We are the Linköping University iGEM team of 2022! Our team consists of 11 individuals with different backgrounds, cultural as well as academical. The academic backgrounds in the group include chemical biology, technical biology and experimental and industrial biomedicine. Our goal this year is to come up with an innovative approach to solve one of the most acute problems in the sports industry, e
specially in contact sports, the detection of brain damage before symptoms even occur, so that athletes are better protected from life long consequences. Minor traumatic brain injury (mTBI), also known as concussion, is not limited to people who partake in sports but this can also occur in our daily lives. We began this journey thinking of our close family members and friends who have previously experienced a concussion. Upon further research, we found that the current method of detection for concussion can only occur after symptoms are present. With lack of obvious symptoms, it can be left undetected leading to life-long brain damage. Furthermore, the detection method that is currently being used is invasive as well as expensive for the patients. Therefore, we aim to create a non-invasive detection kit by using tears. Our tears contain multiple components and a small fraction of our tears contain tau proteins. Interestingly, the level of tau proteins increases when concussion occurs. This can allow us to use tau protein as a biomarker which will bind to the aptamer that will be present in the kit. The our main protagonist in this project is aptamer, it is an oligonucleotide that has a selective target for a specific molecule. Our team will be using a new advancing technique called loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). This technique involves complex uses of primers and a padlock probe, and the results of the biomarker would show a visible color change. This would be advantageous as all it takes is a color change to determine whether the individual has a concussion. Ultimately, we want to make our concept suitable for the general public as it would be advantageous for all. As concussion can occur at any moment in life, with our kit we hope to provide the public a sense of reassurance. But before reaching the public we would like to distribute our ktis to the clinics and hospitals for a quick and inexpensive method to detect concussion. This year will be the first year in the lab after COVID19 has hit us. We are grateful to be able to work in the lab, and we are taking serious precautions to avoid the spread of infection. If the situation becomes worse, for instance, we have considered back-up projects that do not require access to laboratories. We hope you will follow us on our journey to the Giant Jamboree that takes place in Paris or online! We are all excited for the opportunity to represent LiU in this international competition!
