World TB Day: Investing in synthetic biology to end TB
World TB Day is March 24, which marks the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of the bacterium that causes TB – Mycobacterium tuberculosis – opening the way towards diagnosing and curing this disease.
Despite being preventable and treatable, TB is still one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, second only to COVID-19 in 2020. This year the theme of World TB Day is “Invest to End TB. Save Lives”, reflecting the urgency to invest resources to end the global TB epidemic by 2030.
World TB Day is an opportunity to reflect on how iGEMers are working to end the suffering and deaths caused by TB and other diseases. At iGEM, you can invest in the future leaders of synthetic biology who are engineering local solutions to prevent deaths and improve the lives of people affected by TB and other diseases. (Above: Team Aix-Marseille, 2019)
In honor of World TB Day, we’d like to highlight some of the iGEM Competition projects focused on accelerating the end of the global TB epidemic with biologically engineered solutions, and invite you to invest in these future leaders:
GXU-China (China) – designed a recombinant phage vector vaccine that could be used to treat and prevent two deadly diseases: tuberculosis and COVID-19. Bronze Medalist, Overgrad Division, 2021.
IISER_Berhampur (India) – created a rapid molecular diagnostic kit for multi-drug resistant TB that be used in the rural areas of low income counties that lack adequate access to testing facilities. Gold Medalist, Nominee Best Diagnostics Project, Undergrad Division, 2021.
Thessaly (Greece) – engineered a modular platform for field diagnosis of TB aimed at being applied in refugee camps in Greece and worldwide. Winner Best Diagnostics Project, Nominee Best Integrated Human Practices, Nominee Best Supporting Entrepreneurship, Gold Medalist, Undergrad Division, 2019.
Aix-Marseille (France) – developed a diagnostic test for TB that is cheap, rapid, specific and sensitive, has a long shelf-life and is easily deployable in regions of the world with little or no scientific infrastructure. Silver Medalist, Overgrad Division, 2019.
CPU_CHINA (China) – constructed an immune-like cell to eliminate Mycobacterium tuberculosis that could be used as novel TB treatment strategy. Gold Medalist, Overgrad Division, 2019.
NYMU-Taipei (Taiwan) – created a non-invasive screening device that monitors volatile organic compounds to detect early TB disease. Bronze Medalist, Undergrad Division, 2019.
KCL_UK (United Kingdom) – engineered a library of sRNAs as a platform for new tools regulating gene expression to help maximize the effects of antibiotics and reduce multi-drug resistant TB. Silver Medalist, Overgrad Division, 2018.
IISER-Pune-India (India) – designed an inexpensive device to facilitate faster and cheaper diagnosis of TB. Silver Medalist, Nominee Safety Commendation, Undergrad Division, 2017.
Peking (China) – created a novel Mycobacterium tuberculosis detection system that can transform biomarkers of TB into optical or electric signals that could be applied to create a diagnostic tool for use at the point-of-care within a clinic or in the community. Gold Medalist, Winner Best New Composite Part, Winner Best Part Collection, Nominee Best Health and Medicine Project, Undergrad Division, 2015.
Paris_Bettencourt (France) – developed a 4-prong approach to vanquish TB using synthetic biology tools, including gene detection, drug targeting, infiltrating macrophages, and sabotaging protein synthesis. Winner Grand Prize World Jamboree, Winner Best Health & Medicine Project, 2nd Runner-Up European Jamboree, Winner Best Wiki, Gold Medalist, Overgrad Division, 2013.
More iGEM team projects targeting TB:
Michigan (United States), Silver Medalist, Undergrad Division, 2016.
SCSU-New_Haven (United States), Bronze Medalist, Overgrad Division, 2016.
Cork_Ireland (Ireland), Gold Medalist, Undergrad Division, 2015.
IISER_Pune (India), Bronze Medalist, Undergrad Division, 2015.
UI-Indonesia (Indonesia), Silver Medalist, Undergrad Division, 2013.
TU-Delft (Netherlands), Gold Medalist, Advanced to World Championship, Undergrad Division, 2012
World TB Day is an opportunity to reflect on how iGEMers are working to end the suffering and deaths caused by TB and other diseases. At iGEM, you can invest in the future leaders of synthetic biology who are engineering local solutions to prevent deaths and improve the lives of people affected by TB and other diseases.
We invite you form or join an iGEM Competition team, participate in new iGEM Leagues, and join us at the 2022 Grand Jamboree in Paris as a contributor or attendee to celebrate the future of synthetic biology. iGEM partner sponsors can even encourage competition teams to work on issues most important to you by funding teams via Partner Innovation Proposals or Team Grant opportunities.
We look forward to welcoming you to the iGEM community!
You can learn more about World TB Day and the global TB epidemic through these links from the World Health Organization: World TB Day 2022 - Online Talk Show, Global Tuberculosis Report, Tuberculosis Key Facts.
Cover Image by Team Paris_Bettencourt, 2013
