Poster Session 2, 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM: Campus Center Auditorium [A25]

CRISPR-Based Microbial Engineering for Bioremediation and Biofuels

Presenter: Jonas B. Kefalas

Faculty Sponsor: Reena Randhir

School: Springfield Technical Community College

Research Area: Biology

ABSTRACT

Currently Earth is under environmental stress due to pollution caused mainly by human activities which indicates that our current systems are not sustainable. This results in resource depletion, increasing energy demands and food insecurity. Microbial synthetic biology is a cell engineering method that can edit molecular pathways towards supporting environmental sustainability. Recent discoveries such as CRISPR-Cas genome editing, CRISPR interference/activation and multiplex gene regulation has enabled the engineering of microbes with improved biosynthesis to break down pollutants. This research examines how microbial synthetic biology can support an economy based on renewable biological resources and evaluates the role of gene-level engineering strategies in enabling a sustainable bio-based economy. A literature review was done using the Web of Science database to study how genetic engineering can serve in environmental conservation.
Research indicates that genetically altered microbes can reduce environmental pollutants through CRISPR enabled biosensing and improved biodegradation pathways for detection and breakdown of environmental contaminants. CRISPR editing in Pseudomonas putida showed enhanced degradation of aromatic pollutants such as toluene and benzene by editing genes in relevant catabolic pathways. Gene editing and metabolic engineering in microalgae, bacteria, and yeast can improve biofuel production by redirecting carbon flux to improve lipid or alcohol yield. For example, CRISPR-editing in  Saccharomyces cerevisiae increased lipid and ethanol production by optimizing carbon flux and eliminating competing pathways. These strains show increased biofuel and improved fermentation efficiency under industrial conditions. Gene editing in other organisms such as Escherichia coli and fungi have also demonstrated improved production efficiency following pathway optimization. In conclusion, scaling up this promising technology requires further research in genetic stability and biosafety.