Load stress in Bacillus subtilis

Due to the growing consumption and demand for manufactured products (fuels, pharmacuticals, textiles, foods etc.), and a general awareness of adverse effects on our planet, we are seeing a shift from using finite resources and conventional manufacturing techniques to alternative methods, more sustainable and ecologically better. One such alternative is production based on biological systems. However, there are several challenges to overcome, before these biological systems can be utilised to their maximum capabilities.

In this talk, I will describe one of the main problems we are trying to address, and discuss how we are attempting to use synthetic/engineering biology techniques to solve it. The talk will focus on load stress in Bacillus subtilis (host production strain), which occurs when we introduce new components to produce a specific product.