Youngjoon Lee, Minju Kang, Woo Dae Jang, So Young Choi, Jung Eun Yang, Sang Yup Lee
{"title":"Microbial production of an aromatic homopolyester.","authors":"Youngjoon Lee, Minju Kang, Woo Dae Jang, So Young Choi, Jung Eun Yang, Sang Yup Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.06.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.06.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We report the development of a metabolically engineered bacterium for the fermentative production of polyesters containing aromatic side chains, serving as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. A metabolic pathway was constructed in an Escherichia coli strain to produce poly[d-phenyllactate(PhLA)], followed by three strategies to enhance polymer production. First, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) granule-associated proteins (phasins) were introduced to increase the polymer accumulation. Next, metabolic engineering was performed to redirect the metabolic flux toward PhLA. Furthermore, PHA synthase was engineered based on in silico simulation results to enhance the polymerization of PhLA. The final strain was capable of producing 12.3 g/l of poly(PhLA), marking it the first bio-based process for producing an aromatic homopolyester. Additional heterologous gene introductions led to the high level production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-11.7 mol% PhLA) copolymer (61.4 g/l). The strategies described here will be useful for the bio-based production of aromatic polyesters from renewable resources.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142037132","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}
Tianying Yuan, Xihong Fu, Rongcheng Hu, Xiaochun Zheng, Dong Jiang, Lanyu Jing, Xiaying Kuang, Zhongwei Guo, Xu Luo, Yixin Liu, Xuenong Zou, Gary D Luker, Shengli Mi, Chun Liu, Wei Sun
{"title":"Bioprinted, spatially defined breast tumor microenvironment models of intratumoral heterogeneity and drug resistance.","authors":"Tianying Yuan, Xihong Fu, Rongcheng Hu, Xiaochun Zheng, Dong Jiang, Lanyu Jing, Xiaying Kuang, Zhongwei Guo, Xu Luo, Yixin Liu, Xuenong Zou, Gary D Luker, Shengli Mi, Chun Liu, Wei Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.06.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.06.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cellular, extracellular matrix (ECM), and spatial heterogeneity of tumor microenvironments (TMEs) regulate disease progression and treatment efficacy. Developing in vitro models that recapitulate the TME promises to accelerate studies of tumor biology and identify new targets for therapy. Here, we used extrusion-based, multi-nozzle 3D bioprinting to spatially pattern triple-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, endothelial cells (ECs), and human mammary cancer-associated fibroblasts (HMCAFs) with biomimetic ECM inks. Bioprinted models captured key features of the spatial architecture of human breast tumors, including varying-sized dense regions of cancer cells and surrounding microvessel-rich stroma. Angiogenesis and ECM stiffening occurred in the stromal area but not the cancer cell-rich (CCR) regions, mimicking pathological changes in patient samples. Transcriptomic analyses revealed upregulation of angiogenesis-related and ECM remodeling-related signatures in the stroma region and identified potential ligand-receptor (LR) mediators of these processes. Breast cancer cells in distinct parts of the bioprinted TME showed differing sensitivities to chemotherapy, highlighting environmentally mediated drug resistance. In summary, our 3D-bioprinted tumor model will act as a platform to discover integrated functions of the TME in cancer biology and therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141903026","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}
Shaofu Huang, Jie Ye, Jiangtao Gao, Man Chen, Shungui Zhou
{"title":"Harnessing microbes to pioneer environmental biophotoelectrochemistry.","authors":"Shaofu Huang, Jie Ye, Jiangtao Gao, Man Chen, Shungui Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.07.005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.07.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In seeking sustainable environmental strategies, microbial biophotoelectrochemistry (BPEC) systems represent a significant advancement. In this review, we underscore the shift from conventional bioenergy systems to sophisticated BPEC applications, emphasizing their utility in leveraging solar energy for essential biochemical conversions. Recent progress in BPEC technology has facilitated improved photoelectron transfer and system stability, resulting in substantial advancements in carbon and nitrogen fixation, degradation of pollutants, and energy recovery from wastewater. Advances in system design and synthetic biology have expanded the potential of BPEC for environmental clean-up and sustainable energy generation. We also highlight the challenges of environmental BPEC systems, ranging from performance improvement to future applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141879530","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}
Trends in biotechnologyPub Date : 2024-08-01Epub Date: 2024-06-01DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.05.003
Thore Manuel Buergel, Jakob Steinfeldt
{"title":"The GPS for drug development: navigating with evidence from human populations.","authors":"Thore Manuel Buergel, Jakob Steinfeldt","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.05.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.05.003","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141198997","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}
Trends in biotechnologyPub Date : 2024-08-01Epub Date: 2024-02-16DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.01.005
Jake M Robinson, Martin F Breed, Richard Beckett
{"title":"Probiotic Cities: microbiome-integrated design for healthy urban ecosystems.","authors":"Jake M Robinson, Martin F Breed, Richard Beckett","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.01.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.01.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Combining microbiome science and biointegrated design offers opportunities to help address the intertwined challenges of urban ecosystem degradation and human disease. Biointegrated materials have the potential to combat superbugs and remediate pollution while inoculating landscape materials with microbiota can promote human immunoregulation and biodiverse green infrastructure, contributing to 'probiotic cities'.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139898289","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}
Trends in biotechnologyPub Date : 2024-08-01Epub Date: 2024-03-05DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.02.003
Abolfazl Keshmirshekan, Leonardo M de Souza Mesquita, Sónia P M Ventura
{"title":"Biocontrol manufacturing and agricultural applications of Bacillus velezensis.","authors":"Abolfazl Keshmirshekan, Leonardo M de Souza Mesquita, Sónia P M Ventura","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.02.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.02.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many microorganisms have been reported as bioagents for producing ecofriendly, cost-effective, and safe products. Some Bacillus species of bacteria can be used in agricultural applications. Bacillus velezensis in particular has shown promising results for controlling destructive phytopathogens and in biofungicide manufacturing. Some B. velezensis strains can promote plant growth and display antibiotic activities against plant pathogen agents. In this review, we focus on the often-overlooked potential properties of B. velezensis as a bioagent for applications that will extend beyond the traditional agricultural uses. We delve into its versatility and future prospects, the challenges such uses may encounter, and some drawbacks associated with B. velezensis-based products.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140050392","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}
Trends in biotechnologyPub Date : 2024-08-01Epub Date: 2024-01-30DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.12.012
Riya Bongirwar, Pratyoosh Shukla
{"title":"Engineering regulatory networks of cyanobacteria.","authors":"Riya Bongirwar, Pratyoosh Shukla","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.12.012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.12.012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Engineering a cell's regulatory networks to dynamically control gene expression has been considered a new frontier in biological engineering. In cyanobacteria, the lack of well-characterized, modular gene regulatory elements makes regulatory network engineering challenging. Here, we suggest potential tools to modify various gene expression steps in cyanobacterial regulatory networks.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139651775","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":"Trends in developing one-pot CRISPR diagnostics strategies.","authors":"Lin Chen, Menglu Hu, Xiaoming Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.07.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.07.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The integration of nucleic acid amplification (NAA) with the CRISPR detection system has led to significant advancements and opportunities for development in molecular diagnostics. Nevertheless, the incompatibility between CRISPR cleavage and NAA has significantly impeded the commercialization of this technology. Currently, several one-pot detection strategies based on CRISPR systems have been devised to address concerns regarding aerosol contamination risk and operational complexity associated with step-by-step detection as well as the sensitivity limitation of conventional one-pot methods. In this review, we provide a comprehensive introduction and outlook of the various solutions of the one-pot CRISPR assay for practitioners who are committed to developing better CRISPR nucleic acid detection technologies to promote the progress of molecular diagnostics.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141879531","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}
Trends in biotechnologyPub Date : 2024-08-01Epub Date: 2024-03-01DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.02.004
Falk Harnisch, Jörg S Deutzmann, Santiago T Boto, Miriam A Rosenbaum
{"title":"Microbial electrosynthesis: opportunities for microbial pure cultures.","authors":"Falk Harnisch, Jörg S Deutzmann, Santiago T Boto, Miriam A Rosenbaum","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.02.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.02.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is an emerging technology that couples renewable electricity to microbial production processes. Although advances in MES performance have been driven largely by microbial mixed cultures, we see a great limitation in the diversity, and hence value, of products that can be achieved in undefined mixed cultures. By contrast, metabolic control of pure cultures and genetic engineering could greatly expand the scope of MES, and even of broader electrobiotechnology, to include targeted high-value products. To leverage this potential, we advocate for more efforts and activities to develop engineered electroactive microbes for synthesis, and we highlight the need for a standardized electrobioreactor infrastructure that allows the establishment and engineering of electrobioprocesses with these novel biocatalysts.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11310912/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140022602","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in biotechnologyPub Date : 2024-08-01Epub Date: 2024-02-27DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.02.002
Casey-Tyler Berezin, Samuel Peccoud, Diptendu M Kar, Jean Peccoud
{"title":"Cryptographic approaches to authenticating synthetic DNA sequences.","authors":"Casey-Tyler Berezin, Samuel Peccoud, Diptendu M Kar, Jean Peccoud","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.02.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.02.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In a bioeconomy that relies on synthetic DNA sequences, the ability to ensure their authenticity is critical. DNA watermarks can encode identifying data in short sequences and can be combined with error correction and encryption protocols to ensure that sequences are robust to errors and securely communicated. New digital signature techniques allow for public verification that a sequence has not been modified and can contain sufficient information for synthetic DNA to be self-documenting. In translating these techniques from bacteria to more complex genetically modified organisms (GMOs), special considerations must be made to allow for public verification of these products. We argue that these approaches should be widely implemented to assert authorship, increase the traceability, and detect the unauthorized use of synthetic DNA.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11309913/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139991247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}