finished designing the team logo, banner, and wiki page and scheduling the production of two competition videos to prepare for the second phase.
5、Community Sensitisation
To broaden our team's scope and attract a wider audience, we seized the opportunity of Youth Day to implement a community outreach program for middle-aged, elderly, and young individuals. Commencing with plastic pollution, we presented our project, synthetic biology, and the iGEM competition in a simplified way for better comprehension. We interviewed the community secretary and visited the homes of older adults. During our visits, we met Grandma Zeng, who crafts items from recycled materials, including plastic, and ascribes cultural significance to the objects she creates. Our encounter with Grandma Zeng sparked our imaginations about alternative uses for TPA.
Through this activity, our team reflected and identified practical issues, including slow task progression, inadequate preparation, and insufficient inter-group collaboration. This evaluation has provided us with valuable suggestions for improving future HP activities. Furthermore, our team has proposed a "problem-solving feedback system" for activity summarisation.
6、Women's Education Environmental Exchange Day
There has been a consistent feminist movement that has evolved, repeatedly advocating for equal rights for women. Women are also susceptible to unequal treatment. To promote gender equality and increase the reach of synthetic biology, the WUST-China team reported a series of feminist educational forums on campus. It included the second WUST-China educational forum at Wuhan University of Science and Technology (WUST) on 5th September 2023. The discussion explored women's research in life sciences and their remarkable contributions to synthetic biology. We united the female members of our team and female students from the campus for a forum on women's awareness of equality, environmental protection, and synthetic biology. During the summit, we discussed women's entitlement to their rights and interests in the workplace.
Additionally, we explored women's role in environmental protection, with particular emphasis on bioremediation, and discussed the work of those involved in related fields. At the forum, objective evaluations were made possible, revealing the impression of our female team members' creativity, dedication, and ability. Our team comprises women who lead the work in artwork, editing, experiments, and other facets vital to the smooth operation of our team's work. Through this women's education forum, we aim to promote equality and freedom for women. Utilising the feminist movement as a platform, we intend to raise awareness of our environmental protection project. Specifically, we want to draw attention to synthetic biology and our WUST-China project concerning plastic degradation this year to encourage participation.
7、Minority Environmental Exchange
Minority students should be granted equal rights and opportunities. Ensuring all students receive the same level of interest and support is vital. It can be achieved by providing the necessary resources and educational programs. It is essential to avoid discrimination and bias towards minority students. Their academic success should be prioritised, and adequate policies should be in place to ensure their progress and development.
Ethnic minorities constitute the majority of China's 56 ethnic groups. The WUST-China team initiated from a humanistic standpoint to raise awareness about our project. We organised an exchange meeting with ethnic minority students on campus. We presented lectures about the current state of plastic consumption, its detrimental effects, the WUST project, and our activities and programs. The attendees were from diverse backgrounds, including Uyghur, Tujia, Li, and more. People came from various regions, each with their distinct qualities. We discovered variations in pollution levels in their places of origin. However, plastic usage is rising, leading to plastic waste's pervasive presence in forests and fields. We discovered that the nearby region needs more technological advancement and information. Consequently, the inhabitants need to be better-versed in bioremediation or even plastic recycling, and the majority dispose of plastic by allowing it to decompose naturally. Hence, this exchange meeting helped raise awareness, letting more people know that our team employs Rhodococcus opacus for plastic degradation while promoting attention to the degradation and transformation of plastics.
The meeting participants expressed their wish to inform a wider audience, including their fellow citizens, about using synthetic biology technology to combat plastic pollution. It would enable regions inhabited by ethnic minorities to gain insight into science and technology and their potential for addressing environmental issues. Simultaneously, we aspire to demonstrate the daily lives of minority students to a broader audience, increase understanding of their traditional culture and customs, and introduce the unique culture of minorities to a more general audience via our team. Moreover, we aim to support equality for minority students in their everyday lives through gathering and communicating with them.
8、Campus Presentation
On 13 September 2023, newly enrolled students commenced their academic journey at Wuhan University of Science and Technology (WUST). This cohort of recent high school graduates have transitioned into university, and to advance awareness of the iGEM project and its work relating to synthetic biology and plastics degradation, we conducted knowledge dissemination sessions, distributed questionnaires and leaflets to all new students of Wuhan University of Science and Technology (WUST) on this day.
We created a new poster and exhibited it near our college tent to inform new students about our team project. Additionally, we distributed leaflets to notify them about this year's WUST-China team project. During the morning's introduction, an increasing number of new students joined our promotional group and expressed their interest in the promising potential of biodegradation technology. Many had never encountered synthetic biology before and were fascinated by our explanation of how plastics can be degraded to produce microbial fats and oils.
Several attendees even had backgrounds in bioengineering. As a second-year bioengineering student, Yang Dongsong introduced bioengineering fundamentals to the group and explained how genetic engineering can modify microorganisms to degrade plastics. This publicity event allowed our team to showcase our work to the public while leaving a legacy for future university students to learn about the iGEM competition, synthetic biology, and the WUST-China team.
