Cellular Sensing and Computing Systems
We engineer RNA networks that enable living cells to detect intracellular RNA molecules and perform computations.
Welcome
Welcome to the website of the Green lab in the Biomedical Engineering Department at Boston University.
Research
Our group pursues highly interdisciplinary research at the interfaces of chemistry, biology, and materials science. Much of this work exploits programmable molecular interactions between nucleic acids and proteins to direct the assembly of nanometer-scale organic and inorganic components and to construct information-processing circuitry inside living cells. These efforts have wide-ranging implications for biotechnology, medicine, biosensing, and nanotechnology.
Low-Cost Portable Diagnostic Systems
We develop low-cost portable diagnostics that can be used to detect pathogens in low-resource settings.
Novel Antimicrobial Materials and Coatings
We develop new antimicrobial materials that are active against broad classes of drug-resistant bacteria and fungi.
Production and Chemical Modification of 2D Materials
We produce and chemically modify two-dimensional materials with novel electronic, optical, and mechanical properties.
News
The latest news and developments from the Green lab at BU.
SNIPRs take aim at disease-related mutations
Researchers from the Green lab at Arizona State University have reported a highly specific method for detecting point mutations. The technique can be applied in living cells and paper-based diagnostic tests, offering a rapid, highly accurate and inexpensive means of identifying mutations relevant to human health. The work is published in Cell. (ASU Biodesign story)
New electrochemical platform paves the way for advanced portable diagnostic tools
Scientists at the University of Toronto and Arizona State University have developed the first direct gene circuit to electrode interface by combining cell-free synthetic biology with state-of-the-art nanostructured electrodes. The work is published in Nature Chemistry. (ASU Biodesign story)
That’s a switch! Synthetic circuits regulate gene expression
The Green lab at ASU’s Biodesign Institute and scientists from the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and Northwestern University are carrying RNA’s startling capacities further by designing sophisticated RNA circuits that can perform a variety of computer-like logic tasks within living cells. (ASU Biodesign and ASU Now story)
Gene-OFF switches tool up synthetic biology
Programmable repressor elements expand the toolbox of synthetic biologists, enabling more sophisticated and accurate diagnostic, environmental, and biofabrication approaches. The work is published in Nature Chemical Biology. (Wyss Institute story)
Mahmoud Matar Abed: Master’s Defense
Mahmoud successfully defended his Master’s thesis on artificial enzymes based on two-dimensional nanomaterials. Congratulations!
Duo Ma: PhD Defense
Lab member Duo Ma successfully defended his PhD dissertation entitled “RNA-Based Computing Devices for Intracellular and Diagnostic Applications”. Congratulations, Duo!
Lab Members
Prof. Alexander A. Green
Alexander Green is an Assistant Professor in the Biomedical Engineering Department at Boston University. (More…)
Kirstie Swingle
Kirstie graduated from University of New Mexico with a B.S. in biology in 2014. She joined School of Molecular Sciences at ASU in 2016. Her research focuses on DNA/antibody systems for diagnostic design. In her free time, Kirstie likes reading, dancing, music, and hanging out outdoors.
Soma Chaudhary
Soma joined School of Molecular Sciences in 2016. She obtained BS-MS dual degree from Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram (IISER-TVM) majoring in Chemistry. Her research focuses on reengineering nonribosomal peptide synthesis and developing novel diagnostic methods. In her spare time, she likes travel, cooking, and watching TV series.
Griffin McCutcheon
Griffin graduated in 2014 from Johns Hopkins University in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Following work at the NASA Ames Research Center, Griffin joined the the Biological Design PhD program in 2017. His research is focused on RNA-based circuits and genetic encoding of novel materials and structures. Outside of the lab, Griffin enjoys cooking, home improvement, and woodworking, as well as mountain biking.
Zhaoqing Yan
Zhaoqing joined as Ph.D. student in 2017 and is in the BU MCBB program. He completed his B.Sc. degree in chemistry at the University of Jinan in 2016. He is interested in the programming DNA and RNA molecules that can be used for reporting or recording dynamic biological events. In his spare time, he enjoys playing badminton, dubbing, and playing flute.
Zachary Ticktin
Zach is a 4+1 student completing his masters in Biomedical Engineering. He is interested in designing biological circuits to detect infectious diseases and modulate gene expression. Outside of the lab he enjoys golfing and working as a medical scribe in the Banner Thunderbird Emergency department.
Publications
† denotes corresponding author
* denotes equal contribution
K. Jaenes*, S. J. Ribeiro da Silva*, J. R. J. Vigar*, K. Wu, M. Norouzi, P. Bayat, M. Karlikow, S. Cicek, Y. Guo, A. A. Green, L. Pena & K. Pardee†, “Design to Implementation Study for Development and Patient Validation of Paper-Based Toehold Switch Diagnostics,” JoVE 184, e6322318 (2022).
[ Journal | PDF ]J. M. Robson & A. A. Green†, “Closing the loop on crowdsourced science,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 119, e2205897119 (2022).
[ Journal ]A. A. Green†, “Enzyme assemblies on demand,” Nature Chemical Biology 18, 436–438 (2022).
[ Journal ]D. Ma, Y. Li, K. Wu, Z. Yan, A. A. Tang, S. Chaudhary, Z. M. Ticktin, J. Alcantar-Fernandez, J. L. Moreno-Camacho, A. Campos-Romero & A. A. Green†, “Multi-arm RNA junctions encoding molecular logic unconstrained by input sequence for versatile cell-free diagnostics,” Nature Biomedical Engineering 6, 298–309 (2022).
[ Journal | PDF ]M. Karlikow*, S. J. R. da Silva*, Y. Guo*, S. Cicek*, L. Krokovsky*, P. Homme, Y. Xiong, T. Xu, M.-A. Calderón-Peláez, S. Camacho-Ortega, D. Ma, J. J. F. de Magalhães, B. N. R. R. Souza, D. G. de Albuquerque Cabral, K. Jaenes, P. Sutyrina, T. Ferrante, A. D. Benitez, V. Nipaz, P. Ponce, D. G. Rackus, J. J. Collins, M. Paiva, J. E. Castellanos, V. Cevallos, A. A. Green, C. Ayres, L. Pena & K. Pardee†, “Field validation of the performance of paper-based tests for the detection of the Zika and chikungunya viruses in serum samples,” Nature Biomedical Engineering 6, 246–256 (2022).
[ Journal | PDF ]A. R. Carr, J. L. Dopp, K. Wu, P. Sadat Mousavi, Y. R. Jo, C. E. McNeley, Z. T. Lynch, K. Pardee, A. A. Green & N. F. Reuel†, “Toward Mail-in-Sensors for SARS-CoV-2 Detection: Interfacing Gel Switch Resonators with Cell-Free Toehold Switches,” ACS Sensors 7, 806–815 (2022).
[ Journal ]S. Saha, M. S. Gilliam, Q. H. Wang† & Alexander A. Green†, “Eradication of Fungi Using MoSe2/Chitosan Nanosheets,” ACS Applied Nano Materials 5, 133-148 (2022).
[ Journal ]Q. Zhang, D. Ma, F. Wu, K. Standage-Beier, X. Chen, K. Wu, A. A. Green† & X. Wang†, “Predictable control of RNA lifetime using engineered degradation-tuning RNAs,” Nature Chemical Biology 17, 828–836 (2021).
[ Journal ]A. Yousaf, M. S. Gilliam, S. L. Y. Chang, M. Augustin, Y. Guo, F. Tahir, M. Wang, A. Schwindt, X. S. Chu, D. O. Li, S. Kale, A. Debnath, Y. Liu, M. D. Green, E. J. G. Santos†, A. A. Green† & Q. H. Wang†, “Exfoliation of Quasi-Two-Dimensional Nanosheets of Metal Diborides,” Journal of Physical Chemistry C 125 (12), 6787–6799 (2021).
[ Journal ]A. Debnath, S. Saha, D. O. Li, X. S. Chu, Z. W. Ulissi, A. A. Green† & Qing Hua Wang†, “Elimination of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria by Transition Metal Dichalcogenides Encapsulated by Synthetic Single-Stranded DNA,” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 13 (7), 8082–8094 (2021).
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