Team:KCIS NewTaipei
In the history of mankind, vitamin D
has always served a crucial role
in the maintenance of human health.
Besides regulating calcium homeostasis
and strengthening the immune system,
it also has potential in
preventing COVID-19 infections.
has always served a crucial role
in the maintenance of human health.
Besides regulating calcium homeostasis
and strengthening the immune system,
it also has potential in
preventing COVID-19 infections.
The Problem
Vitamin D deficiency, a global pandemic
caused largely by the lack of sunlight
exposure, exacerbated during
COVID-19 lockdowns.
However, all current solutions to vitamin D deficiency present limitations in efficiency or accessibility.
Due to these limitations, we came up with an innovative idea that presents a new method for vitamin D activation .
Theory
By manipulating the acetyl-CoA
butyrate producing pathway, we can
increase the butyrate-producing
ability of probiotics.
The increased production of butyrate
would upregulate vitamin D receptor
expression by increasing the activity
of the TGFβ pathway, which would
ultimately result in a more
efficient activation of vitamin D.
By introducing our engineered
fermented food starters,
we believe the project could
be implemented into daily diets,
opening up more opportunities
for a more efficient way
of vitamin D intake in the future.
butyrate producing pathway, we can
increase the butyrate-producing
ability of probiotics.
The increased production of butyrate
would upregulate vitamin D receptor
expression by increasing the activity
of the TGFβ pathway, which would
ultimately result in a more
efficient activation of vitamin D.
By introducing our engineered
fermented food starters,
we believe the project could
be implemented into daily diets,
opening up more opportunities
for a more efficient way
of vitamin D intake in the future.
+50%
total population are
vitamin D insufficient
in 2020 (global)
vitamin D insufficient
in 2020 (global)
+1 Billion
cases are vitamin D
deficient in 2020
(global)
deficient in 2020
(global)