Current opinion in biotechnology最新文献

{"title":"Microbial food waste valorization: advances, challenges, and perspectives","authors":"Wei Long Soon ,&nbsp;Jee Loon Foo ,&nbsp;Matthew Wook Chang","doi":"10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103323","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103323","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Food waste is a global challenge and poses significant environmental and economic challenges. Many initiatives have been launched towards managing food waste through the supply chain to tackle this global issue. In this review, we discuss microbial fermentation as a sustainable solution for food waste valorization, transforming organic matter into energy, valuable compounds, and biomaterials by harnessing the abilities of microorganisms. We highlight the impact of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering in enhancing microbial efficiency, optimizing substrate utilization, and expanding industrial applications. We also examine biorefinery integration as a pathway for large-scale implementation and highlight emerging startups in this space. Finally, we address key challenges such as substrate heterogeneity, scalability, and economic feasibility in the transition toward a circular bioeconomy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10833,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in biotechnology","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 103323"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144307975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Carbon-efficient waste upcycling: combining syngas fermentation and chain elongation with synthetic consortia","authors":"Byung-Chul R Kim ,&nbsp;Sabine Kleinsteuber ,&nbsp;Christopher E Lawson","doi":"10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103321","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103321","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Syngas fermentation and chain elongation are key anaerobic biotechnologies for waste carbon upcycling. Their integration as a mixotrophic process enables simultaneous conversion of gaseous and wet waste substrates into medium-chain carboxylic acids and alcohols with high yields and no CO₂ emissions. However, in practice, open culture-based processes suffer from low product yields, poor electron selectivity, and a narrow product range. Here, we explore synthetic consortia as a platform to advance one-pot mixotrophic waste conversion to medium-chain oleochemicals. We propose strategies for building synthetic consortia through a top-down, bottom-up approach, leveraging automation and high-throughput microbiology to accelerate bioprocess development. These advances could improve yields, expand waste feedstocks, and produce new chemicals, accelerating carbon-efficient waste upcycling toward industrial adoption while driving the circular economy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10833,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in biotechnology","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 103321"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144307974","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From bench to biofactory: high-throughput technologies and automated workflows to accelerate biomanufacturing","authors":"Christopher J Petzold ,&nbsp;Aindrila Mukhopadhyay","doi":"10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103320","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103320","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microbial production of target molecules has advanced significantly in recent years driven by innovations in enzyme engineering, DNA synthesis, and genomic editing. However, to access the massive potential of microbial production, a vast parametric space remains to be investigated to optimize these biobased processes for a robust bioeconomy. Here, we review the current state of the art, some key challenges and possible solutions. We see a critical role of automation, high-throughput technologies, self-driving and cloud labs, and data management to enable Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning and mechanistic models to overcome the design space challenges and accelerate the development of novel bio-based solutions. Accurate models will expedite the development and scale-up of engineered microbes for a range of final products from many starting materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10833,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in biotechnology","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 103320"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144254477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anaerobic microbial methanol utilization as a one-carbon feedstock","authors":"Cristiano Da Silva Lameira ,&nbsp;Maximilan Flaiz ,&nbsp;Benjamin Woolston ,&nbsp;Philippe Soucaille ,&nbsp;Frank R Bengelsdorf","doi":"10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103322","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103322","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Acetogens are anaerobic bacteria of special interest in fighting environmental and economic impacts caused by massive carbon emissions that pollute our Earth’s atmosphere. These microbes have the unique ability to convert carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or methanol into value-added bioproducts. The gas fermentation technology is already at industrial scale and is making use of special acetogens able to produce ethanol natively. Here, we propose a methanol-based bioconversion process using anaerobic methylotrophic acetogens (<em>Eubacterium limosum or Eubacterium callanderi</em>) to produce natively only butyrate or butanol, if genetically modified. Therefore, we depict the crucial fermentation parameters and explain the underlying metabolic pathways to steer these biocatalysts towards sole butyrate production. Additionally, the available genetic toolkits are outlined, and the insights gained via system biology approaches are presented. The concept of the suggested bioprocess is only sustainable if green methanol is used as one-carbon feedstock. The use of black or gray methanol would undoubtedly counteract all efforts towards net-zero CO₂ emissions. To meet tightening climate targets and environmental, social, and governance commitments, stakeholders must evaluate a spectrum of low‑carbon technologies. The data presented here indicate that biotechnological fermentations can reduce emissions while remaining commercially competitive, and therefore warrant serious consideration for future industrial deployment and investment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10833,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in biotechnology","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 103322"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144240511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Operation at thermophilic temperatures: an underestimated asset for gas fermentation processes","authors":"Hariklia N Gavala,&nbsp;Ioannis V Skiadas","doi":"10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103319","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103319","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gas fermentation technology presents great potential for enhancing the transition of our society to a sustainable era and alleviating the climate crisis. Scalability, robustness, and economic viability are decisive factors for successfully bringing emerging technologies on a commercial scale. Compared to traditional liquid phase fermentation, gas fermentation comes with additional challenges that mainly stem from gas–liquid mass transfer limitations. Operation at moderately elevated temperatures (50–60 °C) enhances the mass transfer rate and consequently productivity, thus improving the economic indicators. However, the scarcity of studies at the thermophilic range that could set the foundation for further scaling-up for products other than biomethane is noticeable. This review summarizes progress in the last 10 years regarding thermophilic CO₂ and syngas fermentation and discusses a way forward to improving the competitiveness of gas fermentation technology via operation at elevated temperature.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10833,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in biotechnology","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 103319"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144166431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Innovations in 3D printing of food for special medical purposes: potential applications of 4D/5D printing technology","authors":"Min Feng ,&nbsp;Min Zhang ,&nbsp;Bhesh Bhandari","doi":"10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103318","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103318","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>4D/5D printing is the result of 3D printing with smart materials, which has attracted much attention due to its advantages of design freedom, low production cost, and personalization. In order to promote the effective and efficient production of multifunctional, on-demand textured and personalized nutritional food for special medical purposes (FSMPs), this review firstly reviews the research progress of FSMPs and the application of 3D printing technology. The direction of food 4D/5D printing and its applications in personalized nutritional formulations, customized foods for specific diseases, and innovative multifunctional food development are further discussed in detail. Finally, the future development opportunities and challenges of 4D/5D printing for FSMPs are presented, with a view to providing a reference for the realization of intelligent printing with real-time sensing, adaptation to changes, and predictive accuracy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10833,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in biotechnology","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 103318"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144147830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “The expansion of fungal organisms in environmental biotechnology” [Curr Opin Biotechnol 90 (2024) 103217]","authors":"Korena K Mafune,&nbsp;Mari K Winkler","doi":"10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103316","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103316","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":10833,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in biotechnology","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 103316"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144105865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anaerobic microbial core for municipal wastewater treatment — the sustainable platform for resource recovery","authors":"Brian Conall Holohan ,&nbsp;Anna Trego ,&nbsp;Ciara Keating ,&nbsp;Thiago Bressani-Ribeiro ,&nbsp;Carlos L Chernicharo ,&nbsp;Glen Daigger ,&nbsp;Stephen M Galdi ,&nbsp;Ulrich Knörle ,&nbsp;Eleonora Paissoni ,&nbsp;Angel Robles ,&nbsp;Frank Rogalla ,&nbsp;Chungheon Shin ,&nbsp;Ana Soares ,&nbsp;Adam L Smith ,&nbsp;Aleksandra Szczuka ,&nbsp;Dermot Hughes ,&nbsp;Vincent O’Flaherty","doi":"10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103317","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103317","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The requirement for carbon neutrality and bioresource recovery has shifted our views on water treatment from health and pollution avoidance to one of sustainability with water and nutrient circularity. Despite progress, the current process of wastewater treatment is linear, based on core aerobic microbiology, which is unlikely to be carbon neutral due to its large use of energy and production of waste sludge. Here, we outline a shift from aerobic to anaerobic microbiology at the core of wastewater treatment and resource recovery, illustrating the state-of-the-art technologies available for this paradigm shift. Anaerobic metabolism primarily offers the benefit of minimal energy input (up to 50% reduction) and minimal biomass production, resulting in up to 95% less waste sludge compared with aerobic treatment, which is increasingly attractive, given dialogue surrounding emerging contaminants in biosolids. Recent innovative research solutions have made ambient (mainstream) anaerobic treatment a ready substitute for the aerobic processes for municipal wastewater in temperate regions. Moreover, utilising anaerobic treatment as the core carbon removal step allows for more biological downstream resource recovery with several opportunities to couple the process with (anaerobic) nitrogen and phosphorus recovery, namely, potential mainstream anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) and methane oxidation (N-DAMO). Furthermore, these technologies can be mixed and matched with membranes and ion-exchange systems, high-value biochemical production, and/or water reuse installations.</div><div>As such, we propose the reconfiguration of the wastewater treatment plant of the futurewith anaerobic microbiology. Mainstream anaerobic treatment at the core of a truly sustainable platform for modern municipal wastewater treatment, facilitating circular economy and net-zero carbon goals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10833,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in biotechnology","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 103317"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144105866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genome-scale metabolic models in cultivated meat: advances, challenges, and future directions","authors":"Sandra Gomez Romero ,&nbsp;Isabella Spielmann ,&nbsp;Nanette Boyle","doi":"10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103313","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103313","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cultivated meat is an emerging field that integrates stem cell biology, tissue engineering, and bioprocessing to create a sustainable alternative to conventional meat. However, its widespread adoption faces key metabolic challenges, including the need for serum-free media, optimization of cell line–specific growth conditions, and enhanced cellular engineering strategies. <em>GE</em>nome-scale <em>M</em>etabolic models (GEMs) have been instrumental in optimizing metabolic conditions for Chinese hamster ovaries, a powerhouse species for biomanufacturing, and they can be adapted to be used for cultivated meat in the same way. These models facilitate the transition to cost-effective, serum-free media and improve biomass production through metabolic flux analysis. Future advancements will require expanding publicly available metabolic data sets, refining cell line–specific models, and integrating transcriptomic and proteomic data to enhance predictive accuracy. By leveraging GEMs, cultivated meat production can overcome current limitations, paving the way for a scalable, sustainable, and economically viable alternative to traditional meat.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10833,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in biotechnology","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 103313"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144068626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pathway engineering for the biosynthesis of psychedelics","authors":"Zachary N Abrahms ,&nbsp;Abhishek K Sen ,&nbsp;J Andrew Jones","doi":"10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103314","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103314","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Naturally occurring psychoactive compounds have been used for cultural and ethnomedical purposes for centuries. Several more such molecules continue to be chemically synthesized, exhibiting a wide range of potency, therapeutic, and hallucinogenic effects. Promising clinical data and a renewed interest in understanding the cellular mechanisms of action have inspired synthetic biology efforts to develop alternative production routes for psychedelic compounds. Here, we highlight the latest biosynthetic accomplishments for indolamines (psilocybin, <em>N,N</em>-dimethyltryptamine, 5-methoxy-<em>N,N-</em>dimethyltryptamine, and bufotenine), ergolines (lysergic acid), and phenethylamines (mescaline) in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic production hosts. We further curate a list of relevant biosynthetic enzymes that have reports of successful <em>in vivo</em> heterologous activity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10833,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in biotechnology","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 103314"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144068768","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}