Research

Our main research is within the field of synthetic biology. Our main focus is both understanding and controlling transcriptional and translational processes in microorganisms.


Understanding - Transcriptional regulation

Sigma(σ)-factors are responsible for recognising cis-acting sequence elements in the promoter regions. They orchestrate the global pattern of initiation, or repression, of promoter-specific transcription. They are the key regulatory elements that control the different classes of promoters in response to intra- or extracellular stimuli. Despite their key role, the information on the cis-acting DNA sequence elements in the promoter regions is far from resolved for each the σ-factors in bacteria.

We are using both in vivo and microfluidics-based in vitro transcription methods to decode σ-factor-specific cis-acting DNA sequences in bacteria.

Controlling - Artificial gene expression engineering

We develop platforms that enable the design and fabrication of context-dependent artificial 5' regulatory sequences in a wide range of microorganisms.

The microorganisms we work with are:

Gram-negative bacteria

  • Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida, Synechococcus sp., Thermus thermophilus, Vibrio natriegens

Gram-positive bacteria

  • Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacterium glutamicum, Streptomyces albus, Streptomyces lividans

Yeast

  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Ongoing projects

  • EuroHPC (EHPC-AI-2024A02-042) – Expanding AI-based DNA Design Platform to all Domains of Life. Project leader

  • Horizon Europe, EU – (Xtream) Grant agreement stage!

  • Horizon Europe, EU - From solar energy to fuel: A holistic artificial photosynthesis platform for the production of viable solar fuels (Refine). Project partner

  • Horizon Europe, EU - Innovative Tools for Sustainable Exploration of Marine Microbiomes: Towards A Circular Blue Bioeconomy and Healthier Marine Environments. Project partner

  • RCN-FRIPRO, Norway. An interdisciplinary data-driven approach to resolve sigma-factor-specific promoter dependency in bacteria. Project leader

  • RCN-Enabling Technologies, Norway – SafePhaeO3: Data-driven engineering of microalgal biofactories for safe and efficient omega-3 production. Project partner

  • Innovation Fund Denmark-AgriFoodTure, Denmark - Enhancing Growth and Performance of Cultivated Muscle Cells through Targeted Hydrolysis (MuscleFuel). Project partner

Finalised projects

  • H2020, EU. Advanced toolbox for rapid and cost-effective functional metagenomic screening – microbiology meets microfluidics.

  • EPSRC, UK. Design the Future 2: Thinking Soils: Engineered bacteria as computational agents in the design and manufacture of new materials and structures.

  • RCN-FORNY2020, Norway. Fast-X-Press

  • NTNU-Discovery, Norway. SUPERAP – fast track for efficient protein production in novel hosts.

  • RCN-Commercialisation project - Market validation and scale-up efforts for an AI-based solution in DNA design for biomanufacturing. Project leader (Syngens).

  • H2020, EU iFermenter - Conversion of forestry sugar residual streams to antimicrobial proteins by intelligent fermentation.

  • NTNU Enabling Technologies, Biotechnology - Miniaturised Droplet Biotechnology (iDrop). Ph.D. project

  • NTNU Enabling Technologies, Biotechnology A New Enabling Technology Platform for Recombinant Protein Production. Ph.D. project.

  • NTNU-Discovery Pilot Project A key enabling expression platform.

  • NTNU-Biotechnology Program, Bluesky Microfinance Project Protein Expression and Codon Restriction ´A-La-Carte. Co-PI