Our team has dedicated significant effort to accomplish a wide range of objectives. Below, we summarize the medal criteria we have successfully met.
We have completed the following Competition Deliverables:
(Wiki, Project Promotion Video, Presentation Video, Judging Form) and will be assessed during the Judging Session at the Grand Jamboree.
We have detailed the specific contributions of each team member on the Attributions page. This includes project-related work, experiments, and various activities, clearly outlining each member's responsibility in their areas of expertise or interest. Additionally, we have acknowledged the input of external professionals, such as experts and a clinical psychologist, whose critical insights and advice were invaluable. The Attributions page demonstrates how our team effectively collaborated, leveraging individual strengths to complete the project efficiently.
Explore our Project Description in detail. Our project focuses on addressing the growing issue of negative emotions, which can lead to severe mental health conditions such as depression. Depression impacts both individuals and society, with millions of people affected globally. To tackle this, we developed a multi-faceted solution to increase emotional awareness and offer convenient ways to improve mood.
We created a stress-detecting app that measures heart rate variability via a smartphone, eliminating the need for wearable devices. Additionally, we developed 'SERENE Beverages,' incorporating a probiotic-infused edible film into beverage cups. These probiotics are genetically engineered to produce 5-HTP in the gut, enhancing serotonin levels to boost mood and alleviate negative emotions.
Our synthetic biology approach modifies E. coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) to produce 5-HTP through a DNA scaffold system, enhancing its production using a rolling circle replication mechanism. This innovation integrates seamlessly into daily life, using sodium caseinate-based water-soluble films for easy consumption.
In addition to this, we organized public activities such as seminars, free hugs, and elderly engagement to raise emotional awareness. By providing a comprehensive, accessible solution, we aim to reduce the negative impact of emotions on global mental health.
Full details are available on our Contribution page.
Our team made key contributions to the iGEM community through the SERENE project, which integrates stress management and probiotics to alleviate negative emotions. We developed the Pokefish app, using heart rate variability to assess stress, introducing the use of medical data into the iGEM community.
On the synthetic biology side, we engineered new biobricks, including a monomeric version of Tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (m-hTPH1) and parts for BH4 coenzyme regeneration in E. coli. Additionally, we applied rolling circle replication (RCR) to create a DNA scaffold system for clustering enzymes, enhancing 5-HTP production efficiency.
To protect our probiotics, we implemented microencapsulation with chitosan and sodium alginate, improving their stability in the stomach. We also developed an edible film to package the probiotics, offering an environmentally friendly solution for food-related applications.
These contributions provide valuable tools and insights for future iGEM teams.
Our engineering success is documented in detail on the Engineering page of our Wiki.
Through cycles of design, testing, and refinement, we optimized our E. coli Nissle 1917 system to produce 5-HTP, a precursor to serotonin, while addressing challenges that arose along the way.
We began by designing plasmids to express m-hTPH1, hPCBD, and hQDPR proteins, essential for synthesizing 5-HTP and regenerating the BH4 coenzyme. Initially, we tested the system, successfully expressing these proteins, but soon realized the potential for excessive 5-HTP production, which could lead to undesirable effects such as irritable bowel syndrome.
To address this, we introduced a regulatory mechanism using a protocatechuic acid (PCA)-induced promoter to control the 5-HTP production. The PCA-responsive system ensures that 5-HTP production can be fine-tuned in response to environmental conditions, mitigating the risk of overproduction. Additionally, we enhanced the spatial proximity of the proteins by designing a DNA scaffold based on rolling circle replication (RCR), which clustered the enzymes to improve efficiency.
Through these engineering cycles—designing, building, learning, and redesigning—we optimized the production of 5-HTP and the regulation system, ensuring a more effective and controlled outcome.
Full details of our Human Practices are on our Human Practices page.
The SERENE project addresses the pressing issue of negative emotions, which can lead to depression, affecting millions worldwide. To ensure our solution is impactful and responsible, we actively engaged with professionals and the public throughout the project's development.
We began by conducting surveys and consulting mental health professionals to better understand the concerns around stress and emotional well-being. These consultations revealed two key challenges: a lack of awareness and accessible methods to alleviate negative emotions. To address awareness, we developed the Pokefish stress management app. Additionally, we also sought advice from experts to guide our development of mood-enhancing probiotics, allowing us to refine our design with their insights and align it more closely with potential scientific and practical considerations.
In addition to product development, we prioritized education and outreach to raise awareness about mental health. We organized an educational seminar, activities for the elderly, and free hug events to promote emotional well-being and stress management. By engaging the public and experts, we’ve aligned our project with societal needs, offering a comprehensive approach to addressing negative emotions.
Our best new composite part is: BBa_K5040008
The part encodes the enzymes m-hTPH1, hPCBD1, and hQDPR proteins fused with Zinc finger proteins, respectively.
The previous report indicated that human TPH1 (hTPH1) forms oligomers in the cytosol, which causes aggregation, becoming insoluble and unable to be expressed in E. coli. Accordingly, we introduced the monomeric hTPH1, which deleted the 99 a.a. at the N-terminal and 24 a.a. at the C-terminal, into iGEM society for future teams.
Additionally, in the serotonin biosynthesis pathway, m-hTPH1 incorporates one atom of oxygen from molecular oxygen into the substrate and reduces the other atom to water. The two electrons required for reduction are supplied by oxidation of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) into BH4-4a-carbinolamine. So, we built a BH4 regeneration system with two enzymes- hPCBD1 and hQDPR.
Our software design is documented in detail on the Software of our Wiki.
To evaluate the efficacy of SERENE Beverage after consumption and help users become more aware of their negative emotions, we developed a cost-effective, user-friendly app capable of detecting stress levels and offering comprehensive stress management solutions.
This app is designed to help users first recognize their emotions and then follow its recommendations to alleviate negative feelings gradually, the app offers tips and strategies for stress relief, providing users with a comprehensive tool for monitoring and managing their stress. This shift towards practical stress management marks a significant advancement within iGEM, expanding the scope of software development beyond bioinformatics and into medical applications that potentially enhance well-being.
Dive into Integrated Human Practices to read more details!
Our SERENE project addresses the growing issue of negative emotions, which can lead to depression, by promoting emotional well-being through a comprehensive approach. We adopted a two-pronged strategy: the "Convenient Approach" introduces the SERENE Beverage to improve accessibility to mood-enhancing methods, while "Awareness Improvement" focuses on tools like the Pokefish app and an Emotion Awareness Seminar to help people better understand and manage their emotions.
In addition, we organized educational and outreach activities, such as the 'Open Lab' for high school students, a campus iGEM campaign, and seminars on emotional awareness. We also held physical events like exercise sessions for the elderly and free hug activities at night markets while extending our reach online through social media and postcard campaigns.
Positive feedback from experts, professors, and companies helped us refine our project, improving aspects like bioengineering and packaging. Market research showed over 90% consumer interest, inspiring us to explore future applications, such as combining probiotics with paper straws. With this feedback and support, we are confident in SERENE’s potential to enhance emotional well-being through accessible, practical solutions.