Biotecnologia i biologia sintètica


Content


Introduction

At the Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology Lab we work on different aspects of applied microbiology. We focus on the study of genetically engineered organisms: we are interested on the search of new genes suitable for GMOs construction (15), but we are also studying the risks derived from that use. In our lab, we have experience on the entomopathogenic bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, (1,10,12,15,16), the genes of which are commonly used in the development of transgenic plants (corn, tobacco, potato) so that they are protected from insects attack. We have characterized those genes (14), described new applications such as aphid control (12), and studied the possible deleterious effects of transgenic crops on nontarget entomofauna (10,13).

Besides this research line, we actively work on one of the newest scientific disciplines, Synthetic Biology (3,6,7,8). This can be defined as an approach to biotechnology with engineering principles. On that framework, we are searching for bacteria, genes and enzymes with potential industrial developments for, for example, biofuels production. (4,9). Moreover, we are building biological devices designed to make heat (11), light (5) or even electric power. With all this we aim at contributing to create a critical mass of biological devices that might be used in a close future as electro-biological devices such as computer displays with luminescent cells as living pixels (5), or bacterial portable devices to produce electricity from the microbial metabolic activity…

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Research lines

Bacillus thuringiensis and its use in biotechnology Metagenomics of insect-associated microbiota. Endosymbionts. Synthetic Biology and Darwinian selection: towards a synthesis. Development of devices for synthetic biology: biofuels, bioenergetics, cybernetics, DIY biology.

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The team


Position Name Phone Email
Team leader Manuel Porcar Miralles 963544473 manuel.porcar@uv.es
Postdoctoral fellow Laura Domínguez-Escribà 963544473 Laura.Dominguez@uv.es
Student (biotechnology) Cristina Vilanova Serrador 963544473 criviser@etsia.upv.es
Student (engineering) Raúl Rodríguez-Barreiro 963544473 raurodba@etsii.upv.es

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Equipment and techniques

Insect rearing at the Institut Cavanilles facilities.
 Molecular biology techniques (PCR, centrifugation, electrophoresis, cloning and ligation, DNA extraction from complex samples, metagenomics, etc). Microbial cultures. Development of bioreactors under thermal insulation; genetic characterization and enzymatic analysis of microorganisms with potential biotechnological applications.

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Selected publications of the last five years

  1. A Bacillus thuringiensis strain producing epizootics on Plodia interpunctella. Mohammad Shojaaddini, María José López, Saeid Moharramipour, Ali Asghar Talebi, Mohvash Khodabendeh, Cristina Vilanova, Amparo Latorre, and Manuel Porcar. Journal of Stored Products Research. 2011. Accepted.
  2. Complete genome sequence of Candidatus Tremblaya princeps strain PCVAL, an intriguing translational machine below the living-cell status. Sergio López-Madrigal, Amparo Latorre, Manuel Porcar, Andrés Moya, Rosario Gil. Journal of Bacteriology. 2011. In press. DOI: 10.1128/JB.05749-11
  3. The ten grand challenges of synthetic life. Porcar, M., Antoine Danchin, Victor de Lorenzo, Vitor A. dos Santos, Natalio Krasnogor, Steen Rasmussen, and Andrés Moya. Systems and Synthetic Biology. 2011. 5:1- 9. DOI: 10.1007/s11693-011-9084-5
  4. Microbial diversity in the midguts of field and lab-reared populations of the European Corn Borer Ostrinia nubilalis. Eugeni Belda, Laia Pedrola, Juli Peretó, Juan F. Martínez-Blanch, Arnau Montagud, Emilio Navarro, Javier Urchueguía, Daniel Ramón, Andrés Moya, and Manuel Porcar. PLOSONE. 2011. 6(6): e21751. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0021751
  5. Aequorin-expressing yeast emits light under electric control. Vilanova C, Hueso A, Palanca C, Marco G, Pitarch M, Otero E, Crespo J, Szablowski J, Rivera S, Domínguez-Escribà L, Navarro E, Montagud A, de Córdoba PF, González A, Ariño J, Moya A, Urchueguía J, Porcar M. J Biotechnol. 2011 Mar 20;152(3):93-5.
  6. Vilanova, C. And Porcar, M. On parts and organisms: implications for Synthetic Biology. Symplectic Biology. 2010
  7. Paving the way for synthetic biology-based bioremediation in Europe. Porcar M, Moya A. Microb Biotechnol. 2010 Mar;3(2):134-5.
  8. Beyond directed evolution: Darwinian selection as a tool for synthetic biology. Porcar M. Systems and Synthetic Biology. 2010 Mar;4(1):1-6. Epub 2009 Oct 10.
  9. Rice straw management: The big waste Domínguez-Escribá, L. and Porcar, M. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining. 2010. 4: 154–159. doi: 10.1002/bbb.196
  10. Effects of Bacillus thuiringiensis Cry1Ab and Cry3Aa endotoxins on predatory Coleoptera tested through artificial diet-incorporation bioassays. Porcar, M., García-Robles, I., Domínguez-Escribà, L, and Latorre, A. Bulletin of Entomological Research 2010. 100:297-302. DOI:10.1017/S0007485309990290
  11. Yeast cultures with UCP1 uncoupling activity as a heating device. Delás J, Notari M, Forés J, Pechuan J, Porcar M, Navarro E, Montagud A, Baguena M, Peretó J, de Córdoba PF, González-Barroso MM, Rial E, Moya A, Urchueguía J. New Biotechnology. 2009 Dec 31;26(6):300-6
  12. Effects of Bacillus thuringiensis delta-endotoxins on the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum). Porcar M, Grenier AM, Federici B, Rahbé Y. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2009 Jul;75(14):4897-900
  13. Opinions transgèniques: realitat i ficció dels organismes modificats genèticament. Porcar, M. Mètode (Universitat de València) 2008. 59:8-13
  14. A simple DNA extraction method suitable for PCR detection of genetically modified maize. Porcar M, Ramos S, Latorre A. J Sci Food Agric. 2007 Nov;87(14):2728-31.
  15. Molecular and insecticidal characterization of a Cry1I protein toxic to insects of the families Noctuidae, Tortricidae, Plutellidae, and Chrysomelidae. Ruiz de Escudero I, Estela A, Porcar M, Martínez C, Oguiza JA, Escriche B, Ferré J, Caballero P. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2006 Jul;72(7):4796-804.
  16. Pathogenicity of intrathoracically administrated Bacillus thuringiensis spores in Blatta orientalis. Porcar, M., Navarro, L., and Jiménez-Peydró, R. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 2006. 93:63-66. doi:10.1016/j.jip.2006.05.001

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Links:

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