Draft genome sequence of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae SpyCas9 expressing strain IMX2600, a laboratory and platform strain from the CEN.PK lineage for cell-factory research

The biobased-economy aims to create a circular biotechnology ecosystem to transition from a fossil fuel-based to a sustainable industry based on biomass. For this, new microbial cell-factories are essential. We present the draft genome of the CEN.PK-derived Saccharomyces cerevisiae SpyCas9 expressing strain (IMX2600), that serve as chassis of...

Investigation of Temperature Tolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae under Anaerobic Conditions

Saccharomyces yeasts are common workhorses for the production of alcoholic beverage and bio-ethanol. In these production processes, temperature is one of the predominant factors determining the operational costs of the industrial fermentation processes and the quality of the products (alcoholic beverage) because it influences the functioning of...

R&D productivity and disruptive innovation: An empirical analysis of the emerging biotechnology sector

The R&D productivity crisis is among the most pressing issues in the drug industry. The increasing costs and stable R&D outputs jeopardise the industry’s economic health, drug innovation, and the accessibility and affordability of medicines. The pharmaceutical R&D productivity problem is expected to be diminished due to...

New indicators and indexes for benchmarking university-industry-government innovation in medical and life science clusters: Results from the European FP7 Regions of Knowledge HealthTIES project

Background: While the European Union is striving to become the 'Innovation Union', there remains a lack of quantifiable indicators to compare and benchmark regional innovation clusters. To address this issue, a HealthTIES (Healthcare, Technology and Innovation for Economic Success) consortium was funded by the European Union's Regions of...

Synthetic Biology For the Masses: Hardware that makes engineering biology easier for the next generation of innovators

Synthetic biology is the cutting-edge field of designing biological systems to perform as genetically-engineered technology capable of useful tasks. It has huge potential for many revolutionary applications. These include the development of smart medicine - such as bacteria programmed to seek out and destroy cancer cells [Chakravarti, 2015], or...

Cell Concentration Sensor for micro-bioreactors: Optical sensor system

This bachelor thesis describes the development of a sensor system for measuring the cell concentration in small bio-reactors. The study was conducted at Delft University of Technology on behalf of Applikon Biotechnology B.V. The MicroMatrix of Applikon is used for experimental determination of the optimal conditions for bioprocesses in...

Cell Concentration Sensor for Micro-Bioreactors: Impedance Sensor

This thesis describes a bachelor graduation project of the study Electrical Engineering at Delft University of Technology. The purpose of this project is to develop an impedance sensor that can measure the cell concentration in a micro-bioreactor. This bioreactor will be used to investigate the optimal cell growth conditions of a cell culture....

Looking for the Healing Innovation Process: An Explorative Study on the Critical Sucess Factors for Innovation Management in the Pharmaceutical Industry

The pharmaceutical industry has been spending an increasing amount of money on R&D over the years. However, fewer drugs have been approved by the FDA and the EMA recently. This lack in innovation performance is a problem which needs to be solved in order to continue finding medicines for cureless diseases. Innovation lies at the heart of the...

Towards fermentation of galacturonic acid-containing feedstocks with Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The ambition to reduce our current dependence on fossil transportation fuels has driven renewed interest in bioethanol. Pectin-rich feedstocks like sugar beet pulp and citrus peel, which are currently sold as cattle feed, are promising raw materials for the production of bioethanol. This thesis explores the challenges related to the fermentation...

Transformation of biomass into commodity chemicals using enzymes or cells

Metabolic engineering of free-energy (ATP) conserving reactions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Metabolic engineering – the improvement of cellular activities by manipulation of enzymatic, transport and regulatory functions of the cell – has enabled the industrial production of a wide variety of biological molecules from renewable resources. Microbial production of fuels and chemicals thereby provides an alternative to oil-based production...

Metabolic engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for C4-dicarboxylic acid production

Biotechnological production of chemicals from renewable feedstocks offers a sustainable alternative to petrochemistry. Understanding of the biology of microorganisms and plants is increasing at an unprecedented rate and tools with which these organisms can be engineered for industrial application are becoming ever more powerful. However,...

Dynamic response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to fermentative growth conditions

Directing product formation by mixed culture fermentation

Our society is dealing with the shortage of fossil fuels and chemical feedstocks and, on the other hand, with the increase of wastes generated by municipalities, agriculture and industries. Biobased industry, the conversion of renewable resources or wastes to chemicals and fuels, by microbial fermentations or enzymes has been receiving...

Engineering of redox metabolism in yeast: New strategies for improved glycerol production

Abstract not available

Ajmalicine production by Catharanthus roseus: Process operation and modelling

Biotechnology: A Dutch perspective

Biotechnology: a Dutch Perspective assesses the future potential of biotechnology in the Netherlands. It has been published in English because it is felt that the Dutch case could be of relevance to other industrialised nations. Although the report is aimed primarily at policy planners and decision makers in industry and government, it is also a...