As team NitroBLAST, we want to tackle the nitrogen pollution problem in the Netherlands, due to overuse of fertilizers. We propose a radical solution: developing plants that can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. This can be achieved by introducing nitroplasts, newly-discovered organelles capable of nitrogen fixation, into crop plants. To accomplish this challenging goal, we propose initially focusing on unicellular model organisms. By fusing these hosts with nitroplasts, we will study the requirements for successful cooperation between host and organelle.

In recent years, the usage of GHB, for drugging in nightlife contexts has increased noticeably in Western Europe, where GHB is the most commonly used ‘rape drug’. It has a fast onset of action, and in excessive doses or when mixed with alcohol, it can cause permanent damage. This drug is mainly used to facilitate sexual assault, due to the fact that the victim rapidly loses conscience, and has no recollection of the night the following day.Until now, GHB detection technologies have been slow, inconvenient, and expensive. In addition, due to the rapid breakdown of GHB molecules in the body, it is unlikely to identify this drug in the body after six hours from consumption. As a result, hospitals can’t confirm most cases of drugging, leading to a lack of data, and victims are left with no evidence, which prevents them from getting justice.This year our team SPYKE will strive to contribute to a solution by developing a real-time and reliable detection method for GHB. Our approach is based on biological components as a biosensor inserted in an electrical circuit. Our human practice will contact and discuss with the relevant stakeholders, and implement their feedback into our design. We aim to decrease the number of drug-facilitated sexual assault incidents and gather data on a phenomenon that lacks it.

Globally, one in three people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, also known as hidden hunger. Deficiencies in one of the major classes of micronutrients, vitamins, can have detrimental effects on the physical and mental health of those that suffer. NGO's are trying to monitor vitamin deficiencies and act upon it. However, their current methods are expensive, slow, and inaccessible for the majority of people, resulting a complicated and delayed process to obtain sufficient data.Our mission is to accelerate the surveying of vitamin deficiencies by developing AptaVita; a fast, cheap, and quantitative modular detection kit requiring no laboratory setup. We aim to develop atpamers as biosensors that bind to vitamins. In combination with a cell-free system, these vitamins can be quantified in a paper-based microfluidic chip through a colorimetric readout.

Desert locust swarms are threatening the food security of communities and cities in East Africa, Asia and the Middle East, devastating thousands of hectares of croplands and pasture. This current outbreak is the worst in recent decades.We strive to contribute to a solution to this problem both in and out of the lab. Our technical approach involves using bacteriophages and synthetic biology to aid in combating the locusts, while implementing advice from relevant stakeholders. We aim to create awareness and instigate action around the world.

Engineering non-model bacteria is extremely laborious and expensive, which restricts the scope of synthetic biology to a small subset of the bacterial cosmos. In our project, we developed a tool that aims to expand the repertoire of bacterial species and broaden the range of substrates and environmental conditions which is currently used in synthetic biology. Sci-Phi 29 is a tool used to express genetic circuits independently of the bacterial host. Orthogonal replication of an exogenous DNA molecule is performed by the phi29 bacteriophage DNA replication system based on only four proteins. Furthermore, we developed a predictable and transferable expression system across multiple bacterial species. Our approach is based on an incoherent feed forward loop that ensures independence to DNA copy number and is robust to transcriptional and translational variations. Sci-Phi 29 is a versatile platform to further explore the bacterial diversity providing new opportunities for the advancement of synthetic biology.

The threat of athletes using gene doping caused the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) years ago to put gene doping on the list of prohibited substances and methods in sports. Gene doping is the misuse of gene therapy techniques to enhance sports performances. Since the proteins produced from gene doping constructs are indistinguishable from native proteins, detection of gene doping has to occur on the level of nucleic acids. Our project, Advanced Detection of Performance Enhancement (ADOPE), aims to develop a routine, reliable and robust detection method for gene doping, based on targeted next generation sequencing. Traces of gene doping DNA from a blood sample are targeted by using a specifically designed fusion protein, consisting of a CRISPR-Cas protein and a transposase. This combination loads target DNA with adapters needed for sequencing. Using this targeted next generation sequencing allows for rapid, sensitive and robust gene doping detection with double verification.

The goal of our project is to develop a tool that will enable farmers to test on-site if a cow suffering from a bacterial infection is infected with antibiotic resistant bacteria. Based on the output, they can adapt their antibiotics usage, resulting in a more targeted treatment.

The goal of our project is to let the cells produce a polysilicate layer around their membrane, so the cell was completely covered in this biological glass. We have characterized the polysilicate-covered cells by electron microscopy, AFM, spectroscopy, fluorescent staining and with a growth study.

The goal of our project is to develop a fully customizable biofilm formation process, we wanted to improve their adhesive properties and make them stick to any possible surface.