''BacillaFilla'' is a
genetically engineered strain of the
bacterium ''
Bacillus subtilis'' which was developed by a group of students at
Newcastle University
Newcastle University (legally the University of Newcastle upon Tyne) is a UK public university, public research university based in Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England. It has overseas campuses in Singapore and Malaysia. The university is ...
in 2010 in order to repair cracks in
concrete as part of an
International Genetically Engineered Machine competition.
The bacteria would be released as spores which would germinate upon coming into contact with the
pH of concrete.
Upon germination, the bacteria would descend into cracks in the concrete. The bacteria use
quorum sensing to determine when enough bacteria have accumulated, triggering production of a mixture of
calcium carbonate and a "bacterial glue", which combines with the bacterial cells to fill the crack. This mixture hardens to be as strong as the surrounding concrete.
Prolonging the life of concrete could reduce
CO2 emissions derived from concrete production.
See also
*
Concrete degradation
References
{{reflist, refs=
[{{cite news , title=Engineered Bacteria Can Fill Cracks in Aging Concrete , author=Clay Dillow , date=2010-11-16 , publisher=Popular Science , url=http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-11/modified-bacterial-glue-can-shore-cracking-concrete , access-date=2016-04-08]
[{{cite web , title=Press release: Cracks in your concrete? – You need ‘BacillaFilla’ , url=http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/item/cracks-in-your-concrete-you-need-bacillafilla , publisher=]Newcastle University
Newcastle University (legally the University of Newcastle upon Tyne) is a UK public university, public research university based in Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England. It has overseas campuses in Singapore and Malaysia. The university is ...
, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115044559/http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/item/cracks-in-your-concrete-you-need-bacillafilla , archive-date=2010-11-15 , date=2010-11-12
[{{cite web , url=http://inhabitat.com/genetically-modified-bacteria-can-fix-cracked-concrete/ , title=Genetically Modified Bacteria Can Fix Cracked Concrete | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building , publisher=Inhabitat , date=2012-03-26 , access-date=2013-06-12]
External links
Official site
Bacteriology