The ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology (CoESB) is leading the collaborative research and translation agenda for Australian synthetic biology.
Our research brings together:
- dozens of Australian universities
- international universities and research facilities
- Australian and state government departments
- Australian and international industry partners.
- We are producing modern solutions to global agricultural, food production, manufacturing, healthcare, and environmental challenges. We are also laying the foundations for a bio-based economy because the world needs to move away from fossil fuels.
Our work is arranged into 3 research themes and 3 enabling capabilities.
Our Themes
Synthetic Microbial Communities
Theme leader: Professor Brett Neilan
How microbial communities can work as a team, with each microbe optimised for a specific task.
Currently all commercial synthetic biology processes use a single designer organism to produce the desired product. But there are many things a single organism some biochemical reactions are incompatible in a single cell. Our novel designer microbial communities will work as a team but with each microbe optimised for a specific task. This will enable them to turn sustainable agricultural biomass into industrial biochemicals. In a world first, we will also engineer protein switches that can convert electronic and chemical signals, allowing us to use devices such as phones to control and monitor our synthetic microbes.
Synthetic Organelles
Theme leader: Professor Alexandra Filipovska
Engineering tiny vessels within cells to create high-value compounds and redesigning mitochondria for pharmaceutical production.
Just as the body has individual organs, every cell has organelles that perform a specific function. We will engineer these tiny reaction vessels to turn these organelles into high-value compounds. In another world first, we will re-engineer mitochondria, the energy factory of the cell, for the production of pharmaceuticals.
Neobiochemistry
Theme leader: Professor Kirill Alexandrov
New-to-nature enzymes, metabolic pathways and DNA scaffolds required for molecular factories.
This is not just a new form of synthetic biology. It’s a new word that we’ve coined to describe the new-to-nature enzymes and metabolic pathways we’ll be developing that eventually can replace industrial chemicals processes with their greener and more sustainable alternatives.
Work includes using DNA origami scaffolds to create molecular factories that can perform chemical transformations not occurring in nature.
Our Capabilities
Systems Bioengineering
Theme leader: Professor Esteban Marcellin
Creating high-performing cell factories that may produce a variety of products.
Systems bioengineering describes the linking of three disciplines – synthetic biology, systems biology and evolutionary engineering – with traditional metabolic engineering. The aim is to create high-performing cell factories that may produce a multitude of sustainable products. One key goal is to advance one carbon fermentation for the conversion of waste streams, including CO2 into sustainable fuels, foods and chemicals, to realise a circular economy.
Industrial Translation
Theme leader: Professor Ian O’Hara
How industries can capitalise on the science and barriers to uptake.
How will a syn-bio industry develop in Australia and how will existing industries capitalise on this science to their competitive advantage? What are the barriers to uptake of the technology?
LIFE REIMAGINED
We are a world-leading research centre whose goal is to take us beyond what any single, existing microbe on earth can do.
Social Dimensions
Theme leader: Professor Brad Sherman
The promises, practices and policies surrounding synthetic biology.
The Social Dimensions research capability examines the promises, practices and policies surrounding synthetic biology, with a focus on ethical issues and values, legal frameworks and cultural shifts. We ask some of the big questions, such as what problem are we trying to solve and is synthetic biology even the right solution? How does the promise translate into practice, policy and benefits for society?
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