Synthetic Biology for Ghanaian Challenges

Abstract

Synthetic biology—the engineering of biological systems for useful purposes—has the potential to decentralize the production of medicines, diagnostics, and materials, making them more accessible and affordable. This is a particularly powerful proposition for Ghana, which relies heavily on imports for these critical goods. This Masters in Computer Science proposal outlines a research plan to develop a cell-free synthetic biology platform for the on-demand, local production of a medically important protein. The case study will focus on producing a stable, low-cost diagnostic reagent for a disease endemic to Ghana, demonstrating a pathway to building a self-sufficient biomanufacturing capability.

Key Research Questions for SynBio in Ghana

1. Robust Cell-Free Systems: How can we create a robust and reliable cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) system from locally cultured *E. coli*? This involves optimizing the preparation of the cell extract and energy buffer to maximize protein yield and stability when stored without refrigeration.
2. Circuit Design for Stability: Can genetic circuits be designed to be more resilient to degradation in a cell-free environment? This includes exploring the use of protective RNA structures and engineering proteins that stabilize the transcription-translation machinery.
3. Low-Cost Purification: What is the most effective, low-cost method for purifying the target protein from the cell-free reaction, suitable for a minimally-equipped lab in Ghana? This could involve engineering the protein with self-cleaving affinity tags.
4. Application and Validation: As a proof-of-concept, can this cell-free system be used to produce a diagnostic enzyme (e.g., a specific luciferase or peroxidase) that can be integrated into a paper-based test for a pathogen like *Schistosoma haematobium*?

Proposed Masters in Computer Science Research: A Field-Ready Cell-Free Diagnostic Production Kit

The core of this research is to develop a "just-add-water" kit for producing a diagnostic protein. The kit would contain a freeze-dried pellet of the cell-free extract and the DNA blueprint for the target protein.

• Extract and Circuit Optimization: Develop a streamlined protocol for creating potent cell extracts from *E. coli*. Design and test a genetic circuit encoding a thermostable luciferase, optimized for high expression in the cell-free system.
• Lyophilization and Stability: Develop a lyophilization (freeze-drying) protocol that preserves the activity of the cell-free system for long-term storage at ambient Ghanaian temperatures. The stability of the freeze-dried pellets will be tested over several months.
• Proof-of-Concept Diagnostic: The on-demand, locally-produced luciferase will be used as the reporting enzyme in a paper-based LAMP (Loop-mediated isothermal amplification) assay for detecting parasite DNA in water samples.
• Field-Testing: The entire kit—from rehydration of the pellet to running the diagnostic test—will be tested in a regional health laboratory in Ghana to evaluate its usability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness compared to importing commercial diagnostic kits.

Impact for Ghana and Africa

This research would be a foundational step towards building a decentralized biomanufacturing infrastructure in Ghana and across Africa. A successful project would demonstrate that complex biological products, from diagnostics to therapeutics like insulin or antibodies, can be produced locally and on-demand, shattering the dependence on fragile and expensive global supply chains. This "biological point-of-care" model could transform how Ghana responds to disease outbreaks, manages public health, and even develops new bio-based materials and agricultural products. It would foster a new generation of Ghanaian bioengineers and create the foundation for a sovereign bio-economy.