UNews - Rhys Hakstol

U of L iGEM team golden, now focussed on furthering project with Lethbridge Fire and EMS

trevor.kenney — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 18:10:55 +0000

Their project is once again golden and now the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge iGEM team is excited to embark on the next phase – determining if and how their plan to improve the cleanliness of emergency medical vehicles is feasible.

“Our presentation went really well, we had a lot of positive feedback and a lot of interest around how feasible it would be for EMS to actually implement the system,” says first-year PhD student Taylor Sheahan after her team returned from the International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) World Jamboree in Boston, Mass. with a gold medal in tow.

The team was tasked with characterizing the microbial community within ambulances and then developing an intuitive antibody-based strip test for real-time monitoring of the vehicles’ cleanliness. Pictured here are (L to R) Keith Aiken, Rhys Hakstol, Suneet Khary, Taylor Sheahan and Graeme Glaister.

The team was tasked with characterizing the microbial community within ambulances and then developing an intuitive antibody-based strip test for real-time monitoring of the vehicles’ cleanliness.

“We are not only thinking of providing clean orderly EMS units for best practice clinical care for people we meet and transport; we are also thinking of our staff, their families and the potential transport of infection to other patients and health-care facilities we serve,” says Ward Eggli, EMS Resource Officer with Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services.

While the system the iGEM team created has proven to be effective, Sheahan says that more work needs to be done before it can actually be used in the field.

“We’re still in such an early stage of our work that there is a lot to be done to get to that point where we can actually see if they are cleaning effectively or whether we could compare two different cleaning products,” she says.

Sheahan is a Catholic Central High School product who earned bachelor and master degrees at Queen’s and Western ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ respectively before joining Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden’s lab.

“What we know today that we did not know before is that we have many types of pathogens in the back of our units,” adds Eggli. “We can now focus on best practice cleaning techniques, frequency and using products that affect these pathogens.”

The fact the project was community-driven and seeks to solve a real problem garnered praise from the judges in Boston. This aspect has been a focus of iGEM in recent years and something the U of L has excelled at, winning gold at each of the last four competitions. In particular, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Public Health Agency of Canada expressed interest in following the project as it continues.

“It’s key at the beginning of projects like this to actually identify a real problem that needs to be solved to benefit the community,” says Sheahan, whose group was approached by Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Medical Services in May to look at the cleanliness of their vehicles and to assist with their methods of cleaning. “I think it’s important for an iGEM project to be focused on a real problem, so you’re not just using cool science, but producing a tangible benefit.”

The two groups will continue to work together in the coming months.

“We plan on testing products and practices to see how we can best affect the pathogens we now know are in the back of our units,” says Eggli. “We have identified a few products that can kill pathogens long after they first have been applied and we want to know how long they’re effective after application and what might affect that product if left without reapplication. We can only complete this through a continued relationship with the U of L and their researchers.”

Wieden, the iGEM supervisor and director of the Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, says the U of L continues to impress on the world stage, despite competing against teams from established engineering schools.

“In the 10 years we have been competing at iGEM, we have managed to win nine gold medals, which really is remarkable and speaks to the quality of our students, how they work with one another and how they pass that along from year to year,” says Wieden. “It also says that we are solving some real challenges and making a difference in society.”

The full U of L iGEM team consists of Sheahan, Graeme Glaister, Rhys Hakstol, Sydnee Calhoun, Keith Aiken, Suneet Kharey, Courtney McDermott and Karin Otero. Wieden is the supervisor and principal investigator, while Drs. Andy Hudson, Cesar Rodriguez (Florida State ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ) and Glaister are team advisors.

In addition to the U of L iGEM team, the Lethbridge High School iGEM team was awarded a bronze medal for their work on a rapid wound treatment system.

U of L iGEM team gears up for Boston with win at aGEM competition

trevor.kenney — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 19:48:36 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) team warmed up for the upcoming iGEM Giant Jamboree by taking first place in the collegiate division of the Alberta Genetically Engineered Machines (aGEM) competition in Calgary recently.

Using the aGEM event as a tune-up opportunity to hone its presentation for the Giant Jamboree in a mock competition setting, the U of L team placed first in the collegiate division and also received special awards in the areas of Human Practices and Demonstrated Knowledge. Second place in the collegiate division went to the host ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary team.

The U of L iGEM team (l to r) Dr. Andy Hudson, Keith Aiken, Taylor Sheahan, Graeme Glaister, Karin Otero, Suneet Kharey, Rhys Hakstol and Courtney McDermott.

“aGEM provides Alberta teams with a unique advantage as we are able to get meaningful feedback from judges who will be at the international competition in Boston,” says Graeme Glaister, a fourth-year neuroscience student, who will be competing in his fourth iGEM contest.

The iGEM competition is a worldwide synthetic biology competition started by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and is now the main program at the iGEM Foundation. Competing for the past nine years, U of L teams have excelled on the world stage, leading all Canadian teams by winning eight gold medals for their innovative work. This year’s competition takes place Oct. 27-31 in Boston, MA.

The project the U of L team is tackling involves creating an easy-to-use and cost-effective kit for the rapid detection and monitoring of newly emerging germs in ambulances and health-care facilities.

“I’m very excited about this project because it was really informed by the needs of the community,” says Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden, chemistry and biochemistry researcher, Alberta Innovates Technology Futures Strategic Chair in Bioengineering, and iGEM supervisor. “When scientists and community members sit down to define a problem, it can result in a very productive collaboration. This iGEM team is demonstrating the ways that cutting-edge synthetic biology and fundamental biomolecular research can have a truly beneficial impact on our communities, particularly in the areas of health and medicine."

Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Medical Services contacted the U of L iGEM team to determine if their current cleaning practices were adequate. The team met with paramedics, surveyed them about areas of concern and participated in ride-alongs with emergency medical workers to better appreciate the situations faced daily by first responders. These steps helped shape the project and determine its scope, with the goal of determining if emergency medical vehicles are indeed reservoirs for pathogens.

"We are very excited to know more about what is found and how we can affect it,” says Ward Eggli, EMS Resource Officer with Lethbridge Fire and Emergence Services. “We are looking at other cleaning practices, just to determine best practice, once we find out the results. It would be nice to know if we can affect sick time with our own staff, to give some peace of mind to the wives and children we have at home, and to know that what we’re bringing home is minimized in some way.”

Using cutting-edge, in-house DNA sequencing technology to aid in identifying pathogens present in the emergency medical vehicles, the U of L team conducted experiments to identify different bacterial species present in each ambulance by investigating a region of DNA unique to each organism.

The results obtained from sequencing experiments allowed the team to develop novel antibodies which specifically recognize and bind to the surface of the identified bacterial organisms. These antibodies are then used in a test which generates a colour change in the event of bacterial identification. This test facilitates rapid and inexpensive detection of pathogens in emergency medical vehicles, and will enable targeted and purposeful sterilization of affected areas.

The novel antibodies being produced and used in this experiment are called single-domain antibodies (sdAb), which are much smaller than traditional antibodies, but with full antigen binding capabilities and increased stability. These antibodies can be synthesized without the use of animal hosts, allowing for lower production costs and less required infrastructure. The team is also constructing an online, searchable database of these single-domain antibodies which will streamline future research in this area, and may also allow the commercialization of sdAb production at the U of L.

The U of L iGEM team is composed of Keith Aiken, Taylor Sheahan, Graeme Glaister, Karin Otero, Suneet Kharey, Rhys Hakstol and Courtney McDermott. Dr. Andy Hudson and Dr. HJ Wieden serve as instructor and supervisor respectively.

5th Annual Spooky Science Weekend at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge

caroline.zentner — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 16:04:26 +0000

On October 21 and 22, children ages five to 12 from across southern Alberta are invited to participate in a variety of Halloween-themed science activities in three separate events at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Spooky Science Weekendoffers numerous fun, hands-on science activities for enthusiastic children, exposing them to several different streams of science and spooky fun!

This event will be filled with science activities sure to excite and engage the younger generation, followed by some captivating and explosive demonstrations. This year’s highlights include creating thin film bookmarks, candy chromatography, and a ghost cannon. The children will also be able to take home many of the spooky/science-y toys they make. Be prepared for some messy, spooky and yucky fun! And of course, we would love to see all participants in spooky costumes.

Please note that, for safety reasons, no more than 100 children can attend a single event, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration for the Spooky Science Weekend is mandatory, but free and will open on October 7 on a first come – first serve basis. Please visit our webpage http://www.letstalkscience.ca/uleth for more details or register on our Eventbrite page at http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/spooky-science-weekend-2016-tickets-28270274151.

Spooky Science Weekend is organized each year by science graduate and undergraduate students at the U of L who volunteer for the national Let’s Talk Science Outreach program. It is their goal to share their passion for science with children of all ages, to increase the public accessibility of science and to inspire students to pursue careers in science. The activities for the event have been designed by graduate student volunteers from several different science disciplines. Overall, more than 20 graduate and undergraduate student volunteers will assist during the day to make it a fun and inspiring experience for everyone involved.

WHEN: Friday, October 21, 5 – 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 22, 1 – 3 p.m.

Saturday, October 22, 5 – 7 p.m.

WHERE: ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall Atrium

Gold-medal winning iGEM team may have answer for widespread agricultural problem

trevor.kenney — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 17:50:17 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s incomparable iGEM program achieved a gold medal standing at iGEM 2015 recently, debuting a project that may soon eradicate a widespread agricultural problem.

It was the ninth time that a U of L team participated in the annual International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition in Boston, Mass., which invites the world’s brightest university and high school students to showcase innovative new biologically-engineered systems that solve real-world challenges. Over those nine years, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has achieved eight gold medals, more than any other Canadian team.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge iGEM team has participated in the world jamboree for nine years and achieved eight gold medals, more than any other Canadian team.

“Given the fact that we are a small place without an engineering school, I think we’re sitting in a very good spot in terms of our performance over the years,” says Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden, chemistry and biochemistry researcher, Alberta Innovates Technology Futures Strategic Chair in Bioengineering, and iGEM supervisor. “I think we’re in the top five per cent of all Canadian teams that attend iGEM, and worldwide, we are clearly seen as a contender. Nobody asks us where Lethbridge is anymore.”

This year’s project is especially intriguing in that it was arrived upon through consultation with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and tackles an issue of local, regional and global relevance – how to combat the fungal species Fusarium graminearum (Fg).

Affecting crops such as corn and wheat, Fg fungi infection results in millions of dollars in economic losses. Current methods of controlling outbreaks include the use of broad-spectrum fungicides, biological control agents, crop rotation and the planting of Fg resistant wheat strains. Each of these methods has its limitations, from building up resistance in Fg, to difficulties of application, effecting off-target species and bioaccumulation.

“Currently there are no really good treatments for it,” says iGEM team member Graeme Glaister, a fourth-year neuroscience student who was competing in his third iGEM competition. “There is a fungicide but you can only spray it once per year because it builds up resistance and is extremely toxic, so you have to be a certain distance from bodies of water. We wanted to find a new approach to this that would not bioaccumulate like a lot of pesticides, and would be species specific.”

The group looked to the insect world and the work that had been done developing RNA-based insecticides. In that instance, double-stranded RNA is introduced to insect species, with a goal of knocking down a specific essential gene within the insect. It’s called RNA interference (RNAi) and allows the pesticide to be species specific, selectively taking out genes in the targeted insect. Its specificity means other insects, with a different RNA makeup, are not affected, nor are there toxicity or bio accumulation concerns.

“Based on that, we decided to see if we could expand on RNA-based insecticides and make it for fungicide use,” says Glaister.

Targeting specific regions within an essential gene of Fg, the group was able to knock down the pigment they were aiming at, successfully proving the concept of their approach.

Part two of their project was to find a way to optimize the process and make it cost-effective to produce a fungicide using this technique.

“It’s hard to make a lot of RNA, in fact it’s far more expensive than making a pesticide because people generally just study RNA, so it isn’t made in large quantities,” says Glaister.

The group tackled this problem by developing a bacterial chassis (a harmless bacterial strain of E. coli) for expression of RNA, then created a novel purification scheme to harvest the product.

“We’ve shown it works, which is really cool, so now we need to optimize it and make it more efficient so that it actually reduces costs,” says Glaister.

With funding from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s new AGILITY program, designed specifically for enhancing innovation and entrepreneurship activities such as these, the team has the makings of a marketable product.

“What we’re seeing here is a great example of how the innovation pipeline works. Knockdown and RNAi, we did not invent that, that was a basic researcher on a lab bench who discovered that machinery not too long ago,” says Wieden. “But the knowledge transfer, that’s for people like our students, that’s why we have to expose them to the current developments in basic research so that they can pick these ideas up and then move them into the marketplace.”

For team member Rhys Hakstol (BASc ’14), a first-year master’s in biochemistry student, the opportunity to take the group’s lab work to market and benefit the local community is especially gratifying.

“With our local approach motivating this, we saw there was a problem facing farmers and were able to develop a potential solution to it,” he says. “I think being able to take our research and potentially apply it in a real-world scenario in the future is super exciting for us as a team and also for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.”

Aside from the indispensible support of the Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute at the U of L, Alberta Innovates Technology Futures, through its GeekStarter program, provides financial support for programs such as iGEM, helping to create future innovators and entrepreneurs who will drive the economic diversification of our province.

UNews - Rhys Hakstol

U of L iGEM team golden, now focussed on furthering project with Lethbridge Fire and EMS

Related Content

U of L iGEM team gears up for Boston with win at aGEM competition

Related Topics

U of L iGEM team gears up for Boston with win at aGEM competition

Related Content

Related Topics

5th Annual Spooky Science Weekend at the ��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge

Related Topics

Gold-medal winning iGEM team may have answer for widespread agricultural problem

Related Content

Wieden spurs iGEM to great success

High school iGEM program grooming next generation scientists

Related Topics

5th Annual Spooky Science Weekend at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge