BUGS MAKING DRUGS
The Microbial Cell Bioprocessing Group aims to develop high yielding processes through engineering of improved vectors and host strains. Utilizing "-omics" based techniques to understand the regulation of metabolism and protein synthesis, the group will work on strategies to enhance product yield and quality in Escherichia coli and Pichia pastoris. The group also has experience developing vectors that couples stringent control of expression with non-chemical induction methods such as hypoxia.
Our research focus creates opportunities to provide expertise and to collaborate with other groups and industry in the production of molecules for proof-of-concept studies. Synergies have already been initiated within BTI to establish antibody fragment and phage production platforms to support the Downstream Processing Group, to explore their use as potential therapeutics and to serve as antigens to raise antibodies.
Working with the Molecular Engineering Laboratory, we express and characterize natural proteinaceous materials that possess intriguing combination of properties not found in synthetic materials. There are also on-going cross-council projects on microbial antibody based biosensors for on-chip diagnostics and rapid detection of cells and therapeutic markers.