Enhancing students’ digital skills through a Biotechnology & Bioprocessing module designed for chemical engineers

The transformation of the chemical engineering profession is occurring in response to the industry needs of the rapidly-developing bioeconomy and biosector across Europe. To meet these requirements, a new Biotechnology and Bioprocessing module has been designed and offered to Chemical Engineering undergraduates at Aston University, UK. This module bridges chemical engineering and biosciences disciplines, providing students with new skills and knowledge to better understand the opportunities available to chemical engineering professionals within the biosector. Here, we evaluate how the use of digital technologies enhances the student’s learning experience using a range of innovative learning activities delivered in a digital environment. The student’s and author’s perceptions are evaluated, and future improvements identified. This module will contribute to preparing graduates for a successful career in the highly competitive landscape of the bioeconomy and biosector. This pedagogical approach prepares graduates for, hybrid and remote study and working patterns and; changing industrial and digital learning demands

Assessing and Enforcing Fairness in the AI Lifecycle

A significant challenge in detecting and mitigating bias is creating a mindset amongst AI developers to address unfairness. The current literature on fairness is broad, and the learning curve to distinguish where to use existing metrics and techniques for bias detection or mitigation is difficult. This survey systematises the state-of-the-art about distinct notions of fairness and relative techniques for bias mitigation according to the AI lifecycle. Gaps and challenges identified during the development of this work are also discussed

A critical role of striatal A2A R-mGlu5 R interactions in modulating the psychomotor and drug-seeking effects of methamphetamine.

Addiction to psychostimulants is a major public health problem with no available treatment. Adenosine A2A receptors (A2A R) co-localize with metabotropic glutamate 5 receptors (mGlu5 R) in the striatum and functionally interact to modulate behaviours induced by addictive substances, such as alcohol. Using genetic and pharmacological antagonism of A2A R in mice, we investigated whether A2A R-mGlu5 R interaction can regulate the locomotor, stereotypic and drug-seeking effect of methamphetamine and cocaine, two drugs that exhibit distinct mechanism of action. Genetic deletion of A2A R, as well as combined administration of sub-threshold doses of the selective A2A R antagonist (SCH 58261, 0.01 mg/kg, i.p.) with the mGlu5 R antagonist, 3-((2-methyl-4-thiazolyl)ethynyl)pyridine (0.01 mg/kg, i.p.), prevented methamphetamine- but not cocaine-induced hyperactivity and stereotypic rearing behaviour. This drug combination also prevented methamphetamine-rewarding effects in a conditioned-place preference paradigm. Moreover, mGlu5 R binding was reduced in the nucleus accumbens core of A2A R knockout (KO) mice supporting an interaction between these receptors in a brain region crucial in mediating addiction processes. Chronic methamphetamine, but not cocaine administration, resulted in a significant increase in striatal mGlu5 R binding in wild-type mice, which was absent in the A2A R KO mice. These data are in support of a critical role of striatal A2A R-mGlu5 R functional interaction in mediating the ambulatory, stereotypic and reinforcing effects of methamphetamine but not cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion or stereotypy. The present study highlights a distinct and selective mechanistic role for this receptor interaction in regulating methamphetamine-induced behaviours and suggests that combined antagonism of A2A R and mGlu5 R may represent a novel therapy for methamphetamine addiction

Development of a simple intensified fermentation strategy for growth of Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense MSR-1:Physiological responses to changing environmental conditions

The development of a simple pH-stat fed-batch fermentation strategy for the production of Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense MSR-1 and magnetosomes (nanoscale magnetic organelles with biotechnological applications) is described. Flow cytometry was exploited as a powerful analytical tool for process development, enabling rapid monitoring of cell morphology, physiology and polyhydroxyalkanoate production. The pH-stat fed-batch growth strategy was developed by varying the concentrations of the carbon source (lactic acid) and the alternative electron acceptor (sodium nitrate) in the feed. Growth conditions were optimized on the basis of biomass concentration, cellular magnetism (indicative of magnetosome production), and intracellular iron concentration. The highest biomass concentration and cellular iron content achieved were an optical density at 565 nm of 15.5 (equivalent to 4.2 g DCW·L−1) and 33.1 mg iron·g−1 DCW, respectively. This study demonstrates the importance of analyzing bacterial physiology during fermentation development and will potentially aid the industrial production of magnetosomes, which can be used in a wide range of biotechnology and healthcare applications

Markers of serotonergic function in the orbitofrontal cortex and dorsal raphé nucleus predict individual variation in spatial-discrimination serial reversal learning.

Dysfunction of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) impairs the ability of individuals to flexibly adapt behavior to changing stimulus-reward (S-R) contingencies. Impaired flexibility also results from interventions that alter serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) transmission in the OFC and dorsomedial striatum (DMS). However, it is unclear whether similar mechanisms underpin naturally occurring variations in behavioral flexibility. In the present study, we used a spatial-discrimination serial reversal procedure to investigate interindividual variability in behavioral flexibility in rats. We show that flexibility on this task is improved following systemic administration of the 5-HT reuptake inhibitor citalopram and by low doses of the DA reuptake inhibitor GBR12909. Rats in the upper quintile of the distribution of perseverative responses during repeated S-R reversals showed significantly reduced levels of the 5-HT metabolite, 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid, in the OFC. Additionally, 5-HT2A receptor binding in the OFC of mid- and high-quintile rats was significantly reduced compared with rats in the low-quintile group. These perturbations were accompanied by an increase in the expression of monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) and MAO-B in the lateral OFC and by a decrease in the expression of MAO-A, MAO-B, and tryptophan hydroxylase in the dorsal raphé nucleus of highly perseverative rats. We found no evidence of significant differences in markers of DA and 5-HT function in the DMS or MAO expression in the ventral tegmental area of low- vs high-perseverative rats. These findings indicate that diminished serotonergic tone in the OFC may be an endophenotype that predisposes to behavioral inflexibility and other forms of compulsive behavior.This work was supported by Medical Research Council Grants (G0701500; G0802729), a 503 Wellcome Trust Programme Grant (grant number 089589/Z/09/Z), and by a Core Award 504 from the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust to the Behavioural and Clinical 505 21 Neuroscience Institute (MRC Ref G1000183; WT Ref 093875/Z/10/Z). RLB was supported 506 by a studentship from the Medical Research Council. JA was supported by a Fellowship from 507 the Swedish Research Council (350-2012-230). BJ was supported by Fellowships from the 508 AXA Research Fund and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. 509 Financial support from the Fredrik and Ingrid Thuring Foundation is also acknowledged.This is the accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Nature Publishing at http://www.nature.com/npp/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/npp2014335a.html

Production of microbial lipids utilizing volatile fatty acids derived from wastepaper: A biorefinery approach for biodiesel production

Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) derived from organic wastes are being considered as low-cost feedstock for microbial lipid production as a valuable alternative to plant derived oils/biodiesel. In this study, VFAs were produced from anaerobic open culture fermentation of wastepaper and subsequently, used as a feedstock for lipid production by Cryptococcus curvatus. Total VFAs, yield and productivity achieved from waste office paper (WOP) and waste newspaper (WNP) were 17.3 and 10.2 g/L, 0.17 and 0.10 g/g TS, and 0.86 and 0.51 g/L/day, respectively. Biomass, lipid content and productivity achieved utilizing VFAs derived from WOP and WNP were 4.3 and 2.9 g/L, 41.2 and 27.7% DCW, and 0.037 and 0.033 g/L/h, respectively. The dominance of fatty acids such as oleic, palmitic, stearic and linoleic acid in the lipids suggests a high level of similarity with plant/vegetable oils used for biodiesel production. Therefore, VFAs derived from wastepaper could be potentially used as feedstock to produce microbial lipids towards cost-effective production of biodiesel

A comparative study of effect of polyol-based and acid-based deep eutectic solvents pretreatment of rice straw under autoclave conditions on cellulose enrichment and digestibility

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are attractive for lignocellulosic biomass deconstruction because of their easy synthesis, reusability, inexpensive nature, and eco-friendliness. Pretreatment of rice straw was carried out using three types of DES: choline chloride:glycerol (ChCl:Gly), choline chloride:ethylene glycol (ChCl:EG), and choline chloride:formic acid (ChCl:FA) at 120 °C, 1.5 bars in an autoclave for 1 h. Enzymatic digestibility of pretreated samples was assessed at 10% solids loading and 9.0 filter paper units g−1 cellulose of enzyme loading. A delignification efficiency of 51.6% was obtained with ChCl:FA compared to 30.4% and 36.1% obtained with ChCl:Gly and ChCl:EG respectively. The cellulose content of 58.4% was obtained from ChCl:FA pretreated samples compared to cellulose contents of < 48% from ChCl:Gly and ChCl:EG pretreated samples; cellulose content of pretreated and untreated samples correlated with their crystallinity indexes. The lowest hemicellulose content of 9.5% was obtained from the ChCl:FA pretreated sample, while ChCl:Gly and ChCl:EG were like the untreated (around 22%). As indicated by spectroscopic, microscopic, and thermogravimetric analysis, DES pretreatment caused alterations in chemical composition, structure, and surface morphology. ChCl:FA pretreated sample (Ac-PT4) was significantly hydrolysed, resulting in a glucose yield of 79.7% and a concentration of 45.56 gLl−1 after 72 h of hydrolysis. The glucose yield obtained from ChCl:Gly and ChCl:EG pretreated samples ranged from 32 to 36%, while the glucose concentrations ranged from 14 to 16 gL−1. Pretreatment using ChCl:FA effectively delignified rice straw and led to a threefold increase in enzymatic digestibility compared to untreated; hence, pretreatment using ChCl:FA could support a biorefinery concept

A comparative study of effects of microwave-assisted deep eutectic solvents pretreatment of rice straw on cellulose enrichment and enzymatic digestibility

Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB), such as agricultural residue rich in cellulose and hemicellulose, can serve as a feedstock for bioethanol production due to its environmental benefits. Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are low-cost and greener solvents for LCB pretreatment. The present study investigated the efficiency of two DES types for rice straw pretreatment under microwave conditions: choline chloride:glycerol (ChCl:Gly) and choline chloride:formic acid (ChCl:FA). DES pretreatment was performed under microwave conditions (100–140 °C and 5–15 min) at 10% solids loading and constant power 200W. After pretreatment, the samples were characterized, and enzymatic digestibility was investigated at 50 °C for 72 h using enzyme loading of 6 filter paper unit g−1 cellulose and 10% solids loading. Untreated rice straw consists of cellulose (41.8%), hemicellulose (24.9%), lignin (17.0%) and ash (15.0%). The cellulose content increased to 59.8% and 59.2% after ChCl:Gly and ChCl:FA pretreatment, respectively, while hemicellulose decreased to 15.6% and 10.1% after ChCl:Gly and ChCl:FA pretreatment, respectively. Lignin content decreased to 8.2% after ChCl:Gly pretreatment compared to 9.6% after ChCl:FA pretreatment. Ash content (20.4%) obtained after ChCl:FA pretreatment was higher than 14.0% obtained after ChCl:Gly pretreatment. The cellulosic and hemicellulose fractions from ChCl:Gly pretreatment were effectively hydrolyzed with glucose and xylose yield of 86.0% and 68.4%, respectively, compared to glucose and xylose yield of 58.2% and 62.8%, after ChCl:FA pretreatment. ChCl:Gly pretreatment enriched cellulosic content and preserved hemicellulose fraction, achieving a higher yield of fermentable sugars than ChCl:FA pretreatment; hence, it can potentially support a biorefinery

Yeast as C1 cell factory: Transforming methanol and Formate into high-value compounds

Microbial transformation of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, into valuable biochemicals appears as a key strategy to sustainably decarbonize manufacturing industries. Numerous unresolved technological constraints still hamper the industrial adoption of these single‑carbon (C1) gas-based bioprocesses. Conversion of these gases into liquid C1 compounds like methanol and formate helps to reduce emissions and close the carbon loop. Certain industrial yeasts possess intrinsic capabilities to tolerate and assimilate methanol and formate, which opens an attractive route to eco-efficiently valorise these compounds. To increase the C1-based biomanufacturing potential of yeasts, synthetic methylotrophy has been developed in versatile non-methylotrophic chassis. Strategic non-rational genome engineering and strain evolutions combined with rational designs brings to light hidden C1-pathways and mechanisms of substrate tolerance. Developments in methanol-based bioproduction include simple organic acids with clear promise for industrial scale-up as well as proof-of-concept investigations of complex polyketides with intricate pathways. Recent advances in bioproduction have demonstrated encouraging results from techniques such as modular co-culture engineering and peroxisomal coupling of biosynthetic pathways with C1 metabolism. Formate-based growth and biosynthesis in yeasts is in its early stages but holds the potential to be transformative in the coming decade. This review discusses the advances, challenges, and future perspectives in methanol-based biomanufacturing and innovative initiatives in formatotrophy in yeasts. Although it is a long way off, developments in synthetic biology assisted evolutionary engineering and artificial pathways will fill up the gaps in the scalability of C1-based bioprocesses, transforming yeasts into a reliable, climate-neutral, and resource-efficient platform for the green bioeconomy of the future