According to a statement by the University of Macau (UM) yesterday, an undergraduate team from the public university’s Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) won the gold medal at the 2025 International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Competition in Paris, earning recognition for their innovative synthetic biology solution for termite control.
This marks the seventh consecutive year that UM has received an award at iGEM, bringing its total number of gold medals to four, the statement said.
The statement pointed out that the global competition gathered over 400 teams from more than 50 countries and regions, including leading universities such as the United States’ Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, and Beijing’s Tsinghua University.
This undated handout photo provided by the University of Macau (UM) yesterday shows its team presenting during the 2025 International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Competition in Paris.
Comprising 13 undergraduate students, the UM team was guided by FHS Professor Garry Wong (黃值富), Associate Professors Leo Lee Tsz On and Liu Tzu-Ming, and Assistant Professors Chen Qihan and Lei Chon Lok, the statement noted.
Addressing the growing issue of termite infestation, the statement noted that their project aimed to propose an effective and eco-friendly solution using synthetic biology techniques to engineer E. coli* that produces natural toxins and attractants for sustainable termite control, adding that the natural toxins – “EcTI”, a plant-derived trypsin** inhibitor that disrupts digestion, and melittin, a peptide from bee venom that damages gut microbes – were combined with hydroquinone, an attractant that stimulates termite feeding.
According to the statement, the team also developed two application models: an underground bait station for long-term control and a liquid injector for immediate treatment, and mathematical simulations were used to optimise bait placement and enhance efficiency.
The team conducted extensive fieldwork and consultations with industry experts to refine their experimental design and ensure practical application. Team leader Wang Ying, a third-year FHS student, said that the experience, while challenging, greatly strengthened both their scientific understanding and teamwork.
* E. coli is a group of bacteria that can cause infections in your gut, urinary tract and other parts of your body. Most of the time, it can live in your gut without hurting you. But some strains can make you sick with watery diarrhoea, vomiting and a fever. – DeepSeek
** Trypsin is a digestive “scissor” or “chopstick” that cuts proteins into smaller pieces. Its main job is to digest protein. – DeepSeek
