Key Performance Criterion: Bioluminescence Strength

Figure 1. Time-lapse image of fireflies in the Catskill Mountains, New York. (”6 Bioluminescent Organisms”)

1. **Define that criterion in measurable terms.**   
   

In this project, the critical performance criterion is the bioluminescence intensity produced in response to HA protein detection. It must be strong enough to be reliably measured by a portable sensor or smartphone camera. This can be defined quantitatively as:

• Minimum detectable luminescence: ****≥ 10³ relative light units (RLU)
• Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR): ≥ 5:1 compared to background luminescence
• Response time: Light detectable within 10–30 minutes after HA exposure

1. Describe a concrete strategy for how you will quantify it:

In regards to strategy for quantification, I will simulate and measure bioluminescence output by building a dose-response curve. Specifically, I will expose the engineered system (in dry-lab) to increasing concentrations of recombinant HA protein (0, 1, 10, 100, 1000 ng/mL) and record the corresponding luminescence levels.

I will plot luminescence intensity vs. HA concentration and fit the data to a Hill function to characterize sensitivity and dynamic range.

For dry-lab work, I will use literature values from luxCDABE systems to predict expected RLU outputs.

1. List at least three examples of assays, instruments, or computational tools you will use to collect and interpret your data:

• Plate Reader with Luminescence Detection(e.g., BioTek Synergy): to measure absolute light output in RLUs
• Smartphone Camera with Light Intensity App(e.g., Photometer Pro): to simulate real-world mask use cases