Counterterrorism: A Cure for Anthrax
A Proposed Method for Combating Anthrax Infection in Humans
Anthrax: An Introduction
Caused by Bacillus anthracis Three forms:
Cutaneous Not usually fatal
Enteric 25-60% mortality rate
Inhalational 100% mortality rate if left untreated Signs and Symptoms:
URI Dyspnea, diaphoresis, myalgia Septic shock
Anthrax: The Assassin’s Choice
High mortalityNon-transmissableStores for yearsDispersion
Pathogenesis of Anthrax
The Key
Anthrax relies on Protective Antigen (PA) to function (allows endocytosis of LF and EF)
Proposed BioBrick
UPI0000027636Mus musculus
version of Anthrax Toxin Receptor
Remodel MIDAS region
The Sloppy TerminatorAccurate Genetic Apportionment
The Problem
Many metabolic and other challenges require small numbers of specific proteins in very precise proportions
Currently, the approach to produce this seems to be using promoters and RBS that have relative strengths in the range desired
The Solution
Most current research into genetic terminators seems to be focused on increasing “efficiency” as much as possible
We propose the pursuit of terminators with a gradient of efficiencies through the random mutation of known terminators
The advantage of this is direct generation of a correlation between expression of any number of desired genes in sequence
Part Design The key element in this project would be the system by
which terminator efficiency would be measured The design was generated independently, but bore a
remarkable resemblance to this original system due to Caitlin Conboy
Comments
Terminators are effectively PoPS attenuatorsSome terminators have been measured to
have negative efficiency in the reverse direction; they acted as promoters
Thus, it seems that properly designed terminators may be able to increase or decrease PoPS by any desired ratio
This behavior, previously unexploited, could be incredibly valuable in circuit design
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