Trends in biotechnology最新文献

Image-guided volumetric bioprinting allows for the adaptive fabrication of complex structures for tissue engineering. Seminal work by Florczak et al. introduces Generative, Adaptive, Context-Aware 3D Printing, a workflow that uses computer vision to automatically generate functional, vascular-like networks that conform to living cells within hydrogels, improving their functionality.

Biosensors, particularly aptasensors, play a pivotal role in rapid diagnostics, but their practical performance is limited by suboptimal aptamers and conventional aptamer-material combination-based approaches. To overcome the limitations, we drew inspiration from living systems by pioneering an immune-inspired biomimetic strategy that harnesses V(D)J recombination for aptamer engineering. The resulting topology-refactored aptamers demonstrate a 133.3-fold enhancement in binding affinity. Target-aptamer binding precisely regulates the self-assembly of DNA nanosphere-Cu(II) biomimetic nanozymes, establishing the core biosensing mechanism. Integrated with smartphone-based colorimetric analysis, this platform enables high-throughput screening of various trace food contaminants in real-world complex samples, achieving high accuracy and an ultra-low limit of detection [342.1 pM for enrofloxacin, 330.8 pM for ciprofloxacin, 116.3 pM for okadaic acid, and 104.0 pM for cadmium, respectively], demonstrating broad detection capability. By redefining aptamer design, this biomimetic strategy opens new avenues for developing robust, nature-inspired biosensors for real-world use.

Polyethylene (PE) is a versatile polymer, but its end-of-life management is challenging due to its recalcitrant structure. We present a promising approach combining chemical degradation and bio-upcycling to convert postconsumer PE waste into a value-added bioproduct. Specifically, PE was degraded into acetic acid and C₄-C₇ dicarboxylic acids by nitric acid. We then elucidated the catabolic pathways for glutarate (C₅) and pimelate (C₇) in the nonmodel bacterium Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 through RNA sequencing, phenotyping, and enzymatic assays. Whole-genome sequencing of evolved isolates also identified a crucial IclR family transcriptional regulator, DcaS, which acts as a repressor of dicarboxylate metabolism. The reverse-engineered strain exhibited enhanced substrate utilization compared to the wild-type strain. Using rational metabolic engineering, the PE deconstruction products were bioconverted into the valuable chemical lycopene, highlighting the potential of this microbial chassis to produce value-added bioproducts from postconsumer PE waste, thus promoting a circular economy for plastics.

This article extends recent conversations on art-science collaboration in biotechnology to include design and biodesign. We highlight the rise of biodesign, tinkering with design, and more-than-human approaches in fostering innovative, sustainable outcomes for contemporary biotechnology, illustrating these opportunities through case studies in transdisciplinary partnership.

Steroid hormones are key signaling molecules regulating growth, metabolism, reproduction, and stress adaptation and are widely used as essential pharmaceuticals. Traditional production from sterol feedstocks through multistep chemical or microbial transformations is limited by inefficiency and scalability. Recent advances in synthetic biotechnology enable de novo biosynthesis of steroid hormones from simple carbon sources in yeasts and fungi. This review highlights metabolic rewiring to increase flux, cytochrome P450 enzyme engineering for side-chain cleavage, and hydroxylation to overcome rate-limiting bottlenecks of steroid hormone biosynthesis. We also discuss strategies to redesign steroid-transport pathways to alleviate intracellular accumulation and improve membrane export. Looking ahead, we envision integrating metabolic, enzyme, and transport engineering to build a scalable, data-driven 'intelligent' platform for sustainable steroid hormone biomanufacturing.

Arthropod natural enemies are central to biological control programs, where they regulate pest populations while contributing to ecological stability and biodiversity conservation. Nonetheless, for many species, large-scale rearing of these arthropods is constrained by expensive, labor-intensive methods that still rely heavily on living hosts. Emerging biotechnological tools promise to transform rearing practices by supporting the design of accurate, affordable, and host-independent artificial diets for arthropod natural enemies. This review explores biotechnology-driven advances in nutrient profiling, low-cost production, and functional packaging and integrates them into a unified framework. Moreover, this review highlights how the integration of multidisciplinary approaches and biotechnological innovations can address critical challenges in artificial diet development to enable sustainable biocontrol pest management at practical scales.

Industrial biosynthesis of next-generation human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) is hindered by glycosyltransferase (GT) promiscuity, metabolic imbalance, and chassis safety. This forum highlights advances in GT engineering, dynamic metabolic reprogramming, and Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) chassis development, aiming to ensure safe, precise, and efficient production of complex and diverse HMOs.

Replacing animal testing through 'New Approach Methodologies' holds promise for developing cheaper and safer drugs without animal suffering. However, such an approach should be implemented carefully, and it cannot be rushed. We discuss the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 and 3.0 and the FDA's roadmap to phase out animal testing.

The clinical importance of gentamicin C1a as a broad-spectrum aminoglycoside antibiotic underscores the need for efficient biomanufacturing strategies. In this study, we developed a systematic engineering framework to enhance gentamicin C1a production. First, a genome-scale metabolic model (iFX1172) was reconstructed to pinpoint critical bottlenecks in both regulatory and biosynthetic pathways. Guided by model predictions and experimental validation, we identified genC, metK, and BldD as synergistic targets. Coordinated overexpression of these genes increased gentamicin C1a titers to 198.1 mg/L, representing a 34.3% improvement over the parental strain, and also enhanced the titers of other aminoglycoside antibiotics by up to 1.6-fold, demonstrating the universality of the strategy. Metabolic flux analysis and targeted metabolomics revealed that redox homeostasis and ATP availability are pivotal for biosynthesis. Finally, process optimization in a fed-batch bioreactor using a Bayesian framework, coupled with in situ resin adsorption, yielded 964.1 mg/L gentamicin C1a with a yield of 24.1 mg/g glucose and a productivity of 6.7 mg/L/h.

Invasive pest Spodoptera frugiperda, known as the fall armyworm (FAW), evolves rapid resistance to chlorantraniliprole (CAP) via symbionts, reducing traditional control efficacy and causing economic losses. To address the formidable challenge of insecticide resistance, we introduce phage therapy into pest control, enabling precise targeting and efficient lysis of symbionts that mediate resistance. We employ zein to synchronously encapsulate phages and insecticides, constructing a nano-insecticide. This nano-insecticide ensures stability, exhibits robust performance by protecting phages against temperatures up to 60°C, and enhances their survival under UV irradiation by 83-fold. It intelligently responds to the pest gut enzymes for precise and controlled release, improving FAW control by 17% and overcoming resistance. Additionally, pesticide residue is reduced by 82.4%, with minimal impact on soil and maize microbial communities, preserving seedling growth. This modular, eco-friendly framework offers a sustainable solution for resistant pests, addressing the escalating challenge of resistant pests and paving the way for advancements in sustainable agriculture.