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