Genetic engineering in algal biotechnology

Genetic engineering techniques using microalgae have now advanced to a stage where they can make a considerable contribution to the success of algal biotechnology.     

Biological constraints in algal biotechnology

In the past decade, considerable progress has been made in developing the appropriate biotechnology for microalgal mass cultivation aimed at establishing a new agro-industry. This review points out the main biological constraints affecting algal biotechnology outdoors and the requirements for making this biotechnology economically viable. One of them is the availability of a wide variety of algal species and improved strains that favorably respond to varying environmental conditions existing outdoors. It is thus just a matter of time and effort before a new methodology like genetic engineering can and will be applied in this field as well. The study of stress physiology and adaptation of microalgae has also an important application in further development of the biotechnology for mass culturing of microalgae. In outdoor cultures, cells are exposed to severe changes in light and temperature much faster than the time scale required for the cells to acclimate. A better understanding of those parameters and the ability to rapidly monitor those conditions will provide the growers with a better knowledge on how to optimize growth and productivity. Induction of accumulation of high value products is associated with stress conditions. Understanding the physiological response may help in providing a better production system for the desired product and, at a later stage, give an insight of the potential for genetic modification of desired strains. The potential use of microalgae as part of a biological system for bioremediation/detoxification and wastewater treatment is also associated with growing the cells under stress conditions. Important developments in monitoring and feedback control of the culture behavior through application of on-line chlorophyll fluorescence technique are in progress. Understanding the process associated with those unique environmental conditions may help in choosing the right culture conditions as well as selecting strains in order to improve the efficiency of the biological process.     

Problems in developing the biotechnology of algal biomass production

Summary The effects of environmental conditions (solar irradiance and temperature) and population density on the production of Spirulina biomass with brackish water are reported for cultures grown in outdoor ponds. Higher specific growth rates were observed at lower population densities. Lower growth rates were associated with limitation by light in dense cultures under optimum conditions in the summer. Seasonal variation in productivity was observed. In summer, light was the limiting factor, whereas in winter the low daytime temperature appeared to constitute the major limitation. The oxygen concentration in the culture can serve as a useful indicator of limiting factors and can also be used to estimate the extent of such limitations.     

Sugarcane biotechnology: The challenges and opportunities

Summary Commercial sugarcane, belonging to the genus Saccharum (Poaceae), is an important industrial crop accounting for nearly 70% of sugar produced worldwide. Compared to other major crops, efforts to improve sugarcane are limited and relatively recent, with the first introduction of interspecific hybrids about 80 yr ago. Progress in traditional breeding of sugareane, a highly polyploid and frequently aneuploid plant, is impeded by its narrow gene pool, complex genome, poor fertility, and the long breeding/selection cycle. These constraints, however, make sugarcane a good candidate for molecular breeding. In the past decade considerable progress has been made in understanding and manipulating the sugarcane genome using various biotechnological and cell biological approaches. Notable among them are the creation of transgenic plants with improved agronomic or other important traits, advances in genomics and molecular markers, and progress in understanding the molecular aspects of sucrose transport and accumulation. More recently, substantial effort has been directed towards developing sugarcane as a biofactory for high-value products. While these achievements are commendable, a greater understanding of the sugarcane genome, and cell and whole plant physiology, will accelerate the implementation of commercially significant biotechnology outcomes. We anticipate that the rapid advancements in molecular biology and emerging biotechnology innovations would play a significant role in the future sugarcane crop improvement programs and offer many new opportunities to develop it as a new-generation industrial crop.     

New challenges and opportunities for industrial biotechnology

ABSTRACT: Industrial biotechnology has not developed as fast as expected due to some challenges including the emergences of alternative energy sources, especially shale gas, natural gas hydrate (or gas hydrate) and sand oil et al. The weaknesses of microbial or enzymatic processes compared with the chemical processing also make industrial biotech products less competitive with the chemical ones. However, many opportunities are still there if industrial biotech processes can be as similar as the chemical ones. Taking advantages of the molecular biology and synthetic biology methods as well as changing process patterns, we can develop bioprocesses as competitive as chemical ones, these including the minimized cells, open and continuous fermentation processes et al.     

空间生物技术研究与应用动态

由于空间生物技术潜在重大社会和经济效益。加强探索空间生物技术的发展。目前已经成为空间科学技术发展的重点之一。我国的空间技术在系列应用卫星成功发展的基础上,已将进入到更先进的载人飞船阶段。我国的科技人员将会有更多的机会,更好的条件在空间开展生物技术的研究。以促进其发展和应用,造福于人类,本文简要地介绍了空间发展生物技术的优越性。空间生物技术发展的热点和趋势,以及空间生物技术硬件发展的动态。     

Perspective on opportunities in industrial biotechnology in renewable chemicals

From biomass to renewable chemicals: while industrial biotechnology offers a clear value proposition, a number of hurdles need to be addressed to fully realize the commercial potential of bio-based products and chemicals over the coming decade. A review of an early roadmap for biological production of chemicals from renewable sugars reveals a focus on those that would provide co-products for integrated biorefineries producing biofuels and bioenergy. A growing number of companies are now focusing on specialty chemicals as an entry point to build the bio-based economy.     

Microalgal and bacterial auxin biosynthesis: implications for algal biotechnology

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Liquid and gaseous fuels from biotechnology: challenge and opportunities

Abstract: This paper presents challenging opportunities for production of liquid and gaseous fuels by biotechnology. From the liquid fuels, ethyl alcohol production has been widely researched and implemented. The major obstacle for large scale production of ethanol for fuel is the cost, whereby the substrate represents one of the major cost components. Various scenarios will be presented for a critical assessment of cost distribution for production of ethanol from various substrates by conventional and high rate processes. The paper also focuses on recent advances in the research and application of biotechnological processes and methods for the production of liquid transportation fuels other than ethanol (other oxygenates; diesel fuel extenders and substitutes), as well as gaseous fuels (biogas, methane, reformed syngas). Potential uses of these biofuels are described, along with environmental concerns which accompany them. Emphasis is also put on microalgal lipids as diesel substitute and biogas/methane as a renewable alternative to natural gas. The capturing and use of landfill gases is also mentioned, as well as microbial coal liquefaction. Described is also the construction and performance of microbial fuel cells for the direct high-efficiency conversion of chemical fuel energy to electricity. Bacterial carbon dioxide recovery is briefly dealt with as an environmental issue associated with the use of fossil energy.     

Challenges and opportunities for enhancing biotechnology and technology transfer in developing countries

Biotechnological innovation is gaining increased recognition as an important tool for improving global health. The challenge, however, lies in defining the role of technology transfer to develop therapies for diseases prevalent in developing countries. During the past decade, a large disparity emerged between the developed and developing world in accessing affordable medicines because of the pharmaceutical industry's focus on health areas bearing greatest profits. Discussed herein are several mechanisms that provide partial solutions to this challenge. The Office of Technology Transfer of the US National Institutes of Health has increased its technology licensing pertaining to neglected diseases to partners in developing regions. Establishing partnerships through the transfer of technologies and assisting indigenous institutions build R and D capacity may positively impact policies on protection of intellectual property rights and increase multinational company investments in lesser-developed countries. This will most probably result in the development of more accessible therapies for those in need.     

Nitric oxide in fruit ripening: Trends and opportunities

Monitoring ethylene is crucial in regulating post-harvest life of fruits. The concept of nitric oxide (NO) involvement in antagonizing ethylene is new. NO mediated physiologies casted through regulation of plant hormones are widely reported during developmental and stress chemistry having no direct link with ripening. Research in NO biology and understanding its interplay with other signal molecules in ripening fruits suggest ways of achieving greater synergies with NO applications. Experiments focused at convincingly demonstrating the involvement of NO in altering ripening-related ethylene profile of fruits, would help develop new processes for shelf life extension. This issue being the central theme of this review, the putative mechanisms of NO intricacies with other primary and secondary signals are hypothesized. The advantage of eliciting NO endogenously may open up various biotechnological opportunities for its precise delivery into the target tissues.     

Microbial symbionts of marine invertebrates: opportunities for microbial biotechnology

Marine invertebrates are sources of a diverse array of bioactive metabolites with great potential for development as drugs and research tools. In many cases, microorganisms are known or suspected to be the biosynthetic source of marine invertebrate natural products. The application of molecular microbiology to the study of these relationships will contribute to basic biological knowledge and facilitate biotechnological development of these valuable resources. The bryostatin-producing bryozoan B. neritina and its specific symbiont "Candidatus Endobugula sertula" constitute one promising model system. Another fertile subject for investigation is the listhistid sponges that contain numerous bioactive metabolites, some of which originate from bacterial symbionts.     

Bringing medicinal plants into cultivation: opportunities and challenges for biotechnology

Consumption of herbal medicines is widespread and increasing. Harvesting from the wild, the main source of raw material, is causing loss of genetic diversity and habitat destruction. Domestic cultivation is a viable alternative and offers the opportunity to overcome the problems that are inherent in herbal extracts: misidentification, genetic and phenotypic variability, extract variability and instability, toxic components and contaminants. The use of controlled environments can overcome cultivation difficulties and could be a means to manipulate phenotypic variation in bioactive compounds and toxins. Conventional plant-breeding methods can improve both agronomic and medicinal traits, and molecular marker assisted selection will be used increasingly. There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites. Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as naturally sourced extracts.     

Challenges and opportunities for improving food quality and nutrition through plant biotechnology

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基于文献计量学的微藻生物技术发展趋势

微藻作为一类单细胞光合生物,具有光能利用率高、生长速度快、生物活性成分和储能物质含量高等特点,在食品、饲料、生物能源、碳减排和废水处理等领域具有广阔的应用前景。本文系统查阅了近年来国内外微藻领域发表的相关文献和专利,藉此对微藻生物技术领域的研究进展及存在问题进行了梳理和分析,并对我国微藻生物技术的科技布局、重要成果及发展瓶颈进行了概述,最后对微藻生物技术的发展趋势予以展望。