A design experiment by Madison Evans Combating Biofouling A design experiment by Madison Evans

The Issue source: Australian Government Dept. of Agriculture anchor, chain, hull, pipes vectors for invasive species up to $260 million spent per annum drag, failure to cool, slower-moving source: Australian Government Dept. of Agriculture

Formation of Fouled Hulls Polymers Bacteria Algae, worms, barnacles, mussels 1. polymer attachment by van der waals forces 2. bacterial attachment and use of quorum sensing to secrete biofilm polymers 3. larger organism colonization Michelle Hamel

Solutions Prevention Slick silicon coating Copper bottom Biocide paint tributyltin toxic Clean Up Scrub Power Wash Biocides

Focus on Zebra Mussel invasive out-compete natives for food sharp damage infrastructure Eastern Europe → Great Lakes ballast water an organism that attaches to a boat can easily be transplanted to a new ecosystem California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

My Solution Mussels use a group messaging system for mating and settlement Engineer Pelagibacter ubique P. ubique to respond to mussel serotonin express Grimontia hollisae collagenase gene If mussels have a universal signalling molecule, then that receptor can be engineered into P. ubique For now, we use one species’ signal molecule, that of the zebra mussel salt/freshwater biofilm forming most abundant in the ocean DON’T USE THEY: BE CLEAR

Mussel Structure byssus fibers made out of collagen, a long animal protein

Cell Design

Serotonin Receptors Quorum Sensing Molecules Serotonin Receptor Protein Synthesis Biofilm Polymer Secretion 1 Collagenase Muscle Serotonin Presence Collagenase Production GFP 1

Placement of Bacteria lab culturing-72 hours nutritious solution dry dock growth-48 hours spray

Testing Controlled tank environments salt freshwater zebra mussels nutrients to reach reproductive age

Problems highly specific possibility for evolution of mussels other biofouling organisms unaddressed difficult to implement (growth on dry boat)

Alternatives Multiple lines of bacterial spray Universal signaling molecule of mussels instead of just serotonin

Combating Invasive Zebra Mussels A design experiment by Madison Evans

References Brandelli, Adriano et al. “Production of an extracellular keratinase from Chryseobacterium sp. growing on raw feathers.” Electronic Journal of Biotechnology. 13 Jan 2005. <http://www.ejbiotechnology.info/index.php/ejbiotechnology/article/view/v8n1-6/428> Proal, Amy. “Understanding Biofilms.” Bacterialty: Exploring Chronic Disease. 26 May 2008. <http://bacteriality.com/2008/05/26/biofilm/> “Stopping the Mussel Invasion.” National Park Service. <http://www.nps.gov/cure/planyourvisit/mussel_facts.htm> Winner, Cherie. “Barnacles and Biofilms.” Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. 5 Dec 2012. <http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/feature/barnacles-and-biofilms> Reid, D.C. et al. “Biofouling in Stirred Tank Reactors: Effect of Surface Finish.” <http://books.google.com/booksid=g5miDB7M0WsC&pg=PA529&lpg=PA529&dq=do+biofilms+cause+drag& source=bl&ots=nGMKSiYnAV&sig=V4oho8Boac3GdoJfWf0w_dr6JZ8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=OL3VU7 ezIIS3yASJqoDYDA&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=do%20biofilms%20cause%20drag&f=false Teramura, Tamoko et al. “Cloning of a Novel Collagenase Gene from the Gram-Negative Bacterium Grimontia (Vibrio) hollisae1706B and Its Efficient Expression in Brevibacillus choshinensis.” American Society for Microbiology. 22 Apr 2011. <http://jb.asm.org/content/193/12/3049.full> Milne, Catherine T. et al. “A Comparison of Collagenase to Hydrogel Dressings in Wound Debridement.” Wounds Research. 1 Nov 2010. <http://www.woundsresearch.com/content/comparison-collagenase-hydrogel-dressings-wound-debridement> Lucas, Jared M. et al. “A molecular, morphometric and mechanical comparison of the structural elements of byssus from Mytilus edulis and Mytilus galloprovincialis.” The Journal of Experimental Biology. 5 Apr 2012. <http://jeb.biologists.org/content/205/12/1807.full.pdf> “Collagenase Guide” Sigma-Aldrich. <http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/life-science/metabolomics/enzyme-explorer/learning-center/collagenase-guide.html> Images Courtesy of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and photographer Mila Zinkova.