The global final of the 21st International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM) concluded in Paris on October 25. The team “ShanghaiTech-China” from ShanghaiTech University competed alongside over 450 teams from around the world and stood out as the gold medal winner for their project “PACIFY.” This year, the team was guided by Professor Shen Wei from the School of Life Science and Technology (SLST), Research Associate Professor Gao Yan from the Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies (SIAIS), and Professor Yang Haitao from SLST/SIAIS.
About the project:
Itchiness is a common discomfort, and when triggered by specific factors, such as Staphylococcus aureus, it can escalate into a persistent and challenging condition to handle. This pathogen not only causes inflammation and redness but also induces ongoing itchiness that significantly impacts life. Current anti-itch products, mainly antibiotics and drugs, are often ineffective at relieving itch.
Because of the urgency and importance of addressing this issue, the ShanghaiTech team presented the “PACIFY” project. Based on a recent research published in the journal Cell, the team used Escherichia coli as a simplified biological model to simulate the itch-inducing mechanisms of Staphylococcus aureus on human skin. In this model, they employed a flip fluorescence system to report the activity of V8 protease, a key itch-inducing factor, and used red fluorescence to indicate the intensity of itch sensation. To further identify compounds that effectively inhibit itch, the team conducted high-throughput and virtual drug screening, ultimately discovering LQZ-7i as an effective compound.
With this compound identified, the team will continue to develop a safe and user-friendly product to relieve itch without interfering with traditional treatments, providing a more comfortable and pleasant experience for affected individuals.
The iGEM competition this year brought together hundreds of teams from around the world, including teams from top universities such as Harvard University, MIT, Stanford University, University of Zurich, and College of William & Mary. In China, leading universities such as Tsinghua University, Peking University, Fudan University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University also participated, making the competition highly competitive. With teamwork and dedication, ShanghaiTech’s team won the gold medal, showcasing the team’s exceptional competence globally and highlighting ShanghaiTech’s educational philosophy of fostering innovation, interdisciplinarity, and integration.
Notably, the entire process—from team formation, project selection, and experiment execution to hardware design—was independently managed by the students, with faculty, schools, and residential colleges providing essential support, fully maximizing students’ initiative. We believe that ShanghaiTech students will continue to excel in future competitions and shine on the international stage.
More details of the project can be found here.
About iGEM:
iGEM is an international academic competition in the field of synthetic biology, initiated by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). First held in 2003 and becoming an international event in 2005, iGEM has significant influence in the field. This global competition aims to encourage creativity and innovation, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and emphasize the close connection between synthetic biology, industry, and social issues. During the competition, teams from around the world focus on specific themes across various application fields, such as energy, healthcare, and the environment. They establish their own projects and support them through diverse approaches, including biological experiments, mathematical modeling, and social research, to validate the projects’ feasibility.
List of the team members:
School of Life Science and Technology:
Liu Siyun, Li Weihang, Zhao Yuyan, Liu Qizhen, Xu Liang, Gao Shenyuan, Zhang Boqian, Zhang Xinyi, Zheng Kun, Wang Tianyi, Cheng Sihan, Hao Yuchen
School of Biomedical Engineering:
Zhang Jingting
School of Information Science and Technology:
Tang Linzheng, Huang Wei, Yan Qihang, Xiong Wenye
School of Physical Science and Technology:
Zeng Yiping
School of Entrepreneurship and Management:
Huang Zhejing
School of Creativity and Art:
Liu Chenfei, Tian Di, Zhong Yijia
Faculty advisors:
Professor Shen Wei, SLST
Research Associate Professor Gao Yan, SIAIS
Professor Yang Haitao, SLST/SIAIS
Student advisors:
2023 team member: Cao Shenxi
2022 team members: Xin Qi, Wang Kaijun
2021 team member: Su Rui