Uppsala iGEM 2020: NanoFlex

The goal of iGEM Uppsala 2020 is to develop a cellular biosensor for diagnosis of the latent stage of tuberculosis, designed for point of care usage: low-cost and user-friendly. It is an overall highly modular system with the potential to be applied for detection of any other pathogen.

We are employing a modified two-component system to transduce a signal, arising from recognition of pathogen, towards output visible by the naked eye.

Detection relies on 2 nanobodies specifically recognizing target protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (in this case, HSP16.3). Our modelling subgroup is performing computational simulations to further improve nanobodies known for binding the protein.

The system is foreseen with an integrated signal amplification step employing a viral replicase to ensure that even a small input originates a strong output. This allows our system to be sensible to low concentrations of pathogen (which is usually the case in the latent stage of infection).

We will try to introduce this genetic circuit in B.subtilis, a sporulating bacteria, thus allowing easy storage of the biosensor in sporulated form

Our hope is to bring the parts together in one powerful tool or at least make advances towards the goal design.

Overall, our living biosensor brings novelty in that it relies on protein detection instead of nucleic acid detection, making our system highly sensible, yet cheap.