WHY USE NEXT GENERATION SEQUENCING TECHNOLOGY FOR BIOPROCESS OPTIMIZATION

By applying the latest genomics tools and techniques to the optimization of your production "system", instead of just focusing on the production organism itself, you are able to produce not only greater results, but you will also be able to see process improvements along the way and at the conclusion, you will have an optimized  systems biology platform for future development at a lower cost. A well designed bioprocess optimization plan provides:

- Immediate short term results and performance improvement, even during the optimization phase.

- A self-funded program whereby the incremental gains in performance pay for future optimizations and product development.

- The sequencing projects executed during the process provide ongoing process improvement information for the primary organism.

- Multiple bioprocess optimization studies can take place in parallel, thus leveling resources and compressing the schedule.

- A systems biology approach can be applied that assures both incremental and radical innovations instead of lucky hits.

- By applying the latest cutting edge genomics technologies instead of purchasing your own equipment, costs will continue to drop while performance is increasing during the course of the project.

The end state is a complete bio-production system for low cost research and significant performance improvements. Please see our Bioprocessing Applications Note for an example and our White Paper on NGS for Bioprocessing for an overview of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) applications in bioprocess development, scale-up, and commercial biomanufacturing.

BIOPROCESS OPTIMIZATION CAPABILITIES

Microorganisms are used in many different industrial processes. They are of key importance to various commercial sectors including pharmaceutical, petroleum, biofuel, food, environmental, and waste industries. Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa and viruses can be applied to the investigation and production of novel materials, food ingredients, alternative energy sources, waste disposal, drug and vaccine discovery and development, and environmental sciences.

Genome-wide studies can empower scientists working on such topics and lead to breakthroughs in all these arenas. The information generated can guide, for instance, in improving vaccine manufacturing by efficiently guiding R&D activities, such as media development and fermentation to significantly outpace traditional and minimalistic pathway focused approaches. Please visit our white paper section for an example where we have successfully assisted our pharmaceutical partners in such activities. In the chemical industry, microorganisms are expected to replace petroleum/oil-based processes for the production of organic compounds such as acetone, ethanol and other alcohols. These compounds are, in turn, used in a range of other manufacturing processes, and to develop novel industrial catalysts and fermentation processes.

Many microbes live in extreme environments, e.g. high temperatures, high salt concentrations, low pH, and high radiation. Such microbes are often difficult to culture in the laboratory and therefore, pose significant challenges to the researchers. However, applying the latest genomic tools can be used to decipher the genome of these novel species and ultimately investigate their metabolism on a more holistic view. Such studies can potentially discover new pathways and mechanisms to degrade or transform pollutants and deal with contamination issues and recycling problems.

Other microorganisms live in exquisite surface-associated communities, known as biofilms that are related to many industrial, as well as, clinical relevant scenarios. In industry, biofilms can lead to billions of dollars in losses of productivity and capital equipment every year, being responsible, for instance, for pipe plugging, corrosion and water contamination. On the other hand, biofilms are used in the production of many compounds utilized for public good, as medicines and food or chemical additives. Genome-wide studies are helpful to gain insight into the biofilm physiology that can identify genes contributing to its formation and the key processes resulting from it.

The quest for alternative biofuels is becoming more and more prevalent due to the high prices of gasoline and diesel, and as citizens and governments become more aware of the environmental footprint of carbon-derived fuels. Organic biofuels, e.g., derived from algae and also ethanol derived from corn or sugarcane, are promising alternatives to address these challenges. Genomic technologies can be invaluable to decipher the mechanisms of biofuel production and improving process efficiency in an industrial setting.

ArrayXpress has the expertise and the experience working with a broad range of microorganisms used in a wide spectrum of industrial applications. We will be glad to assist you with our genomic services offering in understanding the biology of the production process that is of interest to you, and how the information generated can be applied, in practice, to further develop your activities.