Biotechnology/Systems biology

For several years now, the CRISPR-Cas gene scissors have provided molecular biologists with a tool that enables targeted changes to the genome. The potential for plant breeding in particular is enormous. Genetic information of important crops can be modified to make them more resistant to pests, diseases or extreme climatic conditions. Holger Puchta from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is one of the pioneers worldwide who first used the CRISPR-Cas gene scissors on plants.

Archaea are among the oldest living organisms on earth. The single-celled organisms are undemanding and often live in extreme environments such as hot springs, salt lakes or the deep sea. Researchers have now also detected a globally distributed species that can convert ammonium in Europe's third largest inland lake, Lake Constance.

Until now, wood has not been considered well suited for use in biogas plants. The reason for this is the high proportion of fibrous compounds that are difficult to degrade. Researchers in the PaplGas project have now overcome this hurdle. Under the leadership of the German Biomass Research Center (DBFZ), they have developed an innovative process chain for using poplar wood for biogas plants. Vattenfall Energy Solutions GmbH (ESG) and the substrate manufacturer Klasmann-Deilmann GmbH (KD) are involved in the project.

The marine bacterium Vibrio natriegens is faster than any other: No known organism that is harmless to humans multiplies faster. This makes it a potentially highly interesting tool for biotechnology. A research team from TU Munich has investigated this question and used the microbe to produce succinic acid. Their research is presented in the journal „Microbial Biotechnology“.

The development and production of enzymes and bioprocesses are the strengths of the Leipzig-based biotech company c-LEcta. In 2018, a financing round laid the foundation for establishing large-scale production of enzymes. Last year, the Leipzig-based company cracked the €10 million revenue mark and announced a move to a yet-to-be-built biotechnology campus building.

Casein and whey protein are essential for the characteristic taste and texture of cheese made from animal milk. Vegan cheese alternatives based on plant proteins have struggled to keep up in this regard. Berlin-based food tech start-up Formo has developed a biotechnological process that enables these milk proteins to be produced in the laboratory. Formo uses microorganisms to produce casein and whey protein. These have been converted so that yeasts produce the milk proteins.

Faster healing of damaged nerves and muscles - that's what researchers at the University of Bayreuth expect from specially spun fibers made from biotechnologically produced spider silk. Spider silk is non-toxic, well tolerated by the body and hardly colonized by microbes. At the same time, the material is tough, strong and biodegradable. For this reason, medicine is already testing it to create a support scaffold on which damaged nerve cells can regrow. So far, however, this process is still taking a very long time.