Engineering novel stress-resilient microalgae strains as improved platform strains for industrial biotechnology

Microalgae have potential as photosynthetic cell factories for the production of chemicals and metabolites that can be used for industrial applications or as platform strains for the production of recombinant proteins. To harness the full potential of microalgae for industrial biotechnology, strains need to be resilient to withstand the stresses of mass cultivation and avoid an expensive 'culture crash', and need to be able to tolerate the expression of potentially toxic recombinant proteins. This project aims to improve our understanding of the processes by which microalgae can be engineered to gain increased stress tolerance. We have previously identified potential genetic targets of stress response in the model algal species Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. This project will examine the function of these genes in more detail by genetic and biochemical analysis and then will use the best targets to generate stress resilient microalgae strains by genetic engineering. The improved characteristics of these strains will be tested by performing pilot-scale cultivation and production of downstream products. The project will provide training in a variety of experimental techniques and disciplines including molecular cell biology, genetic engineering, and microalgal biotechnology, and fits within the Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy DTP theme. This project will therefore provide the student with a broad interdisciplinary training, giving them high level skills in a range of techniques needed to pursue a career in academic or industrial biotechnology research. This project will clearly fit the Forward Looking theme for UK Bioscience of Tackling Strategic Challenges by aiming to evaluate and develop bio-based processes and products in order to develop renewable resources.