Industrial Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy
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Group Members |
Current Research
Industrial biotechnology and bioprocessing involves the development of new processes and technologies that can be applied to industrially useful projects. We are particularly interested in omega-3 fatty acids, inflammatory signalling molecules, carotenoids, and value-added ingredients from under-utilised biomass and micro-organisms. Some of our projects are outlined below.
Projects
- Project 1: Novel process for immobilizing ß-galactosidase on a magnetic nanoparticle
- Project 2: Production of anti-tumour flavonoids
- Project 3: Molecular characterization of a novel ribosome inactivating proteins from an indigenous plant; for nutraceutical development
- Project 4: Biotechnological production of a low calorie novel sweetener
- Project 5: Nanoparticle binging to enhance ethanol tolerance
- Project 6: Bioprocessing and fermentation pilot plant
- Project 7: The discovery of new lipases for omega-3 concentration and processing
- Project 8: Fermentation and metabolic engineering of omega-3 fatty acids
- Project 9: Understanding of role of resolvins and protectins in inflammatory-mediated disorders
- Project 10: Bioprocess development for the production of Ribosome inactivating protein (RIPs) in realizing its therapeutic potential
- Project 11: Enzymatic conversion of biomass by recombinant rhamnosidase for the production of flavonoids with health benefits
- Project 12: Screening, production and characterization of recombinant cellulases for metabolite production
- Project 13: Isolation and characterisation of "hydrolases" from a metagenomic library for racemic resolution of pharmaceutical intermediates
Project 1: Novel process for immobilizing ß-galactosidase on a magnetic nanoparticle
Galactosidase is a very important enzyme in the dairy industry and it is involved in the hydrolysis of lactose into glucose and galactose. Industrial applications of lactose hydrolysis are limited as soluble enzymes get easily inactivated. Thus, immobilization of enzymes on solid supports is very important for practical applications due to easy separation of enzymes from its reaction mixture and the reusability. Nanomaterials provide a high surface area that is fully solvent accessible and are easily functionalized for immobilization of proteins or other biomolecules. Their mechanical characteristics and high permeability make them favourable materials for enzyme binding. Immobilized enzyme shall be used in a bioreactor for the optimisation of process parameters, kinetics and operational stability of the system. This project involves exposure in the molecular biology techniques, biophysical characterization of immobilized enzyme and its application in food processing.
Project 2: Production of anti-tumour flavonoids
We have recently shown that citrus peel enhances the production of flavonoid degrading enzymes (rhamnosidase) with potential application in pharmaceutical industry. However, during the enzymatic hydrolysis other potential flavonols are produced that do possess anti-tumour activities. It is anticipated that by producing recombinant rhamnosidase, more naringenin may be produced that can eventually be made available in the synthetic drinks or consumed as processed citrus fruit juice. Thus scale up and downstream processing are desirable to produce enzyme and its product in larger quantity which manifest antitumor activities. This project involves exposure in bioprocessing, downstream processing/ biochemical characterization of products and mammalian culturing.
Project 3: Molecular characterization of a novel ribosome inactivating proteins from an indigenous plant; for nutraceutical development
Few proteins have been isolated from medicinal plants that have shown neutraceutical application. Plant proteins belonging to the ribosome inactivating protein (RIP) family have been shown to manifest anti-tumor and antimicrobial activities. We propose to extract, purify and characterize novel RIPs to understand their mechanism. Furthermore, we are also aiming for cloning, expression and purification of recombinant RIPs using bacterial expression system. The heterologous expression will provide an alternative to produce larger quantities of proteins in a bioreactor. Thus availability of RIPs in larger quantities will establish its therapeutic potential against various bacterial/viral infections particularly HIV.
Project 4: Biotechnological production of a low calorie novel sweetener
The increasing consumption of sucrose has resulted in several nutritional and medical problems, such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, low calorie sweeteners have been investigated to substitute for sugar. An important class of low calorie sugar substitutes is known as high intensity sweeteners (HIS). Stevioside, a diterpene glycoside, is well known for its intense sweetness and is used as a non-caloric sweetener. Its potential widespread use requires an easy and effective extraction method. Thus, a direct enzymatic extraction followed by bio-analytical characterization from S. rebudiana leaves shall be investigated to improve upon the yield of stevioside. This project involves exposure in the downstream processing technology and its application as neutraceutical.
Project 5: Nanoparticle binging to enhance ethanol tolerance
High ethanol yields during the process of fermentation are desirable in the industry and are of immense importance to Bioenergy generation. The ethanol concentration above 5-8 %, low pH, and high temperature during fermentation process all combines to cause stress to yeast cells, thereby reducing fermentation ability of the cells. Thus improving tolerance of yeast cells (by binding to metal nanoparticle) towards increased alcohol concentration is a challenge which would be attempted during present investigation. The molecular mechanisms which facilitate necessary changes in gene expression as result of binding to a nanoparticle for adaptation to ethanol shall be studied. The research work includes exposure to biophysical and biochemical characterization, bioprocessing and molecular biology of microorganism during fermentation.
Project 6: Bioprocessing and fermentation pilot plant
The aim of this project is to reduce the risks to commercialization for new bio-based products through the commissioning of a flexible pilot scale bio-refinery that will at a kilo gram to hundred of kilo gram scale. The facility will convert multiple sources of biomass into intermediate feedstock streams which can be converted by chemical or fermentation processing into a broad range of value-added ingredients and products.
Project 7: The discovery of new lipases for omega-3 concentration and processing
In this project we are targeting the discover of new lipases for the processing of omega-3 fatty acids from material like fish oil and beef tallow. These lipases will enable the concentration of specific omega-3 fatty acids that are useful in foods and pharmaceuticals. Lipases are being obtained both through a targeted isolation process from marine fish and algae, and by genomic mining of databases containing lipase sequences.
Project 8: Fermentation and metabolic engineering of omega-3 fatty acids
Through fermentation of collected marine micro-organisms we are developing industrially useful processes for the production of a variety of ingredients, especially fatty acids and carotenoids. Novel marine micro-organisms are being genetically modified using metabolic engineering with the aim of producing omega-3 fatty acids, signalling molecules such as neuroprotectin D1, and carotenoids.
Project 9: Understanding of role of resolvins and protectins in inflammatory-mediated disorders
Using both enzymatic and fermentation approaches we are developing commercially useful processes for the production of the new class of anti-inflammatory mediators known as resolvins and protectins. The compounds are drug leads and are also useful tools for developing a better understanding of mechanisms of inflammation contributing to the pathology of diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and heart attack. In this project we are also exploring the mechanism of biological action of these mediators.
Project 10: Bioprocess development for the production of Ribosome inactivating protein (RIPs) in realizing its therapeutic potential
The ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs) from plants possess RNA N- glycosidase activity that depurinates the major rRNA, thus damaging ribosomes in an irreversible manner and arresting protein synthesis. RIPs are presently classified as rRNA N-glycosidase in the enzyme nomenclature (EC 3.2.2.22) and do exhibit other enzymatic activities such as ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease activities. RIPs have been shown to manifest abortifacient, anti-tumor, anti-viral and anti-microbial activities. RIPs are detected in some medicinal plants but the yields are insufficient to warrant their availability to conduct clinical trials for therapeutic application. This project aims to produce "RIPs" by "bioprocess optimisation" that may enhance its yield for exploiting their therapeutic potential.
Project 11: Enzymatic conversion of biomass by recombinant rhamnosidase for the production of flavonoids with health benefits
The citrus processing industry generates unutilised biomass (citrus peel waste; CPW) that can be used for the production of "speciality chemicals". This project includes production of bacterial rhamnosidase for the development of commercially viable immobilized enzyme technology (enzymatic conversion of CPW) to facilitate production of anti-oxidant compounds (flavonoids), organic acids, and sugars at Industrial scale. The extracted anti-oxidant shall be biophysically characterised and validated for health benefits.
Project 12: Screening, production and characterization of recombinant cellulases for metabolite production
The project involves screening of microorganisms from nature for the transformation of ligno-cellulosics available as forest residue. The "cellulosome" gene would be cloned and over-expressed in bacteria for carrying transformation of industrially important intermediates. This work involves exposure to microbial screening, molecular biology techniques, fermentation optimisation, downstream processing and applicability of evolved technology in Industry. The large scale fermentation would be carried to produce various metabolites that may be used in analogous to petro-chemical refinery.
Project 13: Isolation and characterisation of "hydrolases" from a metagenomic library for racemic resolution of pharmaceutical intermediates
Lipases can be used for the synthesis of compounds via esterification and transesterification reactions. Many industrial processes operate at high temperature thus necessitating research to identify thermostable lipases. The construction of metagenomic library for screening lipolytic activity shall be investigated. The lipase gene would be cloned, expressed and purified. The large scale fermentation would be carried out for the availability of liapses for carrying transformation of racemic pharmaceutical intermediates.
