Scientific research plays a crucial role in addressing global health challenges, but its impact can be limited if the knowledge is not shared with a broader audience. In our project, we believe that effective science communication is just as important as the research itself. Our mission is to ensure that people from different age groups and backgrounds, including students, professionals, and the general public, understand the significance of fungal infections and the potential of antimicrobial peptides in combating these infections. By reaching out to the public through various educational activities, we aim to increase awareness, spark curiosity, and foster interest in science, especially in the field of synthetic biology.
In order to further clarify the significance of our experiment and explore the risk factors that may be involved in the experiment, the team interviewed two professors in the field of synthetic biology in Southwest University to discuss the details of our project with them, and obtained affirmation.
Interview with Guoqing Niu, professor of synthetic biology
Date: September 19, 2024
Location: 504 Longping Building, Southwest University
Host: Kong Dezhi
Interviewee: Teacher Niu Guoqing
Interview topic: Exploring antimicrobial peptides and deep learning models
1) Interview purpose
The purpose of this interview is to explore antimicrobial peptides and deep learning models with the teacher
2) Interview content
Q: Do you think undergraduate students should participate more in competitions such as IGEM?
A: Teacher Niu Guoqing first welcomed the arrival of our HP group, praised and encouraged us to actively participate in biology related international competitions such as IGEM during our undergraduate studies. He said that college students should not be so utilitarian in their learning, but should actively do meaningful things to enrich their college life.
Q: At present, fungal infections have serious drug resistance and overuse of antibiotics. The discovery of antimicrobial peptides is relatively preliminary. What do you think is the development prospect of antimicrobial peptides?
A: When it comes to antimicrobial peptide experiments, Teacher Niu suggested that we use clinical strains for experiments and compare them with existing drugs on the market. Finally, we can use them in combination with existing treatment plans and drugs in clinical practice, which may better cure the disease.
Q: What do you think of the development prospects of our model?
A: When it comes to the prospects of our model, Teacher Niu said that bioinformatics will definitely develop better and better, and its role in promoting biology will be more obvious. He believes that bioinformatics technologies such as machine learning and high-throughput will greatly save labor and costs.
Professor Niu listened to the hp team members' introduction to the basic situation of the current team and the display of results, and expressed his strong recognition and support, especially the research and discovery of antimicrobial peptides with potential antibacterial activity in the form of machine models. Professor Niu also put forward constructive suggestions on the direction of our future development and improvement, such as whether we can use modern technology to design and strengthen the spatial structure of peptide chains; whether we can explore the combined effect of new antimicrobial peptides and currently widely used drugs. It also provides many possibilities for the future development of our team.
Interview with Guojian Liao, professor of synthetic biology
Date: September 24th, 2024
Location: 603 School of Pharmacy, Southwest University
Host: Kong Dezhi
Interviewee: Teacher Liao Guojian
Interview topic: Exploring uncertain factors in team projects and experiments
1) Interview purpose
The purpose of this interview is to discuss with Professor Liao about some uncertain factors in the current experiment around our team project.
2)Interview content
Q: At present, fungal infections have serious drug resistance and overuse of antibiotics. The discovery of antimicrobial peptides is relatively preliminary. What do you think is the development prospect of antimicrobial peptides?
A: I am very optimistic about the multi-target delivery of antimicrobial peptides. There may be many difficulties in this field, but I will work hard with Professor Wang to overcome them. Personally, I think it is a good direction. Currently, fungal resistance is very serious. If fungal infections are ignored, we need to call for it in various occasions, including your competition, which is also sowing seeds and strengthening awareness among young people around the world. It is a very meaningful thing
Q. What do you think of the development prospects of our model?
A: Teacher Liao believes that conducting wet experiments on our model can significantly reduce costs. We obtained 3 peptides with good activity from 30 samples with a high success rate, which is a new attempt in the field of antimicrobial peptides. Artificial intelligence assisted drug design is a very new and important field, and bioinformatics modeling is a very good solution.
Q. At present, only linear short peptides with peptide chains can be synthesized. Can peptide chains with cyclic structures be synthesized in the future?
A: Teacher Liao thinks this idea is very good. Currently, short peptides are easily degraded and can be combined with chemistry or drugs to achieve a 1+1>2 effect. However, the experimental process has not advanced so quickly yet. This is a good idea and will be explored in the future.
In the afternoon of September 24, 2024.9.24, our group went to the School of Pharmacy to interview Mr. Liao Guojian. Mr. Liao welcomed us very warmly, and we had a very pleasant academic conversation in his office. In the interview, Mr. Liao first affirmed the significance of our project, and he believed that antimicrobial peptides will definitely become a powerful helper to solve the problem of fungal resistance! Second, in terms of synthetic biology, especially the antimicrobial peptides that we have based on computer models, he believes that the combination of computer and biology will play a huge role in the future development of technology. With computers, we may no longer rely on a large number of traditional experiments to screen the required peptides, and the time and cost of scientific research will be greatly reduced, and the efficiency of scientific research will be greatly improved. Although social criticism of artificial intelligence still exists, for example, the accuracy of the data obtained by computers is doubtful, will the computer in the future through self-learning to deceive humans? However, the teacher believes that such problems cannot deny the great contribution of computers to the development of science and technology, nor can they stop the trend of computer + biology, he believes that with the efforts of generations of young researchers, humans will eventually be able to improve the existing problems of artificial intelligence. He also looks forward to the future, synthetic biology can bring more surprises to the world's medical system and human health!
To inspire the next generation of scientists, our team organized several educational activities in primary and secondary schools. We crafted lessons designed to engage younger audiences by breaking down complex scientific concepts into simple, fun, and interactive lessons. One of our key focuses was to teach students about the dangers posed by fungal infections, which are often overlooked despite their significant impact on global health.
In addition to explaining the scientific aspects of fungal infections and antimicrobial peptides, we made the sessions interactive by incorporating hands-on activities such as role-playing games, visual presentations, and storytelling. Our goal was not just to provide information but also to create an environment where students could ask questions and explore their natural curiosity about biology. Through these activities, we successfully introduced the basic concepts of microbiology, infections, and treatment options to students in an engaging manner.
To enhance engagement, we designed creative educational materials such as team-branded stationery (pens, notebooks), custom badges featuring our project logo, and even gift boxes filled with science-themed goodies. These materials were used as incentives for active participation, encouraging students to engage with the lessons and retain what they learned. By offering these educational gifts, we left a lasting impression, ensuring that the lessons learned would resonate long after the sessions ended.
Understanding the importance of reaching a broader audience, we developed comprehensive questionnaires that were distributed widely across different demographics. The purpose of these questionnaires was two-fold: first, to raise awareness about fungal infections and the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance, and second, to gather valuable data on the general public's knowledge of these issues.
We took great care in designing the questionnaires to be accessible, easy to understand, and engaging. The questions covered a range of topics, from basic knowledge of fungal infections to opinions on current treatments and awareness of antimicrobial peptides. By gathering this data, we gained insights into public perceptions, which helped inform our approach to further outreach and education.
To encourage participation, we set up booths at various community events and schools where participants could fill out the questionnaire and receive custom-made gifts as a token of appreciation. These included specially designed pens, notepads, and other small items adorned with our team’s branding. These personal touches helped to create a more engaging and memorable experience for participants, turning the data collection process into an educational event in itself.
In addition to our outreach efforts in schools and with the general public, we also recognized the importance of engaging our academic peers. To foster a deeper understanding of synthetic biology and its potential to address global health challenges, we organized a series of academic seminars and interdisciplinary workshops. These events brought together university students from a variety of majors, including biology, chemistry, computer science, and engineering, to discuss the future of antimicrobial peptides and synthetic biology.
The seminars offered a platform for students from different disciplines to share their perspectives on the role of synthetic biology in developing new solutions for fungal infections. The interdisciplinary nature of these discussions sparked innovative ideas and collaborative projects, highlighting the importance of combining expertise from different fields. Our team presented the findings from our project, explaining how machine learning was used to identify potential antifungal peptides and the significance of these peptides in developing new treatments for fungal infections.
We believe that raising awareness about scientific research is a powerful tool to spark curiosity and inspire action. In line with this, our team conducted several presentations at universities and community events to explain our project and its significance in fighting fungal infections. These presentations were aimed at both educating the public and encouraging more people to support scientific research in combating drug resistance.
In our presentations, we used visually compelling slides, diagrams, and real-life case studies to demonstrate the potential of antimicrobial peptides in addressing fungal infections. By showcasing the real-world applications of our research, we were able to captivate our audience’s attention and highlight the broader impact of synthetic biology on public health.
To ensure that our project continues to make an impact beyond the competition, we partnered with the Industrial Incubation Center at Southwest University. This collaboration provides us with the resources and infrastructure necessary to continue working on antimicrobial peptide synthesis after the iGEM competition ends. The partnership also offers us the opportunity to transition from theoretical research to practical applications, potentially contributing to future treatments for fungal infections.
By aligning ourselves with industry professionals, we are taking a significant step towards translating our research into real-world solutions. This collaboration ensures that our work will have a long-term impact, allowing us to continue refining and developing antimicrobial peptides that could one day play a crucial role in combating fungal infections.
Recognizing the importance of digital platforms in today’s world, we expanded our outreach through social media to connect with a global audience. We launched a series of campaigns on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and WeChat, where we shared educational content, updates on our project, and general information about fungal infections and antimicrobial resistance.
Our digital outreach included a mix of short videos, infographics, and blog posts that made science accessible to people from all walks of life. We created a fun, animated explanation of how fungal infections spread and why antimicrobial peptides are a promising solution. The video was widely shared, helping us reach thousands of viewers who may not have otherwise engaged with scientific content.