Maker Faire Long Island 2025
Stony Brook iGEM (Cas-T Away)
Home: New York, United States of America
iGEM is a student-led team of 15 undergraduate researchers from diverse backgrounds. For the 2025 iGEM competition, our team is developing a novel therapeutic approach using CRISPR-Cas13a, an ssRNA targeting system. We aim to target and cleave mimic HIV ssRNA strands that will be expressed within cells. We have genetically engineered HEK293 cells to express CD4+ receptors, mimicking the entry point of HIV into human T-helper cells. To enhance delivery into cells, we designed a fusion protein consisting of the bacterial toxin DTA to carry our cargo, Cas13a, while the targeting protein gp120 facilitates binding to CD4+ receptors. Through our research, we hope to contribute to future antiretroviral therapies that specifically targets RNA, offering safer and more effective treatment pathways.
https://2025.igem.wiki/stony-brook/
Additional Project Photos
Maker
iGEM Stony Brook
Shalom Obimba-Wet Lab, Outreach, Wiki, Dry Lab Rachel Liu-Dry Lab Lead, Wiki Ann Zhang-Wet Lab, Outreach, Wiki Leslie Liu-Wet Lab, Outreach, Wiki Sam Li-Wet Lab Lead, Wiki Coco Gao-Dry Lab, Outreach, Wiki, Wet Lab Jessy Zhang- https://2025.igem.wiki/stony-brook/
What Inspired You to Make This?
The world of synthetic biology is characterized by constant change, with CRISPR Cas being one of the biggest innovations in the field. As a group of young researchers, we wanted to join this new wave of technology while addressing one of the largest epidemics still impacting many today. Hence, we made it our goal to develop a special type of Cas fusion protein with the capability to neutralize HIV, potentially changing lives for the better. Through the Maker Faire, we hope to spread awareness and continue showing others that anything is possible with a little bit of science.
