Natural spider silk cannot be harvested on a commercial scale due to the spiders' cannibalistic nature. Recombinant spider silk provides a scalable alternative to traditional silk production by using microbial fermentation of spider silk proteins, overcoming the challenge of farming spiders, thereby making spider silk – a holy grail of biomaterials – available on a large scale. This biotechnology-based approach replicates the properties of natural spider silk for diverse applications, including textiles, cosmetics, and home care, and significantly reduces production time compared with traditional silkworm-based methods.

Snakebites cause over 140 000 deaths and 400 000 disabilities globally each year. Prompt treatment is essential to prevent the severe effects of envenomings. In this study, we examined the potential benefits of using mRNA technology to express toxin-specific antibody fragments in local tissues and showed their effectiveness in reducing venom-induced muscle damage.

Contrary to standard fermentation, elevated CO2 triggers efficient organic-carbon consumption in Galdieria during heterotrophy, enabling high-yield biomass and timing C-phycocyanin accumulation. Stable-isotope analysis revealed CO2 as a metabolic trigger, rather than a carbon source, but illumination can enable mixotrophic carbon consumption and increased substrate to biomass ratios.

The emerging field of biosensors exploits the abilities of cells to identify specific molecules, presenting improved sensitivity, specificity, and limit of detection. Whole-cell biosensors (WCB) are organisms specifically engineered to detect a target analyte and express a reporter in response. In biomanufacturing, they can be used for monitoring of key substrate and metabolite concentrations or strain engineering, while in medicine, they can be used to diagnose disease or report on human–microbe interactions. Many applications require WCB to coexist with mammalian cells where a key challenge is to keep separate cell populations viable while still allowing them to interact. In this review, we highlight key considerations when encapsulating WCB to engineer controlled microenvironments that enable collaboration and coexistence of different populations.

In vivo chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineering has advanced into clinical trials with encouraging safety and efficacy. Technology breakthroughs, including targeted lipid nanoparticles, genetically modified lentiviruses, and optimized CAR constructs, have enabled precise, efficient, and safe gene delivery. This forum summarizes innovations accelerating the clinical translation of in vivo CAR engineering for immunotherapy.

Industrial wastewater contaminated with sulfate, heavy metal ions, and complex organic compounds poses a significant threat to the environment [1]. Although chemical or physical methods, including chemical coagulation, advanced oxidation, and membrane separation, have been used to treat sulfate-rich metal-laden wastewater (SRMLW), such biological treatment presents economic and environmental challenges when degrading sulfate and removing metal ions from SRMLW [2]. SRB can utilize sulfate as the terminal electron acceptor to reduce sulfates to sulfides, which further bind with metal ions to form metal sulfides [3].

Improvements in nutrition and sustainability for Fusarium venenatum mycoprotein (MP) has been achieved through CRISPR/Cas9 gene knockout technology without introducing exogenous genes. The gene-edited strain exhibits favorable performance at industrial fermentation scale. This work provides compelling evidence for the functional enhancement of environmentally friendly gene-edited MP foods.

Zhou et al. report the one-pot production of colored bacterial cellulose (BC) as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based fabrics. Metabolic engineering enhanced colorant yields, while co-culture optimization enabled the first reported production of multicolored BC, presenting a promising strategy for eco-friendly textile manufacturing.

Methane (CH4) represents an abundant source of carbon and energy with significant potential for sustainable biotechnological processes. For efficient bioconversion of CH4 into value-added products, synthetic methanotrophy has emerged as a promising strategy, enabling the rational design of engineered microbial systems. In this review, we highlight recent advances in CH4-based bioprocesses, covering the metabolic design of synthetic methanotrophs and optimization of bioreactor systems adapted for gas fermentation. A comparative analysis of key CH4-converting enzymes is provided, with particular emphasis on soluble methane monooxygenase and its heterologous production in industrial chassis. Recent progress in modular one-carbon (C1)-pathway engineering accelerates enzyme optimization and highlights synthetic methylotrophy as a prerequisite for robust synthetic methanotrophy. Collectively, these advances establish a foundation for scalable, efficient, and sustainable CH4-based biotechnological processes.

Hollow-fiber bioreactor cultivation enables scalable and standardized production of extracellular vesicles from dental pulp stem cells (DPSC-EVs). The system preserves their angiogenic and anti-inflammatory functions while enhancing manufacturing consistency. This strategy enhances the translational potential of DPSC-EVs, supporting their consistent and scalable use in regenerative therapies.

Spatial omics maps cell types and spatial context together. Current methods fall into two streams: mapping coordinates (where things are) and measuring connections between cells that are in contact or close proximity. We introduce the term connectogenomics as a practical umbrella for sequencing assays that directly record such contacts as a network. Combining coordinates with measured contacts lets us verify whether apparent neighbors truly interact and turn network features – such as contact density or hub centrality – into quantitative readouts. We propose a framework with four complementary tiers and a feedback loop: directly measured molecular contacts can validate coordinate-based analyses, while coordinate maps guide where to prioritize contact measurements. We illustrate this approach in cancer immunotherapy, development, and pooled genetic screens.

Advances in carbon capture and gas fermentation technologies enable the sustainable production of one-carbon (C1) and C2 organic molecules, such as formate and acetate, by recycling CO2 and organic wastes. Refining C1 and C2 feedstocks into food and other organic ingredients is essential for establishing a carbon-neutral economy. However, current C1/C2-utilizing microbial refinery platforms have yet to achieve ideal carbon efficiency at industrial scales. We critically review progress in innovating metabolic systems across heterotrophic, photosynthetic, and gas fermentation microbial platforms including CO2-fixing and C1-assimilating pathways. Innovative mixotrophic metabolisms, such as photo-mixotrophic and litho-mixotrophic platforms, as well as autotrophic metabolism in heterotrophic platforms, can revolutionize global carbon cycles and enable a sustainable bioeconomy by recycling carbon waste into bioingredients with unprecedented efficiency.

We developed an integrated platform that combines in situ transposon mutagenesis, biosensor-guided selection, and multiplex automated genome engineering. This approach significantly accelerates the identification of novel knockout target genes and their combinatorial effects, thereby facilitating efficient microbial engineering for enhancing valuable biochemical production.

Dynamic regulation enables precise, signal-responsive control of metabolism in oleaginous yeasts, overcoming limitations of static engineering. By leveraging metabolite and spatiotemporal cues, these systems decouple growth from production and enhance the yield of target chemicals. Integrating such strategies holds promise for building robust and high-performance oleaginous yeast cell factories.

Contemporary functional genomics researchers have sought to couple high-throughput experimental technologies with computational methodologies. However, the ethical issues associated with bench science at the early stages of the artificial intelligence (AI) lifecycle have received less attention and merit further examination, as addressing issues early on can mitigate downstream challenges in healthcare.

The fungal bioluminescence pathway (FBP) offers a unique and sustainable system for continuous light emission through self-sustaining, nontoxic substrates. Recent advances in FBP-based substrate engineering, enzyme optimization, and metabolic refinement have enabled the creation of robust autoluminescent plants. Concurrently, the FBP has been repurposed as a quantitative reporter and tracer for biological analysis, while FBP-based plant biosensors are emerging as a promising biotechnology. These developments position the FBP as a powerful and versatile platform with substantial potential. In this review, we outline the current state, ongoing challenges, future prospects, and diverse applications of the FBP system, underscoring its transformative role as a multifunctional biological resource.

There is an increasing need for finding cost-effective alternatives to synthetic polymers. We demonstrate sustained production of microbial exopolymers from wastewater, with flocculating properties comparable to commercial polyacrylamide. This technology enables upcycling of residual feedstocks to increase circularity in water treatment and avoid chemicals with negative health and environmental impacts.

Shewanella oneidensis, an electroactive microbe, was equipped with genome-scale clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) interference and base-editing libraries to systematically link genes to phenotypes. These tools revealed candidate essential genes and expanded substrate utilization for electricity generation, providing a versatile framework for functional genomics and microbial engineering in bioelectrochemical applications.

This study developed Macrophage-Bacteria encapsulation Lytic Autoactivated Synergistic Therapeutics (M-BLAST), a dual-gated system using engineered macrophages to deliver attenuated Salmonella to tumors. Local near-infrared irradiation at the tumor site triggers a heat shock promoter-mediated pyroptosis in macrophages, leading to synchronized bacterial burst release and a cascade of antitumor immune activation, while effectively minimizing off-target effects.

An engineered Pseudomonas knackmussii encapsulated in a magnetic biochar–hydrogel achieves stable triclosan removal by coupling adsorption with biodegradation. This biohybrid platform ensures biosafety, operational resilience, and scalability, offering a generalizable strategy for emerging contaminant remediation.

Storable pancreatic tumor–stroma models were fabricated using tissue-specific and cryoprotective bioinks. Cryobioprinting and cryopreservation did not significantly affect the bioengineered constructs, given that thawed 3D in vitro models retained key hallmarks found in the native neoplasia.

Bacteriophage M13 is a structurally ordered filamentous phage that has long served as a versatile bio-nanotemplate for various applications. To adapt to different applications, it is essential to modify and tailor the properties of M13 phages. This review introduces surface-engineering strategies for enhancing the chemical diversity of M13 phages through physical, chemical, and genetic modifications, and uses pVIII protein as a representative example. In addition, it provides a systematic and comprehensive overview of morphological engineering approaches for modulating the length and shape of M13 phage. By evaluating the different methods of principles, strengths and limitations, and applications, this review aims to strategically analyze existing technologies to create a programmable, customized phage platform adapted to the needs of different downstream applications that can continually expand to enable new applications.

Cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) is the second leading cause of death among cancer patients, driven by tumour–haemostasis interactions. While traditional models have proven invaluable to study this process, they often fail to replicate its complexity. Organ-on-chip (OoC) offers a promising alternative, potentially enhancing understanding of CAT mechanisms and advancing therapeutic strategies.

We developed a cost-effective ergothioneine biosynthesis strategy in Escherichia coli by integrating a betaine-driven methyl supply and inorganic sulfur module, eliminating costly amino acid supplementation. This approach enhances yields, lowers costs, and establishes a versatile platform for producing diverse methyl- and sulfur-containing natural products with broad biomanufacturing potential.

Recent advances in post-translational regulatory tools have enabled precise and rapid control of metabolic flux in microbial cell factories. In this review, we systematically summarize current post-translational regulatory tools for modulating the abundance, localization, and activity of key metabolic enzymes. We first discuss protein degradation tags for tunable control of enzyme levels. Then, we discuss spatial regulation through natural and synthetic subcellular compartments. We also highlight emerging approaches for engineering allosteric switches, including computational and de novo design methods. Finally, we outline future directions toward orthogonal, efficient, and cross-species compatible systems. This review provides conceptual and technical insights to guide the development of next-generation post-translational regulatory tools for dynamic metabolic control in microbial cell factories.