Biotechnology research advances antimicrobial production and plastic recycling

Recent doctoral research from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, highlights advancements in biotechnology, specifically in antimicrobial production, microbial metabolism, and plastic recycling.

One study focuses on the efficient expression and purification of the antimicrobial peptide plectasin using E. coli. This research aims to provide a cost-effective alternative to expensive chemical synthesis and slow yeast-based production, addressing the need for new treatments against multi-resistant bacteria.

Another investigation examines the metabolism of the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica when grown as a biofilm. Using a trickle-bed bioreactor, researchers found that oxygen-enriched air can trigger the production and accumulation of citric acid at low pH levels, maintaining stable production rates comparable to conventional planktonic cultures.

Additionally, research into enzymatic recycling explores the recovery of building blocks from synthetic polyesters. By utilizing a new hydrolase from Thermoanaerobacterales, scientists successfully achieved the depolymerization of PET and the recovery of terephthalic acid (TPA) with 80–95% purity, even from mixed waste containing pigments and polyolefin residues.