Introduction

In the iGEM 2024 competition, the HUBU-China team is dedicated to solving real-world problems through scientific innovation. Our project not only focuses on laboratory research but also actively engages with society to ensure that our research serves societal needs. Below are the social activities we conducted at Yiling High School and Shashi High School in Hubei Province, and how these activities have driven the development and design of our project.

Overview of Social Activities

1.Public Awareness and Industrialization of Genetic Modification

• Background: Genetic modification is a core area of modern biotechnology and a highly debated topic in society. To understand the current awareness of genetic modification among college students, we conducted a survey involving 1,085 students from 174 universities across 31 provinces/cities in China.
• Activity Content: We held educational lectures at Yiling High School and Shashi High School on genetic modification, discussing its development, future prospects, and existing controversies. We also discussed the modifications and potential industrial applications of Part:BBa_K5044317 (amiR-CHS1) and Part:BBa_K5044310 (Plastid transformation vector for kiwifruit, pQQC7).
• Feedback and Improvements: Students showed great interest in genetic modification but also expressed concerns about food safety and environmental impact. Based on this feedback, we strengthened our explanations of the safety and regulatory measures of genetic modification, emphasizing the rigorous testing and validation processes. We also included more case studies on the future applications of genetic modification in agriculture to enhance students' confidence and understanding.

2. Agricultural Pest Control

• Background: Spodoptera litura (common cutworm) is a polyphagous agricultural pest worldwide, causing significant damage to various economic crops and has developed high resistance to multiple chemical insecticides.
• Activity Content: We held educational lectures on amiR-CHS1 at Yiling High School and Shashi High School, introducing RNA interference technology and its application in pest control. We demonstrated how artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs) can target and inhibit the chitin synthase 1 (SlCHS1) gene in S. litura, thereby controlling its growth and development.
• Feedback and Improvements: Students raised many questions about genetic modification and environmental safety. This feedback led us to further optimize the design of amiR-CHS1 to enhance its stability and efficiency. Additionally, we added more content on environmental protection and biosafety to address public concerns.

3. Carbon Reduction Survey

• Background: Climate change is a major global challenge, and reducing carbon emissions is crucial for mitigating its effects.
• Activity Content: We conducted a carbon reduction survey at both schools, collecting students' opinions and suggestions on reducing their carbon footprint in daily life. We discussed the application of genetic engineering in sustainable agriculture, such as using transgenic technology to improve crop drought resistance and yield, thereby reducing the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
• Feedback and Improvements: The survey results showed that students are very concerned about environmental issues and want to learn more about solutions. Based on this feedback, we adjusted our communication strategy to emphasize how our research helps reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainability.

4. Seminar for Scientists from Mozambique

• Background: Mozambique is an agriculturally based country facing severe agricultural pest problems.
• Activity Content: Professor Shengchun Li and student leader Chuming Chen from HUBU-China were invited to give a seminar on plant synthetic biology for biologists from Mozambique at Hubei Vocational College of Bio-Technology. Prof. Li introduced recent advances in plastid genetic engineering for crop improvement, especially plastid-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) for insect management. Special attention was paid to the different effectiveness of RNAi between Coleoptera and Lepidoptera.
• Discussion Content: Mozambican scientists also discussed the potential and commercial applications of transplastomic crops in Africa.
• Feedback and Improvements: The experts provided valuable suggestions, highlighting challenges such as cost, practicality, and cultural acceptance. This feedback made us realize the need to simplify the technology process and consider cost-effectiveness for easier adoption in resource-limited areas. We incorporated these insights into our project, focusing on making our solutions more accessible and practical for use in Mozambique and other similar regions.

5. Policy Recommendations through Jiusan Society

• Background: Jiusan Society is an important political party in China, committed to promoting technological development and social progress. We submitted policy recommendations on genetic modification and its industrialization through Jiusan Society.
• Activity Content: We submitted a detailed report covering the latest research findings in genetic modification, existing challenges in its promotion, and improvement suggestions. The report highlighted the potential of our projects, Part:BBa_K5044317 (amiR-CHS1) and Part:BBa_K5044310 (pQQC7), in agricultural pest control and sustainable agriculture.
• Feedback and Improvements: Through the Jiusan Society platform, we received attention and feedback from government departments and relevant experts. This feedback helped us better understand the policy environment and market demands, leading to further optimization of our research direction and technical solutions. For example, we strengthened the feasibility and economic analysis of our projects to ensure smooth transition to practical applications.

Public Awareness and Industrialization of Genetic Modification: A Survey by HUBU-China

Introduction

In the iGEM 2024 competition, the HUBU-China team, in collaboration with Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, conducted a comprehensive survey to understand the current awareness and perceptions of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) among college students in China. The survey aimed to gather insights into the sources of information, attitudes, and purchasing behaviors related to GMOs, as well as to gauge the opinions on the future of GMO industrialization. The primary investigators for this survey were student leaders from HUBU-China: Ludan He, Chuming Chen, and Yina Li.

Methodology

• Survey Platform: The survey was conducted using an online platform provided by Wenjuanxing.
• Participants: 1,085 students from 174 universities across 31 provinces and cities in China (excluding Ningxia, Tibet, and Taiwan).
• Disciplines: The participants came from 234 different majors, categorized into five academic fields: Agriculture, Medicine, Liberal Arts, Science and Engineering, and Biology.
• Questions: The survey included questions on students' attention to GMO issues, their knowledge of GMOs, their willingness to purchase GMO products, their evaluation of the safety of GMO crops, and their opinions on the development of GMO industrialization.

Background

Genetic modification is a core area of modern biotechnology and a highly debated topic in society. To better understand the current cognition of GMOs among university students, we surveyed 1,085 students from 174 universities across 31 provinces and cities in China. The survey was designed to cover various aspects, including the main channels through which students acquire information about GMOs, their support or opposition to GMOs, and their views on the industrialization of GMOs.

Key Findings

1. Information Sources

• Main Channels: Students primarily obtain information about GMOs through the following channels, in order of frequency:

2. Attitudes Toward GMOs

• Support vs. Opposition: The ratio of support to opposition among university students is 3.22/1, which is 11 times higher than the general public's ratio of 0.29/1.
• Correlation with Education and Knowledge: Support for GMOs is highly correlated with educational levels, specializations, and knowledge of GMOs.

3. Purchasing Behavior

• Willingness to Purchase:
• 55% of students do not care whether a product is a GMO.
• 36.6% are willing or will purchase GMO products as needed.
• 50.6% will consider factors such as cost-effectiveness before making a decision.
• 12.8% refuse or boycott the purchase of GMO products.

4. Views on GMO Industrialization

• Optimism and Pessimism:
• Approximately 25% of students are optimistic about the industrialization of GMO crops in China.
• Nearly 10% are pessimistic about it.

Table 1: University Students' Attention to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Issues

Table 2: University Students' Attitude Towards the Safety Evaluation and the Industrialization Prospect of GM Crops

Table 3: University Students' Attitude Towards the Science Popularization of GMO and the Relevant General Course Setting

Feedback and Improvements

Image Caption: Students Distributing the Public Awareness and Industrialization of Genetic Modification Survey

• Caption: "Students are distributing the Public Awareness and Industrialization of Genetic Modification survey.
• Enhanced Communication: Based on the feedback, we have enhanced our communication strategies to include more detailed information on the safety and regulatory measures of GMOs. We emphasized the rigorous testing and validation processes to address concerns about food safety and environmental impact.
• Educational Content: We incorporated more case studies and real-world applications of genetic modification in agriculture to enhance students' confidence and understanding.
• Policy Recommendations: The findings and insights from the survey were also used to submit policy recommendations through Jiusan Society, highlighting the potential and challenges of GMO industrialization.

Achievements

• Biological Breeding and Agricultural Gene Engineering Competition: Student leader Chuming Chen participated in the Wuhan Biological Breeding and Agricultural Gene Engineering Competition and won third place. This achievement underscores the team's commitment to advancing the field of genetic modification and its practical applications.

Future Outlook

• Industrial Application: We aim to enhance public awareness of genetic modification and RNA interference technology through these social activities and lay the foundation for future industrial applications. We plan to convert the research findings from Part:BBa_K5044317 (amiR-CHS1) and Part:BBa_K5044310 (Plastid transformation vector for kiwifruit, pQQC7) into practical products, meeting the demand for efficient and eco-friendly agricultural solutions.

Image Caption: Improved Plasmid Part: BBa_K5044317 (amiR-CHS1)

• Caption: "Data from the Public Awareness and Industrialization of Genetic Modification project guided the improvement of the plasmid Part: BBa_K5044317 (amiR-CHS1), designed by Chuming Chen, iGEM24_HUBU-China (2024-10-02)."

Image Caption: Plastid Transformation Vector for Kiwifruit (pQQC7)

• Caption: "The pQQC7 plastid transformation vector used in the Public Awareness and Industrialization of Genetic Modification project for enhancing kiwifruit traits."

Investigation on Enhancing Plant Photosynthetic Efficiency by Engineering Chloroplasts(With Prof. Bock)

To explore how biotechnological approaches can be used to enhance the capture and conversion of solar energy in plants, our iGEM24_HUBU-China team has delved into optimizing chloroplast function. We are honored to have had the opportunity to invite industry authority Prof. Dr. Ralph Bock, a member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the National Academy of Engineering (USA), to visit our laboratory at HUBU-China. His expertise and insights were invaluable in guiding our research.

Our research demonstrates that by modulating the position of chloroplasts within cells—specifically promoting their accumulation along periclinal walls rather than avoiding strong light by moving to anticlinal walls—plants can significantly increase photosynthesis efficiency and overall biomass production. This conclusion was drawn from experiments conducted on various Arabidopsis thaliana mutants, particularly those lacking the avoidance response but retaining other phototropin-mediated functions.

Key Findings:

• Phototropin2 (phot2) Mutants: Part BBa_K660000:This part in iGEM parts register is related to the phototropin2 (phot2) mutant, which exhibits enhanced photosynthesis and biomass production due to its constitutive chloroplast accumulation response.These mutants exhibit a constitutive chloroplast accumulation response under all light conditions, leading to enhanced photosynthetic activity and higher plant biomass.
• The study further verifies the positive role of the chloroplast accumulation response in enhancing photosynthesis and biomass production.

Expert Consultation Summary:

To ensure that our design could be effectively and safely applied, we consulted with key experts, including our student leader and Prof. Dr. Ralph Bock. Prof. Bock provided invaluable insights and guidance:

Image Captions

Image 1: Student Leader Chuming Chen and Prof. Dr. Ralph Bock after a Discussion

• Description: This image shows iGEM24_HUBU-China team's student leader, Chuming Chen, with Prof. Dr. Ralph Bock, a member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the National Academy of Engineering (USA), after an in-depth discussion on enhancing plant photosynthetic efficiency through chloroplast engineering. The exchange provided valuable guidance and insights for our project.
• People from left to right:
• Chuming Chen (Student Leader)
• Prof. Dr. Ralph Bock (Member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the National Academy of Engineering, USA)

Image 2: Student Leader Chuming Chen with Professors Zhang Jiang, Li Shengchun, and Prof. Dr. Ralph Bock after a Discussion

• Description: This image captures iGEM24_HUBU-China team's student leader, Chuming Chen, alongside RNAi and chloroplast genetic engineering experts, Prof. Zhang Jiang and Prof. Li Shengchun, as well as Prof. Dr. Ralph Bock, following a comprehensive discussion on enhancing plant photosynthetic efficiency through chloroplast engineering. This multidisciplinary exchange provided crucial insights for further optimizing our project.
• People from left to right:
• Prof. Zhang Jiang (RNAi and Chloroplast Genetic Engineering Expert)
• Prof. Li Shengchun (RNAi and Chloroplast Genetic Engineering Expert)
• Chuming Chen (Student Leader)
• Prof. Dr. Ralph Bock (Member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the National Academy of Engineering, USA)

Prof. Dr. Ralph Bock:

• Position: Director of Department 3: Organelle Biology, Biotechnology and Molecular Ecophysiology at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology; Research Group Leader "Organelle Biology and Biotechnology."
• Previous Positions:
• Research group leader, Institute of Biology III, University of Freiburg (1996-2001)
• Full Professor and Director of the Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology of Plants, University of Münster (2001-2004)
• Since 2004, Director and Scientific Member at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology
• Degrees:
• Diplom: University of Halle, 1993
• PhD: University of Freiburg, 1996
• Habilitation: University of Freiburg, 1999

Prof. Bock emphasized the importance of carefully designing the genetic constructs and ensuring that they do not disrupt essential cellular processes. He also suggested conducting extensive testing under different environmental conditions to validate the robustness of the modified plants. His advice was instrumental in refining our experimental approach and ensuring the safety and efficacy of our project.

Seminar for Scientists from Africa(Mozambique)

Background:
Mozambique is an agriculturally based country facing severe agricultural pest problems. To address these challenges, a seminar was organized to introduce the potential of synthetic biology and biopesticides in improving agricultural practices.

Activity Content: Professor Shengchun Li and student leader Chuming Chen from the iGEM24_HUBU-China team were invited to give a seminar on plant synthetic biology for biologists from Mozambique at Hubei Vocational College of Bio-Technology. Prof. Li introduced recent advances in plastid genetic engineering for crop improvement, with a special focus on plastid-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) for insect management. The presentation highlighted the different effectiveness of RNAi between Coleoptera (beetles) and Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths).

Discussion Content: During the discussion, Mozambican scientists explored the potential and commercial applications of transplastomic crops in Africa. They discussed how these technologies could be adapted to local conditions and the specific needs of their agricultural systems.

Feedback and Improvements: The experts provided valuable suggestions, highlighting several challenges such as cost, practicality, and cultural acceptance. This feedback made us realize the need to simplify the technology process and consider cost-effectiveness for easier adoption in resource-limited areas. We incorporated these insights into our project, focusing on making our solutions more accessible and practical for use in Mozambique and other similar regions.

Key Takeaways:

• Recent Advances in Plastid Genetic Engineering: Introduction to the latest developments in plastid genetic engineering, including the use of plastid-mediated RNAi for pest management.
• Differential Effectiveness of RNAi: Discussion on the varying effectiveness of RNAi in different insect orders, particularly Coleoptera and Lepidoptera.
• Potential and Commercial Applications: Exploration of the potential and commercial applications of transplastomic crops in African agriculture.
• Challenges and Solutions: Identification of key challenges such as cost, practicality, and cultural acceptance, and the need to develop more accessible and cost-effective solutions.

Arthropod Pathogen Germplasm Repository at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)

Table 1: Arthropod Pathogen Germplasm Repository at icipe for Biopesticides Development

Significant Pests and Their Impact: Red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae), tomato spider mite (Tetranychus evansi), aphids, thrips, fruit flies, pod borers, pod suckers, storage beetles, false codling moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta), fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), and tomato leafminer (Tuta absoluta) significantly reduce sustainable production of staple and horticultural crops, causing enormous economic losses. Additionally, some insects are vectors of serious plant diseases (e.g., thrips, whiteflies, and the cowpea aphid Aphis craccivora).

icipe's Research Efforts: icipe has actively engaged in research to identify virulent entomopathogens of these pests, with a greater emphasis on entomopathogenic fungi belonging to the genera of Metarhizium and Beauveria. Strains belonging to these genera are relatively easy to mass-produce, formulate, and apply, and have been found to be among the most virulent against Africa’s pests. Longstanding research has yielded significant results, and currently, three fungal products based on M. anisopliae strains ICIPE 69, ICIPE 78, and ICIPE 62 are commercialized for managing key pests in several countries in sub-Saharan Africa as well as Canada (see Table 2). Currently, screening efforts are expanding beyond M. anisopliae toward other entomopathogenic fungi such as B. bassiana and Isaria fumosorosea, bacteria, microsporidia, nematodes, and viruses. A recent research thrust centers on endophytes such as Hypocrea lixii and Trichoderma spp.

Registered Biopesticides Based on Research-for-Development at icipe

Table 2: Registered Biopesticides Based on Research-for-Development at icipe

Inspiration and Application:
Through this seminar, we gained a deeper understanding of the agricultural challenges in Africa, which inspired student leader Chuming Chen to refine his work on the plasmid, ultimately helping to complete the design of Part: BBa_K5044317 (Designed by: Chuming Chen, Group: iGEM24_HUBU-China, 2024-10-02).

This seminar not only provided a platform for knowledge exchange but also emphasized the importance of tailoring scientific advancements to meet the specific needs of developing regions, ensuring that the benefits of synthetic biology and biopesticides can be realized in real-world agricultural settings.

The spirit of mutual love, seeks the group consolidation of permanent

Communication with the iGEM Team of Wuhan University

On Mar 20th, 2024, two teams from Hubei University, HUBU-China and HUBU-Wuchang-China, visited Wuhan University and discussed projects with WHU-China team. Firstly, the team leader of WHU-China gave a topic about producing and delivering short peptides for diabetes therapy using gut bacteria. Then, Ziying Qiu from HUBU-Wuchang-China showed protein-rich rice production and its function for sub-healthy population. At last, the supervisor of HUBU-China Shengchun Li introduced plastid genetic engineering and Chuming Chen showed the recent progress of plastid-mediated RNA interference for Spodoptera litura control.

Additionally, three teams shared their plans of human practices.

Exchange Meeting in Nanjing Agricultural University

On Apr 19th, 2024, PLASTID  PESTICIDES™ visited NAU-China team at Nanjing Agricultural University. The leader of NAU-China introduced their project “SAMUS” (Self-healing Adhesive Materials for Underwater Soft-robot). They developed a new self-healing material that could improve the capability and durability of soft robots in ocean exploration. In addition, Chuming Chen gave a talk on Spodoptera litura control by plastid-expressed artificial miRNA.

Hubei Open Congress on Synthetic Biology

The Hubei open congress on synthetic biology is an annual meet up organized by Hubei University since 2023. This congress aims at providing a free platform for resource sharing and mutual learning iGEM teams and young synthetic biology enthusiasts in Hubei Province. On April 24th of this year, PLASTID  PESTICIDES™ held the 2nd open congress. Nearly 100 people from different universities, including Wuhan University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, went to the congress for exchange and discussion. In addition, more than 100 people participated the congress on line.

The 8^th iGEM Southern China Regional Meeting

The iGEM Southern China Regional Meeting (iSCRM) is a special event organized by SZU-China from Shenzhen University. The iSCRM provides a good good platform for mutual understanding, in-depth communication and mutual learning. On May 18^th, 2024, the 8^th iSCRM was held, nearly 200 people from 16 iGEM teams came to Shenzhen.

Chuming Chen shared PLASTID  PESTICIDES™ recent progress, including experiment achievement and human practices. PLASTID  PESTICIDES™ also communicated with iGEMers from other universities. For example, SUSTech-Shenzhen developed drug delivery via type VI secretion system, and SYSU-Software established a database, large-scale prokaryotic multiple defense proteins prediction online platform.  

Communication with the iGEM Team of Xiamen University online

To further enhance the students’ scientific research ability, team cooperation spirit, and international vision, iGEM team from Xiamen University (XMU-China) Organized an online meeting on Jun 2^rd, 2024.

The supervisor of XMU-ChinA gave a topic of “Solving the printing problems using synthetic biology”. Partial HUBU-China members joined in this meeting online, and asked some questions about the problems of waste paper recycling and the bottleneck of recycle utilization. In addition, Chuming Chen introduced the background of pest insect management mediated by RNAi strategy, and showed PLASTID  PESTICIDES™ most recent progress.  

The 11^th Conference of China iGEMer Community

Conference of China iGEMer Community (CCiC) is a national conference initiated by the iGEM community in China since 2014. CCiC provides a platform for iGEM teams and young synthetic biology enthusiasts to share resources and learn mutually. This year, the 11th CCiC was held in Suzhou with the theme of “SynBio Nexus”. The event was hosted by Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and the National Center for Biopharmaceutical Technology Innovation.

HUBU-China, participated in the agriculture session roadshow on July 14^th, 2024. PLASTID  PESTICIDES™ had an in-depth discussion with HAZU-China, CAU-China, SMS-Shenzhen, and Hangzhou-BioX in the agriculture session and shared PLASTID  PESTICIDES™ experiences with each other.

Synbio Challenges

Synbio Challenges is an international contest on synthetic biology. It is aimed at college students and graduate students who are passionate about synthetic biology while bringing together leading experts from around the world. It provides a forum for exchange between young scientists and leading experts face-to-face. Valuing the concept of “build for knowledge and build for use”, Synbio Challenges encourages young scientists to start from their curiosity and explore innovative application of synthetic biology in diverse fields.  

During the defense, the team leader of HUBU-China Chuming Chen showed the demonstrated innovation, feasibility and potential socio-economic impact of PLASTID  PESTICIDES™ project. His rigorous scientific attitude, detailed experimental data and clear logical arguments won high recognition from the judges and peers. At last, HUBU-China received the prize of “Best Oral Defence”. Chuming Chen said, “PLASTID  PESTICIDES™ are deeply honored to receive this award. This is not only a recognition of PLASTID  PESTICIDES™ research results, but also an affirmation of PLASTID  PESTICIDES™ team’s efforts. PLASTID  PESTICIDES™ believe that plasmid-mediated RNAi technology will provide a new solution for agricultural pest and control and promote the green development of agriculture.”
   

HUBU-China’s achievements are the result of the close collaboration and innovation of the team members, and a reflection of HUBU’s continuous investment and support in synthetic biology education and research. Looking ahead, the team will continue to explore and innovate in the field of synthetic biology to provide scientific support for solving more practical problems. In the future, HUBU-China would like to go deeper into the field of synthetic biology, to be more complete, more extreme, and to meet the needs of times. The comments from the judges and other iGEM teams broaden PLASTID  PESTICIDES™ minds, and shined a light on the synthetic biology.