[SCAN] Combining systems and synthetic biology to develop efficient microbial cell factories
Sofia Ferreira
| When |
18 Nov, 2020
from
12:00 pm to 01:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Contact Name | Rita Abranches |
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Title: Combining systems and synthetic biology to develop efficient microbial cell factories
Speaker: Sofia Ferreira
Affiliation: Systems and Synthetic Biology Lab - I. Rocha
Abstract: Several compounds with industrial applications like fuels, flavors, fragrances, sweeteners, cosmetic ingredients, and drugs are commonly produced by chemical synthesis or extracted from natural sources through harsh and inefficient processes. The use of microbial hosts to synthesize these compounds through the development of the so-called ‘cell factories’ poses as a promising alternative to sustainably produce a myriad of compounds. However, the efficient shift to microbial production is a complex task since microorganisms have evolved to fulfill its own requirements and genetic interventions are usually required to change the metabolic fluxes and satisfy industrial goals.
Systems and synthetic biology offer powerful tools to support a more rational design of microbial cell factories, saving time and labor by minimizing laboratory experiments. Systems Biology can support the rational design of more efficient strains by gaining fundamental insight into the cell physiology and predict Metabolic Engineering strategies. To do so, the in silico identification of possible targets requires the existence of reliable metabolic models for strain simulation and robust optimization algorithms. Synthetic Biology offers a wide range of methods to translate them in silico strategies into in vivo applications, including modern molecular biology techniques. The experimental results of the predicted strategies can then feedback the computational pipeline, refining the next round of computational analyses.
In this talk, I will unravel how we were able to successfully translate the computational analysis into in vivo applications, through a synergistic approach. I will show different case-studies regarding the development of cell factories for industrially relevant compounds.
ITQB NOVA Virtual Auditorium
