The Grand Jamboree is an annual competition hosting multidisciplinary student teams from around the world. It involves designing, building and testing projects using synthetic biology for real-world applications.

Prairie iGEM, which consists of Faculty of Science research students led by Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden and Dr. Ned Budisa, has a mission to use global synthetic biology knowledge to solve local Manitoban problems. In Paris, they presented their current project: tackling zebra mussels, one of Manitoba’s notorious aquatic invasive species threatening freshwater ecosystem health and infrastructure integrity. Prairie iGEM has designed and built a smart bio-based device that can detect the presence of zebra mussels and synthesize a selective molluscicide to target them.

Earlier in the year, Prairie iGEM received the Impact Grant, setting the team up for further success in the 2022 Jamboree in Paris. 

Huy Luu, a master’s candidate in chemistry, is one of Prairie iGEM’s teaching assistants and founding members. “We’re very proud of our team for helping connect Manitoba to the global synthetic biology community,” he says.

“The competition is also a great opportunity to learn and develop yourself,” Luu adds. He describes the strenuous and challenging process of project development and taking part in the competition itself, but it’s clear that the team never lost sight on the importance of their work.

Kevin Lim, a 3rd year Faculty of Science student, shares how the competition has shaped the student experience for him: “There are many moving parts to an iGEM project. It was an opportunity for undergraduate students to gain experience working in labs, presenting and networking, which are not taught enough in the curriculum. Everyone has an essential role to play and in doing so, they gain new skills that they wouldn’t think they’d learn.”

Jamboree judges were highly impressed with what Prairie iGEM has accomplished, even more so as first-time competitors. Their technical abilities are remarkable, but going beyond the hard science is just as important. The team consulted with several experts and stakeholders across multiple scales in order to define the most practical and feasible outcomes. Outreach activities have also included presenting their findings to university and high school students, which they look forward to continuing in the future.

While this win in Paris has been a surreal experience and accomplishment for the team, they’re back to working on their next move. Prairie iGEM will be recruiting students to join their team and expanding their scope of expertise to include students from all departments.

Luu is most excited to “contribute to the foundation for integrating synthetic biology into the local Manitoba bioeconomy.” He’s extremely proud to be a part of this team, and he looks forward to what the next iGEM cycle has in store.

About iGEM

The iGEM is a non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating advancements in synthetic biology, education and competition, and developing an open scientific community and collaboration. The Foundation hosts the annual iGEM Competition, pushing the limits of synthetic biology and its implications on complex challenges around the world. With applications in climate change response, human health enhancement, agricultural production optimization and more, iGEM has carefully selected teams with projects exemplify what it means to positively impact the world by tackling one local problem at a time.

With support from the Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation, Prairie iGEM has received a $2,500 grant to help level up their agenda. The team’s current focus is on zebra mussels, one of Manitoba’s invasive species that have now spread into Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba.

The rapid spread of these mollusks can clog water intake systems increasing costs to communities and industries. This includes power generating stations, irrigation systems, water supply facilities, and drinking water infrastructure.

The Prairie iGEM team is working on an innovative approach to controlling zebra mussel populations. They aim to design a bio-based device that dispenses molluscsides specifically targeting zebra mussels after ingestion, allowing the device to remain dormant and only affect a single species instead of other native organisms. They are pursuing a method for zebra mussel detection through changes in water chemistry and recognition of zebra mussel’s internal environment, then determining the best timing for the secretion of the highly specific molluscsides. They are advancing their research in close collaboration with the University of Lausanne iGEM team from Switzerland.

Zebra mussels, an invasive species of fresh water mussels, on the propeller and shaft of a sailing yacht. Stock photo.

Over 250 teams across the globe applied for the Impact Grant, all of whom are considered international leaders in their respective disciplines. 90 teams with ingenious and inventive projects were selected, placing Prairie iGEM in the company of teams from some of the world’s highly esteemed post-secondary institutions including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, (MIT), the University of Helsinki, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and so on.

“This project and the iGEM competition in general is a great example for how leading-edge synthetic biology research in the hand of undergraduates and graduate students paired with their ingenuity can contribute to solving emerging challenges in our communities”, says Dr. Wieden

Prairie iGEM is truly representing the University of Manitoba at the forefront of biology-based research and engineering. The iGEM Foundation envisions a scientific community where breakthroughs in laboratories translate to the world’s most pressing challenges, and Prairie iGEM fits perfectly into this world.

The Impact Grant will support the team’s progress in building their device and moving their project beyond the proof-of-concept stage. The grant will also allow the team to make advancements in stakeholder engagement and in the project’s application phase.

As part of iGEM the UM team of primarily undergraduate researchers will travel in October to the annual Grand Jamboree in Paris to compete with over 300 teams from around the globe for medals, awards, and the grant prize.

About iGEM

The iGEM is a non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating advancements in synthetic biology, education, and competition, and developing an open scientific community and collaboration. The Foundation hosts the annual iGEM Competition, pushing the limits of synthetic biology and its implications on complex challenges around the world. With applications in climate change response, human health enhancement, agricultural production optimization and more, iGEM has carefully selected teams with projects exemplifying what it means to positively impact the entire world by tackling one local problem at a time.