Project Description
Ammonia, or NH3, is a toxin that can result in detrimental effects to the environment. Among these include eutrophication and acidification of soil. In the atmosphere, ammonia readily reacts with strong acidic species to produce ammonium salts. These extremely small particles (less than 2.5 microns in diameter) are then able to travel to the ground surface, where they can cause smog, soil acidification, eutrophication, and overfertilization of weed species.
But ammonia does not only harm the environment; it has deleterious effects on human health as well. Cirrhosis of the liver can have several causes, the primary ones being Hepatitis B or C (57%) or alcoholism (20%) (Armstrong et. al., 2006). As the disease progresses, hepatic encephalopathy renders the liver unable to remove nitrogenous substances, primarily ammonia, from the bloodstream. The blood with high levels of ammonia is transferred to the astrocytes of the cerebral cortex and causes unresponsiveness, forgetfulness, loss of control of some motor functions, and eventually a hepatic coma.
Therefore, we hoped to develop a method to detect ammonia levels. The goal is to apply the results to developing a non-invasive urine test that could help diagnose liver cirrhosis. Existing diagnoses such as blood and imaging tests may be considered invasive or unpleasant or carry unnecessary risks.
Sources:
Armstrong, G. L., Bell, B. P., Farrington, L. A., Hutin, Y. J. F., & Perez, J. F. (2006). The contributions of hepatitis b virus and hepatitis c virus infections to cirrhosis and primary liver cancer worldwide. Journal of Hepatology, 45(4), 529-538. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2006.05.013
http://gamapserver.who.int/gho/interactive_charts/gisah/death_rates_cirrhosis/atlas.html
But ammonia does not only harm the environment; it has deleterious effects on human health as well. Cirrhosis of the liver can have several causes, the primary ones being Hepatitis B or C (57%) or alcoholism (20%) (Armstrong et. al., 2006). As the disease progresses, hepatic encephalopathy renders the liver unable to remove nitrogenous substances, primarily ammonia, from the bloodstream. The blood with high levels of ammonia is transferred to the astrocytes of the cerebral cortex and causes unresponsiveness, forgetfulness, loss of control of some motor functions, and eventually a hepatic coma.
Therefore, we hoped to develop a method to detect ammonia levels. The goal is to apply the results to developing a non-invasive urine test that could help diagnose liver cirrhosis. Existing diagnoses such as blood and imaging tests may be considered invasive or unpleasant or carry unnecessary risks.
Sources:
Armstrong, G. L., Bell, B. P., Farrington, L. A., Hutin, Y. J. F., & Perez, J. F. (2006). The contributions of hepatitis b virus and hepatitis c virus infections to cirrhosis and primary liver cancer worldwide. Journal of Hepatology, 45(4), 529-538. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2006.05.013
http://gamapserver.who.int/gho/interactive_charts/gisah/death_rates_cirrhosis/atlas.html
Parts used
Part BBa_K1067003 - Ammonium Monooxygenase
Part BBa_K1067002 - Cytochrome A and X
Part BBa_K216014 - Luminescence
Part BBa_K216005 - PyeaR
Part BBa_K1067002 - Cytochrome A and X
Part BBa_K216014 - Luminescence
Part BBa_K216005 - PyeaR