SynBio Connect - December

From the Director

Welcome to our final SynBio Connect newsletter for 2021.

In this issue I’m pleased to share with you some highlights from the Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform (SynBio FSP) and CSIRO BioFoundry since July.

This issue provides a recap of the Synthetic Biology Roadmap, introduces you to our new staff working at the CSIRO BioFoundry, and shares upcoming events of interest. We also dive into a recent paper published from our Maximising Impact team which examines public attitudes around genetically engineered coral using synthetic biology at the Great Barrier Reef.

As our final six months approaches, we are planning to celebrate with the SynBio research community our many shared accomplishments. Please remember to save the date for our SynBio Celebrating Science Symposium, to be held 24-25 March 2022. We are currently in the process of determining logistics and invite your thoughts.

On a personal note, I am looking forward to a break from work over the festive season to spend time with family and recharge after a difficult and uncertain 24 months. With many us experiencing sustained lockdowns and other challenges during 2021, I’d encourage you to take a well-deserved break if possible.

We look forward to reconnecting with you in 2022.

Dr Colin Scott

Acting Director
Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform

News from the FSP

Events

Latest publications

• Adikusuma, F., Lushington, C., Arudkumar, J., Godahewa, G.I., Chey, Y.C.J., Gierus, L., Piltz, S., Geiger, A., Jain, Y., Reti, D., Wilson, L.O.W., Bauer, D.C. & Thomas, P.Q. (2021). Optimized nickase- and nuclease-based prime editing in human and mouse cells. Nucleic Acids Research, Volume 49, Issue 18, 11 October 2021, Pages 10785–1079.
• Andersen, T. B., Llorente, B., Morelli, L., Torres‐Montilla, S., Bordanaba‐Florit, G., Espinosa, F. A., Rodriguez‐Goberna, M. R., Olmedilla‐Alonso, B., Llansola‐Portoles, M. J., Pascal, A. A. & Rodriguez‐Concepcion, M. (2021). An engineered extraplastidial pathway for carotenoid biofortification of leaves. Plant Biotechnol. J.

• Caputo, A.T., Eder, O.M., Bereznakova, H., Pothuis, H., Ardevol, A., Newman, J., Nuttall, S., Peat, T.S. & Adams, T.E. (2021). Structure-guided selection of puromycin N-acetyltransferase mutants with enhanced selection stringency for deriving mammalian cell lines expressing recombinant proteins. Scientific Reports, Volume 11, Article number: 5247.

• Gurung, J.P., Kashani, M.N., Agarwal, S., Peralta, G., Gel, M. & Baker, M.A.B. (2021). Separation and enrichment of sodium-motile bacteria using cost-effective microfluidics. Biomicrofluidics, Volume 15, 034108 (2021).

• Hao, N., Agnew, D., Krishna, S., Dodd, I.B. & Shearwin, K.E. (2021). Analysis of Infection Time Courses Shows CII Levels Determine the Frequency of Lysogeny in Phage 186. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2021 Sep 29;14(10):99.

• Hao, N., Chen, Q., Dodd, I.B. & Shearwin, K.E. (2021). The pIT5 Plasmid Series, an Improved Toolkit for Repeated Genome Integration in E. coli., Current Biology, Volume 31, Issue 16, 2021, Pages 3504-3514.

• Islam, M.I., Bae, J.H.,  Ishida, T., Ridone, P.,  Lin, J., Sowa, Y., Buckley, B.J. & Baker, M.A.B. (2021). Novel Amiloride Derivatives That Inhibit Bacterial Motility across Multiple Strains and Stator Types. Journal of Bacter, Volume 203, Issue 22, Article Number e00367-2.

• Kaksonen, A.H., Lakaniemi, A. & Tuovinen, O.H. (2020). Acid and ferric sulfate bioleaching of uranium ores: A review. Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 264, 2020,121586, ISSN 0959-6526.

• Mead O.L., Gueidan C. (2020). Complete genome sequence of an Australian strain of the lichen-forming fungus Endocarpon pusillum Hedwig. ASM Journals, Microbial Resource Announcements 2020. Volume 9, Issue 50.

• Nazem-Bokaee H., Hom E.F.Y., Warden A. C., Mathews S. & Gueidan C. (2021). Towards a systems biology approach to understanding the lichen symbiosis: opportunities and challenges of implementing network modelling. Frontiers in Microbiology, Volume 12, Year 2021, Pages 1028.
• Shah, M.V., Nazem-Bokaee, H., Antoney, J., Kang, S., Jackson,C., Scott, C. (2021). Improved production of the non-native cofactor F420 in Escherichia coli. Scientific Reports, Volume 11, 21774 (2021).