high-value compounds and pharmaceuticals form microalgae · uts cricos provider code: 00099f...

UTS CRICOS PROVIDER CODE: 00099F

UTS:SCIENCE

HIGH-VALUE COMPOUNDS AND

PHARMACEUTICALS

FROM MICROALGAE

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Algal Biosystems and Biotechnology Climate Change Cluster (C3) - UTS

Dr. Michele Fabris

Science-Industry Connect - July 20th 2016

How to turn this….

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www.greenovation.com ….into this?

Algae Biotech applications Algae as bio-factories UTS-C3 Algal Biosystems and Biotech group Our research focus Current projects …How to engage with us?

Outline

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Eukaryotic, photosynthetic microorganisms Enormous diversity Genomics, transcriptomics & metabolomics resources are gradually unveiling their traits Massive Biotechnology Opportunity

Algae

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© Dr. M. Huysman http://web.mst.edu

www.algae-mart.com

Biofuels Anaerobic digestion Aquaculture

Algae’s industrial potential

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PUFAs (omega 3) Pigments

Algae’s industrial potential

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Secondary metabolites Phenols Terpenoids Flavonoids …

Using GM technology and synthetic biology Bulk chemicals High-value metabolites Recombinant proteins

Algae’s industrial potential

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Hempel et al., 2012

Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB)

Interferon α-2A

Nutraceuticals, therapeutics and cosmetics • Huge diversity – more than 200.000 species • Natural products - only minimally characterised • Microbes – use of biomass is maximised • Fast growth - high densities • Extremely inexpensive medium requirements • Resistant to stresses • Scalable in contained systems • Genetic engineering is feasible

Cell-sized algal bio-factories

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Recombinant therapeutics from algae

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Algae Very low Short/medium Very high (Very) high Low risk

Adapted from

Ma, et al, N

at Rev G

en 2003

Ideal organisms for synthetic biology applications

Algal strains are natural isolates, not fit to thrive in highly artificial environment (industrial settings) Algal genetic toolbox is in an early stage Lack of high-throughput pipelines

Bio-therapeutics form algae - research challenges

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Optimization of cultivation conditions Optimization of organism

Synthetic biology and molecular genetics

Methods development

Cross-disciplinary Top-level instrumental set-up Areas of application: • Aquaculture • Biofuels • Nutraceuticals • Cosmetics • Bio-therapeutics

Algal Biosystems and Biotechnology

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Molecular biology, genetic engineering, bioinformatics and synthetic biology Cultivation strategies Downstream processing, purification and quality control

GE-UTS Algal Bio-Factory - Research focus

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• Molecular toolbox for efficient and controlled gene expression

• Secondary metabolites

• Cultivation-production strategies

• Novel species as expression platforms

• High-throughput algal transformation & screening

Our algal strains

C. reinhardtii, N. gaditana, N. oceanica, … more to come

Current Projects

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GE UTS Algal bio-factory research

program

Our products:

Human membrane proteins of the CLIC family

Interferon alpha 2A

Anti-inflammatory peptides

Future: antibodies?anti-cancer drugs? vaccines?

Algae Biotech applications Algae as bio-factories UTS-C3 Algal Biosystems and Biotech group Our research focus …How to engage with us?

Summary

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We work on fundamental biological questions that have an impact in industrial and pharmaceutical applications ….amongst others. We welcome industry engagement to help direct our research and provide future challenges. Get in touch with us, and let us help you find your ideal algae!

Collaborations

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Advanced Algal Innovation Network Membership Sponsorship Engagement

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Prof. Peter Ralph Dr. Audrey Commault Dr. Mathieu Pernice Dr. Brenton Hamdorf Jack Adriaans Alex-Lincoln Dodgson Dr. Pavlina Sasheva Dr. Bojan Tamburic Dr. Christian Evenhuis Dr. Milan Szabo Algal Biosystems & Biotech group Tech-staff

Prof. Peter Ralph Algal Biosystems and Biotechnology Group Leader C3 Executive Director Peter.Ralph@uts.edu.au

Dr. Michele Fabris C3 Research Associate Michele.Fabris@uts.edu.au

GET IN TOUCH WITH US

Dr. Brenton Hamdorf C3 Industry Engagement Manager Brenton.Hamdorf@uts.edu.au

IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY