Our research lines
The RLA Lab is interested in how the development of synthetic biology can revolutionise biotechnologies
and help us move towards a sustainable bio-based economy. We engineer microorganisms for a wide range of
applications, which span from the production of novel foods and alternative proteins to chemicals and fuels.
We are developing:
New synthetic biology approaches for metabolic control
The group is interested in using and developing new synthetic biology tools that allow us to precisely manipulate microbial cells in a reliable, predictable, and standardized way. In particular, we are interested in cutting-edge techniques that enable fine-tuning of metabolic pathways.
For further reading, see some of our recent articles and reviews:
Metabolic engineering for sustainable bioproduction
The manipulation and optimization of microbial metabolic pathways are the keys for biotechnology and a bio-based economy. Our research group is highly interested in hacking metabolism using synthetic biology tools to create new properties and enhanced behaviors in microbial cells. The engineering strategies are not only designed to produce new high-value products or higher amounts of pre-existing products but also to facilitate the downstream and upstream parts of the bioprocesses.
The lab is interested in engineering both conventional (such as S. cerevisiae and E. coli) and non-conventional organisms, including our widely used yeast Y. lipolytica.
For further reading, see some of our recent articles and reviews:
Synthetic microbial communities for biotechnology
Microbial communities are important for industrial bioprocesses, such as food production. We are interested in how microbial communities can be engineered and how synthetic biology can help to establish novel communities of microbes with applications in biotechnology.
For further reading, see some of our recent articles and reviews:
Understanding phenotypic heterogeneity and how it affects production
The development of single-cell technologies has enabled the study of individual cell behaviors within a population. Such variations can impact total bioproduction in biotechnological processes. We aim to understand heterogeneity and develop tools to control it to our advantage.
