Boston University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Douglas Ewen Cameron

James Joseph Collins

Ning Mao

Jeong Wook Lee

Tsz Yan Clement Chan

Provided herein are systems, methods and compositions for rendering cells or the expression of an effector protein sensitive to a predetermined condition. In one aspect, cells can be rendered dependent upon the presence of an environmental agent, e.g., an exogenous agent, without which the cell will default to expression of a death protein and be killed. In another aspect, cells can be rendered sensitive to the presence of a set of predetermined conditions such that cells will only grow when two or more necessary exogenous agents are supplied, and without either of which, the cells are killed. In this aspect, hybrid transcription factors provide a vast array of possible predetermined conditions.

Deadman and passcode microbial kill switches

Provided herein are microorganisms engineered with hybrid receptors and genetic circuits. Also provided are hybrid receptors having a CqsS polypeptide and a heterologous histidine kinase domain of a two-component system. Methods for using engineered microorganisms to sense and destroy pathogens (e.g.,) are also provided.

Synthetic hybrid receptor and genetic circuit in bacteria to detect enteric pathogenic microorganisms

The methods and compositions described herein relate, in part, to the generation of a synthetic degradation system inthat provides tunable control of the protein level of targeted genes by using components of thetmRNA system. Provided herein are degradation tag variants that permit independent control of both the initial level and inducible degradation rate of attached proteins.

Growing community of inventors

Brookline, MA, United States of America

Douglas Ewen Cameron