Biotechnology/Systems biology

Two antenna-like feelers turn unicellular microalgae into fantastic swimmers. Two researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems have harnessed this ability. They transformed the organisms into mini-robots that could be used as drug transporters in medicine, for example.

The majority of plants live in symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi. This subterranean symbiosis is equally beneficial for plants and root fungi. But how do such symbioses develop and how do plants decide whether or not to interact? A team led by symbiosis researcher Caroline Gutjahr from the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology in Potsdam has provided new insights into this.

In nature, CO₂ is mainly fixed via the Calvin cycle, which is part of photosynthesis. Marburg microbiologist and Leibniz Prize winner Tobias Erb has been working for some time on making natural fixation pathways more efficient with the help of synthetic biology.

Synthetic polyamides - better known as nylon - can be found in tights, fishing nets and sportswear. However, their recycling rate is less than five per cent. A lot of nylon waste ends up in landfill sites, in the environment or is incinerated.

Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and yeasts are the invisible little helpers of the bioeconomy. With their assistance, biological resources can be utilised, new bio-based products can be manufactured and production processes can be made more sustainable and efficient. In the search for new microorganisms for biotechnological applications, researchers in the newly launched EU project XTREAM now want to take a closer look at the earth's extreme habitats.

With their start-up Vyld, Ines Schiller and Melanie Schichan have developed the world's first tampon made from seaweed, the ‘Tangpon’. After positive tests with customers in 2023, the algae tampon has recently been approved and started being used in various sanitary facilities in Germany.

"Tangpons" in offices and at events

According to Vyld, the biodegradable tampon is now also convincing those who provide such hygiene products - for example in offices, fitness studios and at major events.

With the LOEWE Centre for Insect Biotechnology and Bioresources, the city of Giessen has developed into a world-leading location for insect biotechnology. Scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME and Justus Liebig University are jointly researching biotechnological methods to develop new products from insects. One focus of the work is on sustainable, insect-based technologies for the circular bioeconomy. Now the breeding of insects is also to be established on a large scale in Giessen.

Vegan cheese alternatives have one thing in common: they contain neither casein nor whey protein - although these proteins are crucial for the characteristic flavour and texture of cheese made from animal milk. Formo has found a way to produce these essential milk proteins - especially caseins - with the help of microorganisms. The Berlin-based food tech start-up uses precision fermentation to produce animal-free cheese products.

The wood-processing industry produces large quantities of wood waste, which until now has either been disposed of at great expense or utilised for energy. Waste wood treated with wood preservatives can currently only be incinerated in special large-scale power plants, as the exhaust air has to be cleaned of the harmful substances. In the ‘H2Wood – BlackForest’ project, Fraunhofer researchers and their partners have now specifically sought alternative uses for wood waste in the Black Forest region, which is heavily characterised by wood processing.