Description: JLU-SPH presents ByeGerm, a prototype platform designed to bring respiratory pathogen screening closer to children, older adults, and their caregivers. Combining one-pot RPA–CRISPR/Cas12a assays, computational design, portable hardware, and a mobile app, we aim to support accessible testing in kindergartens, care homes, and homes. This presentation follows our journey from community conversations to laboratory testing and device development, guided by an iterative design–build–test–learn process. ByeGerm targets five respiratory pathogens and is designed to complement central laboratory testing, connecting what science can do with what people need.

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Description: Mercury pollution is a severe global health threat, silently contaminating our water, soil, and food supply. To tackle this challenge, our team engineered MerMAID (MerR-Based Mercury Assay for in-field detection)—a highly sensitive, living biosensor that literally glows red when it encounters mercury. Capable of detecting mercury levels as low as 1 ppb, our synthetic biology solution pairs an E. coli whole-cell sensor with a portable fluorescence detector and a universal sample-extraction platform that turns complex samples (like soil and crops) into readable water. Watch to discover how we are making in-field mercury detection accessible, affordable, and highly accurate.

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Description: Brain inflammation is increasingly tied to neurological and mental-health conditions, yet the body’s own anti-inflammatory signal, IL-10, cannot easily reach the brain. BELL10 is our attempt to change that. We engineered human cells to produce IL-10 and pack it into tiny vesicles, natural delivery capsules small enough to slip past biological barriers. In the lab, the result calmed inflammation in immune cells, though longer exposure proved toxic. Computer modelling suggests a nasal spray could carry it straight from nose to brain. BELL10 is not a treatment yet. It is an early step, and this video shows what we learned.

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Description: Heart attack outcomes depend on timely diagnosis and response. Rural communities like ours in Otsego County, located in Central New York State, face barriers to accessing cardiac care. Our project, OneHEART, seeks to reduce barriers to timely, accurate heart attack diagnosis and improve outcomes in our community. Our strategy focuses on immediate-impact actions and long-term tool development to strengthen readiness for cardiac emergencies in New York State. Using synthetic biology, we worked on developing an affordable, portable lateral flow assay that detects cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (h-FABP) using nanobody-based detection elements. Alongside diagnostic development, our Human Practices efforts promoted cardiac preparedness through CPR training, community education, and evaluation of cardiac emergency readiness in New York State schools.

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Description: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the sixth leading cause of cancer death worldwide and the third in the United States. Caught early, most patients are alive five years later. Across all stages, very few are. The difference is not the treatment — it is the timing. And unlike breast or colon cancer, there is no routine test looking for it. PanCrisp is a CRISPR-Cas13a saliva assay designed to detect pancreatic cancer early, using a five-microRNA panel with one guide per tube. This video covers: • Why PDAC is found too late, and what that costs • How conversations with clinicians, scientists and regulators shaped every core design decision • The Cas13a assay, our guide and reporter design, and the controls behind it • Two engineering cycles — including the ordering error that gave us no signal, and how we found it • Five computational models: genome mining, a Bayesian diagnostic network, ODE binding kinetics, limit of detection, and phone-camera detectability • Two open software tools, SpacerSentry and CasPlate Analyzer • Our cartridge and reader design, and the staged path from hospital labs toward routine screening Video attribution: Music: Generated with Google Flow. No third-party copyrighted recordings were used. Tools: Claude (script editing, animation), Google Flow (AI video generation), CapCut (editing ) Music: From the CapCut built-in audio library, used under CapCut’s licence terms. Voices: Trishona, Anagha, Leo, Sattwik Dutta, Aarthi

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Description: Dravet syndrome is caused by faults in a single gene, so it is a strong candidate for gene therapy. The hard part is delivery. We are engineering exosomes that carry a therapeutic cargo across the blood brain barrier and into the neurons that need it most.

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Description: Boston University's CumuLab presents Cirrus, an open-source tool that helps researchers design and optimize synthetic biology labs while allowing them to join a growing cloud lab network. After the user selects a budget, describes their available space, and indicates their lab's workflows, Cirrus generates a curated set of standardized protocols, a bill of materials, and an optimized lab layout. This video also describes other contributions from CumuLab such as their protocol standardization guide, their Human Practices work with relevant stakeholders and experts, along with their education outreach.

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Description: In this video, we introduce bile acids and their role in digestion as well as the enterohepatic cycling loop. We cover RENATA's engineered Bt-Sult, and the involved lab processes as well as HP events.

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Description: Odor control is a critical challenge in crowded public spaces. Conventional methods, such as fragrance masking or chemical sprays, are often irritating and only temporary. To solve this, we engineered a bacterial system to produce a mix of natural enzymes that destroy bad smells at the molecular level. These enzymes break down foul-smelling compounds into completely odorless, non-volatile substances. Applied as a textile spray, the product remains on surfaces and is activated by ambient humidity to lock in and continuously degrade odors. This provides a safe, long-lasting, and sustainable biopurification solution for transit systems and shared indoor spaces.

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Description: AKGut is the University of Houston iGEM 2026 project. We are investigating whether Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) can be engineered to produce α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) and make it available to the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The project builds on published research in which α-KG supplementation extended the mean lifespan of C. elegans. However, supplying pure α-KG and producing it with engineered bacteria are different approaches. Our work uses genome-scale metabolic modelling to investigate production constraints and compare possible strain designs. We constructed a sequence-verified expression plasmid carrying ppc and the modified gltA(R164L) gene and transformed it into wild-type EcN. The intended chromosomal edits remain unconfirmed. We have not yet demonstrated increased α-KG production, release from the bacteria, delivery into worms, or an effect on lifespan. This presentation covers the published motivation, metabolic modelling, engineering progress, safety considerations, and experiments needed to test the remaining questions. The video uses AI-assisted visuals and voice-over. Generated scenes are conceptual illustrations, not experimental images.

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Description: Every year, countless stroke survivors lose the freedom to walk and live independently. Damaged neurons struggle to repair themselves, and conventional drugs often cannot cross the blood–brain barrier to reach the injury site. Meet BRIDGE — our engineered system that uses synNotch to deliver brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) precisely where it is needed. In this video, we walk through how BRIDGE works: LAB: We built a BCAN-sensing synNotch receptor with three components — an anti-BCAN scFv, the synNotch core, and a GAL4-VP64 transcription factor — to drive BDNF expression. After detecting background activation in HEK293T cells, we redesigned the circuit in Jurkat cells and validated it with GFP fluorescence, flow cytometry, luciferase assays, and ELISA. Guided by modeling, we engineered scFv mutations (e.g., D93A) that reduce background leakage while preserving injury-site responsiveness. MODEL: Stochastic simulations of the synNotch pathway and Sobol sensitivity analysis identified the Hill coefficient as the key lever for BDNF output, while docking and interface-energy ranking predicted a 36 pM BCAN–scFv affinity and shortlisted five scFv mutants for testing. HUMAN PRACTICE: Following our SIKQ-GET framework (FIAQA, PEI, IPM), we consulted health authorities, researchers, and the public across three rounds, and shared science with nearly 1,000 people through rural outreach, specimen-museum courses, lab open days, and online communities. Our results provide an initial proof of concept for localized neurotrophic support after brain injury. Because both its sensor and its therapeutic payload can be replaced, BRIDGE could one day grow beyond stroke rehabilitation into a broader platform for precisely controlled treatment across central nervous system disorders. Step by step, we hope to turn a promising laboratory design into a safe, practical, and accessible bridge — from brain injury to recovery.

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Description: In this Video the young science team from Muenster explains all the accomplishments and learnings about their project P.A.C. Immunity. A modular platform technology to update native plant immune sensors, to directly target pathogens and induce a direct and effective immune response.

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Description: Hair graying often causes appearance anxiety, yet conventional chemical dyes rely on harsh ingredients like p-phenylenediamine that can cause severe scalp allergies. To solve this, we created a safe, eco-friendly hair dye kit based on polydopamine, a natural dark pigment with excellent body compatibility. Using engineered harmless bacteria as green factories, we biologically produce dopamine from simple amino acids under mild conditions. We also designed a special bio-peptide that acts like glue, helping the natural pigment stick firmly to hair proteins for long-lasting color. Packaged as a practical, easy-to-use kit, our product replaces toxic chemical treatments with a gentle bio-cleansing routine, offering a healthy and commercial solution to graying hair.

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Description: For six hundred years, the blue of Dian Cui jewellery could only come from kingfisher feathers. We asked: what if colour didn't have to grow in feathers? Starting from the enzymatic hydrolysis of waste cotton textiles, a trio of engineered microbes divides the work — Komagataella phaffii degrades the fabric, Komagataeibacter xylinus spins bacterial cellulose, and E. coli toughens the film. Acid hydrolysis cuts the cellulose into nanocrystals that self-assemble into chiral nematic films dancing with light. Behind the bench, a multi-scale model — from molecular dynamics and genome-scale metabolism to thin-film optics — forms a feedback loop between visual design and manufacturing conditions. The HUST-China team presents IRIS — a multi-organism systems engineering project that lets kingfisher feathers remain where they belong, on the birds themselves, For six hundred years, the blue of Dian Cui jewellery could only come from kingfisher feathers. We asked: what if colour didn't have to grow in feathers? Starting from the enzymatic hydrolysis of waste cotton textiles, a trio of engineered microbes divides the work — Komagataella phaffii degrades the fabric, Komagataeibacter xylinus spins bacterial cellulose, and E. coli toughens the film. Acid hydrolysis cuts the cellulose into nanocrystals that self-assemble into chiral nematic films dancing with light. Behind the bench, a multi-scale model — from molecular dynamics and genome-scale metabolism to thin-film optics — forms a feedback loop between visual design and manufacturing conditions. The HUST-China team presents IRIS — a multi-organism systems engineering project that lets kingfisher feathers remain where they belong, on the birds themselves.So far, No feathers need to fall for the iridescence to rise.

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Description: Cut flowers have a limited vase life, leading to premature disposal and resource waste. Flowever aims to develop a sustainable flower preservative using melatonin produced through synthetic biology. We engineered Escherichia coli with an optimized nine-gene biosynthetic pathway, achieving a melatonin concentration of 159.02 mg/L after 96 hours. To reduce purification costs and improve stability, we developed a preservative combining filtered fermentation supernatant with citric acid. In laboratory trials, our formulation delayed visual deterioration in carnations. In one experiment, all treated carnations retained ornamental value on Day 6, while none in the water control did. Guided by stakeholder interviews and consumer research, we explored commercial applications in hotels and commercial complexes. Flowever connects synthetic biology with practical flower preservation, aiming to extend flower longevity and reduce waste.

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Description: Traditional single-gene siRNA therapies often fall short against complex conditions like hyperlipidemia. To overcome this limitation, we propose a combinatorial siRNA strategy utilizing multi-target cocktails to optimize lipid metabolism regulation. At the core of this initiative is our proprietary technology: a high-throughput screening platform featuring single-cell addressability within a single plate of liver cells. This powerful system rapidly tests myriad siRNA cocktail formulations to identify superior multi-target therapies. By improving silencing efficiency and robustness, our platform establishes a versatile framework for advancing RNA therapeutics across diverse complex diseases.

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Description: AdipoSense explores how engineered probiotics can respond to gut metabolic signals to support obesity-related research. Using Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 as the chassis, we integrate succinate and butyrate sensing with a genetic logic circuit designed to activate downstream expression only when succinate is high and butyrate is low. This dual-input design links a defined metabolic signal combination to controlled biological output. The circuit incorporates the plant-derived At1g78690p gene to investigate N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine (NAPE)-related lipid biosynthesis, alongside GFP as a measurable reporter. Through iterative Design–Build–Test–Learn cycles, we characterized the sensing modules, demonstrated the intended logic response in vitro, and obtained preliminary evidence of output-module expression. Further work is needed to confirm lipid production and evaluate biological effects. AdipoSense provides a foundation for developing probiotics whose activity is guided by their metabolic environment.

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Description: Penn State's iGEM team designed a novel and modular therapeutic nanoparticle designed to treat Pancreatic Ductile Adenocarcinoma without harming healthy tissue. The design can simply and easily be re-implemented to target a wide range of cancers, extending potential even outside the field of Oncology.

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Description: The scalable production of natural-derived compounds is constrained by low yields and limitations in microbial biosynthesis. To address these challenges, we aim to optimize microbes like Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, using Multiplex Automated Genome Engineering (MAGE) for natural production biosynthesis. To edit metabolic pathways, we designed the Modular Open-Source Multiplex Automated Genome Engineering (MOSMAGE) platform - a low-cost, modular hardware system designed to automate MAGE workflows. Built from consumer-grade components and customizable modules, MOSMAGE enables high-throughput metabolic engineering through integrated thermal, fluidics, electroporation, and spectrophotometric, systems. To validate the engineering pipeline, we will measure Triacetic acid lactone (TAL) production following genome edits.

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Description: From tackling the expression of new constructs to interviewing strangers on the streets of London, reGELerate has been quite a journey. Our presentation video covers the project’s key aspects and takeaways, and we especially hope that future iGEM teams working on fungal prions, enzyme immobilisation or hydrogels will find ideas in our work to build on or draw inspiration from.

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