Biological Robustness in Complex Settings (BRICS) Part 2: Integration and Demonstration of Forensic Microbial Systems

Transcription

1 Biological Robustness in Complex Settings (BRICS) Part 2: Integration and Demonstration of Forensic Microbial Systems Dr. Justin Gallivan Program Manager DARPA/BTO Proposers Day Arlington, VA 5/8/2017 1

2 Mission: Breakthrough Technologies for National Security Precision Guidance & Navigation Communications/Networking Stealth IR Night Vision UAVs Biological Technologies 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 2030s Investing today for the next generation ARPAnet/Internet Microelectronics: VLSI, CAD, manufacturing, IR, RF, MEMS Information Technology: timesharing, client/server, graphics, GUI, RISC, parallel computing, speech recognition Materials Science: semiconductors, superalloys, carbon fibers, composites, thermoelectrics, ceramics These new capabilities require a healthy ecosystem across Service S&T, universities, and industry DARPA s role: pivotal early investments that change what s possible 2

3 Pushing the Cutting Edge of Engineering Biology CLIO Biosecurity and Safety Complex Settings Laboratory BRICS Enabling technologies that allow the safe and controlled used of engineered biology in complex environments Living Foundries Engineering and Manufacturing 3

4 BRICS Part 2: Developing Forensic Microbial Systems (FMS) Complex Settings BRICS Part 1 developed design principles for engineering robust biological consortia BRICS Part 2 will demonstrate forensic microbial systems (FMS) designed for specific environments FMS 4

5 Impact of Engineered Forensic Microbial Systems Current microbiome fingerprinting takes advantage of background sequences in metagenomic samples Analyses of natural microbiomes suffers from: o poor signal-to-noise o changing signatures due to environmental dynamics o requirement for access to large data sets Having specific distinguishing sequences/markers in FMS would enable use in an array of applications: Crime scene investigations Mapping smuggling routes Determining/ensuring provenance Integrating BRICS technology into development of synthetic microbiomes with well-defined signatures could increase identification rate and accuracy 5

6 Attributes of a Forensic Microbial System (FMS) GOAL: To engineer an easily and rapidly detectable synthetic microbiome that: Thrives in a specific and complex environment: Particulate substrate in an outdoor setting Hard substrate in an outdoor setting Exhibits a unique molecular signature produced by member of the microbial community: Elements can be defined by any type of cellular component Signatures must be exogenous Soft/porous substrate in an indoor setting Possesses mechanisms enabling safe deployment into open environments: Survives only in target area c.com/image/cms/id/21 Molecular controls for rapid elimination 6

7 Technical Specifications: Development to Demonstration Demonstration Surface and FMS Colonization Transfer of FMS to Object from Demonstration Surface Detecting FMS on Object 10 m 10 m Demonstration surface must simulate an actual environment The FMS must: o be a microbial consortium that integrates into existing microbial ecosystems o produce a constant signature with customizable elements Safety Considerations The FMS signature must be: transferraable to a test object in 10 min able to persist in the target environment for 3 mo limited in growth outside of the target environment The FMS signature must be: detectable on the demonstration object for 10 d detectable in 1 hr with 99% confidence eliminated from the environment through external control in 7 d The FMS developed for demonstration should be ready and safe for use (no proxies allowed) in optional field testing: BSL-1 microbial components and no human pathogens Minimal disturbance to microbial ecosystems Safe for field-testing 7

8 BRICS Part 2 Program Organization And Notional Schedule BAA #2 BRICS Integration and Development of Forensic Microbial Systems (FMS) All 3 Technical Areas must be addressed in parallel TA-A Phase 4 12 months Colonization Build demo environment and demo surface Build FMS microbial community Demo FMS installation and measure viability Mitigate observable changes in demo surface Phase 5 6 months TA-B TA-C Signature Build 5 signature elements; insert into FMS Build 5 variations of each FMS signature element Demo FMS signature detection Optimize detection to 99% confidence in 1 hr Demo and optimize FMS collection from object Measure FMS signature on object and decay rate Safety Demo method of ecological surveillance Engineer safety controls into FMS Measure FMS growth/viability outside demo area Accessory Fxn (optional) After completion of A-C Advanced functions could: o Increase information quality o Perform added roles such as clock/timer, memory, sensor Demonstration Detect FMS for 10 days Detect 2 FMS on object Determine order of 2 FMS Field Testing (optional) 8

9 Project Recommendations DARPA Biological Technologies Office is poised to provide resources for the rapid development and testing of FMS technology BRICS Part 2 BAA poses an aggressive timeline and likely necessitates the refining and integration of pre-existing tools, reagents, and methods Teaming/collaboration is strongly recommended to facilitate timely completion of parallel tasks in Phase IV 9

10 Anticipated Proposer Schedule BRICS Part 2 Program Track 10