Lubbock_TTU Team is focused on developing a biosensor that is capable of detecting the presence of the chitin oligosaccharide N-acetylglucosamine. This method confirms the presence of chytrid infection caused by either Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) or Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal).
By being part of iGEM we were able to expand our views on how to approach the critical issue of diagnosing chytrid infection. While our team was mostly focused on bioengineering perspective of developing a diagnostic device, we were interested in how Lubbock_TTU tackled this issue from purely biology perspective. We believe that our joined efforts highlight the importance of developing accurate diagnostic device that would ease the treatment of chytridiomycosis from multiple areas of science.
Due to the common goal of tackling the devastating disease among the amphibian population, we were able to find a way to help each other with our independent approaches. Teams agreed that in order to collaborate they will update each other on issues they are facing and send each other samples for other laboratory to run them. Our team gladly chose to mention Lubbock_TTU team to one of dr. Penner (researcher interested in using chytridiomycosis diagnostic device) while Lubbock_TTU team gladly shared contact of dr. Rodriguez’s (provider of Bd samples). Moreover, Lubbock_TTU team agreed to receive our microfluidic chip and run it for the Bd samples they have in order to test our device. Nevertheless, two teams are openly communicating, sharing advice and helping each other with various issues as well as meeting on regular bases in order to get insight into each other projects.
