Lyme Disease Research and Methodology
- Students from Lambert High School in suburban Atlanta are utilizing the gene-editing tool CRISPR to develop improved methods for detecting and treating Lyme disease 0s.
- Lyme disease affects nearly 500,000 Americans annually and can lead to serious health complications such as nerve damage, arthritis, and heart problems if it remains untreated 0s.
- The student team is preparing to compete in the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition in Paris, where they will face international teams, including those from China 0s.
- The students operate a laboratory where they perform genetic engineering tasks, such as amplifying DNA samples 25s.
- The team’s approach involves synthetic biology, a field that allows for the engineering of biological systems to solve real-world problems, similar to the development of nutrient-dense golden rice 1m15s.
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Innovations
- The students aim to address the difficulty of diagnosing Lyme disease, noting that current testing methods often fail to detect the infection during the first two weeks when treatment is most effective 1m55s.
- To improve detection, the team uses CRISPR to target specific DNA strands where proteins associated with the infection hide, allowing them to expose the protein for identification via a simple kit-style test 2m15s.
- The team also explored using CRISPR as a therapeutic alternative to standard antibiotics by targeting the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease 2m45s.
- The project required the students to develop software to model the most effective application of CRISPR for their treatment goals 2m45s.
Academic Support and Program Resources
- Although the students consulted with professors and stakeholders who initially questioned the feasibility of the project, they proceeded with the research 2m35s.
- Biotechnology teacher Kate Sharer describes the project as high-risk and high-reward, noting that the students' innovative thinking often exceeds her own knowledge 3m0s.
- Lambert High School’s synthetic biology team operates with significant resources, including a college-level laboratory funded by taxpayers and private donors 5s.
- The school district is highly affluent and attracts families from around the world who move specifically to provide their children with the opportunity to join the competitive biotech program 15s.
- Approximately 100 students compete annually for 10 spots on the team, a process that involves submitting project proposals, taking tests, and undergoing interviews 35s.
Research Breakthroughs and Competition Preparation
- The team achieved a breakthrough by developing a method to detect Lyme disease as early as two days after infection, which is significantly faster than the two-week window required by existing tests 48s.
- Student Claire Lee noted that the team also observed promising results regarding potential treatments for the disease 55s.
- The students worked under intense pressure to complete their research, documentation, and website development in time for the international iGEM competition held in Paris 1m15s.
- Lambert High School previously won the iGEM grand prize in 2022 1m25s.
International Competition Dynamics
- At the 2025 iGEM competition in Paris, more than 400 teams participated, including projects focused on treating indoor mold, growing crops on Mars, and developing eye drops for cataracts 1m45s.
- While the United States fielded 14 high school teams in the competition, Asia was represented by 120 teams 2m6s.
Funding Challenges and Political Context
- Janet Standeven, who founded the iGEM program at Lambert, previously secured federal funding to expand synthetic biology education across Georgia 2m15s.
- This federal funding was cut by the Trump administration under the classification of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives 2m25s.
- Although a judge temporarily restored the funding, the long-term availability of these resources beyond 2026 remains uncertain 2m30s.
Scientific Presentation and Expert Perspectives
- During the Paris competition, the Lambert team presented their research on Lyme disease, which is caused by the genus Borrelia and transmitted through tick bites 2m50s.
- Students participated in a competition where they presented their laboratory work and discussed its real-world implications before a panel of judges 0s.
- Stanford professor Drew Endy, a founder of the iGEM competition, began the initiative in the early 2000s while teaching genetic engineering at MIT to engage 18-year-old students 12s.
- Drew Endy expressed concern to Congress regarding America's slipping lead in synthetic biology, noting that China has established the field as a national priority 32s.
- The team from Lambert High School proposed delivering their diagnostic tool through lipid nanoparticles 55s.
- Drew Endy suggested that the Lambert team's project could represent a major scientific breakthrough if future testing is successful, noting that the diagnostic method could potentially be applied to detect anything in the blood, not just Lyme disease 1m3s.
Competition Results and Global Rankings
- The Lambert High School team competed against 140 other teams and expressed hope for a top 10 finish 1m23s.
- During the final awards ceremony, the Lambert team was nominated in five different categories 1m45s.
- The grand prize for the competition was awarded to the team from Great Bay, China 1m54s.
- The Lambert High School team won the award for best software tool 2m1s.
- Lambert High School was the only American school to finish in the high school top 10, which also included one team from South Korea, one from Taiwan, and seven from China 2m23s.
