All Synthetic Biology articles
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NewsMethod probing dark matter uncovers hundreds of new bacteria, and two potential antibiotics
A new approach to exploring untapped soil resources circumvents the need to grow bacteria in the lab by extracting very large DNA fragments directly from soil to piece together the genomes of previously hidden microbes, and then mines resulting genomes for bioactive molecules.
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NewsResearch team on quest to engineer computing systems from living cells
A research team has received a $1.99 million grant to lead research on engineered bacterial consortia that could form the basis of biological computing systems. They aim to integrate microbial sensing and communication with electronic networks, paving the way for computing systems constructed from living cells instead of traditional silicon-based hardware.
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News‘Essentiality’ scan reveals microbe’s ‘must-have’ list
Researchers have spent years taking apart one of the world’s simplest microbes, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, piece by piece, and created a detailed list of what molecular parts the living cell can and cannot do without.
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News‘Controlled evolution’ dramatically boosts pDNA production for biomedical manufacturing
Researchers have controlled the evolution of E. coli bacteria in the lab in order to dramatically increase the amount of plasmid DNA (pDNA) these modified bacteria produce. pDNA is an essential – and expensive – ingredient in many gene therapies.
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NewsCommon food bacterium could help make vitamins cheaper and greener
A new study reveals how Lactococcus lactis, a common food bacterium, regulates the production of a key precursor in vitamin K₂ (menaquinone) biosynthesis. The bacteria produce enough of this precursor to support their growth while preventing toxic buildup.
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NewsAnti-neuroinflammatory natural products from isopod-related fungus now accessible via chemical synthesis
Herpotrichone is valued for its ability to suppress inflammation in the brain and protect nerve cells, but could only be obtained in minute quantities from fungi that are symbiotic with isopods. Researchers have succeeded in chemically synthesizing this rare natural product.
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NewsEngineered yeast converts methanol into valuable compound α-farnesene at scale
Farnesene, a high-value chemical intermediate, has applications in fragrance and pharmaceutical synthesis as well as aviation fuel formulations.To reduce reliance on food-based feedstocks, researchers have engineered microbial cell factories capable of utilizing methanol.
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NewsBreakthrough engineered enzyme for recycling of PET bottle and blended fibers at moderate temperatures
Researchers engineered a novel PET hydrolase PET2-21M and established large-scale production in yeast. This enzyme dramatically boosted PET bottle-grade PET breakdown, offering a promising, energy-efficient path for a circular plastics economy.
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NewsSmart bacteria could transform global agricultural food production
An interdisciplinary team are to receive almost half a million pounds to fund the development of a ‘smart bacterium’ that can dynamically reprogramme how crops respond to environmental stresses in real-time.
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NewsMicrobially synthesized bioplastic may solve marine plastic pollution problem
Researchers have demonstrated a new eco-friendly plastic that decomposes in deep ocean conditions. In a deep-sea experiment, the microbially synthesized poly(d-lactate-co-3-hydroxybutyrate) (LAHB) biodegraded, while conventional plastics persisted.
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NewsBacteria gene discovery enhances key antibiotic production for farming and medicine
Monensin is a vital antibiotic used in agriculture and medicine. By analyzing the genome of Streptomyces cinnamonensis, the team discovered that specific genes (fadD, fadE, fadB, fadA) in the fatty acid degradation pathway significantly boost monensin synthesis.
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NewsResearchers engineer a microbial platform for efficient lutein production
The application of systems metabolic engineering strategies, and construction of an electron channeling system, has enabled the first gram-per-liter scale production of lutein from Corynebacterium glutamicum, providing a viable alternative to plant-derived lutein production.
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NewsScientists uncover shortcut to miniaturized hydrogen production
Researchers have figured out a way to simplify the highly complex hydrogenase biocatalyst to facilitate its integration into industrial processes, offering a route to clean energy.
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NewsResearchers deploy yeast platform to turn urine into high-value bio-implant material
Researchers have engineered a yeast platform that converts human urine from wastewater into hydroxyapatite, a high-value, biocompatible substance for use in dental and bone implants, restoration of archaeological artifacts and other applications.
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NewsScientists design protective ‘living tattoos’ for buildings
An international research team wants to integrate selected microorganisms into façade coatings to bring building walls to life. The microorganisms are intended to protect surfaces, store CO2 and filter pollutants.
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NewsBiosynthetic pathway discoveries mean we can halve the price of costly cancer drug
Researchers have identified the enzymes responsible for the two critical final steps in the biosynthetic pathway that makes the chemotherapy drug Taxol active as a drug, potentially opening it up to biotech based production.
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NewsOcean microbes offer clues to environmental resilience
Researchers have developed a new way to identify genetic changes that help tiny oxygen-producing microbes survive in extreme environments.
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NewsSelf-assembly of a large metal-peptide capsid nanostructure through geometric control
Controlling the topology and structure of entangled molecular strands is a key challenge in molecular engineering. This new hollow dodecahedral shell demonstrates remarkable stability and potential for functionalization and encapsulating macromolecules.
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NewsSynthetic lichen points a pathway to self-healing concrete
Addressing one of the most persistent and expensive problems in construction, scientists have taken inspiration from nature to develop a synthetic lichen system to enable concrete to self-repair.
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NewsElectricity-generating bacteria may power future innovations
Scientists have discovered how certain bacteria breathe by generating electricity, using a natural process that pushes electrons into their surroundings instead of breathing on oxygen.