IGEM:IMPERIAL/2009/Auto Encapsulating Pills

Premise
Diabetes is characterised by an inability to either respond to or produce sufficient insulin. We intend to remedy this by subcontracting pancreatic function to the intestinal epithelia.

Introduction
1: Cultured Lactobacillus cells accumulate a protein product until a threshold level is reached.

2: Reaching the threshold is accompanied by deletion of the plasmid on which the protein is encoded.

3: Plasmid deletion is followed by expression of modified S layer protein which is encoded on the genome.

4: Cells are either separated based on charge differences or exposed to a super saturated solution and then separated based on encapsulation.

5: Encapsulation is intended for A: transport & storage B: Product dilution via division.

6: A certain amount of encapsulated Lactobacillus is administered orally.

7: Stomach acid removes capsule.

8: S layer facilitates intestine endothelial docking.

9: GLP 1 is secreted by docked cell.

10th july
Autoencapsulating cells Feed back: Look at how you define and make the genetic circuit more modular. Threshold detector/timer? Need inducible promoter or encounter problems. Whats the input output? How to evaluate performance? Timer: Customize delay… Thoughts: Big picture: Why could it be good to deliver protein based medication? MOTIVATION Getting hydrated proteins in. How much overexpression/surface coverage do you need to get a continous shell? KEY: SPEED AND UNIFORMITY. Self optimizing cells.

15th July
- Show a bit more about the genetic circuit (draw network) : Cell designer?/powerpoint? - Encapsulation in yoghurt? - Overall aim and big picture of the project?: Delivery of peptides,storage, motivation... - New chassis? Possible challenges?