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Innovative Bacterial Sensing Device for Preterm Labor Detection

This project aims to develop an implantable device that measures hormonal indicators of preterm labor. By utilizing engineered bacteria that detect levels of hormones like progesterone, oxytocin, and estriol, we seek to provide a reliable method for early warning of potential labor. The device could express aromatic or color indicators based on hormone levels, facilitating easier monitoring. Applications extend beyond obstetrics, potentially aiding in hormonal disorders and stress detection, significantly impacting maternal and fetal health.

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Innovative Bacterial Sensing Device for Preterm Labor Detection

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  1. Effective Indicator of Preterm Labor

  2. INPUT OUTPUT High Levels of fFN Decrease in Progesterone Increase in Oxytocin Cervical Dilation Banana Smell (MIT iGEM 2006) Progesterone (to suppress contractions) Device Goal: To create a device to implant in the vagina that senses four symptoms of labor and expresses an aromatic gene as an indicator of preterm birth.

  3. How can we make bacteria sense hormones?

  4. Cell Receptors!

  5. Oxytocin Receptors (OXTR) • Receptor for the hormone and neurotransmitter • No known BioBrick parts • BUT human oxytocin receptor gene was characterized in 1994 • We’d be able to isolate and work with it

  6. Estriol • Form of estrogen produced by the placenta • Serves as a direct marker of fetal adrenal gland • Estrogen Receptor: • Part:BBa_K123003 • “… derived from the Human Estrogen Receptor Alpha and optimized for activity in E. coli. When estrogen or an estrogen like compound is present the receptor binds to it and forms a homodimer. This homodimer is then able to bind to an Estrogen Responsive Element (ERE BBA_K123002). .. We have therefore designed this part to act as a repressor when bound to the ERE by physically blocking the polymerase.” • http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php/Part:BBa_K123003

  7. Complications • Easiest way to test for estriol level is using salivary samples • Still trying to desgin a device that senses indicator proteins in vaginal secretions • Is estriol present in vaginal secretions?

  8. Assuming it is… Option 1 • Create one cell with both receptors Option 2 • Create two cells each with a different receptor

  9. Now that is senses these hormones… how will it indicate their presence and quantities?

  10. Indicators • Possibility of aroma indicator (does NOT have to be banana) • Color indicator

  11. Possibility of Color Indicator • Instead of designing something to remain in vagina, maybe create strips to insert and do a “one time reading” or hormone levels • Would ideally be a standard procedure for doctors to do • Would allow for the existence of a baseline to compare levels to

  12. More things to think about… • The goal is still to create a super bacteria symptom sensor to serve as a more effective indicator of preterm labor • Still have other labor symptoms to explore (i.e. cervix dilations, contractions) • Differences in designing things to remain in the vagina vs. one-time sample strips • What about women with multiple pregnancies?

  13. Other Applications • Hormone sensing bacteria could be used in psychiatric studies, hormonal disorders, athletics • Mechanical stress detection applications include bone regeneration and cell growth (from wiki).

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