This project is funded by the Research Council of Norway project “CLIPEUS - Internet of Bio-NanoThings for Prediction and Prevention of Infectious Diseases”. The PhD project involves a cross-disciplinary supervisory team from the Department of Electronic Systems (IES), Oslo University Hospital, and Michigan State University, USA.

About the project.

CLIPEUS aims at creating a communications network among man-made implantable devices and the natural cells inside the body under the novel communication paradigm, called Internet of Bio- NanoThings, where sensing, actuation, and computing processes are tightly coupled to pervasively, perpetually, and precisely sense, process, control, and exchange health information of the body in real- time to defend it against infections. The project focuses on the detection of bacterial infections inside the body based on biosensors. The biosensor will be extensively tested and ameliorated in-vitro cell culture experiments as a first step before in vivo experiments.

The ongoing research work in the project.

The project has employed a PhD student at IES/NTNU and a Postdoctoral Fellow at Oslo University Hospital, where the student is developing a mathematical modelling framework to understand the molecular pathways and dynamics of the quorum sensing (QS) molecules released from the site of the infectious but to be detected by a biosensor at far distances. The Postdoctoral Fellow is producing experimental data on using genetically, commercially available, engineered bacteria strains to bind the quorum sensing (QS) molecules from the infectious bacteria of interest. This binding produces a detectable optical signal (bioluminescence or fluorescence). The bacterial sensor from the E. coli K 12 strain can be used to detect the P. aeruginosa QS signals of AHL type write in full first time, such as C4- HSL and 3-oxo-C12-homoserine lactone. These E. coli strains are non-pathogenic E. coli K-12 strain that poses no health risk to humans. Since E. coli is unable to produce AHL quorum sensing signals, these strains respond strongly to low concentrations of AHL signals from other bacteria and then produce light. Another type of QS signal, the pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS), (a previously constructed bacterial sensor from a P. aeruginosa strain that expresses the luxCDABE (light) operon in response to the PQS signals) is available for experimental applications.

Research project/master thesis: Biosensor for detecting bacterial infection.

The objective of the master thesis work is to investigate novel technologies (optical) to develop the conceptual design and implementation of a biosensor promising to continuously and precisely sense and process molecular signals among infectious bacteria colonies. For this, engineered bacteria will be considered as a first step of biosensor development. This work is done by the Postdoctoral Fellow. The bacteria aims to detect and amplify in the low concentration of the QS molecules. The master student will consider optical detection components consisting of light-emitting diodes and a photodiode array placed in close proximity to the QS-sensing bacteria to detect low levels of bioluminescence or fluorescence emission. A new biosensor developed in the project will be tested in the lab and compared the results with the classical fluorescence detector. The project will consider novel design principles combining approaches in biophotonics, bioengineering, nanotechnology, and/or electrical engineering.

The project is suitable for 1-2 students and can be considered as a Ph.D. project where full funding (stipend) is available at IES/NTNU..

Interested, please contact Prof. Ilangko Balasingham ilangko.balaasingham@ntnu.no