Directed evolution
We are specialists in molecular biotechnology and directed evolution with two distinct research goals:
- Development and engineering of therapeutic antibodies for treatment of disease
- Construction and evolution of cell factories for production of proteins & metabolites
Background
Directed evolution involves harnessing the power of natural selection to evolve molecules or microbes towards desirable properties normally not found in nature.
This is particular useful for evolving superior binding molecules such as antibodies directed to bind specific cancer and disease targets with a therapeutic effect. The methodology also allows for being used in reverse way to understand how antibodies in autoimmune disease unwantedly attack healthy cells.
Turning microbes into cell factories producing fuel or valued chemicals is another example of the potential of directed evolution. Here heterologous genes and promoters are introduced into the microbe, aimed at directing the production towards a valued product. Directed evolution is used to tune the cell to accept this change, balancing the processes and maximizing yield.
The design of directed evolution systems strictly favoring fitness towards a desired trait is a multifaceted iterative task where detailed interdisciplinary experience is needed combining protein engineering, bioinformatics, display technologies, genome editing, sequencing and analysis as well as pathway and biosensor assembly.
