BEIJING, Nov.14 -- The 2023 International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM), a top international undergraduate competition in synthetic biology, was wrapped up in Paris on November 5. The Chinese team NMU-China from PLA Naval Medical University competed with more than 400 teams from 66 countries and regions worldwide and won the gold medal. Additionally, they received the nomination award for the best project in treatment and the individual award for the best safety design.
This year's NMU-China team was comprised of 17 midshipmen from various majors such as clinical medicine, imaging, anesthesiology, and traditional Chinese medicine.
Their project was named Gut-Sweeper, which aimes to leverage synthetic biology principles to create engineered bacteria capable of detecting the body's constipation state and then secreting relevant substances to alleviate constipation.
The engineered bacteria have a real-time signal sensing module, a safety regulation module, and an effector transmitter release module. They can determine whether to release intervention factors under the control of genetic circuits based on changes in the intestinal environment, while autonomously limiting the size of the engineered bacteria in the intestine and reducing adverse effects on the human body.
The engineered bacteria are constructed in a modular way, allowing for easy replacement with other effector transmitters. They offer a broad range of potential applications and are expected to actively contribute to the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases and the development of healthcare products.
Founded by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2003, the iGEM is a prestigious international science and technology competition for college students in the field of synthetic biology. It aims to advance the development of synthetic biology and facilitate learning, communication, and collaboration among college students worldwide in this field. The competition and research outcomes have garnered attention from academic journals like Science and Nature, and achieved significant international influence.
Members of NMU-China from Naval Medical University pose for a group photo at the award ceremony of 2023 International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM) in Paris.
