National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

02/01/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/01/2024 01:38

The teams from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University once again clinched gold and silver medals at the iGEM competition, achieving remarkable success!

Translated By Szu-Yung Huang
Edited by Yen-Chien Lai
______
The 2023 International Genetically Engineered Machine competition (iGEM) concluded in November in Paris, France, with nearly 400 outstanding teams participating from around the world. Two teams from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, NYCU-Taipei iGEM with the "Vigila Guard" project, secured a silver medal, while NYCU-Formosa achieved the remarkable feat of winning the world gold medal.

The NYCU-Taipei iGEM "Vigila Guard" project contributes to global health
Guided by Dr. Jing-Fen Chang, Postdoctoral Researcher, Professor I-Fang Chung, and Professor Yu-Chao Wang, the team, consisting of 19 members from six different departments, collaborated to participate in the competition. With "Vigila Guard" as their theme, they utilized genetic engineering techniques to develop a non-invasive, portable biological device capable of real-time detection, aiming to enhance personalized health protection and management.

This groundbreaking project involves the construction of a "dual-function" biological device capable of detecting inflammatory factors and emitting fluorescent signals. Simultaneously, it promotes anti-inflammatory effects by measuring the quantity of the antioxidant quercetin. The team successfully employed technologies such as photosensitive resistors and 3D printing to build detection instruments, transmitting signals to users' phones in real-time through the cloud, achieving the real-time personalized health monitoring. The success of "Vigila Guard" is expected to have a profound impact on global health issues, particularly in the detection and alleviation of inflammation.

The overall conceptual design and schematic diagram of "Vigila Guard" .And it includes three main components: detection, reporting, and protection.

The NYCU-Taipei iGEM team has been continuously participating in this international competition since 2007, securing numerous international honors for Taiwan and the university. Over the past 17 years, the team has accumulated achievements including one World Championship in the environmental category, consistently ranking among the top six globally, securing the third position in Asia, and earning a total of 12 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze medals.

NYCU-Formosa Leads Innovation with "Modular Biomaterials"

In yet another notable accomplishment, the NYCU-Formosa team, under the guidance of Professor Wen-Liang Chen, Assistant Professor Hsiao-Ching Lee, and Dr. Huai-En Lu, achieved a world championship. They accomplished this feat by creating a modular adhesive protein platform and integrating it with AI technology to develop the protein functional prediction software named Foxyprot.

The NYCU-Formosa team engaged in interdisciplinary development for "Modular Biomaterials for Various SDGs Issues," introducing innovative and widely applicable modular materials. Utilizing mathematical models and programming to predict adhesive proteins, they successfully demonstrated the adhesiveness of these proteins. The novelty of this modular platform lies in its ability to simultaneously preserve protein functionality and adhesiveness, making it a superior and user-friendly biomaterial.
The NYCU-Formosa team utilized artificial intelligence to predict proteins with adhesive properties. Through experimental validation, they confirmed the functionality of these proteins. Integrating bioart, they employed red and green fluorescent proteins as their secondary function. Additionally, they used petri dishes to depict the abbreviation (NYCU) of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and a simplified pattern.


NYCU-Formosa: Beyond Experimental Research, Aiming to Popularize Science in Society

The NYCU-Formosa team bridges the gap between science and humanities through the medium of bioart. By combining a modular platform with bio-cloning techniques, they have created genetically modified bacterial strains of different colors and developed simplified instructional materials. Actively engaging in teaching sessions at various schools, the team expands students' perspectives on the field of biology, showcasing the diverse facets of synthetic biology. Their work vividly demonstrates the integrated application of bioengineering, information technology, and humanities, highlighting National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University's comprehensive strengths in the global iGEM competition across biological, engineering, and social disciplines.
Caption: The NYCU-Formosa team invites iGEM teams worldwide to participate in recording Podcasts, promoting synthetic biology to the public through the combination of art and science.
Caption: The NYCU-Formosa team develops the Foxyprot web software, allowing users to easily utilize complex machine learning models.

The Elite Force of Synthetic Biology in Taiwan
In the 2023 iGEM competition, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University showcased Taiwan's outstanding prowess in the field of synthetic biology through the "Vigila Guard" project by the NYCU-Taipei iGEM team and the modular biological materials developed by the NYCU-Formosa team. This event not only marked a scientific celebration but also served as an exemplary model of interdisciplinary collaboration. The NYCU-Taipei iGEM team, wielding the power of technology, safeguarded health and contributed a sense of care to global society. On the other hand, the NYCU-Formosa team, with their modular biological materials, led the trend in biotechnology, infusing the beauty of science into every corner.

The success of these two teams not only brought glory but also showcased the top-notch academic standards in Taiwan. They engaged in international collaboration on the global stage while also promoting science to society, broadening the perspectives of students and cultivating cross-disciplinary learning abilities. We express gratitude for the dedication and efforts of the school, mentors, and every team member over the years, enabling National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University to achieve excellence in the iGEM competition once again.

Looking forward, we anticipate that such outstanding performances will continue to make an impact, inspiring more students to participate in synthetic biology research, driving scientific progress, and bringing forth innovation and positive changes to global society.