26 September 2023

Today, the article by Wünsche et al. was published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.
This article describes the detailed chracterisation of different Kozakia baliensis strains and the exopolysaccharides they form. Due to the similarity of the basic structure to xanthan (different side chains, and no substituents), we compared the exopolysaccharides with a genetically modified xanthan variant. What is particularly exciting is that the exopolysaccharides formed differ in their chemical structure, and we were able to reconcile these structural differences with the rheological behaviour. A further step towards a systematic understanding of the structure-function relationship of polysaccharides.
Congratulations to Julia Wünsche for the outstanding work done and your second publication.

29 July 2023

Today the article by Schillinget al. was published in the journal Carbohydrate Polymers.
This publication describes the rheological properties of the 3 different exopolysaccharides (Paen I, II and III) that we have produced in pure form for the first time. The main focus is on the interactions of the individual polymers. With this work we have shown how synthetic biology can be used to elucidate structure-function relationships in the field of rheology. Congratulations to Christoph Schilling for his outstanding work and the third publication on the topic of paenan exopolysaccharides.

Today, the article by Wünsche et al. was published in the journal Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology.
This review article gives an overview of the different exopolysaccharides produced by acetic acid bacteria, and was published in the Special Issue of the International Symposium on Biopolymers, where Julia also gave a talk. With this paper we have summarised the current research in this field and thus convey the state of the art in this area. Congratulations to Julia Wünsche for her outstanding work and her first publication.

20 February 2023

Today the article by Schilling et al. was published in the journal Carbohydrate Polymers.
This manuscript shows how successfully our CRISPR-Cas tool for Paenibacillus polymyxa can be used for the structural elucidation of unknown and highly complex microbial polysaccharides. With this work we have shown for the first time that P. polymyxa is able to produce three different heteropolysaccharides, whereas it was previously assumed that only one polysaccharide was involved. This was only possible due to the excellent cooperation with Prof. Finn Lillelund Aachmann from NTNU in Tondheim.
This is another step towards a better understanding of polysaccharide biosynthesis in Paenibacillus polymyxa. Congratulations to Christoph Schilling and Leesa Klau for their outstanding work.

WWU-iGEM Team 2022

Congratulations!

Wiki Freeze was on 12.10.2022 at 6pm and the team successfully uploaded and submitted everything. Now the final presentation at the Grand Jamboree in Paris is pending. We keep our fingers crossed for a successful review of our project MonChassis. The link to the really excellent wiki is here.

06.09.2022

Today the chapter Hyaluronic Acid (Hyaluronan) was published in the book "Microbial Production of High-Value Products" edited by Bernd Rehm and David Wibowo. In this chapter we describe the properties and applications of hyaluronic acid. We also show the different production methods of this very valuable polysaccharide and compare the classical production from animal sources with the microbiological production. Congratulations to Meliawati Meliawati and Moritz Gansbiller for the excellent research and work that went into this book chapter.

19th of May 2022 

Today, the article by Meliawati et al. was published in the Journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
In this manuscript, we have again further developed our existing CRISPR-Cas tool for Paenibacillus polymyxa. With this further development, it is now possible to introduce targeted point mutations into specific target genes. Using these point mutations, we have for the first time investigated the complex regulation by DegS, DegU and Spo0A by analyzing the mutants for swarming behavior, sporulation and exopolysaccharide production as well as expression of hyfrolyzing enzymes. This is a first step towards a better understanding of the overall regulation in Paenibacillus polymyxa. Congratulations to Meliawati Meliawati for the outstanding work done.
 

16nd of December 2021

Manuscript published: "CRISPR-Cas9-mediated Large Cluster Deletion and Multiplex Genome Editing in Paenibacillus polymyxa"

Today the article by Meliawati et al. was published in ACS synthetic Biology.  In this manuscript, we have further developed our existing CRISPR-Cas tool for P. polymyxa. With this further development, entire gene clusters can now be deleted using only one gRNA, and we were able to demonstrate for the first time a systematic approach in the selection criteria required for the localization of the gRNA. Furthermore, this system now allows multiple gene knock-outs, gene replacements, as well as multiple deletions of whole gene clusters and the simultaneous replacement of gene clusters with reporter genes with an impressive efficiency. This opens up completely new possibilities for genome editing in P. polymyxa. Congratulations to Meliawati Meliawati for the outstanding work done.

2nd of December 2021

Manuscript published: "Structural elucidation of the fucose containing polysaccharides of Paenibacillus polymyxa DSM 365."

Today the article by Schilling et al. was published in Carbohydrate Polymers. In this manuscript, we identified the chemical structure of one of the polysaccharides of P. polymyxa using CRISPR-Cas9 based gene knock-outs. Here we show how well synthetic biology can be combined with structural analysis of polysaccharides, and how in vivo biopolymer engineering can be used in different ways. Congratulations to Christoph Schilling for the great work done.

17^th of September 2021

Joint working group on synthetic biology

Synthetic biology encompasses various disciplines in the natural and life sciences and includes the design of biological networks, systems or even entire cells that do not occur in nature.

In January 2020, the DECHEMA and the Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM) agreed to merge the activities of the Division for Systems Biology and Synthetic biology and the GBM study group Synthetic biology in the Joint Synthetic Biology Working Group. In February 2021, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) joined the agreement; The German Botanical Society (DBG) was added in June 2021.

On September 17th, during the German Conference on Synthetic Biology 2021, the general assembly elected the steering committee 2021-24.

2^nd of September 2021

Paper accepted: "Exploiting unconventional prokaryotic hosts for industrial biotechnology"

Today the opinion article by Prof. Schmid and colleagues was accepted in Trends in Biotechnology. In this manuscript the potential of unconventional host is depicted and compared to established model prokaryotic organims. One of these is Paenibacillus polymyxa, by others the main work horses of the AG Schmid with a very high potential for biotechnological applications. In this opinion article main factors such as multi-factorial traits like tolerance, growth efficiency, or handling which cannot always be engineered into existing model organisms are highlighted. We hope you enjoy the article and are looking forward to the feedback of the scientific community.