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

1. 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

2. 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

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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. Cell Design

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

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

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

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

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

13. Combating Invasive Zebra Mussels
A design experiment by Madison Evans

14. References
Brandelli, Adriano et al. “Production of an extracellular keratinase from Chryseobacterium sp. growing on raw feathers.” Electronic
Journal of Biotechnology. 13 Jan 2005.
<
Proal, Amy. “Understanding Biofilms.” Bacterialty: Exploring Chronic Disease. 26 May 2008.
<
“Stopping the Mussel Invasion.” National Park Service. <
Winner, Cherie. “Barnacles and Biofilms.” Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. 5 Dec 2012.
<
Reid, D.C. et al. “Biofouling in Stirred Tank Reactors: Effect of Surface Finish.”
<
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.
<
Milne, Catherine T. et al. “A Comparison of Collagenase to Hydrogel Dressings in Wound Debridement.” Wounds Research. 1 Nov
2010.
<
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.
<
“Collagenase Guide” Sigma-Aldrich.
<
Images Courtesy of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and photographer Mila Zinkova.