Team:Lambert GA/Partnership

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PARTNERSHIP

PARTNERSHIP

Through the previously mentioned alliance consisting of the 4 iGEM teams, Lambert iGEM was able to organize a partnership specifically with the teams at JHU and FSU to utilize LyphoX, greatly assisting the development of each team’s project goals. After having continuous zoom meetings and GroupMe communication from August 2021 onward, we realized that each team had its respective gaps in its projects. FSU's project addressed tackling food insecurity by utilizing chitin wrap and chitosan spray to extend the shelf life of fresh produce. In light of this, FSU wanted to use lyophilization in place of a -80°C freezer, and as a method to reduce production costs. JHU needed chitosan, an antifungal substance derived from chitin, in order to forward their iGEM project regarding coral reef preservation. LyphoX was proposed as a method of making effortless cell transport between JHU and FSU. Without lyophilization, FSU would have increased costs and would ship biohazardous material over a long distance to JHU. Lyophilization allowed FSU to avoid both excess costs and time restrictions that would have impeded JHU’s accessibility to an integral aspect of their project. Because of this, all three teams agreed to apply LyphoX to their projects.

Figure 1: Plated samples from Florida State University (FSU) that were lyophilized by Lambert iGEM

FSU first sent their chitin-secreting cells to our lyophilizer committee, who inoculated them in Luria broth and used the frugal lyophilizer to freeze-dry the 0.2mL tube cell samples. After completing the test, our team shipped these samples to JHU; however, due to lab restrictions, JHU is currently unable to acquire petri plates to successfully grow lyophilized cells. Updates are expected before the Judging sessions.

Our partnership with JHU and FSU filled the gaps in each respective project, allowing everyone involved to forward their iGEM project goals. Finally, it was through this collaboration that we further validated our frugal lyophilizer was able to freeze-dry cells for transport across the country.

Figure 2: Samples being rehydrated by John Hopkins University (JHU)