Utilizing GM E. coli that consist of metal inducible promoter and chromoprotein reporter as biosensors, Metalytic is an automatic system to detect and warn users about heavy metal pollution in various settings.
Our project tackles heavy metal contamination in Hong Kong, inspired by incidents like lead in public housing water and contaminations from various origins such as agricultural land pollution, misconnection of pipes, and sewage water pouring into storm drains. These concerns highlight the need for affordable, user-friendly biosensors to detect metals like lead, cadmium, mercury, and zinc. To ensure visual detection in our biosensors, we focused on using chromoprotein reporters. Then, we identified metal-inducible promoters from literature and the iGEM database, studied their characteristics, and integrated them with the chromoprotein reporter system. We successfully developed a lead biosensor and a cadmium biosensor and demonstrated that the lead biosensor is concentration-sensitive. Additionally, our hardware team developed an automated machine using IoT and AI technologies. It can cultivate the biosensors and features an automated detection and warning system, ensuring practical and accessible monitoring of heavy metal pollutants in various settings.
GM E.coil strains specifically express chromoproteins in the presence of heavy metals, identifying and quantifying contamination by colour intensity.
Integrates with AI vision to monitor color changes in GM E. coli cultures, providing immediate insights into heavy metal levels.
Enabling rapid detection to address heavy metal contamination, safeguarding public health and enhancing public hygiene.
It is highly toxic and cause cancer to human
It increases risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems
Causing nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal cramps, diarrhea
Damaging the nervous system, kidneys, liver and immune system
Control the bacteria and eat all the heavy metals we aimed to detect in our project!
We are a group of students from Hong Kong Joint-Secondary School iGEM team (HKJSS). Our team is formed by Po Leung Kuk Celine Ho Yam Tong College, Yan Oi Tong Tin Ka Ping Secondary School, Pentecostal School, Stewards Ma Kam Ming Charitable Foundation Ma Ko Pan Memorial College and Madam Lau Kam Lung Secondary School of Miu Fat Buddhist Monastery.