Microbial Cell Bioprocessing

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Advancing Biomanufacturing Through Microbial Bioprocess Engineering

The Microbial Cell Bioprocessing (MCB) group specializes in leveraging microbial cell factories to sustainably produce high value biotherapeutics, including vaccines, therapeutic proteins, and plasmid DNA. Our mission is to develop cutting-edge bioprocessing and engineering strategies with a direct focus on biomanufacturing scalability and clinical application. We welcome collaborative opportunities that utilize our expertise in these powerful production platforms.

Focus Areas

Biomanufacturing Technologies: Establishing and scaling up the production of high value bioproducts, including vaccines, protein biologics, and growth factors.
Advancing bioprocess engineering and media formulations to enhance the expression and secretion of recombinant biologics.
Exploring the dual potential of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) for use as live therapeutics and as heterologous protein production hosts.
Developing custom-fit microbial strategies and solutions for diverse biomanufacturing challenges.

Our Capabilities

Protein Engineering and Recombinant Protein Production

We specialize in the molecular design and execution necessary for high-value product generation. Our capabilities include strategic protein engineering and the development of advanced expression toolboxes to ensure optimal product yield. We focus on producing complex and high-value molecules such as recombinant growth factors, vaccines, and therapeutic proteins, supported by robust systems for stringent vector control and maximizing secretion and productivity.

Microbial System Biotechnology

We leverage synthetic biology and advanced host development to create purpose-built production strains. Our competency covers a wide range of microbial hosts, including E. coli, Lactic Acid Bacteria and Yeast. We develop customized microbial host engineering and toolbox systems, applying deep knowledge of microbial physiology to expand biomanufacturing capability and accelerate personalized microbiome therapeutic solutions.

Kinetic Modelling and Fermentation Process Development

We transition from bench-scale concepts to industrial readiness through rational design and process optimization. We worked with other groups to utilize DOE, kinetic and metabolic modelling for rational process design and rapid optimization. We possess expertise in developing and executing various fermentation options, including batch, fed-batch, continuous and perfusion modes, ensuring high volumetric productivity and process efficiency.

Bioprocess Engineering and Media Development

Our focus is on creating cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable production platforms. This includes expertise in the evaluation of commercial systems and media to optimize yields. A critical capability is sustainable media development, leveraging bioprocess engineering to repurpose and formulate industrial waste streams (such as spent cell culture media) into high-performance microbial feedstock, effectively establishing circular bio-economy solutions from fermentation through to final purification and product characterization.

Our Technologies

Bioreactor Engineering (Modelling of Batch, Fed-Batch & Continuous)

We have used a multifaceted approach consisting of design of experiment (DoE), process modelling and continuous processing to optimise bioprocess conditions. This results in maximum recombinant protein production for vaccines and other high value therapeutics.

Enzyme Expression, Engineering & Immobilization

We identify enzymes with desirable properties and engineer them to enhance its stability and activity. These advancements have the potential to reduce production time and costs significantly.

Spent Media Valorisation

Our team has developed strategies to repurpose spent mammalian culture media for the production of high value growth factors. This is part of our growing efforts to produce reagents for cultivated meat production in a commercially viable and ethical way.

The Team

Dr Dave Ow

Principal Scientist I
Group Leader

dave_ow@a-star.edu.sg

Dr Prashant Mainali

Scientist

prashant_mainali@a-star.edu.sg

Our Track Record

Featured Publications

Prashant Mainali, Melvin Shen Wei Chua, Ding Jie Tan, Bernard Liat Wen Loo, Dave Siak Wei Ow (2025) Enhancing Recombinant Growth Factor and Serum Protein Production for Cultivated Meat Manufacturing. Microbial Cell Factories 24: 41
Pooi Leng Ho, Yu Feng Chua, Jun Ping Quek, Say Kong Ng, Fong Tian Wong and Dave Siak-Wei Ow (2025) Functional expression and secretion of basic Fibroblast Growth Factor in Lactococcus lactis. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 13

Valorisation of spent cultivated meat media for recombinant FGF2 production in Lactococcus lactis.

Sie Huey Lee, Dave Siak-Wei Ow, Pei Kun Richie Tay, Dai Chen, Pui Shan Chow, Yi Yan Yang, Shao Quan Liu and Desmond Heng (2024) A Formulation Platform for Incorporating Live Probiotics into Different Food Matrices Journal of Food Engineering 378:112113
Jin Hao Tan, Anqi Chen, Jiawu Bi, Yee Hwee Lim, Fong Tian Wong and Dave Siak-Wei Ow (2023) The Engineering, Expression, and Immobilization of Epimerases for D-Allulose Production. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24: 12703