{"title":"Challenging plastic pollution with hydrocarbonoclastic lineages.","authors":"Yiqi Cao, Baiyu Zhang, Bing Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.10.010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.10.010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The hydrocarbonoclastic lineages that have existed for millennia are responsible for the degradation of diverse aliphatic and aromatic compounds, regulating the ocean hydrocarbon cycles. Given the metabolic similarities in breaking down plastics and hydrocarbons, a thorough understanding and leveraging of these processes can provide biotechnologically based solutions to tackle global plastic pollution.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142606445","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Advancing biopharmaceutical manufacturing: economic and sustainability assessment of end-to-end continuous production of monoclonal antibodies.","authors":"Behnam Partopour, David Pollard","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.10.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.10.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have become essential therapeutics for treating various diseases. The robust, cost-effective, and sustainable production of mAbs is crucial due to their growing clinical and commercial demand. Advances in bioprocessing, such as improved cell lines, perfusion bioreactors, multicolumn chromatography, and automation, can significantly increase productivity, making treatments more accessible. Streamlining the production process also aligns with environmental sustainability by reducing waste and energy consumption. This study quantifies the economic and environmental impacts of incorporating recent advances into end-to-end continuous bioprocessing of mAbs. The results demonstrate that, compared with an optimized best-in-class fed-batch process (with 15 g/l titer and multicolumn chromatography), continuous manufacturing can reduce the total annual production costs, facility footprint, plastic waste, and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions by up to 23%, 51%, 57%, and 54%, respectively, in a multiproduct facility producing clinical and commercial lots. Additionally, uncertainty analysis indicates that these gains are even more substantial under demand fluctuations.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142606442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Chairside live biotherapeutic hydrogel for comprehensive periodontitis therapy.","authors":"Kaifeng Li, Boyi Li, Jiyun Li, Xiaoyi Wu, Yaning Zhao, Jian Yu, Jingmei Guo, Cui Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.10.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.10.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Periodontitis, characterized by microbial dysbiosis and immune dysregulation, destroys tooth-supporting tissues and negatively affects overall health. Current strategies face significant challenges in restoring damaged tissues while halting periodontitis progression. In this study, we introduce a live biotherapeutic product (LBP) in an engineered living hydrogel for comprehensive periodontitis therapy. A dental blue light-responsive hydrogel (LRG) was fabricated to deliver and confine live Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) in periodontal pockets, endowing the LRG with sustained antibacterial and immunomodulatory effects. The LRG was engineered through peptide modification to also promote tissue regeneration. Both in vitro and in vivo evaluations confirmed the effectiveness of this integrated therapeutic strategy, which combines antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative properties with an underlying immunomodulatory mechanism that involves suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)3 upregulation and the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway suppression in macrophages. Demonstrating a new paradigm, this proof of concept highlights the synergistic integration of live organisms and synthetic material engineering in a chairside treatment to address the multifaceted etiology of periodontitis.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142590967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Likhitha Reddy Kummetha, Jeong-Joo Oh, Franka H van der Linden, Marie-Eve Aubin-Tam
{"title":"Leveraging the versatile properties of bacterial spores in materials.","authors":"Likhitha Reddy Kummetha, Jeong-Joo Oh, Franka H van der Linden, Marie-Eve Aubin-Tam","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.09.018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.09.018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Inspired by biological functions of living systems, researchers have engineered cells as independent functional materials or integrated them within a natural or synthetic matrix to create engineered living materials (ELMs). However, the 'livingness' of cells in such materials poses serious drawbacks, such as a short lifespan and the need for cold-chain logistics. Bacterial spores have emerged as a game changer to bypass these shortcomings as a result of their intrinsic dormancy and resistance against harsh conditions. Emerging synthetic biology tools tailored for engineering spores and better understanding of their physical properties have led to novel applications of spore-based materials. Here, we review recent advances in such materials and discuss future challenges for the development of time- and cost-efficient spore-based materials with high performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142547688","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bo Xu, Li-Hua Liu, Houliang Lin, Yang Zhang, Ying Huang, Qing He, Fan Wang, Yi-Rui Wu, Zhiqian Zhang, Ao Jiang
{"title":"A cell-free bacteriophage synthesis system for directed evolution.","authors":"Bo Xu, Li-Hua Liu, Houliang Lin, Yang Zhang, Ying Huang, Qing He, Fan Wang, Yi-Rui Wu, Zhiqian Zhang, Ao Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.10.005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.10.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Efficient phage production has always been an urgent need in fields such as drug discovery, disease treatment, and gene evolution. To meet this demand, we constructed a robust cell-free synthesis system for generating M13 phage by simplifying its genome, enabling a three-times faster efficiency compared with the traditional method in vivo. We further developed a cell-free directed evolution system in droplets, comprising a modified helper plasmid (ΔPS-ΔgIII-ΔgVI) and the simplified M13 genome-carrying gene mutation library. This system was greatly improved when coupled with fluorescence-activated droplet sorting (FADS). We successfully evolved the T7 RNA polymerase (RNAP), achieving a twofold higher activity to read through the T7 terminator. Moreover, we evolved the tryptophan tRNA into a suppressor tRNA with an eightfold increase in activity to read through the stop codon UAG.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142508794","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Emerging gene editing in industrial microbiology beyond CRISPR-Cas9.","authors":"Liya Liang, Huiping Tan, Rongming Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.09.012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.09.012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The CRISPR-Cas9 system has been widely applied for industrial microbiology but is not effective in certain microorganisms. This forum explores the strategies aimed at overcoming these challenges, including the use of the Cas12a system, Cas9 variants, and non-CRISPR techniques, to provide more effective strategies for expanding applications in microbial engineering.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142508797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yang-Yang Fan, Qiang Tang, Yang Li, Hong Sun, Meiying Xu, Han-Qing Yu
{"title":"Fabricating an advanced electrogenic chassis by activating microbial metabolism and fine-tuning extracellular electron transfer.","authors":"Yang-Yang Fan, Qiang Tang, Yang Li, Hong Sun, Meiying Xu, Han-Qing Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.09.021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.09.021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Exploiting electrogenic microorganisms as unconventional chassis hosts offers potential solutions to global energy and environmental challenges. However, their limited electrogenic efficiency and metabolic versatility, due to genetic and metabolic constraints, hinder broader applications. Herein, we developed a multifaceted approach to fabricate an enhanced electrogenic chassis, starting with streamlining the genome by removing extrachromosomal genetic material. This reduction led to faster lactate consumption, higher intracellular NADH/NAD<sup>+</sup> and ATP/ADP levels, and increased growth and biomass accumulation, as well as promoted electrogenic activity. Transcriptome profiling showed an overall activation of cellular metabolism. We further established a molecular toolkit with a vector vehicle incorporating native replication block and refined promoter components for precise gene expression control. This enabled engineered primary metabolism for greater environmental robustness and fine-tuned extracellular electron transfer (EET) for improved efficiency. The enhanced chassis demonstrated substantially improved pollutant biodegradation and radionuclide removal, establishing a new paradigm for utilizing electrogenic organisms as novel biotechnology chassis.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142569519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Matthias P Lutolf, Milica Radisic, Jeffrey Beekman, Dan Dongeun Huh, Meritxell Huch, Margherita Yayoi Turco, Zeinab Niloofar Tahmasebi Birgani, Dong Gao, Rui Yao, Hang Lin, Takanori Takebe
{"title":"In vitro human cell-based models: What can they do and what are their limitations?","authors":"Matthias P Lutolf, Milica Radisic, Jeffrey Beekman, Dan Dongeun Huh, Meritxell Huch, Margherita Yayoi Turco, Zeinab Niloofar Tahmasebi Birgani, Dong Gao, Rui Yao, Hang Lin, Takanori Takebe","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.08.015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.08.015","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142569590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
André D Valkenburg, Mellisa Z Ncube, George M Teke, Eugéne van Rensburg, Robert W M Pott
{"title":"Cellobiose lipids: applications, production, and downstream processing.","authors":"André D Valkenburg, Mellisa Z Ncube, George M Teke, Eugéne van Rensburg, Robert W M Pott","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.09.011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.09.011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cellobiose lipids (CBLs) are glycolipid biosurfactants that have garnered attention due to their potential applications in diverse industries. Here, we review the current state of CBL research, from production and purification, to the potential applications of CBLs. We elucidate CBL functionality and consider some commercial applications, as well as how operating conditions (e.g., media and organism, or production approaches) impact productivity. Methodologies based on enzymatic synthesis or postproduction chemical modification of CBL variants are also presented. Given the importance of purity in current CBL applications, we discuss CBL separation and purification techniques. Finally, we highlight the importance of techno-economic and life-cycle assessments for the industrialisation of CBLs, while suggesting potential future routes for investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142569518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comprehensive screening of industrially relevant components at genome scale using a high-quality gene overexpression collection of Corynebacterium glutamicum.","authors":"Jiao Liu, Xiaojia Zhao, Haijiao Cheng, Yanmei Guo, Xiaomeng Ni, Lixian Wang, Guannan Sun, Xiao Wen, Jiuzhou Chen, Jin Wang, Jingjing An, Xuan Guo, Zhenkun Shi, Haoran Li, Ruoyu Wang, Muqiang Zhao, Xiaoping Liao, Yu Wang, Ping Zheng, Meng Wang, Jibin Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.09.020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.09.020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Development of efficient microbial strains for biomanufacturing requires deep understanding of the biology and functional components responsible for the synthesis, transport, and tolerance of the target compounds. A high-quality controllable gene overexpression strain collection was constructed for the industrial workhorse Corynebacterium glutamicum covering 99.7% of its genes. The collection was then used for comprehensive screening of components relevant to biomanufacturing features. In total, 15 components endowing cells with improved hyperosmotic tolerance and l-lysine productivity were identified, including novel transcriptional factors and DNA repair proteins. Systematic interrogation of a subset of the collection revealed efficient and specific exporters functioning in both C. glutamicum and Escherichia coli. Application of the new exporters was showcased to construct a strain with the highest l-threonine production level reported for C. glutamicum (75.1 g/l and 1.5 g/l·h) thus far. The genome-scale gene overexpression collection will serve as a valuable resource for fundamental biological studies and for developing industrial microorganisms for producing amino acids and other biochemicals.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142508796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}