Judging

Project Attribution

See: Attributions
In this section of our wiki, we have documented the members of each team (logistics, Science, Finance and sponsoring, Communication, and Human Practices), along with the participation of each member throughout this journey and the projects they were involved in and contributed to. And since this is a team competition, with significant collaborative work required to achieve the goal set at the beginning of this adventure, members were led to participate in various tasks that were not necessarily part of their team's initial missions. We have also included a list of all external contributors who supported us throughout the iGEM season: instructors, advisors, wiki developers and designers, graphic artists, lab technical support, previous Lyon 1 INSA Lyon teams and others.

Project Description

See: Description
On our BIO Snare project description page, we have addressed all the required elements. We provide a clear overview of the problem we're solving—pest insects control using microorganism products—and explain why it matters. We've detailed why we chose this project, sharing our inspirations and research, including past iGEM projects and scientific literature. Visual aids accompany the text to clarify our approach and project design.

Contribution

See: Contribution
Our contributions encompass several areas, including the development of new genetic parts, enhancement of existing protocols, and the creation of educational resources. By sharing our work, we strive to foster collaboration, improve the accessibility of synthetic biology, and support the long-term sustainability of iGEM and the field as a whole. We provided future iGEM teams with a plasmid backbone that allows the insertion of any DNA sequence into the S. cerevisiae genome, and with BioGlue and chromoproteins BioBricks. Our team was able to demonstrate and validate protocols needed to develop our project during our laboratory work. We applied protocols found in the literature and successfully proved their feasibility in the lab, without any issues. Specifically, we confirmed the production of cellulose by the bacterium Komagataeibacter rhaeticus and its ability to cohabitate with the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Engineering

See: Engineering
We have written and completed the Engineering Success page for our Wiki. Our project, BIO Snare, has gone through multiple engineering cycles due to the various challenges we encountered along the way. These iterations were crucial to help us refine our approach and achieve our primary goal : creating a biodegradable pest trap. One clear example of this iterative process was testing the co-culture of yeast and bacteria for cellulose production. We initially designed (Design) a system to grow the microorganisms in different media to optimize cellulose output. After setting up the cultures (Build) and testing them (Test), we discovered that certain media, like YPS, didn’t allow bacterial growth as expected (Learn). This led us to redesign our experiment, switching to other media like YPG, which resulted in better cellulose production, and confirmed the efficiency of our co-culture system during further iterations of the engineering cycle. By repeating this cycle of design, testing, and learning, we managed to overcome these issues and optimize the co-culture for the trap's production. Each step brought us closer to realizing BIO Snare’s full potential.

Human Practices

See: Human Practices
Throughout our BIO Snare project, we have dedicated significant effort to the Human Practices aspect, given the crucial role insects play in ecosystems. While our project aims to control pests like the cherry fruit fly, we recognize the need to approach this issue with care and responsibility. Insects contribute to biodiversity, pollination, and overall ecological balance, so it is essential that our solution does not harm beneficial species or disrupt ecosystems. We took the time to engage with experts in ecology, agriculture, and environmental science to better understand the potential impacts of our project. This allowed us to be fully informed about the challenges and ethical considerations of using synthetic biology for pest control. By balancing scientific innovation with a deep understanding of ecological concerns, we strive to create a solution that is both effective and environmentally responsible. This nuanced approach reflects our commitment to sustainable practices and the long-term health of the ecosystems we are working in.

Entrepreneurship

See: Entrepreneurship
We have created the Entrepreneurship page to highlight our commitment to transforming the BIO Snare project into a viable product. Recognizing the importance of sustainable pest control solutions, we explored various business models and market strategies that align with our ecological goals. Following a meeting regarding potential sponsorship, the individual who conducted the session provided us with valuable advice on developing our business plan.

Integrated Human Practices

See: Human Practices
We have written the Integrated Human Practices page, which demonstrates that we took the time to consult with qualified professionals for ethical guidance on our BIO Snare project. These experts in insect behavior and ecosystemsprovided insights on how to attract pests while minimizing harm to non-target species. By considering their feedback, we refined our approach to ensure it is both effective and environmentally responsible. Our diverse team used this expertise to ensure that BIO Snare aligns with ethical standards and ecological considerations. This reflects our commitment to creating a sustainable, biodiversity-friendly solution.

Education and communication

See: Education
For education: our team engaged in multiple educational activities to raise awareness of microbiology and synthetic biology. We visited an elderly nursing home to give a presentation on microbiomes, followed by a quiz and discussion. Additionally, we participated in the INSA Lyon Festival, where we interacted with a broad audience through biological quizzes, microscopy demonstrations, and agar art. We also developed an educational board game, BIO Snare Battlefield, to teach biological principles in a fun and interactive way. And finally a presentation in Lyon’s library to reach people from all ages and horizons. These initiatives allowed us to reach diverse groups, promoting science in an accessible manner.
Communication: To meet the criteria for the Communication medal, our team engaged with diverse audiences through multiple channels. We were featured in two newspapers, LE PROGRÈS and TRIBUNE DE LYON, created promotional goodies like eco-friendly bookmarks and tee-shirts, and presented our project at the BACTOLYON congress to molecular bacteriology experts. We also actively used social media (LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram) to share our progress and participated in the Toulouse Mini Jamboree to exchange ideas with other iGEM teams. These efforts helped us effectively promote our project and engage with the community.

Sustainable development

See: Sustainable
BIO Snare is part of a global initiative aimed at addressing current social, economic, and environmental challenges. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations, we are particularly focused on four key goals: SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Through this innovative and sustainable solution, we aim to enhance food security by protecting crops, providing an eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides, improve public health by reducing harmful substances in agriculture, promote responsible resource use and biodiversity preservation, and contribute to the fight against climate change by minimizing plastic waste.

Best Integrated Human Practices

See: Human Practices
Throughout our BIO Snare project, we have placed significant emphasis on integrated Human Practices, particularly due to the essential role insects play in ecosystems. Understanding the complexity of insect behavior and attraction, we conducted interviews with several professionals who work directly with insects. These experts provided us with valuable insights into the specificity of different methods for attracting insects, and we carefully considered their feedback in refining our project. Our team, composed of individuals with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise, used this multidisciplinary approach to integrate both technical and ethical considerations into BIO Snare . We ensured that the methods we employed were targeted and minimized the risk of affecting non-target species, while also maintaining the efficacy of our pest control solution. By incorporating expert advice and ensuring a holistic understanding of the ecological and technical challenges, we remain committed to developing a project that is scientifically sound, environmentally conscious, and respectful of biodiversity.

Best Entrepreneurship

See: Entrepreneurship
We have created the Entrepreneurship page to highlight our commitment to transforming the BIO Snare project into a viable product. Recognizing the importance of sustainable pest control solutions, we explored various business models and market strategies that align with our ecological goals. Our entrepreneurship approach deserves to win because we have actively surrounded ourselves with experts who guided us in developing our business plan. We took their valuable advice into account, ensuring our strategy is not only commercially viable but also ethically sound. By integrating the principles of Human Practices into our business plan, we are committed to maintaining ethical standards and addressing the ecological implications of our solution. This thoughtful approach underscores our dedication to responsible entrepreneurship, making us a strong candidate for this award.

Best Composite Part

See: BBa_K5143024
Our biobrick design offers distinct scientific advantages by incorporating innovative components that enhance both efficiency and functionality. First, we utilize the P2A system, which allows for the co-expression of two genes under a single promoter. This system enables the production of two separate fusion proteins from a single transcriptional unit, it mimics a polycistronic mRNA system, but within a eukaryotic organism.
Additionally, each protein is secreted efficiently via the alpha factors, ensuring proper export from the yeast cells as we shown with the secretion of the YFP (see Engineering or Results). While the presence of CBD (cellulose-binding domain) in both proteins enables a direct association with the cellulose patch to confer colored and adhesive properties, we have not yet been able to confirm this interaction. Experiments are currently in progress to investigate and validate this binding.
Furthermore, this part is integrated into plasmid D, a versatile vector that facilitates the stable incorporation of large heterologous gene sequences into the genome of S. cerevisiae. Using this plasmid, we successfully transformed and integrated genes from various organisms, including those from the spider and barnacle, as well as the entire biobrick exceeding 4000 bp, directly into the genome of S. cerevisiae. This capability underscores the versatility and effectiveness of the plasmid in facilitating the incorporation of large and diverse genetic constructs into a eukaryotic system. This flexibility makes plasmid D an ideal vector for large-scale genetic constructs, ensuring stable and reliable expression in S. cerevisiae. These combined features of innovative co-expression, efficient secretion, and versatile integration make our biobrick a highly efficient and creative solution.