Bioprocessing research - recombinant proteins and bioplastics

Research in bioprocessing

We are interested in production of recombinant proteins biotherapeutics (such as insulin) and bioplastics (such as polyhydroxyalkanoate, PHA). We use a combination of microbiology, molecular biology and bioprocessing approaches to optimise processes from the molecular to the process scale – typically going from shake flasks into bioreactors of 5 litre scale at high cell density. We use flow cytometry as an analytical tool to investigate individual cells within a population and identify heterogeneity with processes, in terms of physiology and gene regulation.
Specific questions we are currently interested in are:
• How can we optimise production of recombinant proteins that are hard to manufacture, in terms of yield and activity?
• How can we effectively direct recombinant proteins into the periplasm of E. coli?
• How can we make bioplastics with favourable material properties at high yield and low cost?